Pre-race fun at Around the Bay

I found the perfect place to write inspirational chalk markings on the Around the Bay 30k Road Race route yesterday. The last "heart-break" hill, which would be more appropiately named "soul-destroying", at the 26k mark is normally closed entirely to traffic. This means that before the race, I could park my car at the barrier, walk down the hill, and write the chalk messages on the road without having to worry about traffic.


About 5 minutes into the task, I heard a powerful engine come up behind me and, as I glanced over my shoulder, a police officer pulled up on a powerful and large motorcycle that looked like a smaller version of the Hindenburg. (My son thinks it must have been a BMW - for those who want to know) He came to a stop and cheerily asked. "OK, who are you rooting for?."


Sadly, he had just barely spoken the word "for" when he toppled backward, the bike almost falling on top of him. He rolled down the hill and into the gutter. He looked more mortified than cheery as he lay stranded on his back in the grass.

Tactfully, I hope, I asked if he was OK. Seeing his cheery face turn red with mortification, I thought it best to proceed with my chalk messages. He certainly didn't want me helping him out of the gutter!

After a few minutes of me tactfully ignoring his attempts to right his toppled motorcycle, I realized he may genuinely need some help to get it back on its wheels. So, with me pulling and him pushing, we got the blimp standing and ready to roll.

Without a word further, off he drove!

Another race, another good story! (no pic out of respect!)

Chips that follow your every move

On Sunday I am walking the Around the Bay Road Race. While I do so, my timing chip will be sending signals to Facebook so that if anyone cares to, they can follow my every move over the course.

Well...maybe not my every move, but timed updates. It's a brave new socially, digitally networked, walking world.

The main purpose of this race is a training walk for my two destination races this spring in Big Sur and Ottawa. I hope my ego stays in check. It may be a challenge to maintain a training pace, not a racing pace, in order to impress all those Facebook friends who will giving up their Sunday to watch my race updates!

Wish me luck and stay tuned!

Get out the green

We're talking serious green at the St. Patrick's Day 5k walk for the Achilles Track Club - a wonderful race that supports disabled athletes.

The WoW team showed up in their greenest finery. Sadly, I showed up without my camera, so I am begging anyone who has some pics to send them to me.

We love this 5k event that supports a very deserving, and often overlooked, local charity. The short distance offers a perfect opportunity to get family and friends involved who don't enjoy long distance walking. (It's a sneaky way, to get them hooked!) Challenging winds and rain did not deter participants from walking, running, or smiling!

It was perfectly fitting that this race, which supports and features so many disabled athletes was timed coincidentally with the 2010 Paralympic Games.

Chilly Half Marathon not so chilly!

I awoke yesterday to a clear sky and perfect half moon, filled with excitement and anticipation for my first half marathon of 2010. The weather was idyllic - unseasonably warm. I could leave my snowpants, balaclava, and merino wool gear at home. That made getting out of the house much easier, theoretically. You know when you have that niggling feeling something important has been forgotten?

I left the house on time - a sure sign that I should review my list once more.

Sport beans? Check. WoW signs? Check. Chalk for inspirational words on the race course? Check. Racing shoes? Check. Sunblock? Check. Gloves? Check. Clothes for after the race? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Peaked cap? Check. Watch? Check.

Check.Check.Check.

It wasn't until I was 25 minutes down the highway, fully committed to the morning, when I remembered I had left my race number bib and timing chip in the entrance hall to the house. I could race with just about anything else on my list left at home - but not those two items.

Forever grateful for my IBBH, who was leaving 45 minutes later than me to go to the WoW Power Walking water station, I phoned home and sheepishly ask if he could meet me near the start line wth enough time to pin my bib to my pants and attach the chip to my shoe.

Luckily, for this absent-minded walker, it all worked out and I was able to race legally! Even better, it was a stellar day for all WoW Power Walkers. We may have had the advantage of the BEST cheering section from WoW water station volunteers, but even with that we ROCKED the course and won lots of age category prizes to prove it. Results will be posted soon on the website.