Athens Classic Marathon, 2010. What a foot race!

The 28th Athens Classic Marathon is over and what a maraathon it was. The management of more than 16,000 particpants was perfection. This is no small feat for a race organization that has seen only about 3,000 participants in recent years. Local citizens lined almost the entire route, some offering olive branches. Children were excited to high-five competitors. Bravos were shouted from corners, apartment baclconies, bridge overhangs, and especially along the last kilometre before we entered the Panathenaic Stadium.

It was sunny and hot enough that we were pouring the plentiful water over ourselves as much as drinking it. The view of the hills at the Marathon, the very same protected by the Athenians from the Persian invaders 2500 years, were covered in olive trees as they were then. My corral, block 6 Orange, happened to be alongside the marathon flame which has been lit all year to celebrate the 2500 anniversary of the battle. Cities around the world that are hosting marathons are invited to bring the flame to their marathons. In Toronto, it arrived at the end of September for the Toronto Waterfront event. Look for it, if you are attending any big city events before the end of the year.

I am having some trouble uploading photos to the blog from Athens but there are a few key ones posted on my Facebook page. Check them out. You can access that page by clicking on the Facebook icon at the bottom of any page of the wowpowerwalking.com website.

Original marathon course

The Athens Classic Marathon is celebrating the 2500th anniversary of the battle of Marathon this Sunday. I am here to walk the closest thing to the original route Phedippides took from Marathon to Athens to announce Athenian victory.

We will cross the finish line in the stadium built for the first Olympiad held in 1896 in which the Marathon was the highly anticipated final event.

There is a power walking division although the organizers insisted that faster than 6.5 hours register as a runner. Power walking results will not be posted separately apparently. All things change in time, often for the better, so I hope this marathon will soon recognize power walkers of all speeds and post results!

More details and photos to come soon. I need to go find some Greek coffee!

A Power Walker among runners

The weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving I walked the Victoria Half Marathon. There is no walking division in this race but it is a glorious route and the crowd support is in encouraging and consistent. I felt the special date of it this year - 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year - had a positive karmic feel to it. So positively karmic, in fact, that I somehow managed to convince my entire family (3 sons, husband, sister and brother-in-law!) to participate in race day. We didn't all walk, and we didn't all pace each other, but we were all out there!

The attached link will get you to a video finish of me with a lot of runners. All through the race I was wishing there was a walking division since I have felt strongly for several years that walking divisions set a new standard for walkers - a standard that promotes improved fitness through walking.

When you see my finish in the attached video, it gives you an idea of how my finish time listed with the runners does not really do justice to what I am doing. This is true for all people power walking a race as fast as they can. Let's keep pushing for walking divisions and recognition of the walking competitor.

http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=61987&BIB=10057&LNSEARCH=1&PWD=

Actually, it's quite nice out

The rain has been following us walkers and the laundry is piling up.

I've been hearing the tink, tink of rain drops on my kitchen skylight a little too frequently in the past few weeks. I admit, when I hear it, my heart sinks. Another cold, soggy walk that will require hot ginger tea and a bath when I return.

Of course, when you're a coach, you show up. Rain or no rain.

Here's the thing. EVERY TIME I have been out in the rain over the last few weeks, within 10 minutes I end up saying to someone, in complete honesty, albeit with a dash of incredulity - actually, it's quite nice out!

Dress well. Get outside!