December 4, 2008
There are so many walks. There is the crazy workout walk when a heartless coach is screaming “Go”, there is the walk with a friend who is going through a difficult time, there is the 400m track workout walk, there is the solitary walk to clear the head, there is the hill repeat walk, there is the hundred layer January morning walk, there is the trail walk, there is the family walk on Thanksgiving or Christmas day, there is the marathon walk, there is the mall walk, there is the out and back walk, and there is the short walk, and there is the long walk. We love them all and more. May the holiday season find you taking a special walk every day. |
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| Nutrition tip: Everything about cranberries makes them perfect for the holiday season. Let’s start with the colour! Throw a few of these power house fruits into an apple pie, apple crumble or cookie and – wow – festive food instantly. But the sweetest thing of all is the benefit to your body. For some time it has been popular lore that cranberries help prevent urinary tract infections. This claim is now backed by research and additional research has found that cranberries may also play a role warding off heart disease and cancer. Of course, your cranberries don’t have to tag along in a dessert. Here’s a cleansing and hydrating recipe for the holidays. Grate fresh ginger root into a teapot and pour boiling water over. Let it steep 5 to 10 minutes. In a mug pour a splash of pure cranberry juice (not from concentrate) and then fill up the mug with your ginger root tea. Spicy, healthy, and just what you need to recover from the dessert table. Strength tip: Most of us spend too many hours hunched over our desks or slumped behind the wheel of a car. Our backs are seriously stretched. We need to strengthen them. Since it is not likely you are going to start a new strength program between now and January 1, here’s an idea for those long holiday line-ups we face at bank machines and in check-out lines. No weights, no bands needed. Just stand as tall as you can and squeeze the shoulder blades toward each other. Repeat as long as the line-up lasts! Coffee and Muffin: We’re jumping the gun on winter solstice this year by hosting our Coffee and Muffin Walk this Sunday, December 7. Celebrate another great year of walking. We’ll provide the coffee, the muffins, our famous marathon cookies as well as cider and tea. In 2007 we started a great tradition when we asked everyone to wear their race medals from the year. It’s possibly your only opportunity to show off your medals to an audience that is genuinely interested! Yes, we want to see them all. But most importantly, we want to see you! Bring a friend or family member. Or, come by yourself, you’re sure to find a walking companion. We will meet at 8am at the Sovereign House, 7 West River Street, Oakville. Parking is on the east side of West River Street, north of Sovereign house and south of Seneca Drive. Look for it on your left just as you drive up the hill on West River Street. While we appreciate RSVPs so that we can make enough snacks and warm drinks for everyone, we’re always open to last minute walking additions that morning! |
View from the Back by Janet Cawley :: Races may differ in many ways but there is one constant. Yes, that numbered beauty, the bib. I love my bibs, even if they survive the race dirty and tattered. I especially love the ones with my name pre-printed in bold type on the front. When spectators along the course call out - "Go Janet!” - I feel famous---well more famous than I usually fancy I am, that is. Some racers keep their bibs, marking their finishing times on the backs. I am far too disorganized for that practice. I have a list of my times but keep only my special bibs: my first race, my only marathon, and the races that I have really enjoyed. Some races come with "hardware". I'm certain most people keep their medals. I definitely do. I hang them near a window and on blustery spring days they tinkle like the finest wind chimes.
Trying to act unconcerned, still partially believing my trophies shouldn't be a big deal, I nonchalantly dashed across the room and rapidly counted my treasures. Whew! All fourteen were there. So, in addition to considering the length of the race, the reported scenery of the course and whether a free T-shirt is involved, I have to say, I am indeed attracted by numbers, names and necklaces. | |
Words
to walk and live by :: All walking is discovery. On foot we take the time to see things whole. - Hal Borland, American author. |
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I like to think it is my effort in the race that makes me happiest, rather than receiving some medallion hanging on a ribbon. Sadly, several weeks ago I learned the hard truth. My four-year old nephew was visiting and asked how many "race necklaces" I had. He then proceeded to count them, arriving at the score of "five" or "thirty-one fifty".
Stretch tip: Here’s a stretch tip to complement the back work of our strength tip. It can be done while you wait for your morning coffee to brew. Turn your back to the kitchen counter. Raise both arms up and in line with your ears. Just aligning the arms with the ears feels great. Now take a deep breath and, as you exhale, arch your back over the counter behind you. Hold it there and breathe normally. Ah. Now, take in another deep breath to straighten out. 
