Power walking the Niagara Ultra 50k

Well, more than a week after walking the Niagara Ultra 50k I have finally crawled out of my coma to write a blog entry.

Who thought up these races anyway? And who was it that said to me – “Come on Lee…it’s just 8k more than a marathon”?

Oh, yes, it’s all coming back to me. It was that crazy WoW Power Walking coach Jill Pettit. Jill has a passion for distance that is reflected on her 43k face seen here. No one should look that happy at the 43k mark of a 50k race.




Seriously, 50k is a long way. We walked all the way from Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake to the top of Niagara Falls – and BACK! Training for these distances has to be taken seriously and, sadly, I admit my training was not up to WoW standards owing to several events conspiring against me in May. Now, I’m not whining here but I do want people to know that there is a reason we coach people with the mantra “Set yourself up for success”. The corollary to that is: follow the training schedule, do the distance, and do the speed work. This is why we follow our training schedules and work out hard and fast in class. So go ahead - chide me on not following my own advice.

For my comrades in pain who met me at the start on the morning of June 20 to complete the Niagara Ultra 50k a heart congratulations. All three of them trained to perfection. They were well prepared and well rewarded with stupendous results. Jeff finished in an astonishing 5:51:49. Jill finished this race last year in 6:35:50. This year she crossed the line in 6:01:26. That’s 34 minutes faster! Jay finished he race last year in 7:17:13. This year he crossed the line in 6:37:55. That’s 40 minutes faster! WoW is an understatement! And, again WoW – good training works!

The next race on the WoW horizon is the Midsummer Night’s Run and Walk in August. We dress up in Shakespearean themed garb and have a blast walking 15 kilometers on the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto. I’ll be ready for this one – “Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon's sphere’

Look for me on roads and trails – I’ll be the one with wings and pink eyelashes – race specific training don’t ya know.

Join this post by telling us about your own training success or failures – we learn from them all!

Strength for a powerful power walk!

This is the video referred to in the WoW Power Walking Newsletter of June 2009

Johnny Rowe Marathon Walker

Been walking much lately? How about 3,200 kilometres? Today's Globe and Mail obituary described the life of famed Canadian walker Johnny Rowe who averaged this distance every year for 27 years and who died on May 28. According to the Globe and Mail, Rowe described marathon walking as "a chance to accomplish something without mechnical aid". I suspect he would have scoffed at those of us chained to our GPS devices.

Also, according to the obituary, Rowe considered marathon walking "a time to do a lot of deep thinking." Now, I might not go so far as to describe my thought as deep, but I can say that on my personal walks, I frequently find myself enjoying a meditative state during which stream of consciousness ideas clarify issues that have been weighing on me or, better yet, I imagine ideas for fun things to do (side plank dips with band resistance anyone?). At the very least, there is a positive "filing and prioritizing" process that happens in my brain that makes me happier.

In any case, the description of Rowe is inspiring and many of you reading this will find common ground with a pioneer marathon walker.

Here is the link


http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090610.OBROWE10ART2111//TPStory/Obituaries


And many thanks to Darrell and Vera who forwarded me this information and who must have known I had no time to enjoy my morning paper!

It's time for fun 5ks

The cool weather continues to nip at our heels but now that it's June we're expecting the air temperature to increase and the length of races to decrease! That's how it works...the long races are held in spring and fall when temperatures are (hopefully) under 30 degrees.

The time to participate in short races is the summer. I look forward to this time of year when the intention is fun as much as speed. Last weekend Toronto area was home to two great races for walkers - the Alfie Shrubb 8K in Bowmanville and the Art Keay Memorial Rae and Power Walks.

In a few weeks in our home town of Oakville the OTMH Classic 5k will be held. The race has been supporting a walking division for several years. We love that! Walkers start 5 minutes after the running start, which is just enough time to clear a path on the road while making it possible to confirm that everyone starting with that division is, indeed, walking. We have been duped on this – some “walkers” have started 5 minutes early with the runners and some “walkers” have been seen running (gasp!) but we usually figure everything out in the end.

As I have posted time and again here - we're still on a learning curve helping participants and organizers alike understand that a walking division means that participants are starting as walkers, continuing the course as walkers, and finishing as walkers!

In the main, for a race like the OTMH Classic, we’re out there to get fit and have fun with our friends and family. I encourage everyone to find at least one local 5k each year – commit to participate fully as athlete and fund-raiser and fun-maker! If you live in Oakville, make it this race!

Of course, we’d love to hear about YOUR favourite 5k.

Lee