Something to think about for the WoW Fanatic. Once you have been a WoW Power Walker, you are always a WoW Power Walker in our eyes…always welcome at our coffee and muffin walks, always welcome to join us on our bus transportation to events, always cheered on when we see you cross the finish line, always at risk for having your name and photo displayed prominently on our website! We take great pride in the number of people whom we have helped find their feet! Still, we’d like to take our service one step further. Starting in 2006, we will be offering something special for those who find themselves fanatical about the power walking experience. Starting in January you can belong to the WoW Fanatics! WoW Fanatic membership will be $100 + GST ($175 for a family membership – up to 4 family members) annually. For this membership you will get 15% off all WoW courses and clothing. In addition, we will offer 2 “Master classes” – one each in the spring and fall free to all Fanatics. (Available at $40 + GST to everyone else) This will be a two-hour class focusing on a specific topic of interest to power walkers - possibly strength conditioning, flexibility, nutrition, gait analysis, race walking, and more. We will be working over the fall to set this in place so that you can still easily register online for courses as a WoW fanatic.

Shall I say it again? DON”T FORGET BIG SUR 2006! Registration opens September 1, 2005 for the April 30, 2006 event. Every step you take along this route is a step in paradise. Feel free to email Lee if you have questions. We are planning on arranging great accommodation and victory dinner for anyone interested.

WoW Power Walking coaches are proud to wear New Balance shoes.

WoW Tip :: Could you be walking like a runner?

As those of you who have taken our classes know, we work on speed at WoW Power Walking! And we love it! When we do our interval training, some participants point out that people are running during the interval, not walking! Say it’s not so! Typically, those accused of running believe they are walking because one foot stays on the ground at all times.

So, what makes a fast walker look like a runner? Usually it is a bent-leg landing. If you land with a bent leading leg, you will look like you are attempting some version of a run. Technically, in race walking a bent-front-leg landing would disqualify a competitor from a race. While we are not race-walking in our program, most of us consider ourselves walkers not runners. If you want to be sure that you are walking when you speed up, concentrate on that straight-leg landing. While you are at it, be sure that your toe is up and your heel is firmly planted, as a flat-footed landing often results in a bent knee. A good straight-leg landing will also be much easier on your knees over the long haul.

Coffee and Muffin Walk: We would love to see you on Monday, September 5, 7:30am (Labour Day Monday) for another splendid walk followed by muffins, marathon cookies, and coffee. Our coffee and muffin walks are a great way to meet other like-minded and like-footed power walkers. We will have maps with routes of various distances that will suit the training schedules for the various events people are walking this fall. You show up, get a map, walk your distance, and return for refreshments and chatting. Don’t forget New Balance™ will be there this time to talk to you about shoes (and we all love to talk about shoes!) and you’ll also receive a card allowing you to get a free gift with NB™ purchase from participating independent shoe retailers. Remember: lots of great stuff in life is FREE, including our coffee and muffin walks! Even if you have never taken one of our courses, come out and meet us. We’re pretty friendly.

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