Sarah K and Filomena B talk over upcoming races at Lake Merritt

Dedicated to Kara W, currently volunteering in Haiti

This week's quote "Seize the day, Carpe Diem." - Quintus Horatius Flaccus 65BC-8BC

Dear WOW Members and Interested Readers,

This week's quote got me inspired to finish writing The Weekly Pep Talk. Sometimes it takes a little fire to get me moving and this quote fit the mood for this week. The WOW Team just completed our commitment to The Oakland Running Festival. It was a lot of work and also produced a lot of satisfaction. Don't you agree?

Many of you set a goal and followed through, in spite of the rest of your lives creating distractions. That said, many of you DID NOT PARTICIPATE in The Oakland Running Festival and that absolutely does not mean that you did anything wrong. As you know, your coach did not run any of the events. So there!

My point is, every day is a new opportunity. When we are faced with tough times, tomorrow might be much better. When things are AMAZING and seemingly PERFECT, that time will pass too. We all know this. The more years we spend on this planet, the more cycles we will pass through. Much of that cycle is out of our hands but, to some extent, we all have some control of our destinies.

On this note I want to invite you to continue with The WOW Team, wherever you are in your life cycle. Please SEIZE THE DAY, take control, and join us. We're here for you and we need you to help us complete the cycle and our mission: bringing lifelong fitness, through running and walking, to all women. This is a shared responsibility. Go for it! Go WOW Team! Renew right now! Click on this link http://gowowteam.com/join-us

Weekend Celebration Recap We had almost 20 women show up at Lake Merritt for our celebration last Sunday. It was a glorious day. The workout was one or two laps around Lake Merritt. Nobody got lost! Food and drinks showed up about 9:30 as we gathered to congratulate women who had participated in The Oakland Running Festival this year. Certificates were handed out to those women present and I will mail or hand out additional certificates as I see the rest of you. Join us soon! Congratulations to all of you who participated in The Oakland Running Festival.

New or renewing members: Thank you and welcome!
Beth Wrightson
Mayra Montoya
Unique ?
Karen Smith

Future Goals and Events to Pique Your Interest
Sunday, May 2 - I will be holding a 1 hour run/walk clinic after our 60 minute regular workout. If you are a current WOW Member (1 month, 6 months, or annual membership) you can join for $5. This is also open to others (male or female) who might want to learn or practice this technique for $15*.

In this 1 hour session we will cover: what and why use the run/walk technique, how to adapt it to your personal style, how to use gym boss as your timer, how to do hills, breathing, form, etc. For walkers, and novice run/walkers.

*Join us for the workout ahead of time for no extra fee.

If you want to run Bay to Breakers on May 16, go to the link at our website and check out the discount code. It's under the Training Tab/Bay to Breakers at http://gowowteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Bay-to-Breakers-2010-Novice-Training.pdf

If you want to join me, Coach Stephanie that same weekend, at a YMCA Women's Weekend Getaway, let me know. I'll be leading the outdoor boot camps so, you have the option to sign up for them or not!

May 8 – Planning Meeting
On Saturday, May 8, Coach Stephanie will hold a meeting at her home for women who want to run the Oakland Half Marathon in under 2 hours, 10 minutes or the Long Beach Marathon in under 4 hours and 30 minutes. Mark your calendars for an evening dinner meeting to coordinate longer distance training runs and an additional speed workout in SF.

Please take this survey! If you want to race in the next year, with The WOW Team, what races would you like to train for in 2010 and beyond?
__ Bay to Breakers (May 16, 2010)
__ See Jane Run Half Marathon (June 5, 2010)
__ 4th of July Run for Hunger in Golden Gate Park (5K/10K)
__ SF Half Marathon (July 25, 2010)
__ SF Progressive Marathon (July 25, 2010)
__ UN Peace Run in Berkeley (5K/10K September 2010)
__ San Jose Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon (October 3, 2010)
__ Long Beach Marathon (October 17, 2010)
__ US Women's 10K (in conjunction with US Half in Nov. 2010)
__ CIM 4 person relay in Sacramento (December 5, 2010) This is a must!
__ Oakland Running Festival in March 2011
__ American River Parkway Half Marathon for runners and walkers in May 2011
__ See Jane Run Half Marathon and 5K in early June 2011
__ Other?

