Walks: Mon. Sept. 27 & Wed. Sept. 29

The Shore Things (minus two) after the KW Walking Classic 2010

Our hats off to Susan and David Lewis and all the organizers for a great race with some very snazzy t-shirts and medals. The sky was blue, the temperature was just right, and despite a challenging, hilly course the Shore Things piled up milestones and personal bests at the KW Walking Classic 10K and very first half marathon.

Bob came in 2nd male and 7th overall with a personal best time of 1:24 and change. Arlene, Ruth, Sheila, Rainer and Marg each earned age-category rankings in the half and 10K. Barbara and Trish both had personal bests (I'm sure there were more; access the race results here), Jeanny completed her first half marathon, it was a first half, post-injury, for Eileen, and Maureen earned her first-ever medal. To top it all off, the pot luck dinner the night before was a big success, built around Rainer's delicious lasagna. Another tradition?

Meanwhile, back on the streets of Toronto, Olwyn was shining in her solo assault on the Scotia half marathon. Here's her report:

It was a delightful race!  My time was 3:14, give or take a few seconds... I saw Michelle under the Gardiner, she was out to support the race, and she snapped this pic!  I enjoyed it immensely; I felt like I was 'channeling' all of you through Eileen; we texted every few kilometers. The weather was perfect; the entertainment lovely, with many bands/dancers along the route; and I've never passed so many water stations in one race in my life!

It was quite the weekend. Now, the Chicago racers move into taper, but with one 16K Monday night walk left, with a more reasonable 6K interval night on Wednesday.

Except for Ruth (The Unstoppable), who is registered for the Toronto Half in mid-October, the rest of us can take a breather for a week – just a week – because we don't want to get out of form for the Shore Things 10 + 10 on October 31st (hope you'll be there). Come out on our usual nights and set your distances... 6K, 8K, 10K? Sign in and declare.

Now, I guess I'll wish myself a happy birthday, and many more!

Walks: Sat. Sept. 25 & KW Walking Classic Sun. Sept. 26

Shore Things rock the KW Walking Classic 10K in 2009

The Shore Things have 23 walkers doing the 10K and very first all-walkers half marathon in the KW Walking Classic on Sunday. At this point, you've checked your start times and know how you're getting there. If you want us to pick up your bibs the day before, please forward me your race confirmation email. Looks like the sun may be shining on our event.

Saturday night will be a pot-luck dinner at the hotel, and Rainer and Margy are bringing two big lasagnas as a start. Trish will have plates, napkins and utensils. And those going early to St. Jacob's market plan to fill in gaps with breads, salads and pies, lots of pies. But it's a true pot luck, so bring whatever you think you'd like. If you have dietary restriction, please let me know. We should aim to eat at around 6 pm. Sheila and company are the hostesses in their suite.

Meanwhile, back at Tim's there will surely be a small but enthusiastic group meeting at 8 am on Saturday for any distance that feels right. Sign in if you'll be among them.

Walks: Mon. Sept. 20 & Wed. Sept. 22

Look at those lovely flowers. And the ones on the right are nice, too.

It's an easy two walks going into our races this weekend for the Scotia & KW Walking Classic crew: 6K and 5K. Chicagoans are still putting in the paces with 14K and 8K.

For the KW races, please check the comments in the previous post, where Bob has listed our participants. You'll also see that he has organized a post-race brunch starting at 11:30. Please let us know if you're coming, and/or bringing a guest, so we can give the restaurant our numbers. Speak up if you're interested in carpooling, and we'll try to match people up.

For our Shore Things 10+10, we could use a couple more volunteers. It would also be hard to match the bounty of last year's draw prizes. However, if you can offer or organize something, please let Trish know. Pending avaiability of our race marshall, we hope to have our first planning meeting on Thursday evening at my house. 

Niki is our birthday girl this week. Have a spectacular birthday!

Walk: Sat. Sept. 18 @ Tim's

Looking happy at the lookout, Labour Day 2010

By popular demand, we're returning to our fall/winter/spring start time on Saturday: 8 am. Do I hear cheering? This Saturday, we'll do 8-10K – in keeping with the Scotia and KW Walking Classic Half schedule. Okay, Trish, you can do 6K if you prefer.

The Chicago marathon group will be doing 32-35K from the Grenadier Restaurant in High Park, and returning there for a well-deserved breakfast. I think they are starting at 6:30 am. Their route should take them past Tim's along the Martin Goodman Trail.

However, we might just miss each other if the other group heads north, south or east. So I propose that the Tim's group walk west to meet the Chicago group, then turn back after we meet. What do you think? Voice up in the comments.

