Day 3

My wake-up quote this morning was, "The bounce has gone out of my bungee" (Wallace and Gromit, of course). But really, today was pretty good. We got to sleep in until 5:30 (ah, bliss) before checking out and heading back to the school. We got our feet taped up and then had some a pancake breakfast.

We got on the course right when it opened up at 7:00 and were the 4th and 5th walkers to go. We passed 2 & 3 and knew that the #1 was an awesome 50+ year old woman who ran most of the weekend and was not passable. But to spice things up today, we decided to come in 2nd and 3rd (not that it's a race or anything). We cranked up the pace a bit.

Still started around sunrise:



We were doing great until we hit a rest station and then turned the wrong way. We went about a block and a half before we were corrected and by then 5 people had snuck in ahead of us. We blew by the next rest station and passed two and caught up to 3, including my friend Scott from the 2005 walk. But alas, Scott was no match for us and eventual pulled ahead again when we just missed crossing at a light.

We walked through the CSU campus and also saw random things like this sculpture:



We saw lots of these high water marks in the past 3 days. I mentioned it to Jeremy tonight and he said, "Oh yeah, there was that big flood that killed some people." But I don't remember, I was living in LA at the time.



We cranked as hard as we could and maintained 5th and 6th place. And then the race coordinators held us up at the last rest station because we were so fast that the finish festival was not ready for us. We got in at about 9:40 and it was nice to stretch and rest for a bit before doing the last mile. We walked in with Scott and his group.



I had one more cup of celebratory gatorade. I had gatorade (which I hate) at just about every rest stop. All. Weekend. Long. But I didn't feel crappy or stiff this walk and I'm sure that it helped.



I'm not sure why, but Ellen wanted her picture taken with Mr. Balloon man.



The festive lunch picnic was sponsored by Chick-fil-A so Ellen and I left around 10:40. I wanted to get to Niwot so I could see Adam and Alex do a bike race at 1:30.

All and all, it was a great weekend. This walk is the best supported event I have ever done. The rest stops and meals were fabulous (even for us vegetarians) and the volunteers were so nice and friendly. Throughout the weekend we heard personal stories of where the CNS Foundation grant money was going and it was very inspiring.

It was a long 18 weeks but I'm really glad I did it!

My final update:

Mileage: 479 miles
Pledges: $1,020

Thanks again for all your support and a special thanks to my Fabulous walking partner, Miss Ellen!

Mile 17 (37) silliness

I know you were all waiting with bated breath for this video. Enjoy. I have my doctorate in music, you know.

Day 2

I'm not sure how day 2 ended up being better than day 1 (it may have had something to do with all the alleve we took) but it was not bad. Once again we got up at 5:00 am (just two alarms today). We headed to the school and had our feet patched up again. I have just one small blister on the top of my middle toe that I got taped up. Oh, and I also got some mole skin on my left arch because apparently, not only do I have flat arches, but I also have some special extra bone with a fancy name in my foot that makes me more prone to arch pain. I've developed a nice callus on my arch so the moleskin was just an extra precaution. Ellen also got some callus moleskinned up.



We started walking around 6:30. The sun was just up, unlike when we had gotten to the school and it was pitch black.



Yup, that's me walking.



We had some great rest stops today, including the carnival. This was my favorite stop because they had bags of m&ms that I could mix with the chex mix. Yesterday I was mixing the GORP and was stuck with a bunch of unwanted nuts and raisins.



And yes, there were even games. In case you are wondering, I popped 2 out of 3 balloons.



We started to get a little loopy around mile 17. Ellen had just treated me to a stunning rendition of the theme song to the Beverly Hilly Billies when we came across this informative sign. At some point I will upload the accompaning video for your viewing pleasure:



The last mile (or so they said) was definitely the hardest. But we still pulled together for a sprint to the finish line. Ellen kept her place as #16 while I came in slightly behind her. That's out approximately 86 walkers. Not that it's a race or anything, but we did gain some time by jogging peridically throughout the day. Yes, we were feeling that good (and we really just wanted to get done and get our massage).

Here's my smile that's really grimace. I usually reserve that for hard days with the kiddos.



And then we staked out the massage lady again and got a great rub down. Yay!



PS - Ellen wants to inform you that we went to 3 Margaritas last night and did not do chocolate ice cream and beer again. Although she did get a margarita but I only had a few sips as I was the dutiful designated driver. And then we watched the Teen Miss America pageant. Miss Colorado won, it's a proud for our beautiful state. Now we are off to a "fabulous" pig roast. We hear there's salmon, there better at least be bread and veggies.

