WoW Hall of Fame :: September 15-16 and it’s the Weekend to End Breast Cancer – 60 km over 2 days. 14 days later Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon - 21 km. 28 days later Casino Niagara Half Marathon – 21 km. 14 days later New York City Full Marathon - 42 km. Are your legs tired reading this? Well this was the schedule for Myra Rodrigues this past fall.

Myra has covered a lot of ground since she began her power walking training with us just last June in the High Park course. Woe to you if you happen to be in Myra’s class because even though we encourage whining in class (so that we coaches know how to help you), it’s pretty tough to whine when Myra is in earshot. Myra is severely vision impaired and must train for her events and walk the events with a guide. And woe to those guides too! To complete the NYC marathon, there was not one guide with the stamina to keep with her the entire race – she wore out two guides!

Getting to class and getting out for training walks poses a challenge for Myra that most of us will never experience. Along the way she overcame some injuries that have stopped walkers before including debilitating blisters and a sprained ankle. So, congratulations on an incredible and inspiring fall season Myra … keep on “WoW”ing them!

REVIEWS :: Casino Niagara Another great bus ride to Casino Niagara Half Marathon! General consensus is that this is the best way to get to a marathon start and may even rank up there as one of the top 2 WoW ideas! We are very pleased to report that the organizers at Casino Niagara put in a superb effort for the power walkers so that our efforts were rewarded. The start balloon was fully inflated, music was playing, the mats for chip timing were laid out and, best of all, the transportation logistics were such that the race shuttle buses did not disrupt the early start for the walkers. Even the weather cooperated. Some brave participants dared to venture forth sans poncho!

Detroit Free Press Marathon While the bus was driving WoW Power Walkers to Casino Niagara a couple of intrepid WoW pioneers, Susan and Agie, were walking the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. Agie reports that she would definitely walk this event again! Apparently the sun was rising as they reached the Ambassador Bridge (they were thankful for their hill training), then they walked along a waterfront bike trail through Windsor that offered a visual diversion of sculpture and park art, returning across the U.S.-Canada border into Detroit via the tunnel under the St. Clair River. Perhaps the most exhilarating aspect of the race, according to Agie, was walking into the tunnel of the Ford Field to emerge into the bright lights of the stadium with the Jumb-o-tron recording their entrance and finish at the 50 yard line of the Detroit Lions home field as spectators cheered from the stands! How’s that for a moment of glory! To top it off both Susan and Agie achieved Personal Best times!

Holiday giving! Keep an eye on our website over the next few weeks! We will be offering holiday specials on some of our left over stock on technical fabric shirts (black long-sleeve and steel blue short sleeve), tote bags, and 100% cotton shirts. In addition we still have those super-deluxe Coolmax™ short-sleeve shirts that come with the super-handy zippered pocket for cell-phone/credit card/cash! All around super!

Many people who enjoyed these shirts asked for a long-sleeve version. So, just in time for your holiday wish list and just as super as the short-sleeve version, these will be available in 1-2 weeks. Finally, any of you taking courses now have probably seen Lee or Vera wearing the latest in WoW gear – the super-elegant Supplex™/nylon breathable (ya gotta feel this stuff) training jacket complete with mesh lining, two outside pockets, inside secret pocket, reflective piping and super-stunning WoW Power Walking logo and zipper pulls.

This item is not only perfect for layering but when it’s the top layer you will look super-chic! We are making these jackets available for $99.99 on a super-special, made-to-order basis immediately. Orders will be accepted until November 29, 4 pm. Orders after this will be $129.99. If you order one, we promise never to use the word super again (except when we see you wearing it)! Delivery will be within 4-6 weeks. (We’re really hoping for 4!) For sizing check out the website or email us.

Coffee and Muffin Walk It’s time for the WoW Winter Solstice Coffee and Muffin Walk. We’re doing the best we can to make the most of the shortest days of the year! If you’ve never attended a Coffee and Muffin walk, now is the time. This event is entirely about walking and talking, as opposed to walking and timing! Everyone meets at the appointed time, chooses one of the optional distances (map routes distributed upon arrival), and returns to enjoy home-made muffins, coffee/tea/cider, and the always popular marathon cookies.Please bring a friend or family member, just RSVP so we know how many snacks will be required.

We will be meeting at the lower parking lot beside the harbour on the east side of West River Street in Oakville (go east on Lakeshore Road from Bronte Road, turn left on West River – one street east of Bronte Road - drive down the small hill and turn left into the parking lot at Swan’s Cove). Please note that this location has been changed from the original posting on the website. Detailed driving instructions are available on request. 8, 12, 24 km routes will be available. 7:30am start for 24km route, 8:30am start for the others.

WoW Tip :: Planning

Setting fun and interesting goals is still the best way to stay committed to your power walking! Our most successful walkers finish one event and wake up the next morning thinking about what to do next! Well… they may be some of our craziest walkers too! This is a great time of year to plan! The marathon season is a few months away, giving you time to prepare properly!

At WoW we have been working on improving the Upcoming Events section of our website to help you. You may have noticed that we have given any events we have personally attended a WoW rating and we have added some others that caught our eye or have been recommended. Word on the pavement has it that our walkers will be out in force for two great local March races: Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington and the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton.

And March is going to be a thrilling month for those WoW Power Walkers who have been fund-raising for the Canadian Diabetes Association in order to have their travel, accommodation, and training supplied for the Rome Marathon – yes, Rome, ITALY! There are almost 20 of us walking the Big Sur International Marathon 21 Mile Power Walk in California in April and we’re looking for a good contingent to attend the National Capital Event in Ottawa at the end of May. Ottawa definitely ranks four happy faces on the WoW scale.

Remember to let us know when you are planning to walk or have walked an event! We’re here if you have questions or if you want a training schedule.

P.S. Sign up for WoW Power Walking 2005 courses so that you will ready for all these great races!

Inside Personal Best Class :: This past fall we introduced an inside class to complement our walking. Our focus has been strength and stability. We’ve been working on propulsive muscles in the legs and back, strengthening the core muscles and adding some upper body work to balance the incredible lower body workouts our bodies are getting from power walking. Reviews have been good and we are hoping to continue in January. Still, we need to have 5 confirmed registrations for each of the two classes offered by December 5 to proceed. If you are thinking of signing up, do it today. If you have questions, please call (905) 825 9389 or email us for details.

WoW Power Walking coaches are proud to wear New Balance shoes.

Long-distance number 1-877-WOW-WALK (1-877-969-9255)!

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