Walks: Sat-Wed, Jan. 26 to 30

Did anyone else notice this on the ground outside Tim's last week?

I don't know where the "passion" came from, but this icy weather is sorely testing it. The Shore Things resolve is being represented by Margy and Rainer, who are going from the sublime to the freeziculous, from a 10K in Bermuda last weekend to a frigid 8K Robbie Burns this Sunday. Let's hope they packed a little of that Bermuda sunshine.

Come out and join us for a delightful 8K on Saturday; and 6K or so on Monday and Wednesday. Sign in to say if you're coming – especially important during crazy cold, so we're sure of having company.

Thanks to Barbara for announcing our photo workshop. Please let us know what you need to know. We meet Sunday evening to plan our session. Might be a good time to find your camera manual!

Reminder: We need someone to claim ownership of the change of place walk on February 2nd. A couple of volunteers volunteered, but I haven't heard from you yet. After last month, I know Trish already had a gleam in her eye about a walk and brunch back in her nabe. Speak up, my friends! What's it to be?

Walks: Sat-Wed, Jan. 19-23

Olwyn's lovely shot of the misty Spit

Boy, I feel out of the loop, having missed a week of walking, mostly thanks to our tank – very dead water heater, that is. Six days without hot water makes me extra grateful for a hot shower. But that's all behind us now, and I'm eager to get back on my feet.

Come out Saturday for 8K or thereabouts; Monday and Wednesday for 6K or so.

Looking at Olwyn's picture, I hope you know about the Shore Things photo workshop that Olwyn, Eileen and myself will be holding on February 10th. If you want to get more from your photos, contact our organizer Barbara B. It would help us tailor it to your needs if you'd tell us in advance what kind of tips you're looking for. We three are meeting on Jan. 27th to plan our workshop.

Nothing else I know of to be announced, but I'm sure you'll set me straight in the comments if I'm wrong. As always, please sign in to let each other know if we will (or won't) be walking.

Does January seem to be zipping by to anyone else? The days are getting longer, but faster, too!

Walks: Sat-Wed, Jan. 12 to 16

Great turnout for our first alternative walk location

Hope you didn't put away your shorts. The weatherman predicts 11˚C on Saturday. I'm unsure how I feel about that and hope it isn't a bellwether for a hot summer. Come on out, anyway, for the distance you please. If you want company for more than 8K-ish, put out feelers in the comments.

Monday and Wednesday nights, it's business as usual, for maintenance walks of about 6K.

Unless you're doing the Hypothermic Half in February or the Chilly Half in March (and I know you keen machines often train by your own schedules), real training doesn't kick in for a few weeks. Bob has created a spreadsheet of coordinated race schedules for the four half marathons I mentioned in the last post, and it's now linked on the blog beside the interests list. (Click the + magnifying glass in the toolbar on the schedule page to increase the tiny type size.)

If you need a schedule for a different long race, you'll find our Generic Half Marathon schedule under the Racing Links tab at the top of our blog. Let me know if you need help tailoring it to your event.

Speaking of races, congratulations to Rainer (2nd walker overall) and Norma (4th walker, 3rd female) for their showings at the 9K Hair of the Dog 2013 in what I understand were icy conditions. There was also a mix-up between the 3K and 9K women's powerwalking race results, meaning that the wrong people received the awards for the 9K. We'll award you in our hearts, girl!

Now, as you can see by the turnout, our first-Saturday alternative route idea for January was a success (thank you, Trish!), and we already have volunteers for two more months. Details later. This will never replace Tim's 1 as our spiritual home, but offers those who seek variety, well, variety.

Very sunny birthday wishes to Jan – have a wonderful day!

Walks: Sat-Wed, Jan. 5-9

How's that for a snow castle?

Saturday, Jan. 5th we're going to mix it up with a once-a-month new departure point (remember, we talked about that?). Trish has created an 8K route, starting from Tim's at Eglinton Ave. E. and Brentcliffe Road. Here's a link to directions. We start at 8 am, and Trish will have printed route maps.

Note that this is an optional alternative for those interested. Naturally, some will prefer to meet at our usual time and place. Please sign in to let us know where you'll be.

Mondays and Wednesdays return to regular programming, for maintenance walks between 6-8K.

Bob has created a concurrent training schedule, which I'll upload soon, for some of 2013's upcoming races: May (Cincinnati, Toronto and Mississauga Halfs), June Niagara Falls Women's Half, August Dublin Half and September Canadian Army Half. If you're doing different races, let us know.

By now, you've had time to think about Wow's Challenge for 2013. The 20+13 Challenge is quite do-able (walking 33 minutes a day), but most of the veterans are balking at 2013 minutes a month. But don't let that stop you. Jan has created tracking Excel files for all three versions (Ks, 33 mins a day, or 2013 mins a month), so let me know if you'd like one.

Susan desperately seeks company to do either a yearly 2013K or 2013 monthly minutes – speak up if you'd like to join her. You'd qualify for Wow's finisher medal if you choose minutes, and if you choose Ks, the Shore Things figure out a way to reward you.

In fact, I'm putting out a call to have 2013 be our Year of Personal Bests. Set yourself any personal challenge. For me, it's going to be to do my best half marathon time. Yours might be to do a longer race for the first time, or simply to walk more often. Doesn't matter what you pick, have a goal in mind, and we'll celebrate our accomplishments in November.

Our flurry of January babies begins this week with Alisa and Olwyn – have fun-filled birthdays, gals!