Power moves to beat your chip time

The next few weeks are going to be fun. We've got people walking the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton next weekend (let's hope there is good support for the early start walkers!), another strong contingent going to NYC for the MORE Half Marathon at the beginning of April along with Jill and Jay who fly to London for the Flora marathon and, of course, our group pounding the western edge of North America in Big Sur a few weeks after that.


With so many people maxed out on their endurance walks and in "taper" mode, it's good to take time to bring back the power in those muscles. In class, I'll be introducing some plyometric "power" moves such as leaping (!) and lunges with leaping! Power squats with jumps are another good idea. Strength training also helps.

With spring finally sprung everyone will know that you are just jumping of joy!

March Break Butt

It felt irresponsible to write entries on a walking blog over the past week when my butt was firmly glued to the seat of my car. Yes, my family participated in the annual blue and white license plate migration to the land of oranges. It's a long drive to the beach!

Surprisingly, for a person who spends many hours outside walking, I discovered I did not mind the drive. Predictably, since I can always be found extolling the many hidden benefits of power walking and training for marathons, I believe that walking training even prepares a person for long drives.

Marathon training has given me the ability to slow my brain. It has given me the gift of accepting the moment for what it is. During a marathon your brain simply can not move to the finish line too early. If you think about how far you have to go, the experience becomes completely odious - even impossible.

I have learned to entertain myself with my own thoughts on those long training walks and I discovered on the drive south to Florida that the skill works just as well driving for hours as walking for hours.

Now I don't see myself buying an RV or becoming a transport trucker since I do love fresh air but I do know that when I have had enough of winter training, I don't need anything more than my car, a little patience, and I can be taking my next walk on a beach!

I'd love to hear how you find power walking and training has enhanced your life.

Race Day Perfection

Don't ya just love it when you feel like you've been battling the elements for months - shovelling snow, commuting two hours through storms to and from work, walking into bitter -30 degree winds on training days - and you wake up to a perfect race day?

Sandwiched between two storms those of us walking the Chilly Half Marathon, and those outstanding volunteers manning our water station, had the weather gods grinning broadly upon us. For the first time in weeks, I could safely wear three layers instead of 20.For many of us this was the first major race of 2008 and an auspicious beginning to our spring season. Considering that we have been training under less than ideal conditions both underfoot and overhead, walking on a clear and dry road for 21 kilometers felt more than marvellous.

The dry roads also offered a perfect canvas for the inspiring chalk messages written by Jay and Jill of 50-state fame. The twosome went out early Sunday morning before the race, to leave colourful and inspirational words along the entire 21 kilometer course. At 15k, the WoW Water Station volunteers had the names of all WoW Power Walkers (and even some who did not come out to the race!) written on the road for a welcome hit of encouragement. These are the little things that keep us going in a big way on race day.

I've said it before, but I'm thrilled to say it again: the Chilly Half marathon is one of the best half marathons for walkers any where I have walked. Our one hour head start means that we finish with most of the runners. A pace car for the leaders shows respect for the entire division as athletes. A loud crowd roars us in to the finish line. The Master of Ceremonies still has a voice when the walkers arrive. And, there is plenty of hot food being served by friendly volunteers. To top it off, there are medals and prizes for top three in the overall category, masters category, AND age group categories.

The result of this attention to walking detail on the part of the organizers means a huge walking contingent. In 2004 there were 43 people at the start line of the first walkers-only start at the Chilly Half. Yesterday, there were 262. This is 600 percent growth in 4 years. More than 70 of this year's participants have taken or are now taking a WoW Power Walking program. And many of these WoW Power Walkers went home with double medals - winning overall, or in the masters or age category divisions.

Like I said during my talk to guests at the Yo-Pro Pasta Dinnner on Saturday night - the growth in participants and the result times posted after the race reflect an exciting attitude on the part of walking competitors. We have raised the bar! Yes, we are in the event to complete, but we're also here to COMPETE. I've heard many stories since yesterday of people who improved on previous times. I saw people pushing so hard to get to that finish line that they couldn't muster the energy for a smile. And I saw people who had truly gone to the bottom of the well to find whatever fuel was there to shave a few more seconds of their finish time.

Bravo!

(Pic above: Kelly Arnott, Race Director, Cam Jackson, Mayor of Burlington and just a few of the WoW Power Walkers who were Overall, masters, and age group winners!)