Midsummer race fun is just the cure for an over-extended life

Phew! I made it - one house move, one national fitness conference, and one 15k race!

What a week it has been. The good news is that when I gave my presentation at the Can-Fit-Pro conference last Friday, my clothes were not backward, they were not inside-out, they did not have wash detergent residue, nor did I leave any labels attached! In the words of my son, I looked like a normal person!

With everything happening over the past week, the thought of participating in the Midsummer Night’s 15k walk seemed like an understatement of over-extension.

But there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to don my Shakespearean fairy mask, pink boa, and wings. And I was so glad I did. With more than 50 (!!!) WoW Power Walkers out there, we enjoyed a perfect race evening. The Leslie Street spit race route didn’t let us down offering a magnificent sunset view of Toronto.

Here a just a few photos to give you an idea of the pure joy of getting into the spirit at a race like this. And there will be more posted on the website over the next couple of days.

The Chocolate Race in Port Dalhousie happening next weekend sadly conflicts with another event on my calendar but I hope to hear from some of you who are walking it. Personally, I think all races should have chocolate stations! Very dark chocolate.

And speaking of chocolate, at the Can-Fit-Pro conference this past weekend, I attended a session on nutrient timing given by Dr. Len Kravitz who is one of the most respected exercise physiologists and researchers in the industry. He confirmed scientists have found that the ratio of carbohydrates to protein in chocolate milk makes it one of the best recovery foods. We have discussed this before in our newsletters, but it’s always good to be reminded! Make sure you have some low-fat, preferably organic, chocolate milk available to drink within an hour of your workout.

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

Putting the fun in summer races

Wednesday night found several WoW Power Walkers revealing their creative sides at the costume workshop we held in preparation for the Midsummer Night's 15k Run (read WALK)next Saturday, August 16.

Emails were sent out to almost 50 people, but only the bravest 7 spirits arrived ready to fashion my overwhelming supply of organza and sparkly somethings into suitable attire for next week's race. In honour of their bravery, I cracked open my one bottle of Chilly Half Chardonnay - yes, it's true, a fine vintage bottled by the race organizers of the Chill Half Marathon. It was a bottle requiring a suitable occasion.

I am so grateful for the help of Natalia, to whom we are forever indebted, who arrived ready to guide those of us (read ME) who can’t imagine doing any more than pull on a pair of technical fabric shorts and shirt to make it to a race, let alone, create a costume out of scraps of materials and miscellaneous shiny objects. At one point in the evening, Natalia was sent to help me. “Better help Lee, she’s looking confused!”

Indeed I was, but now that I have my organza skirt, I’m psyched. Technical fabric seems so…..yesterday’s race.

So, if all you’ve got is yesterday’s technical fabric, give me a shout and I will let you raid my organza supply. Free to a good fairy!