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scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:19:00 +0000

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Big Sur Marathon 2010

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:23:00 +0000

The Big Sur Marathon starts with a 3am wake-up to make a 3:45 bus from Carmel that will take us to our start line. For those of us who walked the full marathon, that means making our way along the inky black Pacific coast to the Big Sur Ranger Station. For walkers entered in the 21 miler, they headed to the Andrew Molera Park, 5 miles north of the ranger station. Finally, there is the option to walk the 10.6 mile event leaving Rocky Point (oh the view!) or the 9 miler starting at the event finish line in Carmel and tours the unique Los Lobos Sate Park.

I knew we were in for a spectacular day when not a wisp of fog could be seen on that dark drive down the coast. The Point Sur lighthouse swooshed around the blackness for most of the drive, the stars and the milky way clearly visible through the tired glass of our school bus windows.

Once the sun cleared the horizon, the Big Sur coast boasted its finest views like a proud peacock. Audible gasps from participants could be heard at frequent intervals during the race - passing Point Sur Lighthouse, climbing Hurricane Point, snaking our way down to Bixby Bridge, catching the vista toward Rocky Point. Add to this the fun of the new mile markers, the joy of the volunteers, and the beauty of the hand-made medals at the finish line and you have the best marathon day.

Twas the night before Big Sur

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:16:00 +0000

...and all walkers are well hydrated, fuelled, and trying to get some sleep. Good luck! We're too excited and too terrified we will miss our buses. Those of us walking the full marathon need to be on the bus at 3:45 am, those walking the 21 miler are climbing aboard at 4:30, and 10.6 mile walkers at 6am.

It was a glorious day beside the Pacific and we are hoping for more tomorrow. Pics are not posting tonight...so I will try for some tomorrow.

...pics added! Top: our WoW gang after our early Saturday morning walk along Carmel Beach. Bottom: Coach Jill, in her Boston 2010 jacket - half way to completion of the Boston to Big Sur challenge!

Walking the Boston Marathon

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:03:00 +0000

Yesterday, WoW Power Walking coach Jill Pettit, with her husband Jay, walked the Boston Marathon. Yes, the Boston Marathon which requires qualification times for entry!

Their times were amazing: 5:02:51 and 5:17:57. And that's just half the story. This Sunday the pair will walk the full Big Sur International Marathon - from Pfeiifer State Park to Rio Road, Carmel. They will be feted as two of a a mere couple of hundred who have completed the Boston to Big Sur Challenge 2010. And they will be the only two to have achieved that impressive feat with one foot on the ground at all times, walking!

I'll have more for you after the race!

Pre-race fun at Around the Bay

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:35:00 +0000

I found the perfect place to write inspirational chalk markings on the Around the Bay 30k Road Race route yesterday. The last "heart-break" hill, which would be more appropiately named "soul-destroying", at the 26k mark is normally closed entirely to traffic. This means that before the race, I could park my car at the barrier, walk down the hill, and write the chalk messages on the road without having to worry about traffic.

About 5 minutes into the task, I heard a powerful engine come up behind me and, as I glanced over my shoulder, a police officer pulled up on a powerful and large motorcycle that looked like a smaller version of the Hindenburg. (My son thinks it must have been a BMW - for those who want to know) He came to a stop and cheerily asked. "OK, who are you rooting for?."

Sadly, he had just barely spoken the word "for" when he toppled backward, the bike almost falling on top of him. He rolled down the hill and into the gutter. He looked more mortified than cheery as he lay stranded on his back in the grass.

Tactfully, I hope, I asked if he was OK. Seeing his cheery face turn red with mortification, I thought it best to proceed with my chalk messages. He certainly didn't want me helping him out of the gutter!

After a few minutes of me tactfully ignoring his attempts to right his toppled motorcycle, I realized he may genuinely need some help to get it back on its wheels. So, with me pulling and him pushing, we got the blimp standing and ready to roll.

Without a word further, off he drove!

Another race, another good story! (no pic out of respect!)

Chips that follow your every move

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:05:00 +0000

On Sunday I am walking the Around the Bay Road Race. While I do so, my timing chip will be sending signals to Facebook so that if anyone cares to, they can follow my every move over the course.

Well...maybe not my every move, but timed updates. It's a brave new socially, digitally networked, walking world.