TTYL (as Miss Carolina likes to sign out with)

MS Walk - Day 1

Day one started early, really early. In fact, if you count yesterday, we left for Ft. Collins around 6:00pm. We got into town around 7:00 and checked into our swanky Courtyard by Marriot. This lovely establishment had some nice goodies for sale in the lobby and we treated ourselves to beer and Ben & Jerry's.

We set three, yes THREE, alarms and were up at 5:00. At 5:30 we checked into the walk at the school home base.

6:15 Found us butts up in the freezing cold while we "stretched" our cold muscles.



See, we really are here!



Ellen was very excited (and very cold) and ready to get going!



They didn't call this the "Walkabout" for nothing. We aren't really walking to and from anything. Today was three loop in, around and about our home school, mostly on bike paths but some on residential streets. There was water and gaterade (which I dutifully, if not painfully drank) every mile and an half, and snacks at every other station. We were well taken care of.

Somewhere on the back nine Ellen started to worry about developing a blister and had medic look at her feet. She was moleskinned up in a very unnecessarily lengthy and complicated process.



I think the first 5 miles went by the quickest, the last 5 took muuuuch longer. But overall it felt like a 15 mile walk and not a 20. I had a hot spot checked on my foot at the last rest station and got some mole skin too.

We got back to the school a bit after 2:00. After much checking and pestering, we were able to score two of only 15 massage appointments. 15 minutes of pure bliss.



We also had more blister care at the school. I had to use my assertive powers when the medics started working on our feet without gloves. I asked if they were going to use them. Apparently the Walk didn't supply them with gloves and they had to use their own. I'm glad we were the first to get checked, that room is going to be a breeding ground for all sorts of bugs with that sort of cross-contamination going on.

Anyway, now it's 5:30 and we've showered and rested at our hotel and are ready for some dinner. We have another 20 miles so we need to load up on fuel.

woo hoo!

I'm not completely sure it was a full 3 miles, but Ted and Jack took us on a looong walk tonight so I'm going to count it! Last walk! Hooray!

Ted got a 20" bike today. Way cool. Unfortunately, he is even faster on this bike. Good thing I plan to start running again after this walk. I'm going to need to run to even pretend to be with him. Then again, maybe I can start biking too. It's hard for Sam to walk his bike up the bridge over Foothills, so it's easier just to walk and help him than to bike. Maybe as that gets easier I can start biking too.

We leave for Fort Collins tomorrow night! Poor Paul is sick as a dog. Figures. I'm bringing the laptop, so we'll have updates and everything! I'm excited.

There. It's done.

I walked every mile of every training day. Now I just have to walk 50 miles and then I'm really done.

Today was another short 3 and I did my old 3 mile loop up the hill. About a mile from my house I saw a big pile of bear poop on the sidewalk. Too bad I didn't have my camera to share it with you. And on Table Mesa I saw a doe with two fawns. I'm starting a new book, The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. It's definitely not Nora Roberts, but I'm not sure if I like it yet.

Mileage: 429 miles, 0 to go
Pledges: $940

more stumbling in the dark...

I left at 8 and got home at 9, so I was able to see for about 20 minutes. It was fun though. Ole and I went up the hill to 128 and back down the trail to the pool, then through the neighborhoods back to our house. A perfect 3.36. One more!! And I have a genius idea about it too. We'll see if Wendy agrees...

Celebratory DQ

Today was Alex's first day of Kindergarten. He was a champ and said, "It was the best day ever." I'm so glad he had fun.



To celebrate, we rode bikes to DQ after dinner (well, I walked). And then after we got home, I ran up to return a book and a movie. I only needed to walk 3 miles today, but it still felt like cheating. This is what I do anyway, even when I'm not following a training program. I guess that's a good mindset to be in anyway.

And a big thank you to all my sponsors as well, we couldn't have done it without you. Literally, we did have to raise $1500, so thanks again.

Mileage: 426 miles, 3 to go
Pledges: $905

$1201

All my donations are in, I think, and I am thrilled and grateful beyond belief! I am so overwhelmed and touched by the generosity of so many people. Since I had raised money for CF just a few months earlier, I was hesitant to ask people again. But Wendy reminded me that it can't hurt to ask. I'm so glad I did. Thank you to everyone who donated! Woo hoo!!

Last long walk!

Only 10+ miles and not too bad, even if I did walk by myself. I started the walk like Ellen and I did on our 20 mile day, walking to the East Rec Center and then on the bike path to Whole Foods. I took a break at WFs and had a nice snack. And then I walked to Mike's Camera to see about the lens I dropped yesterday. Their repair shop was closed, but I did buy a few albums for my proof sessions and I finally got a graduated neutral density filter for my camera. Then it was only 2 1/2 miles home. I left a bit late today, maybe around 9 and it was is the upper 80s. Probably good training for next weekend!

