#9 The Weekly Pep Talk - January 21 - 27, 2008

The Weekly Pep Talk
A Running Commentary
Sponsored by Ask About Running
Volume 2, Issue #9, Number 4 in 2008
This week is dedicated to Sharmaine M. (currently 3 for 3. Keep up the good work!!)
Monday, January 21 – Sunday January 27, 2008
Week 4 in 2008
Send comments to: Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com


Dear Readers:

As a reminder, the purpose of The Weekly Pep Talk is to stimulate, motivate, educate, and entertain women regarding exercise and staying fit. The focus is on women participating in individual sports (running, walking, swimming, biking) rather than group sports (i.e. basketball, volleyball) although there is overlap! My commentary will cover any aspect of being a woman and staying fit. You can expect a broad spectrum of material because I have a lot to talk about! I just recently started a blog called Ask Stephanie About Sports at http://altbgo.blogspot.com/ that posts some of the past articles from this newsletter as well as a complete listing all of the former issues of The Weekly Pep Talk. You can go directly to the blog or take a look at the website www.AskAboutRunning.com and follow the link to my blog.

Additionally, all details for the weekend’s runs/walks in the East Bay and San Francisco are included in this weekly publication. You are invited to join us but that is not essential to your reading (and enjoying, I hope) The Weekly Pep Talk. If you are not normally in the Bay Area, please join us in our weekend adventures whenever you happen to pass our way. The club encourages drop-ins.

WALKING AS A MEANS OF PERPETUAL FITNESS
I have been fortunate to lead a very active life. My adult working life has almost always included elements of activity. I have seriously participated in and been paid to instruct or guide rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, x-country skiing, long distance running, track and field, and trekking. I can say, in all honesty, that the movement and the physicality of each of them is the common thread that made them such fun to participate in and share with others.

Different times, different activities; this is what change brings. The ability to move within different modes allows us to incorporate other changing elements of life into our daily regimen and still be fit and have fun moving. This is where I see walking as an integral segment of movement and an essential aspect of life. Walking is a wonderful means of fitness. Walking works for almost everyone as long as your legs work!

Walking works as you get older. My grandmother was in her nineties and walked around her local track every morning. She loved it. She also met other people to walk with at the track since, true to life, a lot of her old friends weren’t around any more. Walking, as an impact/muscle resistance type activity also keep our bones stronger through slower loss of density. Bone loss is an inevitable part of the aging process and the reason that many women break their hips as they get older. Walking helps to slow down this process!

Walking works if you’re injured. When you can’t do other activities like running, skiing, group sports, etc, often times you can still walk! The nature of walking is so much a part of who we are as homo-erectus, it’s tough to take it away.

Walking works if you’re pregnant. Yes indeed, sometimes other exercise just doesn’t fit with being pregnant. I was able to run with some of my pregnancies and not with others. Walking (and swimming) became important elements of my fitness regimen as I watched my body change. Some aspects of a pregnant body are absolutely wonderful but the fear of losing fitness and remaining heavy can be relieved greatly by walking during pregnancy.

Walking works if you’re sick. I’m talking short term colds and feeling under the weather as well as cancer recuperation while under chemo-therapy. I’m not a doctor so am only stating what I’ve seen and what I know from personal experience. Often times a walk, when feeling like you’re coming down with a cold, seems to run it through its cycle faster. When you’re sick from chemo therapy treatment, or recovering from completion of it, if you can get out and walk, it’s almost as if your body says, I’m going to buck this now. I need to get on with the rest of my life!

BAY TO BREAKERS UPDATE – GROUP SIGN-UP SAVES 10 – 15%
If we have a good sized group we could have fun and get a discount for the Bay to Breakers. I think this could be a great “first race” for any of you who have not competed. And, for the veterans in the group, you know that you have to approach this race as a party. The Bay to Breakers is not a time to try for a PR (Personal Best)! However, I think we should try to do a group entry and then have a party afterwards!

I’ll be willing to do the online version for those of you who send me your name. Please read the details and confirm if you want to join. I’ll get the deadline information for submitting our name list.