The main purpose of this race is a training walk for my two destination races this spring in Big Sur and Ottawa. I hope my ego stays in check. It may be a challenge to maintain a training pace, not a racing pace, in order to impress all those Facebook friends who will giving up their Sunday to watch my race updates!

Wish me luck and stay tuned!

Get out the green

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:22:00 +0000

We're talking serious green at the St. Patrick's Day 5k walk for the Achilles Track Club - a wonderful race that supports disabled athletes.

The WoW team showed up in their greenest finery. Sadly, I showed up without my camera, so I am begging anyone who has some pics to send them to me.

We love this 5k event that supports a very deserving, and often overlooked, local charity. The short distance offers a perfect opportunity to get family and friends involved who don't enjoy long distance walking. (It's a sneaky way, to get them hooked!) Challenging winds and rain did not deter participants from walking, running, or smiling!

It was perfectly fitting that this race, which supports and features so many disabled athletes was timed coincidentally with the 2010 Paralympic Games.

Chilly Half Marathon not so chilly!

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:01:00 +0000

I awoke yesterday to a clear sky and perfect half moon, filled with excitement and anticipation for my first half marathon of 2010. The weather was idyllic - unseasonably warm. I could leave my snowpants, balaclava, and merino wool gear at home. That made getting out of the house much easier, theoretically. You know when you have that niggling feeling something important has been forgotten?

I left the house on time - a sure sign that I should review my list once more.

Sport beans? Check. WoW signs? Check. Chalk for inspirational words on the race course? Check. Racing shoes? Check. Sunblock? Check. Gloves? Check. Clothes for after the race? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Peaked cap? Check. Watch? Check.

Check.Check.Check.

It wasn't until I was 25 minutes down the highway, fully committed to the morning, when I remembered I had left my race number bib and timing chip in the entrance hall to the house. I could race with just about anything else on my list left at home - but not those two items.

Forever grateful for my IBBH, who was leaving 45 minutes later than me to go to the WoW Power Walking water station, I phoned home and sheepishly ask if he could meet me near the start line wth enough time to pin my bib to my pants and attach the chip to my shoe.

Luckily, for this absent-minded walker, it all worked out and I was able to race legally! Even better, it was a stellar day for all WoW Power Walkers. We may have had the advantage of the BEST cheering section from WoW water station volunteers, but even with that we ROCKED the course and won lots of age category prizes to prove it. Results will be posted soon on the website.

Of long walks

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:17:00 +0000

Not long ago I measured the number of steps I took to complete a 26k training walk. The total? 31,191. I dare not clip that pedometer on my hip again now that my walks are over 30k.

Many of us are spending the better part of either Saturday or Sunday walking our endurance walks in preparation for upcoming half marathons and marathons. We face challenging distances in the most difficult season. And that's not the least of it. Often we have no idea where to find a bathroom!

A couple of weeks ago, after counting on the availability of a washroom that had been available on previous walks, I found myself reduced to squatting between bushes and building in a desperate move to stay dry. It was a warm and sunny spot that seemed far from curious eyes. It wasn't until after I had pulled up my Canada red underpants and my winter tights that I considered the possibility the building might have camera surveillance on all corners. While it's unlikely my winter white glutes will be making any viral apprearance on youtube, it has crossed my mind that outdoor urban squatting is not part of most ordinary workouts.

But then anyone willing to take on the training for a marathon or half marathon are not setting themselves up for ordinary.

No pics attached for obvious reasons!

Strength tip for February 2010

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

Here is a video of the whole body strength tip described in the WoW Power Walking February Newsletter. Enjoy!

Vancouver Olympics and WoW Power Walking connection

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:53:00 +0000

In December we touched the torch. Over the coming days of the Olympics we are privy to an insider's view of the Richmond Oval.

Last December we were so thrilled for WoW Power Walker Jeff Guthrie who carried the Olympic flame in Kingston, Ontario and who returned to Oakville bringing the unlit, but torched, torch for us all to see.

Now that the Olympics have begun we have a WoW Power Walking connection to what's going on in the stunning Richmond Oval, site of long track speed skating. One of our most committed walkers, Carleen Carroll, is acting as a public relations volunteer at the venue.

