Alfie Shrubb and Westover Shore to Shore
Another outstanding weekend for WoW Power Walkers!
In Bowmanville, Ontario several veteran and virgin WoW Power Walkers walked the Alfie Shrubb Classic 8k event where Al Storie, the race organizer, has got to be one of the most enthusiastic personalities on the planet. Fortunately, for us power walkers he directs a lot of that enthusiasm toward walkers! All participants received a fun race kit containing a sharp technical shirt, a few sweet treats, and a most excellent pamphlet describing the late, great Alfie Shrubb. Alfie's feats as a runner are extraordinary, and it is interesting to note that he used walking as part of his training regimen.
We have officially designated the Alfie Shrubb Classic as a “4 happy face” event on our WoW rating system posted on Upcoming Events. The route through rural Ontario was a delight and we loved the community spirit and abundance of draw prizes. Most importantly, we love how walkers are embraced as part of the racing community. We have it on good authority that next year prizes will be awarded not just to the top 3 walkers but to the top 3 male and female walkers. We're thinking about a bus to the race next year to make the day an even bigger party. Put it on your calendar for 2008.
Unless, of course, your inner masochist prefers something more grueling like the Westover Shore to Shore Relay. This is a team event that traverses 177 kilometres through the night from Lake Erie to Lake Huron (hence shore to shore). Personally, I prefer to do my all-nighters on an emergency-as-needed basis only, but we did have some fearless WoW power Walkers who took part and have reported back enthusiastically. Here’s what I’ve heard from Linda:
What an adventure!! I can't believe at this stage in my life I'd be sleeping in a truck, using nature's washrooms and dressing at the side of the road, just to mention a few of the crazy happenings of the race. There were 5 competitive teams; we were the smallest team (6 people) and the only all-female team. We came second; the team that came first was made up of race walkers. We started at 5pm Friday and finished at 4:15pm Sat. I did 4 legs of the race with about 6 hours off between each leg. My total distance was just over 40kms. The longest leg of the race was 12km. There were a number of issues but all in all considering it was the first year, and the distance covered, I think they did a good job. I have not been this sore since I did my first race. I know I really pushed myself the last leg (12km, no sleep, 38degrees!), or maybe it was the different muscles needed to squat (I still managed to get my shoelaces wet). There it is in a nutshell. It really was a lot of fun.
We hope that we will hear more from some of the other team members on comments following this post.
Labels: Race review
posted by Wow Power Walking Founder @ 12:37 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
This race was tremendous! The race organizers really put a lot of effort into the competitive walking division. Our part of the course was very flat. Also, they timed it so that most of our race was done alone with no runners, but the runners caught up to us near the end so that we all finished at about the same times. This is great because it means we crossed the finish line to a big crowd. The race was very walker friendly and I hope that they will continue to grow this division. (Oh, and Linda, you're my 40k hero!) LeeAnn
LeeAnn was part of a team that came second in the Westover Shore to Shore relay.
I hadn’t ever given much thought to walking the Alfie Shrubb race; it seemed like a long way to Bowmanville from Oakville to walk 8 kilometres.
That was before I met Al Storie. His enthusiasm for Alfie Shrubb, the man, his accomplishments and this race honouring him is infectious.
Al, unlike many race directors, wants to include walkers in his race. Most walkers have experienced the “stay off the course, on the sidewalks, single file” kind of welcome. Al wants us there as equal participants.
This is the reason that I decided to promote the race as a first event for my High Park Marathon Training Level 1 walkers. To my surprise and delight only 4 weeks into the course many of the class participants registered for the Alfie Shrubb.
Darrel, Joan, Lee and her son Jason and I left Oakville at about 6:20 for the trek to Bowmanville, which didn’t take nearly as long as we anticipated.
We arrived by 7:30am and everyone else before 8:00am to pick up race packages and smooth some first time pre-race jitters. Krista and Jessica were there to cheer us on. Along with Jason they headed out on the course to maintain the WoW tradition of chalk messages for our walkers.
At the walkers’ start (20 minutes before the runners) we were greeted warmly by Al. We also had an opportunity to warm up with some volunteer fitness instructors from the local YMCA.
The course itself was perfect; one long country road with just enough elevation changes to keep it interesting. As I walked up that first hill I was hoping my walkers would be grateful we challenged ourselves with some of those steep hills in High Park. It was unusual to be on a course and be able to see the front runners (or should I say walkers). It was nice to be able to offer them some cheers as they headed back to the finish, we usually only get to see Darrell and Lee when we get to the finish line. I also enjoyed having the opportunity to see all of the High Park walkers as I headed back.
The first of the High Park group to cross the finish line were Arlene and Elaine. Arlene is visually impaired and Elaine is her guide. This was Arlene’s second race and Elaine’s first. Friends since university, they have shared many things but judging by the smiles on their faces this may be one of the highlights.
Antoneta, Beth, Patricia and Janet (the Rabbit) veterans of a few races were next. We all stood cheering for Christine and Ellen as they headed to the finish line in their first race. I am very proud of all of them.
The rest of the morning was exciting as well with awards, lots of draw prizes, and especially the introduction of Alfie Shrubb’s daughter Nora.
As we drove back to Oakville we were all talking about what a great race it was, and that next year we hope to have a much larger contingent of Wow Power Walkers with us. This is a little race that everyone should do.
Congratulations to Al and the rest of the volunteers for earning the four smiling faces on our website. You deserve them.
I participated in the Westover Shore to shore with Linda and Leeann. What an extraordinary race! I was given the honour (and pressure) of the anchor leg. Since we were neck to neck with another team, I felt the pressure and though we always try to run our own race, I couldn't help but hope that I could walk at a faster pace than I would normally. During that last leg, I kept hearing Krista’s voice (my WOW coach) in my ear. With Krista echoing in my ear and Leeann’s words of encouragement (as she dumped buckets of water over me), I managed to come in ahead of the other team by approximately 30 seconds. What a great way to end a 23 hour race. I can’t wait to do it again.
Dear WoW Shore to Shore Walkers:
One of my only regrets about the Westover Shore to Shore Relay was not having enough time with the walkers. I really enjoyed reading your comments and am pleased you had a good experience. Our goal next year is to get many more walkers. We hope you will help us spread the word. Thanks very much for supporting our event. We hope to see you next year (when I will spend more time with walkers).
Willy Van Klooster,
Executive Director,
Westover Treatment Centre
Hey, Walkers!
I'm a runner, just being nosy perusing your blog. I also participated in the 2007 Shore to Shore, and it was absolutely the most fun I've ever had in a running event.
I highly recommend getting a team or two together for the next one: May 30 to 31, 2008. It's a blast!
Westover Shore to Shore Relay
Happy trails!
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