Midsummer (or should that be end of summer?) fun

Fairies, spirits, and merry wanderers of the night could be found in abundance at last weekend’s Midsummer Night’s 15k event. WoW Power Walkers were specially fleet of feet as witnessed by our fantastic results (not to mention inspiring costumes).

The race is in its third year and every year the organizers improve from past experience. We love the Shakespearean theme and the race course is beautiful and challenging. This year, fortunately, beauty far outstripped challenge as walkers found themselves witnessing a full moon rise from the south over Lake Ontario contrasted with the glowing lights of downtown Toronto to the north.

And, we love the beer at the end of an evening race!

Still, in the spirit of continuing improvement, we’d like to see better sweat bag check. This could be helped by having several tables for specific bib numbers. Also, keeping in mind that I am a bit of a food snob, I’d like to see some barbecue options that don’t hit the gut like an asteroid flinging out of a nearby solar system. What about looking for a sponsor that could whip up something delicious and a tad healthier? Otherwise, I think next year I’ll be saving my $8.

Despite these minor complaints, we predict an early sell out for next year – so gather your wings and organza!

Also, if you were at the race, give us your perspective.

Save our sidwalks

Has anyone else noticed the safety orange paint marks on the sidewalks, roads, and trails of Oakville? These are not marks placed to identify gas lines or other significant underground hazards. These arrows (and sometimes instructions!) have been sprayed by an unidentified group or groups to mark training routes for their runners and walkers.

For at least a year now I've been grumbling to fellow walkers about this defacement of our walking landscape. Today I make my grumbling official.

I do not know what group or groups is doing this spray painting, but I wonder at the astonishing sense of entitlement that would allow anyone to feel they have the right to leave these marks in public space.

The marks appear to be made with landscape paint which should, theoretically, wash away. Late last summer several bright orange arrows appeared on some corners near my home. They were finally scraped away after a winter of heavy snowfall and snowplough action. A few weeks ago bright new arrows appeared and at least a dozen heavy thundershowers have not washed them away. Last Sunday I walked over these graffiti marks (see pics) on the sidewalk on Lakeshore Road near Appleby College.

Every one of us, who like to get outside for our exercise, should be offended. We have a responsibility to our environment and to our neighbours to leave our community attractive and pleasant for anyone who cares to enjoy it. If every walking and running group took the liberty of drawing their routes on our roads, trails, and sidewalks, the place would be a mess.

What about posting a map on a website before a walk? What about installing and removing, within the few hours of a training run, small landscape flags that can be removed by a designated person?

Leave nothing but footprints, I say.

Putting the fun in summer races

Wednesday night found several WoW Power Walkers revealing their creative sides at the costume workshop we held in preparation for the Midsummer Night's 15k Run (read WALK)next Saturday, August 16.

Emails were sent out to almost 50 people, but only the bravest 7 spirits arrived ready to fashion my overwhelming supply of organza and sparkly somethings into suitable attire for next week's race. In honour of their bravery, I cracked open my one bottle of Chilly Half Chardonnay - yes, it's true, a fine vintage bottled by the race organizers of the Chill Half Marathon. It was a bottle requiring a suitable occasion.

I am so grateful for the help of Natalia, to whom we are forever indebted, who arrived ready to guide those of us (read ME) who can’t imagine doing any more than pull on a pair of technical fabric shorts and shirt to make it to a race, let alone, create a costume out of scraps of materials and miscellaneous shiny objects. At one point in the evening, Natalia was sent to help me. “Better help Lee, she’s looking confused!”

Indeed I was, but now that I have my organza skirt, I’m psyched. Technical fabric seems so…..yesterday’s race.

So, if all you’ve got is yesterday’s technical fabric, give me a shout and I will let you raid my organza supply. Free to a good fairy!

Beat sagging face blues by walking!

On Sunday I had the exquisite pleasure of lounging the day away at a Muskoka cottage, replete with requisite trashy magazines.

Reading one of the recent issues of InStyle, I learned that running is not recommended because its jarring action breaks down the collagen that keeps the face from sagging! According to the article, walking will avoid this collagen breakdown.

This is not the first time I've heard this theory. My original source was a shop-keeper who, once she heard about all the walking I do, proclaimed that walking is the best exercise since "all runners look terrible with their droopy faces"!

I'm not sure that InStyle is a more reputable source of information than that shop-keeper, but it might be worth investigating further.

In the mean time, since we know what a great workout walking can be, why risk the sad, saggy face of a runner?

Summer laundry challenges

I don't like doing a lot of laundry. But I do a lot of laundry. Still, I get behind.

One VERY hot day two weeks ago I showed up to class in a long sleeve shirt and tights. Someone asked if I was cold. "Nope", I said. "I just haven't done the laundry."

For some reason, they found this funny.

When you walk as much as I do, with as many people as I do, it's important to smell reasonable. Notice I did not say sweet. That would be asking too much. So, on that day, instead of wearing slightly soiled shorts and short sleeve shirt, I opted for the clean long sleeve shirt and tights.

It was a matter of thoughtfulness for my fellow walkers.

In any case, I realize that I have never discussed laundry on this blog and it's high time I do.

One important tip I learned long ago is to rinse workout wear with white vinegar before washing. It seems to work.

Of course, I could be living in some la-la land where I think I am not offending anyone with egregious smells.

So, if I have, here's your opportunity to offer proven laundry tips for the sweaty (and possibly smelly) power walker! Post here!