I recommend Carleen's blog which she is writing for the local paper, the Oakville Beaver. It's the next best thing to being there!

http://www.insidehalton.com/listing/blog

Toronto pedestrian deaths

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:46:00 +0000

The first three pedestrians killed were shocking enough. But 14? In three weeks? Toronto streets are getting mean.
While there is no easy answer to why these deaths have occurred in such quick succession, my feeling is that if we are being mindful at all these days, it's only in yoga class. Even there, we are being mindful only of ourselves.
Our mindfulness needs to extend beyond our own chakras. We are all drivers, we are all walkers - we are all traffic. Maybe, no matter what the signs say, we just simply need to watch out for each other.

Beside the Bow River

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:22:00 +0000

According to Google maps, it is a 3212 kilometre, 25 day, 23 hour walk from my house to that of my brother, a proud Mountie, who is now stationed in Calgary, Alberta.

Twenty-five days and 23 hours to walk from Toronto to Calgary is an astonishing recommendation.

I have used Google maps when I am visiting a city to determine how long it will take me to get from the hotel to, say, a coffee shop or an art gallery. It is usually accurate within 10 minutes. Of course, for this purpose, I need neither pee breaks nor fuelling and hydration stops.

When I plunk in my address and that of my brother's, I assume Google is just relaying how many hours it would take to walk that distance without any breaks. Still, I am left with untold questions. Will I be walking on highways? Will I be walking on gravel shoulders? Is there any way to determine where I can get food? Where I can sleep? Most importantly, is this an accurate time prediction? Can a Google program that accurately predicts a 10 minute city-walk really estimate a cross country trek?

I feel a project coming on!

In any case, on Saturday, Air Canada helped me avoid the high risk of blistering and frostbite that such a walk surely would entail in winter. I flew to Calgary where I walked a mere 22 kilometres of the Bow River Trail (and visited aforementioned brother) in just under 3 hours - including a pee break under a bridge, a short detour near the Calgary Zoo to avoid ice, and a walk up the stairs beside Prince's Island Park to catch a glimpse of distant Rocky Mountains on the horizon.

I liked my walk. You can understand from the photos above - the first taken at the beginning as I headed east along the south side of the Bow River toward downtown and the second taken at the end after I had walked along the south trail out past Inglewood and returned back via the north trail, crossing again to the south side over one of many pedestrian-friendly bridges.

I haven't ruled out the long, scenic route to Calgary but for now this taste of Canada's Stampede town was magical.

It's all in the group

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:58:00 +0000

Nine days into January and the walking is superb. Cold but superb. Today tested our Canadian character with temperatures at our 7am class starting at -25 Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit). Predictably, with these cold temperatures comes SUN. Sun is good.

Class was filled with dedicated walkers who never complain about such a small inconvenience as having to wear 10 layers topped by Vaseline! These are veteran walkers who know that to walk a good event in February, March, or April cold weather training must happen. And it is true that misery loves company - oops - or should I say everything is better with friends.

Equally enthusiastic this morning was the group of Level 1 participants which met for the first class this morning at 10am. Those who arrived ready to walk may not fully understand the meaning of layering yet, and someone did mention that they thought they had signed up for a power talking class, but we had an impressive turnout for the first of winter.

Yes, the talking does help the walking. While we coaches often have to be the talk cops by reinforcing the "no talking" rule during interval training, there is a camaraderie of the group walking class that simply can not compare to solo training walks.

For more interesting info on why group exercise works check out Alex Hutchinson's excellent posting on www.sweatscience.com where you can find his Globe and Mail column from January 7 on the benefits of group exercise.

Because we always think of group exercise being indoors, here's a good place to share your insights on walking outdoors with a group.

New Year's Walk

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:51:00 +0000

Did you get out walking to see the Blue Moon last night? It was there - the faintest reverse shadow shining through hazy clouds. Now, I admit I was walking only from the restaurant to the car when I caught a glimpse but what a way to say goodbye to 2009.

This morning, walking along the lake with my IBBH (Infinitely Better Better Half - a much better description than "partner", don't you think?) was a different but entirely perfect welcome to 2010.

A blustery wind from the north was sideswiping snowflakes at our faces. Like a good slap that wakes you out of a faint, it brought us out of the semi-coma of holiday overindulgence.

Research undoubtedly supports my view that a brisk one hour walk in fresh air can undo a lot of damage caused by consumption of copious amounts of cheese and crackers, mashed potato and turkey stuffing, chocolate bark and chocolate truffles, Bordeaux and Merlot, shortbread and almond snowballs. To name a few of my favourite holiday things.

