1 – Wear a hat with a brim. It will keep the rain off your face, so you can see, even in a downpour.

2 – Dress in layers if it’s cold. The most important layer is the one closest to your body. Make sure it’s a technical fabric such as polypropylene or CoolMax, which wicks water and sweat away from your skin (no cotton). Stay dry, use an umbrella, poncho or raincoat.

3 – Be visible. Select outer layers that are very bright or light-colored and have reflective strips, since walking in the rain often means poor visibility.

4 – Prevent chafing. Chafing can happen during any long walk, but it can be much worse if you’re wet from the rain. Spread Body Glide or Vaseline on parts of your body where you would normally chafe or get blisters – such as your feet, inner thighs, or underarms.

5 – Protect your electronics from getting wet. Store electronics, such as your cell phone and iPod, in a Ziplock bag or a waterproof carrier.

6 – DON’T WALK DURING THUNDER STORMS! Keep your walk indoors if there are thunderstorms in the area. Training is not worth the risk of getting struck by lightning. Walk in the mall or other large venue like a hockey rink.

7 – See it as an opportunity to build your mental strength. Sometimes we do get a “little” rain during Kidney March, knowing what gear works to keep you dry and warm is a bonus! You’ll be ready to handle any challenge that comes your way.

8 – Watch your step. The road or path can be slippery. The key is to take small steps and really pay attention to your footing. Try to avoid stepping in puddles as much as you can. Your running shoes and feet will get wet from the rain, but they’ll get absolutely soaked if you step in a big puddle.

9 – Check your shoe grip. If the bottoms are worn flat those shoes will be slippery in the rain. Your shoes should have grooves on their soles that are deeper than one millimeter. These channels allow water to run through them and also help to get a better grip on the road.

10 – Dry out your shoes after. When you get back from a wet walk, take off your running shoes and stuff them with crumpled balls of newspaper. This helps the shoes keep their shape, and the paper draws moisture away from the shoes. Don’t put them in the dryer or in front of a heater – that can shrink them or warp them so they won’t fit you properly.

There are 9 weeks until Kidney March. And we thought this would be a great time for training tips and fundraising ideas!

As you know, the kilometres we walk and the funds we raise are nothing compared to the day-to-day battle of kidney disease. Knowing that inspires us all to go outside our comfort zone – whether that’s setting out to walk further than ever before … or going on social media to raise awareness and funds.

Kidney March is 57 sleeps away. This is the perfect time to ramp up your training and fundraising. We are here to support you along the way. People tell us they get stuck at some point on the Kidney March journey … whether they’ve just registered or have a fundraising hurdle to overcome.

So … we compiled a fundraising and training plan to help make the process fun and rewarding.

Need to know who, how or when to approach supporters for donations? Need a walking schedule to keep you on track? Wondering whether stretching really helps? Click here for the plan.

If you prefer to have company during your training, join your fellow Kidney March fans on our scheduled training walks which are listed in the 9 week plan as well as at www.kidneymarch.ca.

You don’t have to be a Marcher to do these training walks. These events are for everyone! Sure, we’d love for you to jump on board for the exhilarating trek through the foothills of the Rockies – it’s not too late to register. We’re just as happy to have you make a few friends and keep your kidneys running in tip-top shape.

Stretching is essential to enjoying Kidney March, and it also happens to be essential for overall health. When we stretch (before, after and during walking) we help our body find its length and strength. That’s why you’ll hear us talking to you more about stretching than we talk about walking.

Thanks to Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy for these fabulous tips.

NoseCreek-StretchingTips-KidneyMarch

In honour of 7 years and 700 kilometres of Kidney March, and just in time for training walks, we’re delighted to announce that you can earn a FREE fitbit just by helping The Kidney Foundation of Canada. How? It is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Register as Marcher or Crew. Already registered, way to go, you are one step ahead.

2. Speak with your family and friends, host a get together, contact your employer about a donation or donation matching, get creative or use email and Facebook… whatever works, just start sharing that you have made this amazing commitment to ending kidney disease and ask for donations in support.

3. Be one of the first 50 people to raise an additional $700 to your existing fundraising total between April 18 and May 28, 2016 and, BAM, the fitbit is yours.

And now for the small print… This incentive is open to both Marchers and Crew, however, only the first 50 people to reach the incremental $700 qualify. One fitbit per person.

There’s motivation in our Kidney March mission. Knowing that the kilometres we walk and the funds we raise are nothing compared to the day-to-day battle of kidney disease. And while motivation can inspire us to do the most we can, we still have to be prepared.

Now is the time to countdown to Kidney March. 8 weeks or 56 sleeps! It is time to really ramp up, from registering to training and fundraising to meeting and exceeding your goals. Please remember the Kidney March Team is here to support you on this journey.

Many folks find themselves kind of stuck at some point in time… whether they’ve just registered or have a fundraising hurdle, so to help the team has compiled the 8 week fundraising and training plan. Need to know who, how or when to approach your soon to be supporters for donations? No problem — Page 2. Need a walking schedule to keep you in line and on track? Perfect — Page 4. Wondering whether stretching really helps? Easy — Page 5. Click here for the plan.

Don’t like walking on your own? Or want to add some variety to your training schedule? Join us and your fellow Kidney March fans on our scheduled training walks. Training walks are listed in the 8 week plan, as well as on our homepage. And, just so you know, you do not have to be a Marcher to do these training walks. They are come one, come all events. Sure, we’d love for you to jump on board for a heroic trek through the foothills of the Rockies with hundreds of like-minded Marchers (side note: register here). But we’re just as happy to have you make a few friends and keep your kidneys running in tip-top shape.

Kidney Clothes shares how you can use spring cleaning to fundraise! Collect gently used clothes from friends, family and neighbours. For every pound of clothing collected $0.20 goes to your Kidney March 2015 fundraising and $0.30 goes to the Kidney Foundation. Here’s some information to get you started or you can call 1.800.387.4474 ext. 4947 or email corporate@kidneyclothes.ca

Clothing Drive Presentation April 2015