Walks: Sat. May 28 to Wed. June 1

Lots of smiles (and a few gnats) at the 12K turnaround last Saturday

We're drawing to a close for spring race training. Margy (if she hasn't done it already) is scheduled for 12K this Saturday – the rest of us can take it easy. Or see Libby's suggestion below.

I'll wish myself luck, along with my companion in Toronto Women's Half-dom this Sunday. Let's hope for neither too much heat nor too much rain.

Monday (from Loblaws) and Wednesday (from Occasions) at 7 pm will be distances of your choosing. Those who walk in the daytime should contact Dawn for details. And I've heard a rumour that there's a group walking Sunday mornings from the Running Room on Queen East. Please sign in to tell us where you'll be – it really helps to know.

In case you want something to do after our walk, this suggestion comes from Ruth:

The Leslie Street streetcar barns will be part of Doors Open. The tour starts at 10:00 – more or less the time many of us have finished our coffee.

Doors Open Toronto - Leslie Barns
Get a behind the scenes tour of Leslie Barns as it will be open to the community for Doors Open Toronto. Visitors will be able to take a streetcar tour of the grounds and view a display of vintage streetcars.  See here for details.                                      

Saturday,  May 28
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Leslie Barns, 1165 Lakeshore Blvd East

A few race announcements:

From Libby:

Next training distances start up again in late June for the Montreal Half. Until then, let's aim for an 8 or 10K distance this Saturday.

The Shopper's Walk June 11th has a few of us signed up (see last week's blog for details and sign-up link).

Do let me know if you intend to to do this walk AND any other races you are signed up for as well!!

 From Ben Kong about the Ajax 10K on June 18 – remember, he has arranged a walking category:

I plan to meet you all next weekend, Saturday May 28 at the usual meeting spot. I will have entry forms and information on the race, and will accept paper registrations on the spot. Online registration is also available on the link provided on the website:

https://raceroster.com/events/2016/9132/brandon-hill-alumni-5k-10k-run-walk-for-education

From Rainer:

As promised here is the Cleveland Full/Half Marathon early-bird sign up info:

http://www.clevelandmarathon.com/

Special prices till May 31st: 10km for $40, half for $50, full for $65. Good deal for signing up early. Margy and I will do the 10km again.

The Marriott Downtown at Key Center 127 Public Square is a great Hotel for $159 a night (has a pool) and is walking distance to start and finish line. We usually park the car when we get there and have no need for it till we leave. Lots of stuff to do downtown, shopping, restaurants and brew pubs and of course a couple of Starbucks ... sorry no Timmie. [And Helen adds: the Rock and Roll Museum is in Cleveland – we had a great visit with the Shore Things back in 2007.]

We arrived in Cleveland on Friday this year so we could catch the Cleveland Indians game. They had special price tickets for Marathon participants, nice stadium with $4 and $10 beer as well as $1 hot dogs. I think we'll do that again next year (but no hot dog for Margy). Would be fun to have a group of Shore Things.

And here's a bouquet for reading through this long post – a memory of our brief spring.

Walks - Sat. May 21 - Wed. May 25

Arlene, Elaine & Olwyn - racing last weekend in Toronto

Join us on Saturday at Tim's at 8:00 am. The weather promises to be beautiful. There are only a few folks who are still training for spring races - Helen and Olwyn are doing 12K on Saturday for the Women's Half.  Margy needs to do 16K to train for the Niagara Women's race. The rest of us could comfortably aim for at least 10K Saturday - according to Libby.

Sunday mornings some of us meet at 8:30 am at Running Room on Queen St.

Monday - because it is a holiday for most, I suggest meeting at Tim's 2 at 8:30 am - sign in so others know your plans.

Wednesday at Occasions at 7:00 pm. - Signing in helps.

Announcements:  from Ruth & Olwyn:  Women's Race, 10K, Saturday,  June 11 in support of the mental health program at Women's College Hospital. To join the Shore Things team, follow the link below.   Men are welcome to register, though they are not eligible for any prizes. You can register for either the 5K or the 10K race.  There will be Shore Things doing both distances.  

  

To invite team members to join Shore Things please send them the following link: https://www.events.runningroom.com/applications/?raceId=12969&eventId=38727&vrindex=3
In order for them to become a member of your team they will need to supply your team password.
This password is: yes73xat

from Rainer:  It was Cleveland Marathon last weekend.  The race morning started wet from overnight rain … but it had stopped … it was very cold and halfway into the race it started raining again and then the hail started … it was wicked … one of the worst conditions we have ever done a race in … rain mixed in with hail and in May … took most of the competitors by surprise … Although we both came in looking like drowned rats, Margy came in 13^th walker, 1^st in her age category with a time of 1:22:15, the old boy came in 6^th overall walker, 1^st in his age category with a 1:15:55 finish time.

