Wednesday 30 March 2011

Walks: Sat. Apr. 2 and Sunday, Shore Things 10+1

Synchronized stretching after our Wow Powerwalking class
A reminder to our Wow trainees that our class this Saturday starts at 12:30 pm at Tim's – this week only. Hey, a chance to sleep in!

For those who wish a warm-up for the race on Sunday, or who aren't racing and would like to stretch your legs as usual, meet at Tim's at 8 am as usual, and sign in to let your walking pals know you'll be there.

You should all have the details for Sunday's race in your in-box. No one has asked to be added to a wait list for brunch, so I'm assuming all those who have reserved can keep their place, and that everyone else has other plans. I can only add this message from our busy raffle committee, Trish and Cheryl:
Thanks for all the generous donations for our raffle on Sunday. We have 32 great prizes, including wine, opera tickets, gardening goodies, bath and body stuff, coffee, books and much, much more. Raffle tickets will be sold at the brunch, so please bring cash. Tickets will be 2 for $5, or 5 for $10. See you at the starting line!
Good luck to Olwyn in the Harry's Spring 8K on Saturday. Remember what I said about that last hill, and enjoy the great swag (Harry's always has it).

Happy birthday to Sheila. May the sun shine on you!

And may it shine on us all on Sunday. Have a great weekend, and a great race, everyone.

Sunday 27 March 2011

Walks: Mon. March 28 & Wed. March 30

Bob crosses the Around the Bay 30K finish at 3:42 and change
The report from our long-distance competitor is that, despite the truly killer hill at about the 20K mark [Ed: I stand corrected: the hill's at about the 25K mark], 30K of Around the Bay felt easier than 2011's Chilly Half. No wet feet might have something to do with it. Bob finished three minutes under his goal time and on paper was 10th, although unofficial observers on the course told him three times that he was the third walker – and no walkers passed him. So it looks like we still need to do a better job of educating runners about what it means to "walk" a race.

This week, the Mississauga folk do 6K & 8K, and the Women's Half gals do 8K & 8K.

Happy birthday, Leeping. We'd love to have you join us for a walk (though you are allowed to have your birthday off).

It's hard to believe our Shore Things 10+1 is this coming Sunday. Reminder that Bob hoped to touch base with his volunteer team on Tuesday night. If you can't come, please drop him a line before then so you can compare notes for race day.

Friday 25 March 2011

Walk: Sat. March 26 @ Tim's

With hope, sunshine and clear roads will prevail on the weekend
This is the weekend when some of us begin the 6-week course with Wow Powerwalking, starting from Tim's at 10 am. Therefore, our usual Saturday numbers will be a bit lower. Hope to see each other on the crossover. Both May half marathons have just 10K on their schedules, a relative walk in the park.

Arlene has asked me to post this call for participants – she's thinking ahead to January 2012:
The Disney races next January are the weekend after New Year's and include everything from a 5k to the (Ed: appropriately named) Goofy, a half plus a full marathon. Ruth is interested and wondering about a group. Libby and I are going with our long-time hiking friends, 5 of whom are beginner racers. Apparently, a large condo can be rented in the area. 
If you want to be added to the list, let both Arlene and Dawn know, and we'll start collecting names... and I guess preparing schedules!

On that racey topic, I'm just asking again that if you've reserved a place, but can't attend the brunch after the Shore Things 10+1, please let us know. We've been overwhelmed with the popularity of the race, and now have a number of racers who won't be able to join in on the brunch due to lack of space. I know we said "first come, first served" -- but after the race is over, I'm guessing that it will be a let-down for any finisher who we can't accommodate at the restaurant. It might be good to begin scouting for an alternative venue for next year, so that we don't encounter this situation again.

That, I think, is all, folks!

Sunday 20 March 2011

Walks: Mon. March 21 & Wed. March 23

Behold, my t-shirt quilt in rough progress! Where are your race tees?
Happy Spring! It seemed a long time in coming this year. Longer, sunnier days are ahead!

New schedules are posted on the blog for the two May half marathons. Thanks to Leverne for her help with this. Separate ones are posted for the Mississauga/Goodlife races on May 15th and for the Toronto Women's Half on May 29th. I've also created a combined schedule, so I'll know who does what, when. Have a look at your race schedule.

Monday, it's 8K for Mississauga/Goodlife, and 6K for the Women's Half. Wednesday, it's 6K for both races. Come out and blow away the cobwebs.

As far as I know, these are the only two spring half marathons. Please tell me (and Dawn) if I'm wrong about that. And do continue to let Dawn know which races you are actually registered in. That makes planning much easier, and attending the race as a team more fun.

Classes with Lee Scott start next weekend, and I've just sent out a reminder from Arlene.