Since it is a holiday I am not going to seek out the academic citation that supports this belief although I'm standing by it from personal experience and the anecdotal evidence of the many cheery "Happy New Year's" greetings of other walkers out on the lakeside path this morning. I don't know if they had all overindulged in like manner but there was no question we were all much better for being outside.

What a week for WoW Power Walkers

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:08:00 +0000

The Olympic torch and the Boston Marathon had a way of making our hearts swell this past week.

WoW Power Walker Jeff Guthrie brought his Olympic torch to our annual Winter Solstice Coffee and Muffin walk. Here we are snuggling close to feel a little Olympic love.

Jeff ran (gasp!) 300m of the torch in Kingston last Tuesday even though we suspect he was chosen for this honour as word has spread of his great walking feats.

All torch bearers wear the official white workout suit you see above, including the white beanie and red mittens. Dropped off at his designated exchange location, he was told to stand with the torch in his right hand crossed over toward his left shoulder. A small Canadian flag on the torch would then be located over his heart. O Canada!

After completing his 300m portion of the route, the torch was immediately dismantled so that it can never be used again. He gets to keep it - just keep it flameless.

Jeff says he really has no words to describe the emotions of being part of the Olympic dream. I understand. Watching the torch being passed from Olympian Adam VanKoeverden to Olympian John Woods last Saturday, I found my heart growing large. No matter how cynical we get about drug doping, politics, and overspending in difficult times - there should always be a place and a time in our lives to aspire to excellence. At its core that is the essence of the Olympics.

Jeff is no stranger to working hard at his own athletic pursuits of personal excellence. Never considering himself an athlete prior to power walking, he has worked consistently every year since his first marathon in Niagara Falls in 2002 to improve his form and his speed. Last year he walked a 50k ultramarathon in Niagara - winning the walking division in the blink-of-an-eye-time of 5:51:49.

Speaking of excellence - what about Boston? Walking the Boston Marathon is usually thought to be impossible for walkers since the qualification times are virtually impossible to achieve when walking - even for the fastest walkers.

Defying all odds in their quest for marathon walking excellence, WoW coach Jill and her husband Jay - both of whom started their walking journey with us in 2005, training for the Honolulu Marthon - have been given two coveted walking spots in the 2010 Boston Marathon!! Jill, who won the walking division of the Ottawa Marathon last year and who has finished a couple of marathons under 5 hours and her husband Jay (who is closing the gap to five hours) will be heading down to the famed race in April. Just like Jeff with the Olympic torch, we're at a loss for words. You've done us all proud Jill and Jay!

Please post any words of excitement for all of this walking excellence!

Rockin Las Vegas Marathon

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:22:00 +0000

We missed Cher!!!

I know it's churlish to complain about the one thing I missed on Sunday....but really...when one has been awake since 4am, eaten breakfast at 4:45, and been ready and waiting in the start area since 5:40 only to discover that Cher has come and gone - singing the national anthem while the speakers were malfunctioning - is just so very disappointing.

Surrounded by a thousand imitation Elvi, we had one of the real queens of Vegas singing for us, and we didn't catch even a glimpse of her on the mother of all jumbo screens outside of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. A search of the Internet proved fruitless - not one photo of her at the start platform - although I did learn that Celine Dion sang America the Beautiful before Cher took the stage!

I'm not sure I believe any of it happened. In a city of copycat Eiffel Towers, pyramids, and Italian cities and palazzos, not to mention thousands of copycat Elvi, there really is no real here.

Mind you, all the fakery does add up to some effective distraction. If a person suffers from any sort of attention disorder, Vegas is the half marathon to enter.

I have included some of the pics here and more on facebook.

P.S. I walked only the half marathon with Team Prevention so can't speak to the full marathon route but my first instinct is that the half marathon offers the best of Vegas - covering the Strip from beginning to end.

I know there were several WoW Power Walkers out on the course and it would be great if you would post some of your thoughts on the race.

