BYTOWN WALKERS CLUB DE MARCHE

proudly presents

Walkabout: Fitness Walking for Ontario

Welcome to Walkabout! Funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Walkabout aims to promote vibrant communities and healthier, more active Ontarians. These goals will be achieved through half-day fitness walking workshops, offered by the Bytown Walkers Club de marche, for communities in OTF Zone 4: Renfrew County, Prescott and Russell Counties, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and Ottawa. Community groups in rural and outlying areas of the National Capital Region itself are invited to request a Walkabout workshop. Many urban residents are within the reach of regular Bytown Walkers programming, and are invited to join us at our weekly activities.

On your invitation, we will come to your community and provide you with a half-day (three-hour) fitness walking workshop. Fitness Walking is walking done with specific goals, from "getting into better shape" to completing the local 10km race, and beyond. You will learn how to transform normal walking into a technique that makes your goals possible. Simply put, Fitness Walking is today's aerobic choice that keeps you moving fast and injury free. Here's how Walkabout works:

A community leader books a Walkabout Workshop, and makes local arrangements (See back panel of this brochure for booking information). Two trained and experienced Club volunteers will lead you through the simple and enjoyable skills. Each participant will receive an illustrated booklet so that you brush up on your skills at any time, find suggestions on how to progress, and learn more about the activity. Each participant will receive a Walkabout T-shirt. Your follow-up questions are always welcome, and will be answered by the Club's experts. We will follow up with you to see how you are doing and offer support if you need it.

What happens in a Walkabout Workshop? The typical three-hour schedule is:

Part One Part Two Welcome, introductions, warm-up activity Activity: camera, lights, action! What is Fitness Walking? The World Of Fitness Walking Activity: the "four easy stages of Fitness Walking" How to progress Any questions so far? Cool-down activity Break More questions, more answers, wrap-up.

What facilities do I need?
Walkabout Workshops can be held indoors or outdoors, as the weather permits. An indoor workshop requires only a room to meet in and a corridor to walk in. A gymnasium or similar area increases the possibilities. Facilities to show video help a lot.

Who are the workshops for?
Anyone able and willing to increase their present fitness level. Participants can be from school age to seniors. They need only bring clothes that they are comfortable exercising in, and training shoes. If the workshop is held outside, they should dress for the weather.

Suggested Cost
A workshop costs $150 for up to 15 people, and $250 for up to 25 people. Communities may cover the cost from program budgets, or recover it from participants. As a community leader, you are welcome to propose other arrangements that better meet your local conditions. We will base workshops for fewer participants on a per-person rate of $15. If you feel you may have more than 25 participants, let us know so that we can be prepared!

What will I learn if I try a Walkabout Workshop?

You will learn a low-impact fitness activity for all ages. If you're presently walking, you'll be able to move faster, increasing the benefits for your muscles and your cardio.

Is this the Race Walking I've seen on TV?

Yes and no. We take your normal walking, and teach you elements of technique that make you fitter and faster. Some of those elements are used in Race Walking too. How you use your new skill is up to you.

Some people who have learned Fitness Walking use it simply to maintain or increase their fitness. Others use their new skill in road races from the local fun run to the huge National Capital Race Weekend. If you want to refine your Fitness Walking into Race Walking, we can handle that too! Competitions up to international level are held for athletes of all ages.

How do I book a Walkabout Workshop?

For further information or to book a Walkabout Workshop in your community, please E-mail .

The Walkabout Coordinator will then contact you to complete the details of your booking confirmation.

Bytown Walkers Club de marche is an incorporated, not-for-profit club based in Ottawa. Club members meet twice a week to further their walking goals. Those goals go from basic fitness and improved quality of life to high-level competition. Members range in age from high-school to "left high school some time ago".