Our Shore Things 10+1 is two weeks away, and Race Marshall Bob is asking the main race coordinators to meet at our house on Tuesday, March 29th at 7 pm (if you're unsure whether that means you, it probably doesn't). It shouldn't take more than an hour to be sure all our "i"s are dotted. Please let him know if you can attend, or to make alternative arrangements.

Thanks, everyone. Enjoy this springy weather.

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Walk: Sat. March 19 @ Tim's

Still time left to get a blast of spring at Canada Blooms!
Saturday looks fair. Shall we say 8-10K, till the next official schedules are posted? See you at 8 am.

A note from our Shore Things 10 + 1 prize committee:
Cheryl and I are collecting prizes for the great 10 + 1 race on April 3. If you have a prize to donate, you can give it to Charlotte on Saturday morning or give me a shout and I will arrange pick up. Many thanks to those who have already contributed. Once again raffle tickets will be for sale at the brunch.
More details to follow.
Cheers, Trish
Ian is our birthday boy this weekend. With the sunshine, perhaps we'll have a nice choir out, too! 

Saturday 12 March 2011

Walks: Mon. March 14 & Wed. March 16

A brief parting in the clouds, perfect for a walk on the Spit
Hooray! No precipitation to dampen our participation! The week ahead has more rain in it, but Monday we hope will be clear. Let's see what Wednesday brings. For those on March Break, walking in daylight hours might make your schedule more flexible. Let us know your preference. Right now, we're taking it easy with 6-8K, but…

This weekend, I'll draw up a schedule for the May half marathons and will post it under training support.

Remember to turn your clocks ahead this evening. That will make our weeknight walks darker for a while, so don't put your night-lights away just yet.

Thursday 10 March 2011

Walk: Sat. March 12 @ Tim's

We'll let a smile be our umbrella, turning our frowns upside-down.
We'll trust the rain to hold off long enough for us to do a modest 8-10K on Saturday. How does that sound, folks? Come out an look for some signs of spring.

Please forgive me, as my brain isn't functioning in top form due to a cold, so I know I'll forget something important, but...

Shore Things 10 + 1 -- If you can contribute prizes for our draw, please contact our prize gals, Trish and Cheryl.

For the brunch, we are now at full capacity, so I'm afraid if your name isn't on the list, you might be out of luck. If you've reserved a spot and find you can't go, then please let us know that a space is free.

Wow Classes -- Via our private email system, I'll be sending out a separate reminder from Arlene with all the details for the classes, including waiting lists. Lee Scott needs our cheques the week before first class.

Canada Blooms: It's on next week, and one of the best, least stressful ways to see it is on an early morning tour, at 8 am each day. I'll be a volunteer tour guide on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so if you can go on a weekday I might be your guide! Here are details about tickets for the tours.

Now I can collapse back on my divan, with the back of my hand to my brow. See you Saturday. Sniff.

Monday 7 March 2011

Walks: Mon. March 7 & Wed. March 9

We got plenty of snow-kers on the Chilly course this year
Everyone I talked to after the Chilly Half Marathon found it to be a tough race this year. If you're like me, you're still feeling it this morning. The road surface was slushy and many of us started the race with wet feet. On the plus side, the big wind didn't happen, as you can see by the snow-capped trees. The course was quite pretty – and those mansions, wow.

And we still had some blazing times. Bob was first in our group with a chip time of 2:34, followed by Ruth (2:38), Arlene and Libby (2:51), Barb (2:53) and Rainer and Margy (2:57). Our first-time half marathoner and Shore Thing by association, Lucy ran it in 2:03. Lee Scott, with whom we'll train in three weeks, finished first overall in the half with a chip time of 2:17. That's 2:17. Well done, everyone.

Let's celebrate by taking it easy this week, with 6-8K both evenings, depending on our inclination.

Please note: Dawn says we're almost full for the Shore Things 10+1 Brunch. If you haven't send in your reservation, do so quickly – send it to me (Helen), as I'm the record-keeper for the next two weeks.

Happy birthday to our birthday girl Mary. Hope you get something like spring for your present.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Walk: Sat. March 5 @ Tim's (& Chilly Half)

A reminder of what we walked through, just a few weeks ago.
Yes, Winter 2011 has seemed interminable. But look around. Not much of that white stuff remains. Remember what we were trudging through not so long ago. The days may get blowy or chilly but spring is definitely in the air... and in our steps.

Though rain-dancing might be in order on the weekend. Hope it will hold off for you to come out on Saturday for a companionable walk, starting at 8 am. Roll up some winning rims for absent friends.

Think of us Sunday, when the Chilly Halfers will be out there for 2.5-3 hours, or thereabouts, rain-dancing our little legs off. Wish us luck.