Walks: Canada Day weekend

Hi, gang,

This is a very quick post to say that we have two options for the long 16K walk, both from Tim's:

Friday, July 1 at 7 am

OR

Saturday, July 2 at the time of your pleasing

Monday's walk on July 4th also has two choices:

Morning from Dawn's (or other place TBD; contact Dawn for the time)

Evening from Loblaws.

Forgive me for the picturless post. Please sign in to state your preferences. I know we have some birthdays coming up soon, but don't have my calendar with me. Happy birthday to (I think) Cheryl and Michelle. Happy Canada Day, everyone. Be safe and have fun!

Walks: Mon. June 27 & Wed. June 29

A recent walk in the valley took us past the Elevated Wetlands

Quick and to the point: 8K with three 1000-m intervals on Monday; 10K on Wednesday. See you 7ish.

Congratulations go out to Rainer, yet again, for an unofficial official first-place finish (no walker category, although lots of walkers were signed up) in the inaugural Meredith Hagan Inspiration 5K. He has a gift certificate, a bottle of wine and a great big medal to show for it. His report:

The event was very good. The course is trails (similar to the Toad) and it was challenging but interesting. Lots of volunteers and Marshals so was easy to find route. After race food was fantastic. They had wraps, vegetarian and meat, cookies, chips, apples, oranges, bananas, juices and coffee... a very nice spread. Entertainment while we were waiting and again after race. Considering this was first year for this event they did very well with about 500 runners/walkers (so they announced).... but must have been a lot of no shows, did not look like 500.

A reminder that, after July 4th, some of our group will be walking in the mornings rather than the evenings. If you wish to join them, please email Dawn H to be put on her list for start times and locations. If you don't have Dawn's email address, let me know in the comments.

Walk: Sat. June 25 @ Tim's

Moore Park Ravine trail: And when we were up, we were up, up, up!

After the number of times we've followed this schedule, you'd think I'd remember that it's only 11K after the first 16K walk! But a half marathon training schedule can be a bit like childbirth: the mind is kind and helps you forget. Yes, that's my rationale.

So, Saturday trainees, it's a lovely "only 11K" – and for non-trainees, it's the distance that best pleases. Do the Toads want to stick with an early 7 am start, or go back to 7:30 for this shorter distance? Sign in with your views.

Birthday best to Dawn B – have a great day!

Walks: Mon. June 20 & Wed. June 22

Margy takes honours at the OTMH race in Oakville

We had quite the uphill climb for our 16K on Saturday. This week, we can take it relatively easy, with two 8K walks. Monday, those in training can add three 8-10-minute intervals, where you pick up the pace. See you 7ish. (I should note that some people are walking in the mornings rather than the evenings on weekdays, to avoid the heat. Contact Dawn H. if you want more info.)

Our picture today is of the OTMH race on Sunday. Naturally, the King and Queen of the Short Race were there. Here's Rainer's report:

There is no better way to spend Father's day (and my birthday) than to do another race....

We did the OTMH (Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital) race Sunday am..... perfect weather and a big PowerWalker turnout as Lee Scott is very active on the organizing committee.

Margy came in 16th overall at 39:01, with a chiptime of 7:49. She received the second place award in the senior category. I came in 5th overall 3rd male. The top 3 male walkers were separated by 13 seconds.  Good competition as we had 74 finishers. We had a few 'runners' masking as 'walkers' .... the usual stuff.

Congratulations to both of you. That's some blazing time, Margy!

Walk: Sat. June 18 @ Tim's

Exploring Toronto's parklands on foot... or feet

For those doing 16K on Saturday, the consensus so far seems to be a 7 am start. Just in case you skimmed over that little detail, that's another half hour earlier than our latest early start. Yawn. Got it?

Those not doing the long route can start later if you please. That way, we are more likely to meet up for a coffee at the end of our trail.

In the quest for different routes, we are heading for the Belt Line trail via Riverdale and Rosedale. This will also give us experience on trail surfaces and (in a tiny voice) hills. The 16K turnaround is a little hard to pinpoint due to the lack of landmarks. When you go under the railway bridge, go the equivalent of a long block further, and turn around. Or just turn around at the railway. A map is below.


See the keeners at 7 am, and the well-rested afterwards, I hope.

A note from Norma about the Beach Garden Tour, which is *next* Saturday, June 26. I know it's going to be on my list of things to-do that weekend:

I can see if I can get tickets but would need to know from people asap to be able to get them in time. Or people can purchase them at the below venues.

Norma 

Mark Your Calendars! Sunday, June 26th from 1 p.m.to 5 p.m. is the annual Beach Garden Society Garden Tour – a major fundraiser for the BGS.