This does not require that we run together nor are we required to be Ask About Running Club Members. I think anyone can enter through our group as long as they meet the deadline. That will come next week. I’ll be back in touch…

2008 ING Bay to Breakers 12K Group Sales

DISCOUNTS
Group Size
Discount
25 or more
10%
50 ore more
15%

PROCEDURES
ING Bay to Breakers 12K Group Registration
365 Vermont Street Ste F, San Francisco, CA 94103
Online Group Registration
· Group organizer collects the names of everyone in the group and submits the list to ING Bay to Breakers.
· ING Bay to Breakers establishes a special Coupon Code on Active.com
· ING Bay to Breakers provides coupon code to the group organizer so group members can register online using the code. (This coupon code is limited to the exact number of people submitted by the group organizer.)
Restrictions
· If someone has already registered for the race, they are not eligible for the group discount.

OUR THIRD RUN OF 2008 - WE’RE GROWING!
Yes, we had a bigger group on Sunday in both the East Bay and San Francisco. This is good news! Keep those recruits coming!

I want to commend Sandy O for convincing Jeanetta M to run the second lap around Lake Merritt. Of course Jeanetta, you get a lot of credit for going the extra 3.2 miles. Good work to both of you!

It was good to see Gini H back after her successful completion of the Carlsbad Half Marathon near San Diego. Congratulations Gini!

Barbara B was missing on January 13 because she was running the Cal 10 mile race in Stockton at an average pace of 8’13” per mile! You’re getting there!

Welcome to a new face, Debra M. I’m looking forward to more walks. That was an excellent pace!

Leti D, you made excellent time, especially on your first lap around the lake. It seems that you must have really hot music going in that i-pod!

Sharmaine M, you are rock solid with attendance! With all the things you need to coordinate, I am very impressed that you have made it every weekend! Keep it up!

Sandra R, Sarah T, and Dena G you add so much to the group. Thank you for your contributions!

OK, if I missed you this week, I’ll be sure to mention you next week. Thanks to all of you for being a part of this growing, fun group of women who care about staying fit and having fun doing it.

JOIN OUR RUNNING GROUP ANY TIME. IT IS ONGOING
I want this club to reflect the needs and wants of the membership so let’s keep tweaking away at the details until we make it the best darn women’s running (and walking club) in all of North America. Contact Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com if you have further questions, or need an application. You can also sign-up on the spot for daily, weekly, monthly, 6 months, or a year so, what’s keeping you from doing it?

Next Sunday we will run at the Marina in Berkeley for our East Bay location and at McLaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Remember East Bay runs meet at 9:00 and San Francisco runs will start at 1:00. You may do either or both.

After Sunday’s East Bay run I want to go over to check out Point Isabel, slightly farther north on the Bay Trail, for future runs. If anyone would like to join me, or has information to share, please let me know. I plan to go over right after our run on Sunday, about 10:30.

SIGN UP NOW!!
The time is now! I look forward to starting the new year with you as a member. Just fill in the details on this form and E-mail it back. Full information will follow.

1 Person/1 Month Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$20 ____$30
Begins first Sunday of each month. Automatic recurring billing only. Must pay by credit card.
1 Person/6 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$110 ____$165 6 months from date of sign-up
1 Person/12 Months Buddy System – 2 women sign up together
____$200 ____$300 12 months Best price!
Your name
Your buddy’s name
Email Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com and you will be billed through PayPal or send a check to ALTB International, Inc., 58 W. Portal #227, San Fran CA 94127 (800) 457-4574

P.S. Drop ins are always welcome any Sunday. The fee is $6.


