And they're off!

What a spectacular day yesterday was for our training walk season kick off! A group of approximately 25 of us took a lovely and “tenny bit” hilly 6 mile walk through the Presidio and were greeted with phenomenal views at a the new lookout points with well built and considerate ledges for walker stretching! It was wonderful meeting you (or seeing you again after our winter break) and hearing about why you are walking. See below for info about upcoming walks, joining the team and a great podiatrist.

Special thanks to Sharla, 2008 Avon Walker & 2009 3 Day Walker, for providing us route support and those deliciously refreshing strawberries & grapes at our break. Hope your injury heals quickly so you can get on the road with us.

Got Podiatrist? Avon Walker pip mentioned a great resource - We highly recommend Dr. Jenny Sanders, our hottie podiatrist, if you are having any foot issues. Tell them you are a hottie when you call for a priority appointment. Dr. Jenny will help you get into the right shoes for your feet for training. Like I said, I walked 8 years in the wrong type of shoes before being fit by Dr. Jenny. GO see her for happy feet! Financial District Foot & Ankle Center - 100 Bush Street, #420, San Francisco 415-956-2884 - Email: info@fdfac.comUPCOMING WALKS: Please RSVP warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net as it helps us plan a little better and have enough maps for everyone:

Sun 4/12 - NO WALK
Sun 4/19 – 8 miles – 8:30am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish 12:00pm
Sun 4/26 – 10 miles – 8:00am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish 12:00pm

Sun 5/3 – 11 miles – 7:00am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish 12:00pm
Sun 5/10 – 12 miles – 7:00am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish 12:00pm
Sun 5/17 – 14 miles – 6:30am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish 12:00pm

Training schedule: http://www.warminghuthotties.com/Training_Walk_Schedule.php

Join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Why join our team? Become a hottie to have support and camaraderie while we train which builds into a family within the greater walk community on the event weekend. We’ll compound our fundraising dollars and inspire one another to do more than we though possible alone - last year the hotties raised almost $500,000. Don't be shy, take the leap! We’ll make lifelong friends. To join the hottie team, email:
For the Avon Walk. Email Juliana, at teams.sanfrancisco@avonwalk.org and ask to be added to the team.
For the 3 Day: Call 800.996.3DAY or email bayareacoaches@the3day.org to be added to the Warming Hut Hotties team.

The 2009 hotties are super-fine!

Spring has sprung, dearest hotties, and it is time once again to dust off our walking shoes. This is the seventh year of the hotties walking and crewing and volunteering and walker stalking! Last year was amazing with $424,870.23 raised for the 3 Day and the Avon Walk and thousands of lives touched; maybe we'll hit $500K this year!?

Let’s start the walk season by stretching our legs with a 6 mile walk on Sunday, April 5th at 8:30am meeting at the Warming Hut. And, as always, please RSVP if you are coming out.

April & May training walks are up on our website and will be posted to the Avon and 3 Day sites soon. We will be leading walks only on Sundays before we start back-to-back Saturday/Sunday training walks in late May. The training this season is geared to the SF 3 Day in October. Our Avon Walkers will have the option to take self-led second loops if they feel the need to increase mileage in conjunction with their training needs.

We’ll of course need route support for walks 12 miles and over. Shoot and email if you want to sign up to provide route support for a walk. We are also working on a plan to address the problem of overwhelming walk turnout. If attendance grows again this year to over 40-45 people on a walk we may have two training walks on Saturdays with staggered start times

Even if you are not planning on walking this year there are numerous ways to be involved with the events, the hotties and our community - reach out & stay connected!

In Our Lifetime received non-profit status in October (hurrah!) and will be sending/posting more info regarding ways to be involved. We will be seeking committee heads and members for various “tasks” related to running training training walks, organizing clinics, team activities, implementing/managing our walker mentor program “Shoulder to Shoulder”, and our BUST it out! fundraiser.

This year we also plan to host our some of our clinics (will be posted on the training walk page on the website when confirmed):
May – shoe fit
June – stretching for endurance walking
July – pacing for endurance & strength/walking form techniques
August – Back to Back weekend

See you on the road & be well. Here's to another fantastic year!
Linda


Other immediate needs:
help updating our website (we'd love to have a calender which enables people to RSVP directly on the site)
outreach and letter writing to get the word out about the Shoulder to Shoulder program.
grant research & writing for In Our Lifetime
wish: donated storage space/small workspace for all of our hottie stuff, training walk supplies (water, etc.) in the Marina, Presidio or very close by with 24 hour access.