Cleveland will be doing their 40^th anniversary Marathon weekend next year May 14, 2017. Put it on your calendar it will be a huge event. Would be great to have a lot of walkers in the 10, half and full marathon walker categories. Cleveland is a terrific city with interesting architecture, good hotels, lots of restaurants, brew pubs, friendly locals, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Indians Baseball, Cavaliers Basketball, a large Runners Expo with lots of vendors and shopping.

from Susan: I will be away for the next few weeks and Helen will be taking over the blog in my absence  - thanks (yet, again) Helen.  Enjoy your walks....see you on June 18th.

Have a great long weekend.

Just ask Sylvia where she was hiking!

Walks - Saturday May 14 - Wednesday May 18

Margy rocks in K-W

Join us on Saturday, at Tim's at 8:00 am. For those training, distance requirements are as follows: the Toronto Women's Half (16K) and Niagara Women's Half (20K). Week day distances are 10 and 10 for both days. For the rest, any distance is good distance. 

Mid-week walks: Sunday morning, at 8:30 am, at Running Room on Queen Street.  Anyone interested in day time walks during the week could contact Dawn.  Evening walks at 7:00 pm are located at Loblaws on Mondays and Occasions on Wednesday.

Race Report from Libby:  May 8th was an exciting day with two races where our Shore Things shone! Sporting Life 10 K:  Ruth finished in a blazing 1:14:20, followed by Joan- 1:23 (wow!) , Arlene and Elaine at 1:26 and Olwyn close on their heels at 1:27. Well done ladies!


At K-W: Rainer was first in his age group and second male with a time of 1:12:56- seems the UK trip proved good training!. Margy- again first in her age group- came in at 1:21. Excellent showing.

Announcements:  from Olwyn: Let's support this race: women’s 5k or 10k run/walk sponsored by Shoppers, on June 11, for Women’s College Hospital. If we can get a little group together (minimum 5 walkers), we can get a discount; and apparently the race kits are quite good. Their slogan is ‘Walk it out…Run it out’, so good for our group.  www.runforwomen.ca/    Any interest?

from Libby: There is a real push by the organizer of the Ajax Run/Walk for Education to try and bring in walkers. They plan to monitor the walking race course for any "cheaters".  The waterfront trail is  a great route to walk along. Both 10 and 5 k distances are available. Register at Brandon Hill 5K/10K Walk/Run in Ajax.


Thanks so much, Olwyn for arranging a wonderful opera evening Tuesday night. 

Arlene, Elaine and Olwyn after the Sporting Life 10k; According to Olwyn "it was a perfect day, sunny, not too cold, and very well organized, especially at the end of the race. Lots of bagels, bananas, drinks, water; shuttle buses back to the subway; a great race all the way along the route. Also a very nice medal. And fun!"

Walks - Saturday May 6 - Wednesday May 11

Olwyn's Wet and Wild on Race Day

The Goodlife Race last Sunday was wet and wild with a cold rain for the entire race combined with a wind at the Ontario Place finish. None the less, all the Shore Things finished the race with an excellent showing. Congratulations to Bob (2:34)  2nd male walker, Ruth (2:43) 1st in her age group, Arlene (2:54) first in her age group, with Libby same time (2nd in age group), Helen (3:09), Olwyn, Cheryl and first timer Julie (3:29). Congratulations for perseverance and will power against the weather! Thanks to Trish for the photos.

Join us for our walks:

Saturday at Tim's at 8:00 am. Those training for the Toronto Women's Half (18 km) and Niagara Women's Half (20 km) may want an earlier start given your distance. Let others know on the blog what you plan to do and when.

Sunday mornings, 8:30 am at the Running Room on Queen Street.

Mid week walks are at their usual places Monday at Loblaws and Wednesday at Occasions starting at 7:00 pm.  

It is a busy weekend:  

Good Luck to Joan, Arlene, Elaine, Ruth and Olwyn in this Sunday’s Sporting Life 10K!. Weather looks very promising for this great race.

Welcome back to Margy and Rainer AND Good Luck to you both in the walker friendly KW Race on Sunday as well. Registration is still open for any last minute racing wannabe’s for this race. On another note, Margy, we are thinking of you this week following the tragic death of your friend and injuries to other friends in a tragic accident here in the Beaches.

We still have folks who are travelling - be safe; keep well; bring back some great stories to share with us.

And, to those with injuries or illness, our thoughts are with you. And, we miss you.