April 29, 2005
At WoW Power Walking we do lots more than just walk! These beauties are finishing off a pre-race walk and stretch at the Carmel Beach. Yes, that’s Carmel Beach, California! Twenty of us managed to tear ourselves away from the rain and sleet of Ontario to walk the 21 mile and 10.6 mile races at the Big Sur International Marathon last weekend. And what a weekend! On Friday, while several of us were driving the route (as if we needed to add to our hill anxiety!), we experienced 40mph winds off the Pacific Ocean. On Saturday, the day before the race, the rain did not let up for almost 24 hours. This led to lengthy conversations as to lousy weather preferences: Was rain preferred over wind? Wind over rain? What would we wear if it was windy? What would we wear if it was rainy? PLEASE don’t let it be windy and rainy! Should we go back to the race expo to buy some waterproof covers? Should we just go home! Fortunately, all of our anxieties were ill spent. Race day dawned with some cloud cover but NO rain and NO wind! Check out the pictures from this year’s event and read Lee’s 2004 and 2005 journals (2005 coming soon). This is one of those events that must be on your lifetime “to do” list. Of course, why wait a lifetime when you could sign up for 2006? Registration opens September 1, 2005 and the race sells out within a few weeks.
Don’t forget! This Sunday, May 1 (not Saturday as mentioned in the last newsletter), 2 - 4 pm, e will be hosting a $10 movie afternoon at the Oakville Central Library, 120 Navy Street in beautiful downtown Oakville. We will be showing Walk, Don’t Run with Cary Grant!! You might also get some race walking tips!! The BIG, BIG door draw prize is a $100 WoW Power Walking gift certificate – to be used toward WoW clothing or courses. You’ve got to be there, to be eligible to win it! There will be delicious home-baked snacks for sale. Again, ALL proceeds will go to the Relay for Life teams. This will make a great Sunday afternoon. If you've never been to charming downtown Oakville, this should be the weekend! Stores and many restaurants are open on Sundays. Right now they are calling for rain on Sunday which is not good for the Tough Ass Marathon (see you there, too, I hope!) but great for a movie matinee! Bring a friend and RSVP to info@wowcompany.net. |
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| Spring is sprung!! Spring events in Ontario kick off this weekend with the Tough Ass Half Marathon on Sunday, May 1 in Burlington. Last year we had a handful of WoW tight ass walkers kicking ass at the Tough Ass. (OK, it’s not me who came up with that line!) Let’s get a few more out this year – tough asses that is, not tight asses! The course has some hills, hence Tough Ass, but for those of you who have done any of our hill training courses or if you regularly walk in the High Park courses, this race will be a breeze. The organizers are extremely welcoming to walkers – early start and prizes to the first 3 finishers in the men’s and women’s walkers. And, of course, everyone wants a Tough Ass T-shirt! If you can’t make it out this weekend, there is always the Mississauga Marathon on May 15 and the National Capital Race weekend at the end of May. Both of these events welcome walkers. Fees for the Ottawa race increase after April 30, so hurry to sign up! I’ll be speaking at the Mississauga Marathon Expo at 11am
on Saturday, May 15 and again at the National Capital Speaker’s
Series at 2:30 pm on Saturday May 28. Be sure to come and say hello
(and clap too!), if you are there. (Click on the above race names
for direct links to race registration)
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We marathon walkers can be out on a course for a long time in contrast to runners. This has resulted in some interesting discoveries from those who study marathon and post marathon illness and injury. Recently someone brought an article to my attention that discusses the dangers of hyponatremia in slower marathoners (yes, that’s us … no matter how fast we walk!). With lots of press about the dangers of dehydration, slower marathoners have been encouraged to drink as much as they can. In fact, this may be exactly the wrong advice! Drinking too much can rid the body of important electrolytes and can lead to hyponatremia – a serious condition that can result in coma and death. The research article, published in the New Studies in Athletics from the International Association of Athletics Federation, reports that because of metabolic differences in athletes it is not safe to make a blanket recommendation for fluid ingestion. Instead, the authors recommend drinking what feels appropriate. That is, drink when you are thirsty – somewhere between 400 to 800 ml per hour (lower rates for slower runners and walkers completing marathons in cooler conditions). Contact me if you want more info or a link to the article. Finally, remember not too eat too much during
a race. Yes, you need some carbs to assist fat burning after 90
minutes but you do not need to put your body into distress! This
should be fun and improve the quality of your life! |
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Long-distance number 1-877-WOW-WALK (1-877-969-9255)! |
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Thank
you, Thank you! At our coffee and muffin walk
on April 17 we asked for donations to be made to the two WoW
for Wendy Relay for Life teams. These teams are
walking on June 3 in memory of outstanding power walker and great
friend, Wendy Joyce. Thank you to the many WoW walkers who donated
more than $115 at the walk – all of which will go to the
Cancer Society. 
WoW
Tip :: Too much of a good thing?