Warming Hut Hotties - Hearts and Soles United Against Breast Cancer
Web: http://www.warminghuthotties.com
Training Walk Schedule: http://www.warminghuthotties.com/Training_Walk_Schedule.php
Email: warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net

The Hottie Nation!

2,000 Walkers & 400 Crew Members Raised $4,729,000.00
7 dozen pink, lavender and green dee-lee-bobbers

7 dozen blinky rings, pins, buttons, hottie flags and laminated cadences
70 hottie walkers and 12 hottie crew raised $213,868.00 and counting!

Oh hotties, my hotties,
I am so proud of our hottie walkers and hottie friends, so appreciative of our hottie crew and so thankful to our many hottie helpers and hottie walker stalkers. We were everywhere this weekend: walking, stalking, volunteering, cheering & crewing! Our hottie community (read: family) is quite the mutual admiration society. Barry had it right: We are the Hottie Nation!

We shared 3 Days of:
The massive hottie herd with huge heart in our hottie headgear.Hotfooted hotties hoofin' it & hurtin' hotties & hotties hangin' tough.Old hotties, new hotties, hottie friends & adding honorary hotties along the way.
Hottie grief, tears, catharsis & healing.
Hotties hydrating & hotties in the port-a-pottiesHottie highs & hottie lows & hottie hoorays & spreading our hottie spirit.Hottie hilarious high jinx, silly humor & guffawing in hysterics.
Hotties holding banners, hotties eating hot dogs, hotties riding in the Happy Sweep Van and hotties getting a tan.
Hard-headed hotties & naughty hotties & hottie hook-ups & hottie hanky panky (?!)Hottie hugs & hotties holding hands & hottie high fives.Hotties chanting the cadence with great chutzpah.
Sore hottie tootsies & sore hottie booties.
Hottie Hero Walker Stalkers, family, friends & hottie helpers too.And hotties hollering wooooohooooo!

Coming off the 3 Day is like having been at a rock concert, amusement park and kid's birthday all in one. My ears are still ringing and my throat is sore from yelling the cadence. I drove down to Crissy Field this morning to have my coffee and let the whole 3 Day journey sink in (nope, I didn't walk there!) It is grey and foggy here in the City today and it is hard to believe how spectacular the weather was this past weekend. It set the stage for a truly wonderful weekend and it showed our beloved Crissy Field off at its finest.

It did not matter if you were first, the caboose or somewhere in the middle of the pack of 2,000 walkers. We were a moving monument to our heartfelt belief that we will end breast cancer (and all cancers) as a life threatening disease.

You are a now a part of the long legacy of this team. A legacy of kindness and compassion and spirit. A legacy of leaving the world a better place than we found it. Our legacy is also in cold hard cash. This year alone the team will raise over $400,000 participating in four events. Collectively we have raised $2,086,203.42 since our first walk as a team in 2003. Simply Amazing. All from individual donations from friends and family, co-workers and from places we do business. We know the money we worked so hard to raise will be put to work helping people get access to care. We know the money we worked so hard to raise will go to doctors engaged in critical research. We know the money we worked so hard to raise will help prevent and help detect breast cancer early. That is the legacy for which I am most proud and hope you are as well.

Every training walk season and every event is different and this year was magical. It has been a remarkable year and I will cherish the experience of walking with you, hearing your stories, making new friends and creating our deep team bond. Each of us is on a personal journey although collectively we forge the pathway toward a world without breast cancer In Our Lifetime.

Each of you has changed the landscape of my heart forever, thank you. Remember, once a hottie, always a hottie! Hottie hugs and go enjoy your long winter hibernation. Rest, recover and rejuvenate, dear friends. Until we meet again, walk on! Linda

To our hottie survivors: You are inspiration personified. We can’t begin to express the responsibility and honor we feel walking by your side. You give us hope that the work we are doing will enable many more women and men detect their cancer early, get access to great care and less barbaric treatments. It is beautiful to witness you live your lives OUT LOUD.

To the Walking Wounded: Dear walkers, take time to heal your body. You have done wondrous work even though you didn't walk perhaps as much as you wanted. You were there, you were seen and you have made a difference. Your contribution is not measured in steps but in simply having taken part. Despite what you may be telling yourself, your hottie teammates, are proud of you!