The WOW Team is growing! I need volunteers in the following areas. Please let me know if you can assist (in any of the locations):
__ Walk group coordinator
__ Run/Walk group coordinator
__ Meetup site updater (Marin, SF, So Bay, Outer East Bay)
__ Race coordinator (help with collecting fees, coordinating transportation, meeting spots, etc. for various races that WOW participates in
__ Editing the web data and newsletter and updating/uploading weekly information to gowoteam.com website, facebook, and twitter
__ Assisting with the WOW Team annual calendar
__ Assistant/Intern Coaching, for all areas - training required but, let’s talk if you are interested

Please paste this section into an E-mail and return to me at coachstephanie@gowowteam.com

Old shoes
Bring your clean old running shoes to any of our workouts and The WOW Team will donate them to Sports Basement (ongoing) or a charity looking for running shoes, like the recent Haiti shoe collection. Please make sure they are clean. Thank you!

This Week’s Workouts
Well, the week definitely sped by. Here’s the link for the rest of the week with WOW http://gowowteam.com/wow-workouts-april-19-25/

Have a great, fit week. I hope to see you this weekend.

To Fitness!
Coach Stephanie

P.S. I will not be in Lafayette on Saturday April 24 but will be at the luluemon Store Run on May 1. See you then!

Other…
Christina Hawkins will ride 25 miles on a bike to raise money for education Former WOW Team member and determined woman, Christina Hawkins is riding her bike to raise funds for education. For more details on your tax deductible contribution please contact Christina directly at kickinlava@yahoo.comor go to http://www.tourofnovato.org/index.php?Page=sponsor.php

Sara K, current member of The WOW Team has a request - Your Stuff Wanted for the DiversityWorks Garage Sale! - Contact: J Moses Ceaser moses@diversityworks.org

DiversityWorks' garage sale is happening on May 8th in San Francisco (as part of the giant annual Fair Oaks garage sale extravaganza), and we'd like to get your stuff to sell for the benefit of DW. We might be able to pick it up, or you could drop it off in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, or San Rafael. Here's what we're ideally looking for: Books, CD's, Records, DVD's, Artwork and Collectibles, Sports Equipment, Games and Toys (including video games), Tools and yard equipment, Small Household Things, Office Supplies, Kitchen Stuff and small appliances, Baby/Infant/Toddler Clothing in good condition (sorry, no adult clothing), Electronics in working order (though NOT any old computer stuff), Small Furniture (NO futons, mattresses, large tables, dressers unless you're delivering day of), Food and Drinks (we also have a little grill/food stand that we set up)

Lauren G, glad to have the hills out of the way. On to the food at our Lafayette Reservoir Run

Go Ellen Go!

The Weekly Pep Talk - February 22-28, 2010

This week is dedicated to Sarah T. Thank you for helping with the SF WOW Team!

Dear WOW Members and Interested Readers,

Did you all have as much fun as I, last Sunday? What a great day! In spite of the weather it was a super experience. I can't say enough good about lululemon coming through with that fantastic brunch. Thank you to Sylvia, Lindsay, and Baker Junnell. Thank you to Sylvia's family for their help, too. Thank you to the entire lululemon staff for their support of The WOW Team. When can we do it again?

Week 8 of 12 weeks! WOW! This weekend is a 12 miler or 2 hours and 40 minutes (whichever comes first); next week 13 miles; the week after 14 miles; 10 miles, then…Race Day! You 5K Trainees are on the same time plan with a lighter mileage schedule. In fact, your training time is up to 60 minutes and will stay there for the remainder of the training. VERY CIVILIZED!