This year the tour ranges from north of Kingston Rd. to south of Queen St. in the western section of the Beach and features a total of 17 gardens, of which 13 are private back gardens and four are front only. Covering a wide variety of garden types and styles, ranging from a ravine rehabilitation, to a Grecian statue overlooking a goldfish pond, to one wholly devoted to veggies, there is something to appeal to everyone. And, in gardens along the way, music, refreshments and sculpture will add to the experience and the enjoyment.

Tickets for the tour are a bargain at only $10, so be sure to get yours, either listed below or at the BGS meeting on June 21st or at one of the following vendors: Beachwood Flower Shop, 1916 Queen Street East; Bill’s Garden Centre, 903 Pape Avenue; Centre 55, 97 Main Street; Cirone’s Fine Foods, 2312 Queen Street East; East End Garden Centre, 1395 Queen Street East; East of Eliza, 1960 Gerrard Street East; Pet Valu, 2210 Queen Street East; Trinity Gallery, 926, Kingston Road.

Happy birthday, Rainer, and Happy Father's Day to all our Shore Things dads. Looks like it'll be a beautiful weekend for it!

Walks: Mon. June 13 & Wed. June 15

A cool June walk along the lakeshore

June can't make up its mind whether it's spring or summer. We benefit from that indecision tonight with cooler weather for our Monday workout. It's 8K with 3 long intervals, where we'll pick up the pace.

More and more studies talk about the benefits of moderate to intense exercise – not only for our bodies, but for our minds. A recent article talked about how kicking it up a notch can protect us from "silent strokes" as we age. Not that we're aging…

Wednesday, it's ordinary mortal pace for 10K. If there's a volunteer to map it out, we'll have a new route. Otherwise, we'll do one of our existing routes, but perhaps backwards for variety. The new schedule is now posted on the blog, so have a look at it to get an idea about what's coming up.

Save the date: Sunday, August 21st (after the Midsummer Night's 15K), Lou-Ann and Paul invite us to their place for pool party and BBQ. Full details will follow, but for now mark your calendars.

Familiar faces: If you check out the video for the KW Walking Classic, you'll see some Shore Things around the end of the first minute. Go, us! Thanks to sharp-eyed Alexis for the tip-off.

I know I'm forgetting something. Hope you'll forgive my mental lapse. Obviously, I need to do more hills.

Walk: Sat. June 11 @ Tim's

Norma and David propose hills. But San Francisco might be a bit of a commute!

Our start time is 7:30 am, and our distance is 13K – if you're following the Toad preview walk schedule. If not, then please join us anyway. There's sure to be someone going as far as you want to go.

And this might qualify as the shortest post ever! Remember the Through the Garden Gate garden tour this weekend. Or, if you have peonies envy, the Peony Festival's on in Oshawa. I'll be writing about it later on Toronto Gardens. See you tomorrow.

Walks: Mon. June 6 & Wed. June 8

1st-place women in the Alfie Shrubb 5K & 8K

What a perfect day for the Alfie Shrubb race! Congratulations to Margie for taking first-place for women in the new 5K race. Lee Scott was first female in the Classic 8K. Rainer was second-place male in the 8K.  Arlene was there with guide Sheila, for whom it was, I believe, her first race. Well done everyone! Apparently, there were camel rides for the intrepid and/or kids during the event. Thanks to Rainer for the report and the pics.

Monday and Wednesday, the distances are 6K with five 2-minute speed play intervals, and 8K. So far, the weather for Monday evening looks perfect; Wednesday is predicted to be hot. Dress to be comfortable, and remember the body glide on parts that need gliding.

Maureen is our birthday girl this week. Enjoy this lovely weather, ordered just for you... and thanks for sharing it!

Thanks to Dawn for issuing info about the Toad training walk. If you're doing that event – or any other – be sure to let Dawn know, as she's our coordinator for all things racy.

See you 7ish on Monday and/or Wednesday.

[UPDATE: WEDNESDAY'S WALK HAS CHANGED TO THURSDAY, DUE TO THE HEAT. PLEASE CHECK THE COMMENTS.]

Walk: Sat. June 4 @ Tim's

The leafy greenery near Ashbridge's Bay

We do have a schedule for the Toad pre-training. I just need to receive an electronic version of it to post. Saturday, the distance is 10K. The start time is 7:30 am. The place, you know.

Birthday girls this weekend are Trish and Susan... one day each. We hope that they will be very merry.

FYI, for those of you who like to do your walking through gardens, the Cabbagetown Hidden Garden tour is on this Sunday. Next weekend is Through the Garden Gate, this year in Swansea overlooking High Park. I previewed some pretty cool gardens earlier this week, which you can see on our garden blog.