WoW - Poncho Perfect!

Congratulations to the many WoW power walkers who did a fantastic job ignoring the rain at Casino Niagara. Check out the results on the Walker’s Talking message board at www.wowpowerwalking.com. Many people achieved personal bests in a race that did pose some interesting challenges – including a 35 minute delay at the start and very little privacy for those essential (and we mean essential) calls of nature.

The WoW pasta dinner at Alternatives in Oakville before the race was a great chance to get psyched. Lew King, one of the owners, met all of our carbohydrate needs with two pasta sauces, superb salad bar, date squares, and organic fig and apricot bars for dessert - you can try them out. Wendy Joyce, did her weight training for the event by bringing in a television set and video so that everyone could enjoy watching the Women’s Race Walking World Championship 20km event held in France last spring.

Finally, our reporting on Casino Niagara would be incomplete without a word about the bus! Yes, the private WoW coach was a great success. Everyone enjoyed being ushered to the start line in a vehicle that was warm and had a washroom. This was only bettered by having the same warm bus, with its washroom, waiting 300 yards from the finish line! Call us spoiled, but WoW power walkers may never arrive at a start line any other way!

New instructor! New courses!

Watch out Unionville. WoW power walkers will be hitting the streets in January. Shari Brannen, a certified personal trainer and nutrition and wellness specialist, will lead these courses. Shari has a great motivational style as you can tell by her smile! Courses will be meeting at the Starbucks on Main Street, Thursday mornings and early Saturday mornings.

Just a thought …. rumour has it that several people are considering a triple crown for the spring…Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington on March 7 (early start for walkers), Around the Bay Road Race (30km) in Hamilton on March 28 (early start for walkers), Mississauga Marathon on May 16 or National Capital Marathon in Ottawa on May 30 (both have early starts for walkers and the NCM has a new route for the full marathon).

And one more thought .… "We get more colds in winter than summer - but not because it’s colder or wetter. Rather, it’s because we spend more time indoors where it’s easier to swap viruses”. In other words: GET OUTSIDE!
(Source: Hope Heart Institute, Seattle)

Vaseline may be a marathoner’s friend for more than one reason. If you have been walking long distances you know that Vaseline does the trick to prevent chafing on feet and other areas that experience skin to skin contact and/or any unwanted rubbing! What many of you may not realize is that Vaseline works magnificently to prevent exposed skin from getting too dry and frost-bitten in the really cold weather. While we’re all hoping for an easier winter than the one we experienced last year, it’s best to be prepared. So, have that tube of Vaseline handy in a pocket (snuggled in with the handkerchief). Also, remember that technical fabrics are ideal, if not essential, in cold weather. When you are sweating profusely (which you will be, if you’re a WoW power walker!), you want the sweat to move away from the body to prevent getting chilled as you cool down. Finally, fleece keeps you warm even when wet!