Walk: Sat. Dec. 4 @ Tim's

The cloud elves were cutting out perfect little snowflakes when we ended our walk last Saturday. (Check out the one on Lynn's red hatband.) This Saturday is supposed to be cool but sunny.

Let's get together and see where we feel like walking for 8-10K. We need to clear our minds for our holiday preparations. It's December already!

Before I get on to the next topic, here's a Happy Birthday to Barb S -- hope you're enjoying your day!

As we look ahead to the races of 2011, it's good to think how we can continue to be ambassadors for walking. To that end, here's a message from Arlene with some good things to think and talk about on our walks:

Hi Shore Things,

I recently chatted with Lee Scott of Wow Powerwalking about specific walker concerns in local races. She has since spoken to local race organizers representing Angus Glen, Chili Half, Mississauga etc. and some common concerns have emerged:

- their races are selling out ever-more quickly based solely on the number of runners BUT the number of walkers each year is not increasing

- however, the run-walker category is steadily on the rise (from 10-min run/1-min walk to the opposite)

- there's continual hassle from citizens, officials etc about road closures, both the associated time and costs.  Including walkers means that roads must be open longer. Organizers must account for all stragglers and not just ask them to move to the side at the end of the time period.

- how to officially judge walking results in order to properly award prizes. More walkers are protesting placements.

These organizers are wondering if cancelling the official walker category is the way to go.

Lee feels we must continue to advocate for a separate walking start and separate results. The former will minimize complaints since walkers themselves will police the run-walk competitors. Eventually she hopes to convert the run-walkers to power walkers. Perhaps a protest system will work down the road. She feels that the overall walker numbers will remain somewhat static.

In the short term Lee recommends the following:

- All walkers should support races with a separate walking division [as an aside from Helen: Bob & I have both signed up for the Chilly Half, which is one of those races; hope you'll join us!]

- We should write thank you notes showing our support [excellent point!]

- We should encourage organizers to decrease the time the course must remain open. Our form and training produces faster times than mere strolling. Lee thought perhaps between 3:15 and 3:30 hrs. for a half marathon.

On a final note, Ruth had a great idea if walkers can't have their own results: Register walkers separately for a race within a race and award our own prizes. To be discussed!

Thanks, Lee and Arlene (and Ruth). You've given us lots to think about. I'd like to make another suggestion. Ask those races with walkers categories, such as the Chilly Half and Robbie Burns, to award walker prizes first – it gets a small number of prizes out of the way quickly, and exposes the sport to a large number of people, allowing us to remind the audience that walking is walking 100% of the time. Let's get the conversation going.

But I want to stress that diplomacy is our biggest ally. Angry harangues won't do us any favours.