Vegas does it zany

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:09:00 +0000

I love, love, love the wonderful and zany marathons I have walked over the past decade as a power walking coach - wine in Bordeaux (!), gladiators in Rome (!), pigs in Cincinnati (!). I fully expected Vegas to take zaniness to heretofore uncharted territory. Thankfully, it has exceedeed my expectations and I haven't yet made it to the start line. When the entrance to the Rodeo Cowboy Show is barely two walking lunges from the race expo, I figure we're in for some fun. The indoor plaza/casino/food concourse is feeding tens of thousands of people (and I'm not exaggerating the numbers) into one of these two doors - one for cowboys and one for marathoners. I have seen some marathoners enter the cowboy show but I have yet to witness one cowboy brave the marathon expo.

Personally, I'd like to see more cowboys take up marathoning. I think they could teach us a thing about good hats.

More on the marahon itself after the race tomorrow!

Walking in the festive season

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:27:00 +0000

The festive season is officially upon us tomorrow. December 1 is when I deem it safe to listen to holiday music, string the holiday lights, and generally let loose with all things twinkly and tinsel.

The challenge, of course, is making it through the holidy season with my waist intact. Just this past weekend I managed to indulge in turkey, tiramisu, and tarts. Walking is a must!

I particularly love evening walking class over the next few weeks as it helps me create space for two of my favorite December vices - eggnog and mince tarts. It is just SO challenging to walk by myself once it gets dark. Of course, as a coach, I have to be out there. But I can tell you, I am extremely grateful for the group and the holiday lights add a magical quality.

So, if you don't have your holiday lights strung up - please get out there! There's a bunch of us evening walkers who will be very grateful!

Walking off pre-race jitters

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Here I am in Philly to join Prevention magazine, as their Walking Coach, with their team of more than 300 walkers. The weather could not be any more perfect and this morning about 25 members of the team brought all their jitters out for a "welcome walk".

Even if you're on your own at a race, it's calming to go out the morning before te event to scout out the start area (especially port-a-pottie locations!). Here in Philly it's even better than usual because the start and finish are within a few hundred meters of each other - at the base of the "Rocky Steps" Ta-da-daaaah. Ta-da-daaaah.

Here are some pics of our Team Members at the top of the steps and the view from the steps looking down the first kilometer of the race route toward downtown Philly.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Walking discoveries - Vancouver & Toronto

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:46:00 +0000

I don't know why I need reminding but 10 days ago I almost missed an amazing opportunity. I was in Richmond B.C. which is not the most obviously charming section of the greater Vancouver area. Because it is not the prettiest area and because it was raining (and it's always raining in Vancouver at this time of year), I almost decided to use the fitness center's treadmill for my morning walk. Fortunately, I reminded myself how I often discover something when I go outside for a walk - whether it's good local coffee, an interesting path, or (cry for help) an irresistible shoe store.

So, down I went to the hotel concierge to ask where one might walk that would be pedestrian friendly. Well, as often turns out in any place, but especially on the westcoast of Canada, there is more to Richmond than street after street of suburban malls. Just 8 minutes from my hotel was a beautiful pedestrian walkway along a dyke that follows the Fraser River. And on the way to that dyke I passed by the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Well...because of the Olympic Oval, I never made it to the dyke! I was seduced to enter by the wood wave roof that, as I learned later in the day, is constructed of 1 million board feet of pine 2x4s that were thought to be useless because they had been damged by pine beetles. Only the long track speed skating event will be held here but it will be worth watching just to catch a glimpse of this spectacular building.

My fantastic experience stumbling upon the Richmond Oval reminded, again, how it expands my horizons - quite literally - to walk outside, no matter how much I am tempted to stay in.

So, today, even though I don't usually walk on Mondays, because it's yoga day, I went exploring in my new urban neighbourhood. Over recent weeks I have had need to drive under an overpass on which there are often cyclists. Today I decided to investigate on foot. Wouldn't you know I happened upon the West Toronto Rail Path. The photos above show you some of what I saw. It's an impressive initiative and you can find out more at http://www.railpath.ca/ .

Please post here, if you have discovered an interesting feature of your neighbourhood recently. Or, go for a walk, and find one!

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Does anyone else find it just a little intense that the night after gorging on Hallowe'en leftovers we launch into Christmas/holiday mode? Because I had to walk the Angus Glen Half Marathon on November 1, I postponed the gluttony by one day! Saved by a race.

The Angus Glen race is super for walkers - walking division, early start, separate results. And you can see from the photos what a beautiful day we enjoyed.

I digress...back to the idea that Halloween seems to launch the holiday season...in southern Ontario many walkers now consider the race season over and look to new goals for the spring. Many leave training to start in the New Year.

