I can walk for miles and miles and miles...

I might have mentioned that I enjoy doing the occasional event that challenges me physically and supports a good cause. This weekend I was fortunate enough to participate in the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. I did the event in San Francisco with two friends - Barb and Sally. The event covers 39.3 miles in 2 days - a full marathon (26.2 miles) the first day and a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). We sleep in tents to pull the whole experience together. I have done similar events on bike - three different AIDS Rides to be exact, and while this was the same in principle, it was different in both the cause and the mode of transportation.

As devastating as AIDS is on our society, breast cancer is also a horrific disease that knows no boundaries or lines. Hearing the stories of the different people at the walk; either something that they experienced personally or through a loved one were simultaneously heart-breaking and amazing. I liked the energy on this walk because while the disease and its effects are awful, the spirit, mood and tempo of everyone participating was upbeat because we are all DOING something to help make a difference.

The day started early enough with us loading up on the buses to get over to Golden Gate Park at 5 am. We ate a quick (and not very filling for this girl's hearty appetite!) breakfast and walked around the park, then went to the stage for a moving opening ceremony at 6:30 am then we were off and walking by 7 am - all 3,200 of us! It was a huge group and we moved slowly through the streets at first, but once we got through the first few miles and rest stops, things started to thin out a bit and we hit our stride.

Walking with Barb and Sally was a lot of fun and really helped the miles to go by. It was also a beautiful day, one that could be categorized as PERFECT for walking - cool and a bit overcast until almost noon, then gorgeous and sunny but not too hot as we wound our way to tent village to settle in for the night. Walking across the Golden Gate bridge is a privilege that not everyone gets in their life...we actually did it twice in one day!

There is an amazing group of volunteers who support and encourage the walkers along the route, all of whom have some sort of theme. Given the nature of our cause, the themes usually hover around the chest area and while not all necessarily appropriate for G-rated audiences, they are pretty darn funny and all in the right spirit of celebration. I cannot deny that the 'Hookers for Hooters' girls got a good laugh out of me every time that we saw them. I will spare all of the commentary on the different themes and let you experience them for yourself, along with some other choice pictures from the day.

We stopped for ice cream (shock and surprise if I was involved in that decision, isn't it?) at about mile 21 and then we powered up and over the hill to get back to the Golden Gate bridge and then the glorious moment when we arrived at mile 26.2 in Crissy field and finally STOPPED walking. For the record, that is a lot of miles to log in one day on two feet. We were very fortunate to have no blisters, issues or pains to really speak of, but you end the day VERY aware of your feet and legs and just how hard they work! I will also add that I calculated my daily steps for the day to be something around 54,000 - I usually strive to do a paltry 10,000 a day!!

Day one ended with a great shower, satisfying dinner, 25 glorious minutes in the foot and back massage tent and then off to the air mattress for a good night's sleep. Tent sleeping is not the most isolated and personal experience that one will ever have, you pretty much hear it all, but it was good to be lying down and relaxing, so good times for all!

Next up on the docket...day two and walking 13.1 miles to completion of the trek!