Mileage: 423 miles, 6 to go
Pledges: $795

A slightly wet evening walk

I think it's a pretty sad state of affairs when two moms use their child-free evening walking, but there it is. I didn't walk in the morning because I was doing my first senior photoshoot. It was super fun, here's a teaser of my cute girl:



I spent all day shooting and proofing, so Ellen and I walked after she dropped her boys off at ninja night. We walked to Eben G Fine park and then to Pearl Street, where Ellen had sushi and I had ice cream. We walked home in the dark and the rain but we got our 8 miles in!

And somehow my mileage got off, but I think this is right now:

Mileage: 413 miles, 16 to go
Pledges: $795

slackin'

In the walking sense, not the fundraising sense!!! Holy cow. I still have a few more checks to trickle in before the walk, but people REALLY stepped up to donate. I'm so relieved!! I didn't walk Tuesday or Thursday officially, but I did walk from the East Boulder Rec Center to Horizons and back on Wednesday and will again tomorrow. Not 4 miles, but something. I'm not worried. We can do it! (Well, I can do Day 1. Day 2 might be really really ouchy.)

A couple milestones

One milestone - literally - I have walked 400 training miles since end of April. That feels good, even though I felt a little sluggish tonight. And the other milestone - I did my last 4 mile campus loop tonight. Still with my Nora Roberts, which is shaping up like the other few ones I have read. I must find something better.

And holy moly, only a week left until our walk!

Mileage: 400 miles, 29 to go
Pledges: $795

One of my last campus loops

It's good that I only need one more 4 mile walk, I think the students will be back on campus soon. Then it's not so much fun for me. Tonight was actually pretty nice. I left at 6:00 with my Nora Roberts book. I kept up a good pace, I think I was in the 3.4-4mph range. The temperature was good, I felt good. All was good.

Mileage: 396 miles, 33 to go
Pledges: $745

96%

HOLY MOLY!!!!!

6 + 6

We did our walks in 2 parts today. I did my first 6 with Wendy about 12:30pm. We walked to Pearl Street to check out Keens, and back. Then I dragged my family out for Wahoo's tattoos around 5:30pm. The 'long way' is 6 miles round trip and only Sam was willing to bike home 'the long way.' We did it though and got the kids to bed at 9pm! My feet feel great, blisters and all. That new pair of the same 'ole shoes is working well.

PLEDGES: $175, $575 to go! (heh)

My 6 & 6

I did my alone 6 in the morning - my boring Devil's Thumb and Shanahan Ridge loop. Still listening to the bad Nora Robert's book, but it's growing on me.

I liked our Pearl Street walk, walking goes faster with a friend. And Ellen didn't mention that I managed to buy $50 worth of walking socks, but the important thing is I saved $12.

Mileage: 392 miles, 37 to go
Pledges: $745

Bouder Kid's Triathlon

Nothing like getting up at 5:30 so your kid can race. Alex and Ted both did the Boulder Kid's Triathlon, which was short but cute. Alex pictures are here:

And while we were at the Res and needing to do a 6 mile walk, we ditched our kids (mine with Jeremy, Ted with Stacey) and walked around the lake. I thought we walked farther, but it was 6 1/2 miles.

Mileage: 380 miles, 49 to go
Pledges: $725

me too

Another dark night today for Ole and me too. Pleasant though, especially with the random sprinklers turning on and soaking us. I have some blister issues that I need to resolve too. I'm ready to be done with this, I admit. I still need molto moola too. Feel like sponsoring me? pleeeese?

Walkin' with the bats

So if you don't leave for your walk until 7:30 and you have to walk 5 miles, you will come home in the dark. I'd love to post a picture of one of the many bats I saw, but my little camera is not up to the task. But here's how it looked half way through my walk:



Still listening to my bad Nora Roberts book. Still haven't figured out a decent book to listen to next. But hey, I'm almost done anyway!

Mileage: 374 miles, 55 to go
Pledges: $725

late evening hike

Tonight went a little later than planned, so I was stumbling home in the dark, trying to keep an eye on my black dog to help me find the trail. Heh. We headed up the hill on our trail and then cut over to Interlocken for the beautifully maintained golf course walk, then retraced our steps for a total of 4.9 miles. Wendy would have walked around the block but it was 9:20 and I could barely see. I had some fun on this walk. I spent most of the golf course part planning out how to bike Ted to school. Then, once I was 'home' on my trail, I spent the last mile belting out Indigo Girls in the dark. I'm sure I was horribly out of tune, since that always happens when singing with earphones. Too funny, but very enjoyable. Tomorrow is off, then 4 miles on Friday. Maybe we'll do out Wahoo's run on Friday. Saturday is 6 and Sunday 12. The boys have the Triathalon Saturday morning and a birthday party on Sunday, so we'll see when we can squeeze those 12 in.

