July 2, 2008
|
In the heart of the Yukon there is a place that offers the perfect setting for a midnight marathon on the longest day of the year. This place is Mayo and the race is called the Mayo Midnight Marathon. It is hosted by the Mayo Fly-by-Night Running Club. Think about this: there are less than 400 people who live in Mayo, but there is a running club. Members of this little club run the silver trail through some of the darkest and coldest days on the planet, then punish themselves further by staying up all night on the summer solstice, one of their few and precious summer nights, to help walkers and runners complete any of four events including a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon. When the last finisher crosses the line, there’s no packing up for these volunteers who are handing out hearty bowls of homemade soup from the all-night kitchen. No, it’s time to clean up and begin the cooking for the celebration breakfast that will be held at 10am. If you have a look at the WoW blog for June 24, you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the treasures of the Yukon – the Mayo Midnight Marathon feast! Organizers from the banana and bagel school of re-fuelling could learn something from this! It’s not easy to follow the Klondike Highway to the Silver Trail to get to the middle of the Yukon for a midnight marathon. But there may be a gem of a local race somewhere in your travels this summer. By the way, even in tiny Mayo, race participants were reminded prior to the start that the walking divisions were for walkers only. Yes, indeed, these small race organizers could teach the big race organizations a thing or two. If you are on holidays this summer and notice a local race, sign up and let us know about the fun, camaraderie, inspirations, and food! |
||
| Strength Tip :: Walking lunge with a twist. There are so many variations on lunges that can benefit your overall strength. Try taking your step out on a 45 degree angle from the midline. Add a heel lift or a leap after you push off with the back foot. Lunge and hold in the lowest position, then add a twist. To prevent knee problems, be sure that your body weight is felt through the heel of the front foot, not through the ball of the foot. Any of these variations will add a challenge to your typical lunge. And a challenge is always met with positive change. Stretch Tip :: Be your own superhero! Start with your feet close together on the ground. Reach your arms above your head. Lift, one foot out behind you and tip forward from the waist keeping your outstretched arms as close to your head as possible. Continue until your leg and arms are parallel to the ground. Imagine you are flying like a superhero. You will be strengthening the weight-bearing leg and your core muscles; and stretching through the raised leg and arms. Now, go take on the world. Nutrition Tip :: It’s anti-oxidant season! Anti-oxidants include beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and the minerals selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese. Anti-oxidants help mop up free radicals that can be caused by environmental damage and, ironically, exercise. Yes, it’s true, you do your body a favour by exercising but at the same time you may create free radicals leaving you vulnerable to aging and disease. Research has shown that if you are properly nourished, supplements are unnecessary. Since anti-oxidants are contained in many of the fruits and vegetables that are now in season it’s a good time to go crazy for our local farm produce. There are loads of farmers markets popping up in southern Ontario. Enjoy the fresh air and go on a buying spree for spinach, green leafy vegetables including kale and Swiss chard, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and don’t forget your farm-fresh eggs!
|
||
Walk of Fame!
Congratulations to Jill and Jay Pettit who power walked the Niagara Ultra Marathon last weekend. That’s 50k! They finished in 6:35 and 7:17. They are the first WoW Power Walkers to enter and complete an Ultra! Their optimism, energy and enthusiasm is boundless – if a tad manic! The couple have set their sights on completing 50 marathons in 50 states. And, since they walked the London Flora Marathon last April, possibly 7 marathons on 7 continents! They are an inspiring example of the amazing changes that can happen when you stick to the training plan. They finished their first marathon in Honolulu in 2005, finishing in 6:19. Just a little more than two years later at the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon they posted times of 5:15 and 5:26. |
Classes :: Lazy days of summer? Don’t let it happen! You may regret the results in September. We offer a good selection of locations and times through July and August. To maintain or improve fitness levels, we recommend signing up for a full session and doing make-up classes when you miss because of vacation. Still, we know that the summer can be a difficult time to commit to an entire program. So, we will pro-rate classes for Level 2 courses in the summer months only. Let us know, in advance, when you plan to attend classes and we will charge you just for those classes. Also, consider shaking things up: try another location or class. The Walking Strength and Stability classes are perfect for a cross-training alternative to your marathon walking work and the 6am start in Oakville will find you enjoying the company of a secret society of early rising enthusiasts. Update on Columbus :: We had lots of excitement about a bus trip to Columbus for the half marathon in October. At present we are investigating a road trip that leaves Toronto/Oakville on Friday, October 16 around 2pm and leaving Columbus on Sunday for the return trip around 1pm (depending on whether people are walking the full or the half). In order to plan this as successfully as possible, please confirm your interest and let us know what distance you are planning to walk.
Words
to walk and live by ::
|
|
