Resolution 5ks

Counting down to that resolution. Have you thought of one yet? For many people January 1 marks the date they make a commitment to the vague concept of "exercising more" or "eating better". I've witnessed enough packed January aerobic classes and the inevitable return to normal attendance in February to know that grandiose intentions usually wane quickly. I try to keep my own resolutions simple. Something like "I promise to remove my eye make up every night before I go to bed" or "I'll make sure my dental floss doesn't hang over the edge of the garbage container when I'm finished with it" or even "Never finish a bad cup of coffee". Even with these modest goals, I often return to old habits within a week of New Year's Eve.

This year I'm considering changing my strategy altogether. Go bold with my intentions. I haven't worked out the details on the specific resolution but in the spirit of my past practice to keep commitments feasible, I have decided to continue my already proven strategy of signing up for races and cheering for participants in local races for which I have not registered. So, this Sunday you'll find me cheering participants in the Resolution 5k being held at the Distillery District in Toronto (a good place to get a great cup of coffee!) and walk either the 5k or 10k route laid out by the organizers-extraordinaire of Toronto's Midsummer Night's Run who are hosting a Midwinter Run and Walk out of the New Balance store on Bloor Street near High Park at noon. It sounds fun and, here's a bonus for those of you whose resolution involves being more frugal, this event is free!

Christmas Eve Walk

Snow on the ground this morning was the first, and quite possibly best, Christmas present we could have received. The walking was tricky as a sudden freeze yesterday meant that smooth ice was lurking under much of the layer of snow covering the sidewalks. But, oh, what a way to head into the next few days of indulgent eating.

The ice may have slowed my feet but a bracing wind over 8 kilometres gave my head the clearing it needed. During the hour I was out, car after car of holiday shoppers passed me en route. A strong bond of camaraderie connected me to the two runners with whom I crossed paths: fellow brave exercisers conquering the wind, cold, and snow on Christmas Eve.

For this holiday season I wish all of you the blessing of good times with family and friends. And possibly a small gift, whether its freshly fallen snow or Yaktrax, to encourage you to get outside!

Holiday training strategies

Just 5 days to the Winter Solstice. After that it may get colder for a couple of months but we'll have more light for training. It's good to look at the upside!

With most of the training schedules for the 2008 events starting the first week of January, we have a couple of weeks left to our own devices with little training structure. For some this is a welcome respite and for others, like me, it can mean a slippery slide into overeating, over drinking, excessive couch time - in short - general debauchery.

Rest is good but I'm not convinced rest should be a synonym for comatose. In truth, I enjoy the holiday eating much more if I have a good appetite and that usually comes from being active. Also, when I return to training in January I like to feel that I'm still at a good place in terms of my fitness.

One of the things I like to do over the holidays is go out for short, but intense (read fast), walks. I find that even 30 minutes, with 10 minutes of easy walking to warm up and then 20 minutes of fast walking really improves my mood and my appetite.

Of course, if we continue to have snow storms like the one we experienced this past weekend, you won’t even need to walk fast to get a workout. Just bundle up and try slogging through 2 feet of snow for about one kilometer. It’s a great leg workout and cardio challenge! Or, forget the snow-blower and plowing service. Get out there with a shovel. And tackle your driveway or the sidewalk.

Cross country skiing

With today's snow covering up some dangerous ice patches, cross country skiing might be a welcome form of cross training. Seriously, it's a good exercise to extend the range of motion through the hip joint and if you like using poles, they work better with skiis on your feet. And, your upper body will love the workout.

Of course, nothing beats the convenience of putting on your shoes and going walking - even with a bit of snow. This is the time of year to pull Yaktrax or some other ice gripping device over your shoes. When it's Yaktrax weather, I like to wear old shoes. Yaktrax mean snow, and snow means salt, and salt kills your shoes. It's my experience that Yaktrax work best when there is some snow or slush on the road. They can handle bare asphalt for a few hundred feet but after that, my feet and body get tired of walking on them. Also, remember to take Yaktrax OFF before getting to the tile floor in your mudroom - your feet will be facing the ceiling in short order.

Silly season

For two full weeks I have been delinquent in attending to my blogging responsibilities. Also, missing from my weekly routine are invigorating Sunday morning training walks.

Just today, after a weekend of indulgent revelry, I am prepared to state that I have satisfied my inner sloth and I am ready to return to serious walking and to writing about serious walking!

Well...not too serious. As I ease back into blogging and in the interests of entertaining any of you reading this, I've posted this pic of some very silly WoW Power Walkers sashaying along the chicest streets in Toronto in support of the Hospital for Sick Children.

Kudos to Darrell, Jeff, Lisa, Patti, and Stacey who donned RED HOT SPEEDOS and walked (well maybe jogged a bit too!) just under 3 kilometres from Hemingway's Pub in Yorkville and back again, to raise money for gifts for those children who must stay in the hospital over the holiday season. Together they raised over $5,000!

So you see, there's much more to this than just logging miles: there's camaraderie and cavorting, fun and fund-raising, and not to forget beer and buff bodies!