Mohawk Lake

Crissy and I had a lovely hike to Mohawk Lake, up by Breckenridge. Here's trailhead info. We started about 10:45 and had a perfectly lovely day. The 7 mile hike took about 4 1/2 hours. It was an out and back, starting through a mild spruce forest and then getting higher into alpine meadows. Pictures are here.

Mileage: 369 miles, 60 to go
Pledges: $725

Boozy Breckenridge

Probably it's better to walk before drinking two happy hour margaritas, but hindsight is 20/20. Crissy and I left Boulder in the morning, then drove to Canon City to drop the boys off with Super Grammie. Then we drove to Breckenridge, getting into town around 3:00 in the middle in a rain storm. We did the natural thing of finding shelter and drink. After a couple of margs, we walked around main street and then I remembered I needed to walk. Crissy did her best to convince me to skip it, but I just couldn't. I haven't missed a walk yet this year, and I'm so close to the end.

So, we walked 2 miles north and then came back.

Here's a funny pink bike that Crissy liked.



After we found the Starbucks, we saw a funny short pickup.



We walked a bit outside of town along the bike path:



And then got back to Mi Casa to see the sun set.



Mileage: 364 miles, 65 to go
Pledges: $720

morning walk today

Today's 4 mile walk was accomplished before 9am! With the boys on bikes, we trekked the 2 miles to Superior Elementary for Ted's YMCA camp. Then Sam, Mae and I headed for the park and then home afterwards, for a total of 4.3. I hope to walk tomorrow too, but it's mostly uphill to the school, so I'm not sure Ted will be game tomorrow. It was really mellow at the park with just two kiddos. I was able to chat with my mom for quite a bit. Ahhh...

Mae's Birthday

Happy Birthday Mae-Mae!

Mae's birthday was actually a bit important to my walk today. I realized that I had lost my spatula (I was making Mae's birthday cake) so Alex and Adam biked with me to Michael's to replace it. We also got donuts (I tried the Starbuck's chocolate muffin and it was just ok. Not like a Sweet Dreams cookie or anything). The boys got their hair cut. Alex was still far out ahead, but he waited very nicely and didn't whine at all (apparently very different from his similar ride with Daddy yesterday).

Mileage: 360 miles, 69 to go
Pledges: $700

And then the vultures started circling...

Seriously. Buzzards in Boulder? I don't think they were coming for us, we saw them at mile 7 and weren't quite as pathetic as we would be at mile 22.



Oh yes, I did say mile 22. We took accidental detoured to Whole Foods and Ellen suggested that we backtrack to the trail. That added 2 miles to our 20 mile walk. Ouch.

So to start at the beginning, we left my house around 6:15am. We headed over to Safeway/Starbucks where I had my first regular coffee. I did not put enough sugar in it. Then we walked to the East Boulder Rec Center and then along the trail to the Boulder Creek Path. Then to Whole Foods (where I had a pancaked and two eggs and a cookie and Ellen had a cookie), and back to the Path. We were also on the Wonderland Creek Greenway before cutting through North Boulder and coming out at Wonderland lake on Broadway. We took Broadway to Breadworks where I was feeling so crappy that I couldn't eat. And then onto Pearl Street and the Farmer's Market where I got a fresh squeezed lemonade. And to get home, we took the Creek path to the Bear Creek path. I based today's route on the Boulder B-360 bike ride.

And here's a picture of the Creek path with it's welcome shade. Today was hot and sticky. And long.



We didn't get home until 2:30, meaning we were out 8 hours. We probably had a total of 90 minutes of breaks which means our pace was close to the 3.5/hour that I shoot for. So good job, Ellen, and sorry for doubting you :)

And, oh yeah, somewhere near East Campus, I saw my dad and Dave ride by. By they time I noticed who they were and yelled, "Dad!" at the top of my lungs, they were gone.

Mileage: 356 miles, 73 to go
Pledges: $700

I'm a slacker

But at least I'm a blogging slacker and not a walking slacker.

I did do my Tuesday 4 mile walk. I finally broke down and downloaded a Nora Roberts book because I couldn't find anything else remotely interesting. I need to plan ahead and put a hold on a good book on CD and then burn it. The book is ok and at least the reader is decent, and it kept me entertained on my campus loop.

Thursday, Crissy came along for a 5 mile walk. We did an extended campus loop. It was nice to have someone to talk to and to take a break from Nora.

Mileage: 336 miles, 93 to go
Pledges: $700