WoW - What's Up in May 2005?

May Marathon Report :: The Tough Ass Half Marathon in Burlington on May 1 proved, once again, that WoW Power Walkers are pretty much invincible. This comes as no surprise when we all know what strong glutes we get from good power walking form! Witness some nice glutes above crossing the finish line! Perhaps the organizers might consider changing the name to the more politically, and technically, correct Tough Glutes Half Marathon. Probably the T-shirt won’t be in such high demand.

“WoW” would be an understatement for the turn-out we had at the Mississauga Marathon Weekend that just passed. WoW Power Walking had 10 people enter the 10k event on a soggy Saturday night, more than 40 in the half marathon, and 4 very committed legs that belonged to Laurel and Mike walking the full! Kudos should go to the race organizers who put on a great weekend. Once again, we loved the outstanding send-off on Sunday morning. There were more than 500 people at the start and they were all treated to some great tunes and an enthusiastic announcer. The course really does make the most of the scenic areas of Mississauga and the medals were great! I think the trilliums on Orr Road are worth walking 42 km. I hope Laurel and Mike were feeling good enough to notice them!

National Capital Race Weekend is coming up. This is one of my favourite events and I will be walking the full marathon for the third year in a row. If you are going, let me know, so we can be sure to get your photo! I will be speaking at the Speakers Series at 2 pm on Saturday. I’d love to see you there – it’s always good to preach to the converted!

Is that walker running? Is that runner walking? With the rise in popularity of walking marathon events – witness all the early walker starts and walking divisions - I have been hearing grumblings from walkers who say that some walkers are running. Of course, we have been hearing complaints about people who run-walk for a long time, too. One of the reasons I got excited about power walking marathons in the first place was because I thought: “Hey, I could do that”. One of the reasons I started WoW Power Walking was because I thought: “Hey, lots of people could do that!” One of the reasons I continue to be passionate about coaching people to power walk is because I have seen it truly change so many lives. Unlike other fitness environments in which I have worked, this is about accomplishment, mastery, camaraderie, and fresh air – a winning combination. I would like to see race organizers figure out how to encourage power walking as a division while keeping it accessible and fun. Turning it into race walking will certainly make it an exclusive, not an inclusive, event. No guidelines will mean that people who are interested in mastery will be discouraged. Personally, I will be trying to work with race organizers to find a happy place for all marathoners. If you have any ideas about how this can be achieved, I hope you will contact me with your ideas. In the mean time, let’s not make any grumblings that we feel turn personal. Remember, right now those walking starts are for all those people who thought – “Yes! I can do this”. On the race course, everyone should be thinking: “Yes! I am doing this.” At the finish, everyone should be saying: “Yes! I did it!”