Scotia needs volunteers in the Beach: If you aren't doing either race on Sept. 26th, and you have some time to give (or have high schoolers who need volunteer hours), Scotia is looking for volunteers along Queen Street between 8:30 am and 2 pm. If you are available, please email me and I'll put you in touch with Joanne Burton of the Stellar Runners. It will be beneficial for the Shore Things (I've been assured) and you'll get a complimentary race entry for next year.

On a celebratory note, Fiona, one of our west-end Shore Things, is our birthday girl on Friday. We hope you get to whoop it up, girl!

Walks: Mon. Sept. 13 & Wed. Sept. 15

Break out your night lights, friends, the evenings are getting darker – especially at the end of our walks. We want to be clearly visible when we're out there.

Just two weeks till we meet in Kitchener-Waterloo for the KW Walking Classic. The half marathoners have 10K & 10K on the schedule this Monday and Wednesday. The Chicago marathoners have 10K & 8K, in preparation for their loooooong walk this Saturday. Start time is 7 pm, as usual.

We have a mash-up of birthdays at the beginning of the week. Monday it's Margy and Denise, Tuesday it's Debbie. Hope the day is fab for each of you. Happy birthday from sweltering Dallas!

Walk: Sat. Sept. 11 @ Tim's

Does this look like labour to you?

Saturday, while I am in Dallas glowing in 95˚ weather, you will be enjoying a nice, sunny, autumn walk. Both the KW Half trainees and the Chicago marathoners have similar distances on Saturday: 18K and 19K respectively. Do you want to do it together? (I understand the Chicagoans have a route contemplated). Sign in and state your views. Start time is 7 am.

For those walking shorter distances, chime in and discuss your start time: 7:30 or 8?

Today, I'm wishing a happy birthday to Julaine, Saturday's birthday girl. Trish is back... come out and see us.

Walks: Labour Day Monday & Wed. Sept. 8

A little Labour Day fireworks for you from my garden. Hope you're enjoying the long weekend. To confirm the alternative time and place for Monday's walk: 8:30 am from Tim's. If you prefer to stick with Monday evening from Loblaws, please let people know by signing in on the blog.

The distance is 10K for the KW/Scotia halfs. Chicago, you have 13K on the schedule, but you can choose to break this into smaller chunks on two separate days. Everyone else, just come out for a walk and good company.

Wednesday, KW/Scotia does 10K and Chicago does 8K. Chicagoans, if you prefer, you could simply divide your distances into 10 + 10.

And, on that subject, could people please confirm that there is interest in doing the Shore Things 10 + 10 this October 31st? We have confirmed volunteers, but no confirmed participants. The registration fee will again be $10 to cover the cost of the medals and bibs. Charlotte, would you mind collecting the money?

Good luck to Rainer, the king of the short race, who is signed up for the Oakville Labour Day 10K. Take it easy and have fun!

We now begin the avalanche of September birthdays with Alexis, who (I believe) has a special one this Wednesday. Have a happy celebration, girl. This is a big year for you.

Walk: Sat. Sept. 4 @ Tim's

You knew this about these two, didn't you?

We're into the home stretch in training for the two upcoming events. Chicagoers have 29K on the schedule. That should be a cinch after your sweaty 30K last weekend. I expect you'll be starting at 6 am – please sign in to confirm or deny.

The half marathoners for Kitchener-Waterloo go 16K. Should we start at 7 am? I think so.

I realize that the 10K K-W racers don't have a schedule, so come out and (as those goofy Mungo Jerry In the Summertime lyrics say) "just do what you feel." But let us know what you're feeling, especially as it's the last long weekend of summer.

Whenever it's a long weekend, we often walk Monday morning at 9:30 am at Loblaws, rather than the Monday evening walk. Sign in to say if that appeals to you, and I'll note it in the next blog post.

Pre-race dinner for KW: Consensus is eat-in, so we'll make plans accordingly. Bob has volunteered to find a place for brunch afterwards. Details will follow.


Shore Things 10+10: Yes, we're starting to plan for our own 10-mile and 10K race on Sunday, October 31st, costumes optional. Eileen has agreed to be race marshall again, and now we need other volunteers. Last year, people volunteered to organize things like volunteers, prizes and the post-race brunch (TKOs was wonderful last time). We already have our route and hopefully can re-order medals. Please let us know your interest, as participants or as volunteers.

Shore Things Yearbook & Calendar: It would help me to know in advance how many people will order a book and/or calendar. For the book, I can go up to 100 pages. However, if you're thinking of ordering a book, you can help by telling me in advance how much you'd want to pay, and I can design the book accordingly. Your input, please.