Power Walkers “WoW” the spring events We couldn’t be more proud of WoW power walkers on their many achievements this spring. After a grueling winter of frozen eyelashes and icy road conditions, followed by what felt like three months of rainy Sundays, everyone emerged stronger and faster! WoW power walkers were well represented in several events this season: Around the Bay Road Race, Tough Ass Half Marathon, Mississauga Marathon (inaugural event that won rave reviews!), and National Capital Marathon. Many experienced the anxiety and thrill of their first event and many more achieved personal bests. Check out WoW Results on the website.

Despite the entirely ridiculous weather extremes experienced by those who did their long training walks on Sundays, event Sundays usually bucked the meteorological trend and ended up as perfect walking days. Of course, there was the notable exception of the Tough Ass Half Marathon which lived up to it’s name by adding torrential rains and blasting winds to an already tough course – even the volunteers at the water stations were huddling in their cars! Otherwise, the Mississauga Marathon and the National Capital Marathon boasted the best days of spring 2004 – sunny skies and temperatures that even allowed skin to be revealed!

The great news that comes out of the spring season is the definite trend toward increasing numbers of walkers out on the courses and the accommodation by race organizers to have walking starts. It all began with the one hour early start at the Chilly Half marathon on March 7. This was deemed such a success by the organizers that they immediately re-vamped their start for the Tough Ass Half Marathon to include a similar start. And, they awarded prizes to the top three finishers (men and women)! The Mississauga Marathon allowed walkers in the half and full events to start one full hour before the runners! On top of that, this walking start was well organized and motivational with lots of peppy music, fitness specialists leading a warm-up, and a prompt gun time!

5K anyone? With the marathon events winding down for the summer, you may be looking for some events that will keep you sharp! So what about entering one of the several 5k events? The 5k distance seems like a breeze after training for 21, 30, or 42. The OTMH Classic, held on Father’s Day (June 20), features a scenic route through the leafy streets of Olde Oakville, chip timing and prizes for walkers, followed by lots of fun with face painting and balloon-stuff for the kids, and loads of draw prizes for all participants. We know that WoW will be well represented at this event and we are encouraging as many of you to come out as possible. If you are an Oakville resident, you may want to go the extra mile and get pledges that will go directly to your community hospital. Go to Upcoming Events at www.wowpowerwalking.com and you will find a link for registration.

Hall of Fame: Choosing from all the WoW power walkers for the Hall of Fame is never easy but this spring we do have one stand out. Wendy Joyce has inspired us all with her commitment to excellence in walking throughout a tumultuous spring of surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. Wendy is the reason that WoW Power Walking has entered two teams in the Relay for Life at Appleby College on Friday, June 4. We will be camped out and walking the grounds of Appleby College the entire night in her honour. If you are interested in showing your support through a donation, you can do so by pledging to either Wendy’s Winners or WoW for Wendy online at www.cancer.ca (go to Relay for Life).
Wendy has been such an inspiration to us this spring. Just this past weekend she was out walking 8k even though she is about to undergo her third chemotherapy treatment. She has also signed up for the 3km distance in the OTMH Classic and has circled the last weekend in April 2005 to walk the 21-mile Power Walk at the Big Sur International Marathon. If you don’t know Wendy, have a look at the pics on the website, she comes up on just about every page and in every event!

Coaching Makes a Difference
Summer: There are a couple of introductory Marathon Training courses starting within the week in Oakville, and High Park. There is space in these courses, so tell a friend who may want to enter the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon this fall! Also, Just Get Outside courses in Oakville, Port Credit and High Park are starting for WoW Power Walking veterans. Please confirm with us if you are taking any of these courses. We know that some of you just like to show up, but it does make our job that much easier, and we serve you better, if we have an idea of who is attending.
Fall: We have great things planned for the fall! Along with our usual roster of WoW! Marathon Training and WoW! On Your Mark courses, we will be introducing some intensive training for those walkers who have become PB-seeking addicts! In addition, we have had several people express interest in walking the 21-mile Power Walk at the Big Sur International Marathon next year. (Registration www.bsim.org opens September 1 and usually sells out with 2 weeks!) For those people who get themselves registered we will be offering a special training course it (this is one event for which you will want to be well prepared!). If you are curious, have a look at Lee’s photos and journal of her experience at Big Sur 2004 in the WoW Results section of the website!

Stay tuned to future newsletters and our website for class updates!

WoW Tip :: Personal Identification!

Personal identification! Never leave home with out it!
Summer is almost here and many of us will be taking our walking gear with us on holidays or weekend get-aways. At the Tough Ass Half Marathon I received a gift certificate for RoadID and while I don’t normally use the WoW! Tip section to promote a product, this little doo-dad is worth investigating. There are a couple of design options but I purchased their simplest version: a small ID plaque conveniently threaded into a velcro strap that attaches to my shoe through the shoelaces. The ID lists my name, address, telephone number, pertinent medical/allergy info, and also leaves a small amount of room for my personal manifesto – Get Outside! Check it out at www.roadid.com. Also, if you ever find a runner or walker down, check their shoes…maybe they have one and you will know who to call.

Keep in touch and say hello! Although WoW Power Walking has seen some growth over the last year, we always like to stay in touch with our alumnae! If you are planning on walking an event, tell us about it! If someone has taken your picture out walking, send it to us! Most of all, if you see me at an event come on over and say hello! (I’ll be the one with the WoW Power Walking hat and a big camera – so smile!) We are thrilled when you keep training with us, but we are just as thrilled to know that you are still out walking, entering events, and having fun!

Celebrate Canada Day with a walk! Come out to our Coffee and Muffin Walk in High Park on Thursday, July 1!! This time we will feature two shorter walks: 5km and 10 km (of course you are welcome to walk further if you want!). Maps with routes will be distributed that morning. This is purely a fun and social event – wear red and white or bring your maple leaf! Bring along family or friends (no coaching available – just coffee and muffins – we have to focus our energies on one task at a time!). An early start of 7am will avoid the heat. Please RSVP to info@wowcompany.net Directions will be posted on the website.

Long-distance number 1-877-WOW-WALK (1-877-969-9255)!

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