UPCOMING RACES – Let me know if you are training for any of these
The Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon & 5K February 3, 2008
xnet.kp.org/sanfrancisco/index.html
Only 2 weeks to go. Go Ladies Go!
Members who are running the half marathon or 5K
Barbara B 13.1 miles
Destiny L 13.1 miles
Sandy O 13.1 miles
Gini H 5K
The London Marathon April 13, 2008
www.london-marathon.co.uk
See Training Schedule in ALTBgo@blogspot.com
The Boston Marathon April 21, 2008 http://www.bostonmarathon.org
16 week training begins December 31
The Bay to Breakers/San Francisco May 18, 2008
http://www.ingbaytobreakers.com/main.html
Who has signed up for this one?
See Jane Run Women’s Half Marathon & 5K May 31, 2008
http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Run-Half-Marathon-and-5K.aspx
Who has signed up for this one?
The San Francisco Half & Full Marathon & 5K August 3, 2008 http://www.runsfm.com/home.html
The Disneyland Half Marathon and 5K August 30/31, 2008 www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com
The Chicago Marathon October 12, 2008 http://www.chicagomarathon.com
The Nike Women’s Half and Full Marathon October 19, 2008
www.nike.com
The New York City Marathon November 2008?
www.ingnycmarathon.org
The Honolulu Marathon December 14, 2008
www.honolulumarathon.org
Members who are running the marathon or fun run
Stephanie Atwood Fun run


Send me your stories, comments, and questions about life and running. My E-mail is Stephanie@AskAboutRunning.com. If you haven’t already joined the yahoogroup, please go to AskStephanieAboutSports@yahoogroups.com and join. This group site sends updates and houses the weekly calendar for the running club. It also has archives of all past publications and allows for “safe chatting” with other members.

The Sunday walking/running program meets on Sunday, January 20, 2008 in the East Bay and San Francisco. Meeting sites for this week are:

Berkeley
Berkeley Marina, Sea Breeze Market, 595 University Avenue at Frontage Road
Meet 9:00 in the public parking lot
Map Quest Link
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=598%20University%20Ave&city=Berkeley&state=CA&zipcode=94710&country=US&title=%3cspan%20style%3d%22margin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22adr%22%3e%3cb%20class%3d%22fn%20org%22%3eSea%20Breeze%20Market%20%26amp%3b%20Deli%3a%3c%2fb%3e%3cspan%20style%3d%22margin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22nowrap%20phnum%20tel%20work%22%3e510%2d486%2d0802%3c%2fspan%3e%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22margin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22street%2daddress%22%3e598%20University%20Ave%3c%2fspan%3e%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22locality%22%3eBerkeley%3c%2fspan%3e%2c%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22region%22%3eCA%3c%2fspan%3e%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22postal%2dcode%22%3e94710%3c%2fspan%3e%2c%20%20%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%3b%22%20class%3d%22country%2dname%22%3eUS%3c%2fspan%3e%3c%2fspan%3e&cid=lfmaplink2&name=Sea%20Breeze%20Market%20%26%20Deli&dtype=s

Heading East on I-80 (from South Bay or San Francisco)
Take Berkeley, University Avenue Exit onto University Avenue.
Make first U-turn possible and head back, over the freeway, to the Frontage Road on the bay side of the freeway. The Sea Breeze Market is to the left.

Heading West on I80 (toward San Francisco)
Exit at University Avenue and head toward the Frontage Road on the Bay side of the freeway. The Sea Breeze Market is at the junction of University and Frontage Road. The parking lot is small and dirt. We’ll be able to see each other easily.

Toilets
Free Parking
Water fountains along the routes
Market with food and drinks

San Francisco
McLaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park
Meet at 1:00 in front of the lodge near the junction of Fell and Stanyan Streets in Golden Gate Park
FYI - This elegant building was built in 1896 to house John McLaren. It is also one of the oldest Mission-style structures in the City. Today, it houses a park information center and an ornate, classic meeting room. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (415) 831-2700.

Toilets
Park closed to cars on Sunday. Must park on side streets. No charge for parking meters on Sundays.
Water (in bathrooms and some drinking fountains)
Near the SF Conservatory of Flowers, The De Young Museum, and more

Have a good one!
Stephanie Atwood

P.S. Please check out the blog http://altbgo.blogspot.com and the website www.AskAboutRunning.com I’d love to hear your comments!

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