Walks - Saturday Jan. 28 - Wednesday Feb. 1

Threatening but Beautiful

Join us at Tim's on Saturday at 8:00 am for whatever distance you choose. This is the last week of "distance freedom" - training for the Good Life starts next week. Nevertheless, I encourage you to walk far and walk often - take advantage of our atypical January weather.

A quick comment (and best wishes) to those ill, injured or recovering - we are thinking of you and we miss you. Join us whenever you are able to do so.  

And, to those who are travelling or about to do so - enjoy, be safe, and bring back stories to share.

Announcements: from Dawn - Brunch at TKOs - any interest? Dawn has offered to arrange brunch (if there is enough interest) but we need to know how many plan to attend. Aiming for a weekend in late Feb or late March - cost last year was $18 (just so you have an idea). Please let Dawn know this week or reply in the blog - whatever is easier for you. Yummy - bacon! Sign me up.

from K-W walking classic - this race has been cancelled permanently - the organizers were unable to find a sponsor(s) to support their work and the race - volunteer functions are often not sustainable. Sorry to see this race come to an end. Many Shorethings enjoyed this annual race.

from Libby in Africa:

just another lazy day

Walks - Saturday Jan. 21 - Wednesday Jan. 25

Morning coffee?

Join us on Saturday at 8:00 am at Tim's - take advantage of a walk in January without snow. Distance is of your choosing. Ruth and Susan would like company for 12 km with a hill or two.

Mid week walks - Sundays at 8:30 am at the Running Room on Queen St.

Monday at Loblaws and Wednesday at Occasions - both evenings at 6;30 pm.

Day time walkers (mid-week) connect through Dawn.

Do you have a challenge for 2017? Shall we start a list of those who are walking 150 kms per month to celebrate Canada's 150th?  

Anyone interested in walking 2017 km (or miles) in 2017?

Announcements: Dawn would like to know if people are interested in brunch at TKO's again this year. She would be happy to organize it - please let her know - timely would likely be later Feb.  I can smell the bacon already....

Any races that interest you?  I'm checking with the Uxbridge Trail run to see how long the course is open for the half marathon - will let you know. Anyone considering Camino might think of Uxbridge Trail run as a training event.

Several folks are travelling - be well and be safe - enjoy too.

And, to those who are injured or ill, we miss you and send you our best wishes.

My favourite bunny - I named her Mags after her creator

Walks - Sat. Jan. 14 - Wed. Jan. 18

Are these two up to mischief?

Happy New Year to all....

Join us on Saturday at 8:00 am at Tim's. Pick your distance; enjoy your walk; and then enjoy some coffee with friends. Formal training doesn't begin until the end of January when the Good Life folks need to begin.

Mid week walks - for day time walks, contact Dawn.

Monday evening (Loblaws) at 6:30 pm and Wednesday evening (Occasions) at 6:30 pm. Join us please for these evening walks - we are a small group in need of a few more walkers.

Announcements:  Have you started a challenge for 2017?  Are you up to walking 150 kms per month during Canada's 150th anniversary?

Will you challenge yourself to walk 2017 km in 2017?

Do you have a challenge idea to share?

from Rainer: The Robbie Burns race is quickly selling out. It is only 8 km and a race that many have enjoyed in previous years.

from Susan:  Any interest in the Uxbridge trail run (distances of 21, 10, 5 km) - beautiful country side - rates go up Jan. 31.  Libby is signed up; Susan will sign up and what about you?  April 15, 2017.

Thanks to Helen for posting the blog for the past two weeks.

If you are travelling, be safe and enjoy.

I tried to warn her ....

Walks: Sat. Jan. 7 to Wed. Jan. 11

A happy bunch on our last walk of 2016

Happy New Year, everyone! Join us for our first walk of 2017 this Saturday, 8 am at Tim's. Libby has posted both a training schedule for the two long races so far on our Interests List, and training doesn't really kick in till February. Let's try to do 6, 8, or 10K – whatever makes sense to you.

We're back to post-holiday schedules, which means evening walks on Monday (Loblaws) and Wednesday (Occasions). No one has yet complained about our 6:30 pm start, so let's keep it up. Maintenance walks of 6K or so would be great, always dependent on weather.

Note that some of our Wednesday-night regulars will be away at Doc Soup this week.

As Libby is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, please send your race interests to Helen. Jan has also created a tracker spreadsheet for the Wow 150-in-150 Challenge (150km/month = 1800/year). Email Helen if you're doing this or any other challenge and if you want a copy of Jan's tracker.

A race report from Rainer – and a picture at the end of the post:

January 1 was a perfect day for the Hair of the Dog race. We had 4 Shore Things as well as 3 WOW walkers in the 9km PowerWalk. It was sunny and as the boardwalk was dry we had good traction. The Shore Things did very well in a competitive field. The finishers were: Female: 1st Diane, 2nd Ruth, 3rd Lee, 4th Norma, and for the Male: 1st Greg, 2nd Rainer, 3rd David. The chilli and salad was especially tasty. 

And a personal invitation for a very walker-friendly June race that some of us did last year:

Hello Walkers,
This is Ben Kong.  A sincere Happy New Year to all of you!
I wanted to personally invite you to register for the 2017 Brandon Hill Alumni 5km and 10km Run/Walk for Education, Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Ajax Rotary Park.   

Earlybird registration prices end on Jan. 31, so register now to avoid the fee increase!
Visit the link below to register:
https://raceroster.com/events/2017/11102/brandon-hill-alumni-5km-10km-run-walk-for-education

Big Announcement for the 10km Power Walking Race:
This year, the 10km Power Walking Race will have its own start time at 9am, while all other events start at 9:30am. That's right - 10km Power Walkers will be the first race to start and have the entire start line to themselves!  
This means that:

• All eyes will be on the walkers at 9am. 
• No runners to line up behind at the start. 
• The "no-running" rule will be enforced again this year. 
• Walkers will finish the race a half hour earlier than in 2016, avoiding hotter temperatures and getting ahead in line for post-race food (which will apparently include Jerk Chicken!)  

My goal for this race is simple. Hold a competitive race for walkers of all abilities, where walking is equally part of the main event. The organizing team of the Brandon Hill Alumni has put everything in place to ensure this will happen in 2017.  

All we need now is for the walking community to show up in big numbers to support this event. If you like what you are reading, please register and join us on June 17, 2017! Please also spread the word to anyone you know in the walking community. Thank you!

For all those traveling or away for other reasons, have fun, be safe, hope to see you soon!

And our Shore Things join Wow walkers at the first race of 2017