Luke Ball and family leading the Portland Metro Heart Walk. Photo courtesy of Jason E. Kaplan

Heart Walks Draw Support in Portland and Vancouver

By Francesca Fabile

More than 3,000 people had a great time at the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in Portland and Vancouver this year, and helped raise $265,000 for programs that fight heart disease and stroke.

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, claim more lives in the United States than any other disease. The Heart Walk raises money for research as well as for programs that educate the public and health professionals.

Perched on top of his father’s shoulders and wearing an honorary red cap, one-year-old survivor Luke Ball started off the Portland Heart Walk on May 21 with his family at the World Trade Center. Luke was in great spirits despite the fact that he was still recovering from heart surgery in April.

Across the Columbia on June 4, another boy born with heart defects started off the Heart Walk at Esther Short Park in Vancouver. Sam Van Ness was celebrating his third birthday, so a crowd of about a thousand sang “Happy Birthday” before Sam blew out his candles and started the walk with Team Sam. Like Luke, Sam was born with congenital heart defects and is doing well.

“We’d like to thank our walkers, donors and sponsors for their spirit of giving and determination,” said Christine Hames, regional director for the SW Washington Heart Walk. “The Heart Walk is about helping others in our communities.”

Walkers at both events were lucky enough to have dry weather for their heart-healthy walk. Everyone enjoyed free sandwiches from Subway, music, prize giveaways, free health information, and goodies from the sponsors. The kids had fun with face painting and other fun activities.

Honored for their fundraising efforts this year were the following: Alan Brown and Doug Van Ness, top walkers; PGE Pumper Thumpers and Team Sam, top teams; and Curves and PGE, top companies.

Through a partnership with Medtronic, the Heart Walk in Portland also donated four automated external defibrillators (AED) to the Portland School District. AEDs are small portable devices that can save a life during a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Heart Walk was sponsored locally by Legacy Health System, Portland General Electric, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, AstraZeneca, and Starbucks. Media sponsors include Blackfish Creative, K-Lite, Mix 107.5, and Walk About magazine.
For more information about the Heart Walk, visit americanheart.org or contact the American Heart Association at 1-800-452-9445.

10th Annual Racewalk Retreat

By Susan Tank

On May 20-22, six members of The Bookin’ Babes, a racewalking team from Sisters, OR attended the 10th Annual Erofit Racewalk Retreat in Beaverton, OR. Four of us knew what to expect: high-quality coaching, a wealth of information from the experts, two-time Olympic racewalker/guest coach Philip Dunn, and lots of eyes-on/hands-on attention to form. Our first-timers discovered that racewalkers come in all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities. Erofit’s team of instructors and staff treated every participant like they were capable of joining Philip at the Olympic Training Facility.

The importance of flexibility in racewalking was stressed, and we diligently performed a variety of stretches and mobility drills over the course of the weekend. One highlight of the event is the videotaping. On Saturday morning we racewalked a mile and our technique was captured on videotape at various points along the way. Sunday morning we were videotaped again. We watched the “before” and “after” with Philip critiquing us.

We all had a positive, fun experience at the retreat. We appreciate so much the care and hard work of Judy Heller and her crew. We all thought Philip, guest-coaching for the third year, first class. Several of us found it amusing that such a world-class racewalker could first of all, take us seriously, and second, train us in such a way as to engender personal confidence and love of the sport. We left encouraged, energized, and ready to racewalk!

Lacamas Lake 10 Miler —
Memorial Day, 2005

By Cindy Mayhak

This was the second time I have participated in this event and it proved to be an enjoyable time again.

I was excited that this year they were offering first, second, third to both men and women. Last year I finished fourth overall. That means I would have gotten a third place in the women's last year... So I set out to see what I could do this year.

It was a drizzly morning, and that can be the best weather for a nice walk around a quiet lake. I fell right into form and got into a zone. This course proved to be challenging with some killer hills.

The Vancouver Cycling Club was out on the course this year checking on all the participants. There was plenty of water and Ultima at the water stations, all manned by members of the Camas Track team.

The second half of the walk was on the Heritage Trail which was beautiful and peaceful with even a few wild rabbits checking us out.

After the Heritage Trail, it’s back onto the sidelines of a few streets. Then around a corner back to the hill we had gone down in the beginning. This hill calls for a sense of humor just before the finish of the race. But with one step at a time it can be done.

I finished 10th… Why would I finish 10th this time around? Well 9 of the 10 people in front of me jogged instead of walked. This frustrated me since I had set my sights on getting a walking award this time… I let my frustration be known to one of the race directors and I was assured that some changes would be made next year. The registration will ask runners to join in one hour after the walk starts. The coordinator also asked me to stop by the store and pick up my medal. So I deemed myself the unofficial first-place woman walker!

This is a fun, scenic event that I will mark on my calendar every Memorial Day for several years to come. Hope to see you there next year! For more information visit www.fitrightnw.com