Blame it on the rain...

Update on the training...
Aug 11 - 4 miles - fighting a cold bug.
Sunday, Aug 12 - 18 miles - 11.5 to work, 3.5 from work to bus, bus from kirkland to bothell and then 3 miles home. Might I add... Juanita hill is a LOT easier walking than it ever was on the bike! :-)
Monday - day off!
Tuesday - 3 miles at lunch, 3 miles after work at Greenlake. Natasha - fabulous company and really great food! Did the left overs make it home? Heh heh heh !!!
Wednesday - treadmill 2 miles running
Thursday - nada
Friday - nada
Saturday, Aug 18 - 12.5 miles hills and bad roads without shoulders. Walked from Kenmore to 196th street (Lynnwood) and back. Too much traffic. Just over 4 hours from 12:15 - 4:30 ? It was gorgeous - got to work on the tan, but should probably walk earlier in the day! Seem to be fighting a bug too (?). Probably my most difficult day walking yet - mentally and physically - I didn't want to go and really didn't feel up to it but now it's done and it felt great. But... can I sleep yet?
Sunday - 15 miles of flat Burke Gilman and rain. Did I mention the rain? Not the typical Seattle drizzle - there was a little of that but primarily heavy rain. 4 hours, 20 minutes. And proud of it. Hey - no blisters!! THAT is something to be proud of - especially since the socks were soaked for 4 hours straight! I did not have a dry spot on me! All I have to say is - THANK YOU to the parks n rec people for putting in warm air hand dryers in the Woodinville Wilmot Gateway park. And thank goodness for zip lock freezer bags! Yes, it is the small things in life that make the day! And the bearded bird I saw. River was full and muddy and the Little Bear creek was no little stream today! Cheers to the athletes that were training for marathons and riding today. I met three other 3-Day walkers out today. Cheers. And cheers too to the dedicated dog walkers! You all rock. I love the smiles of the people sharing the trail.

So tonight I'm dog tired and sick with that cold that refused to die all week. Time for the advil! Not sure I'm liking this walking thing! :-) Ahh well - after I'm done whining it will all be worth it, right? It's for a good cause and I'll feel better in a couple days. Just in time to push it again. Besides it's nothing compared to what cancer patients have to go through. So here's to you my friends.

To the friends that push me -
Thanks for the push and the kick in the butt - you now who you are. Cough. Sally. :-)
Congrats to my friend Sally on her Tiger mountain run. Keep reaching gal. I'm tryin' to keep up! Oh wait - you're tired? Yeah right!! Way to go on the training. No walls or bumps are gonna slow you down!
To Ray and his entourage - congrats on finishing the album. And September Sky will be available soon for those that don't know Ray. Check out his website... http://www.raymondhayden.com/index.shtml Ray's a talented song writer, musician and friend.
And Duxworth? AYYEEEE. How do I even begin to respond!
To Lori and her MalonEQ - you can host like no one!
Mike and Chris - I love your laughs!
Charmell - congrats woman! You just keep growing and inspiring me!
Natasha - fabulous woman! We are almost there! Walk, wedding, bachelorette party, and soon you will be a MRS!!! Thank God you're keeping your name! :-) Oh wait - Jeff - you didn't hear that! She could change it to Natasha Goodwoman. :-) Apparently I've had a bit much of the sun! Or rain. Hard to say!

I'm walking for each of you and for your loved ones. I'm walking for me and the people I love. And while walking may suck today, it's just a small step towards raising the money and awareness so that tomorrow will be that much closer to finding a cure. That much closer to friends not having to go through chemo or be sick or face the difficult decisions and life changes that cancer brings. We will get there!

Cheers to each of you.

Quote of the day - and yes I realize - that just because I think it's funny doesn't mean the rest of you will, but put it in context with a Hot Dog BBQ put on by some fabulous friends of Sally...

You don't have to be a hot dog to eat a hot dog.

On that note... Cheers to all you HOT dogs out there!

One day...

So I added another 7 miles in today. Between the bus to work and then a couple at lunch (to get lunch) :-) and then about 4 miles from work to a bus stop on the route home... Man that bus looked good driving up! Couldn't pass it up!

Just your personal Jiminy Cricket tellin' ya to get in and get checked!!

Some info on ways to detect breast cancer from the http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm site:

Ages 20-39:
Self exam - monthly
Clinical breast exam - at least every three years

Ages 40 and over:
Self exam - Monthly
Clinical breast exam - every year
Mammogram - every year

And while I'm at it... ladies - if you haven't made that lovely visit to your gynecologist lately - make sure you schedule your appointment. This needs to be an annual visit so if it's been over a year, get your butt in there! The best way to detect any kind of cancer or other problem is to catch it early.

For the ABC's of Breast Cancer, please visit:

http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutBreastCancer/TheABCsofBreastCancerGuide/index.htm

Miles

Miles to go before I sleep...

Here's the summary for the week:

7/29/07 - 10 miles on the Burke Gilman - 3 hours 5 minutes from Kenmore to Wilmot Gateway Park in Woodinville and back. Breakfast was well earned!! Floanna's on Lake City/Bothell Way at about 155th is fabulous for those that love breakfast! Fund raising at Green Lake in the afternoon. Hey - does moving tables count for exercise? Added a half mile or so at the track with Sally. The TIMER IS STILL RUNNING! :-) That one's for you Sally Mae!

7/30/07 - day off (Thank God)!

7/31/07 - 3.5 mile walk at lunch.

8/1/07 - 3.5 mile walk at lunch and softball but somehow being catcher doesn't seem to count! Does the .25 rt walk to Tacos Guaymos count? Had to hit the burritos w/ my bro! Good to see you Dave!

8/2/07 - Sally Mae and I walked about 3+ miles (until dark) on the Burke Gilman.

8/3/07 - Night off... Mick Kelly's pub in Burien for Big Woody and the Clam Diggers! One of my favorite bands! They're the best clams in town! Doh!

8/4/07 - Snoqualmie Falls - gorgeous day and good company. Nice hike Walt! About 3 miles rt from the Snoqualmie Depot to the base of the falls. Oh - and the best pizza is at the Bowling Alley - try the salmon pizza with the marinara sauce. Awesome.

8/5/07 - Hike - somewhere between 3 and 5 miles at Middle Fork Snoqualmie (Exit 34 off I-90) and about 12 miles off the fwy. Lauren you rock! Good job kiddo! Hike a couple more times and you'll be up to kickin' my butt! And you're fun too! Send me some pics will ya? :-)

8/6/07 - Burke Gilman - Kenmore to about 140th/42nd Ave NE (south towards Seattle). 7.1 miles. The dog and I are beat! That's about his max - especially after hiking yesterday. He does love the swim at Log Boom Park though - too bad he doesn't dry off in the last mile home!

That's about it. Cheers!