Walks - Sat. June 25 - Wed. June 29

Congratulations Trish and Olywn - well done

Trish is the proud 3rd-place female in the Brandon Hill 5K — welcome back, Trish

Join us on Saturday at Tim's at 7:30 am - my suggestion is that we start early for the summer months to avoid the heat, if possible. There are no required distances so come and enjoy the freedom to walk whatever distance strikes your fancy.  

Training for Montreal Rock & Roll race in September starts on Monday with a very modest 5 km on both Monday and Wednesday.

Weekly walks - Sunday mornings at 8:30 at Running Room on Queen St. Monday night at Loblaws at 7:00 pm. Wednesday night change of location for this week - see Bob's announcement below.

Sign in on the blog to let others know your plans. 

Announcements:  from Joan -  Thank you for donating to Matthew and Kezia's challenge, the 200k Ride to Conquer Cancer. About 5k from the finish the Steam Whistle team gathered. Matt and Kezia were positioned to lead the team with Matt sporting the yellow survivor flag.  Cue the mom's tears. We are so glad to support your family, Joan, and your son's recovery. Congratulations on this accomplishment too. Awaiting a photo....

from Helen:  Go to the blog website.  There is now a “subscribe by email” widget on the top left sidebar on the blog. Please put YOUR email addresses in there and click SUBMIT. With luck, it will work better than the broken distribution system. 

from Libby: - As we welcome the first weekend of summer and herld in the last race on the list until fall, we wish all the 10K Waterfront Racers a good race and hope the temperatures remain reasonable until the finish.

from Bob: After numerous requests, we are finally having a walk starting and, best of all, ending at Left Field Brewery on Wagstaff (Left Field Brewery), this coming Wednesday, June 29 at 7. Lots of free parking on Greenwood. 

from Susan: - Many thanks to Helen for doing the blog in my absence.

Walks: Sat. June 18 to Wed. June 22

The Shore Things at the Love. You. 5K/10K for Women's College Hospital

In the lull between half marathon training, it seems the Shore Things have short-race fever! Last Saturday was a great day for the race above. This Saturday, we hope for the same grace from the weather report for the 5K/10K in Ajax, and next Saturday, a few of us who just can't keep still will be going for the Waterfront 10K. Congratulations to Trish on her first post-recovery race!

The medal was a bracelet this time. Either that or a neck piece for very thin necks!

Race notes from Libby:

Best of luck to those competing in the new (and well advertised) walk category of the Brandon Hills race this Saturday. It is a lovely route and I do hope the crowds stay away until the race is over. Best of luck all!

Last Saturday's Shopper's "Love You" run for Women's race  was great fun - especially for the enjoyable brunch on Charlotte's sunny terrace close to the finish! Thank you Charlotte for hosting!

A couple more weeks before training begins for the Montreal Rock and Roll so "training distances " for Saturday remains your choosing!

I should note that the Waterfront 10K has been very smart about its walker category. All they did was to add "Must walk 100% of the race" beside the walker button. So simple!!!!! Kudos. I wish all race organizers would follow suit. That, and the cool t-shirt, are two of the reasons I signed up. There's still time to join us. Registration ends June 19th.

Happy Father's Day to all our Dad Things. Hope you enjoy your day. Stay as cool as you are!

Welcome back Susan. Next week, I hand the blogging baton back to you.

Because, we do.

Walks: Sat. June 11 to Wed. June 15

Iona and Margy shine at the Niagara Women's Half

Let's begin with Rainer's race report on the Niagara Women's Half:

Another well executed event ... definitely for the ladies ... out of 2,289 entries (465 walkers) only 19 men. Great swag bag ... red technical shirt (fitted of course) .... bottle of wine ... perfume ... make up ... Port-a-potties with flowers ... Firefighters putting finishers medal on ... no wonder only 19 men signed up.

Margy finished in 2hr 58min chip time with Iona hot on her heels .... both came in sub 3hr ... first time the two have finished it together ... not sure what Margy enjoyed more finishing with her daughter by her side or shopping at the new Outlet Mall ... tough choice ....

This would be a fun event for the Shore things in 2017. Special sign up rate till June 30.

Look at the size of those smiles! Well done, Margy and Iona!

Now, besides a big thumbs-up for the two above, here's more from Libby:

Congratulations also to Arlene and Elaine who walked in the Wellington County Women's Half last weekend. An interesting race on county roads in Prince Edward County wine country with a really neat necklace as a medal! Worth considering for another year.

A few of us are walking the Shoppers Women's race this Saturday. (Helen adds: It's Trish's first race, post-recovery!) Hopefully the rain will hold off until we finish.

Please let me (Libby) know if you have signed up for races. Training for Montreal will start soon.

Let's keep all these race suggestions in mind for our November party.

So, this Saturday, Monday and Wednesday are do-as-we-please days. Please sign in to say if you're coming and, even more importantly, if you'll be away.

Love and fast-healing to all our sidelined Shore Things, good luck to all this weekend's racers – and happy trails to our travellers!

More smiles from the Shore Things – with David building up strength after his operation!

Walks: Sat. June 4 to Wed. June 8

Is this the new ShoreThingMobile? With built-in medals!

It's hard to believe that Sheilah and Charlotte were bundled up only a few days before Helen and Olwyn were sweating it out at the 12.3km Women's Half Marathon (re-dubbed a "fun run" -- Ha!). And yesterday we had to haul out our sweaters. Who knows what Saturday will bring!

Come out for a lovely, between-half-marathon-schedules, anything-goes distance – a great time for anyone who has been hanging back to join us. Same goes for Mondays and Wednesdays, morning or evening. Sign in with your presence and preferences.

We have some 10K races upcoming. June 11 is the Shoppers Women's 10K, June 18 is the Ajax 10K and I believe we even have some doing the Waterfront 10K on June 25. Let Libby know if you're signed up for these or other races!

From Libby:

Best wishes to Margy and Iona for the Niagara Women's Half and to Elaine and Arlene in this weekend's Half Marathon walk in Prince Edward County. Weather looks more reasonable.

Training distances of your choice for another couple of weeks until the Montreal Half race training begins.

From Joan – who points out that we also have a race option on Sunday, June 12:

Spring Fling Toronto 15k, 10k & 5k: springflingtoronto.com

in the Sunnybrook Park/Wilket Creek Park system [Editor says: And if you check that link, you'll see that the medal is quite "deer!"]

Also from Joan:

This past winter, my eldest son Matthew was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer last fall. He had surgery in November at Princess Margaret Hospital followed by 9 weeks of chemo. In March he was given a clean bill of health and our hope is of course that it never returns. He is a father to the most beautiful 17 month old and now, once again has a lovely head of hair and a bright future. Long story short, he and my daughter Kezia are riding in the Ride To Conquer Cancer in June in support of this fantastic hospital. If you are able and feel so inclined I have included their letter asking for support.

Here are the links to their donor pages: for Kez’s page or for Matt’s page.

I think that's everything! Because you've been such attentive readers, here are two pictures for you.

Helen and Olwyn "glowing" with one of our race cheering stations.

Wednesday walkers. Note the two "new members" above.