Volunteers needed for our 13 mile practice run March 7 - Volunteers needed for our upcoming training workout on the Oakland Half Marathon Course. Bring out the spouse? The WOW Team and LMJS will practice on the actual course on March 7.

I need:

1. A bicyclist or runner to accompany me while marking the course in the morning. Time requirement (6:30 to 8:00 AM approximately)

2. People to “man” the aid station at 6 miles (approximately). This can be any age. We’ll offer water, energy drink, gu, and oranges (maybe). This could be an individual, a family, friends, whatever. Time requirement from (8:00AM to 10:00 approximately). Please let me know if you are interested in assisting. Contact Coach Stephanie at coachstephanie@gowowteam.com

We have new photos from Lafayette Reservoir on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Go-WOW-Team-We-are-The-WOW-Team-Fit-Women-of-the-World/215391204501

There are also some photos on the website so check’em out. Thank you to Lauren G and Ellen G for taking these great photos.

Granola, please? - Dear lululemon, Sarah K loved your granola. Do you have a recipe you would share? Thank you very much. The WOW Team.

Confirming this weekend - I apologize for the delay on the WPT (Weekly Pep Talk). It kind of got away from me and now it’s already Friday. You can usually find all the information you need on our website and on the meetup sites for each region.

Saturday’s workout is in San Francisco at 8:00 and includes a 60 minute tempo run starting at Judah and The Great Highway and will head over to Land’s End. It’s a hilly course – 6 miles out and back. For competent runners only, led by Sarah T. http://meetup.com/go-wow-team-sf

Sunday we offer two separate locations for all WOW Members. Walkers, runners, run/walkers, Running Festival trainees and general fitness women – Everyone! We’ll meet at 8:00 at Arbolado Park in Walnut Creek or Sawyer Camp in San Mateo. You can RSVP at http://meetup.com/gowowteam or http://meetup.com/go-wow-team-oeb, or http://meetup.com/go-wow-team-sobay

Details for all these workouts are on the main WOWwebsite at http://gowowteam.com

Beyond Training - Running and Racing Your Best

Join running professionals Coach Stephanie Atwood, Dr. Selina Shah, and Chi Running/Walking Instructor Hazel Wood for an afternoon symposium about running your best and getting the most out of your training. Details for this March 13 Workshop in Walnut Creek are available through THE WOW Website or http://stridebystride.com. Register before March 6 and save 20%.

Make comments, please. I love to hear from you! Go to http://gowowteam.com/comments and write away!

The WOW Team Challenge – Level 1 Bags are ready. Turn in your times and claim your prize! Details on the website at http://gowowteam.com/wow-team-challenge/

We're a Team! The Shape up SF Walking Challenge is back in 2010 - The WOW Team is signed up and ready for you to join. Just go to the link below and look for our team under the join team menu. We’re listed as Go WOW Team. Anyone, anywhere can join and get prizes for walking, running, exercising of any sort. It’s fun and it helps keep us on our fitness targets. http://www.shapeupsfwalkingchallenge.com/home

Race Discounts

March 27/28 - The Oakland Half Marathon and Twilight 5K = $5 WOW Coupon Code - Whether you register for the Twilight 5K on March 27 or the Half Marathon on March 28, you can save some money by using our WOW Team Discount. It is also a bit cheaper to sign up on Active.com rather through register by mail. The link is http://www.shapeupsfwalkingchallenge.com/home

When asked about the name of the group put Go WOW Team! The $5 discount code is WoW2010. It is case sensitive. The same discount applies to all races. We were given 50 total slots so sign up soon! Please let me know if you have questions.

April 18 – Martinez Brickyard – 4 or 8 Miler in Martinez $17.00 Discount Price for WOW Members

May 16 – Bay to Breakers – 12 K, 7.2 miles. Group Discount for $39.00

July 25 – SF Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Progressive Marathon – Discount TBA

Here's to fitness and fun as a group. Thank you for being a part of The WOW Team!

Coach Stephanie - coachstephanie@gowowteam.com

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"Repeat anything often enough and it will start to become you." - Tom Hopkins