If we are starting our holiday season at the beginning of November, it's a long time to the New Year. Two months to be exact. We can undo a lot of good work in two months. Mall walking just isn't going to be a good replacement.

I know the days get really short, and rain can make it particularly uninviting to be outside, but it is crucial to maintain our fitness over these few months - not to mention our sanity! I know I could not survive without my classes and my walks. I find evening is particularly challenging to get outside – so easy to just swaddle myself in blankets and read. That’s why I am particularly grateful for evening classes because the commitment gets me outside enjoying the holiday lights as they start adorn the streets, shops, and houses.

See you there!

Toronto the crabby

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:34:00 +0000

I heard people were getting out of cars and actually booing participants of the Toronto marathon this past weekend.

Then, I read in the newspaper this morning that the City of Toronto is asking the organizers of the two marathons that are held within weeks of each other (one sponsored by Scotiabank and one by Goodlife) to decide which one would be prepared to change its date to the spring.

Last year when I walked the Flying Pig in Cincinnati, entire neighbourhood streets would shut down and set up party tents to cheer on participants. Cars would drive by and the people inside would honk to cheer us on. There was no booing on this course.

Come on Toronto, surely we can figure out how to be home to two marathons that raise so much money for local charities, support local businesses, and help people set and achieve outstanding fitness challenges. It’s win-win-win as far as I can see.

So, here is a scene I wish for the citizens of Toronto. Cars are being stopped by a police officer who is letting the very last participant through an intersection on University Avenue. It’s a cold and blustery day for the Toronto Marathon as a guy barely shuffles up Avenue Road. He is wringing out anything that’s left of him to make it to the finish line 2 kilometers away. People in the cars stopped at the intersection are clearly frustrated at the delay. Suddenly from one of the cars, a person jumps out and cheers on the lonely runner – or walker! He cheers as loudly as possible while his friend in the passenger seat starts honking the horn in encouragement. Before the marathoner has made it to the other side of the intersection, people in cars from all four sides of the intersection are cheering wildly for him - the last participant coming through the race course. It’s a story the guy will tell for years. A story about the encouragement he got from complete strangers in Toronto.

Love to hear your thoughts on Toronto’s reaction to the two marathons closing down streets within the space of a few weeks.

Long Beach Marathon with Team Prevention

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:41:00 +0000

Any race with palm trees lining the route, is a good race. In Long Beach last weekend with a team of readers from Prevention magazine. the weather ended up being perfect - slightly cool and overcast. Long Beach may not be the most scenic of California towns but the race organizers have brilliantly captured the best of the city. The route visits the highlights of Long Beach including the Queen Mary which is permanently docked in LB and at least 3 miles walking along a cycle path beside the ocean. The full marathon goes through the University of California at Long Beach where the students treat each participant like an elite athlete.

It's a huge treat for me to meet readers from the magazine after months of training on their own and getting to know them on the magazine’s online forum.

http://www.prevention.com/community/forums/index.jsp?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3aTeam+Prevention+Walk+It!Forum%3a8501091424Discussion%3a5481097795&plckCurrentPage=3

The day before the race, I got a chance to walk with several of the readers during a “welcome walk”. We walked out to the start area for a little orientation – a helpful thing since it is dark when we arrive before the race. On race morning I rode a bicycle through the course dispensing encouragement, food, and fuel to Team Prevention walkers dressed in highly visible pink shirts. This worked exceptionally well because the roads were closed entirely to traffic. At each traffic light there were always at least four police officers stopping traffic. This made it easy to ride and I’m sure it makes it an A+ course for participants as well. And it shows organizer commitment to making the race an enjoyable experience right down to the very last finisher (although we’d like to see them be prepared for all their participants with medals – they ran out toward the end for half marathoners).

And at the end of the day, all the Team Pink Prevention – many of who are first-time marathoners – finished with a smile, faded memories of any early morning nerves, and, hopefully, plans for their next race!

** In LB there is no walking division, there was an early start for walkers entered in the full marathon. These participants did receive a race chip time but the results were not considered “official” times for qualification purposes.

Hamstring stretch the RIGHT way

scott@wowpowerwalking.com (Wow Power Walking Founder) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Click on the video below to see model Lyne (in her beautiful blue WoW Power Walking coat!) demonstrating (bad and) GOOD form for your hamstring stretching.