To our hottie crew: 4 Sweep Vans, Pit 5 Crew and Medical Transport..... YOU ARE AMAZING! Thank you for 3 Days of hard work and caring of the walkers. *Special Thank you to Meg for buying pizza and champagne for us at the Holding Area! What a treat.*

To My Hottie “Assistant Managers”: Andrea, Marcia, Meg, Charisse and Sandy; thank you and know you have my deep respect and admiration. It does take a village for the “care and feeding” of a team this big. Phenomenal training walks, arranging clinics, craft days, making 3,000 flower pins, walker stalking, planning, paperwork/printing, hundreds of emails, document development, team shirts, hottie swag, our BUST it out! fundraiser and the formation of In Our Lifetime could not have happened without your contribution of time, energy, love and dedication to this team.

Share Your Training & Event Photos for the Hottie Archive - Flickr Group: http://flickr.com/groups/warminghuthotties/

Register for the 3 Day next year! It’s only 396 days until next year’s 3 Day and the SF 3 Day team is up! http://www.the3day.org/goto/thewarminghuthotties Not sure the cut off date, but right now the registration fee is $55 (usually $90) with the promo code: legacy. If you are interested in crewing next year, register and then let me know. I will try to work with Nathaniel to get a Hottie Pit Stop if there is interest.

Reunion Party: I’ll send an Evite out soon with details. It will probably be in a month or so. Think potluck like the Walk-luck picnic.

Race for the Cure: Some hotties will be heading out for this walk Sunday, Sept 21st. Register here for the Komen SF Race for the Cure. $30 registration fee/no fundraising minimum. Online registration fees increase September 11 and Online registration closes September 14. You can also register in person on Sept 20th at both SF Sports Basement locations or the morning of race day as well.

Stay in Touch - Join the Warming Hut Hotties Gmail Group! I'll post here about training walks and other events. You can connect with walkers and crew here, talk about other events, and just stay in touch. http://groups.google.com/group/sfwarminghuthotties2009

The Hottie Zazzle Store Has Postage Stamps for Your Thank You Notes: http://www.zazzle.com/hotties_postage_stamp-172440951405935960

Training Walks: I may start an off-season “once a month easy (under 8 miles) Saturday/Sunday walk” if there is interest. Our real training season won’t begin again until late April, 2009. Check http://www.warminghuthotties.com/Training_Walk_Schedule.php for updates.

San Diego Walkers/Crew: Please email me so we can try to connect you all for training walks and for your event!

3 Day Girl - Ice Man Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QqU0h2x6bE

Day 1 Route: www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=244400
Day 2 Route: www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=244383
Day 3 Route: www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=244409

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. Henry Ward Beecher

Cell Phone Numbers & Some Hottie Shout Outs!

Just trying to put together a cell phone/tent list for our event. So if you are willing to share, email me your cell number for inclusion in the list. We'll print it up for you and give you a copy to stick in your credential. I will email a detailed team meet up plan next week as well.

I have asked Melissa from the 3 Day for all of the hottie tenting assignments so we can know where we are all located in camp. I am in A15 so I am presuming we have tents A1 - A30 or so.

RIGHT NOW THE HOTTIES ARE THE #1 FUNDRAISING TEAM FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO EVENT! To date we have raised $168,529.62 and the money is still rolling in! And with all the fast and furious fundraising we've all been doing I have a HUGE announcement. Our cumulative fundraising across all of the hottie teams this is year is $335,501.03 which means we have surpassed a major milestone. The hotties have raised $2,023,906.03 since 2003. Let that sink in. I think a giant Wooooooohooooooo! is in order.

As of today we are 70 walkers (with a few new recruits joining this week) and 12 crew members strong. Our hottie crew are:
Adrienne Wingo – Sweep Crew
Cynthia McCuster - Pit 5
Eric Kwang - Medical Transport
Jim Lawson – Medical Transport
Joel Feldman – Sweep Crew
Mary Green - Pit 5
Pat Klock – Camp Food Service
Rebecca Byrne - Pit 5
Renee Feldman – Sweep Crew
Sarah Burroughs - Sweep Crew
Tamara Gabel - Moto Safety Crew
Tania Down - Pit 5

Our California team members live all over:
Alameda
Pleasant Hill
Belmont
Redwood City
Burlingame
Sacramento
Citrus Heights
San Francisco
Davis
San Jose
Elk Grove
San Leandro
Foster City
San Lorenzo
Fremont
San Mateo
Greenbrae
San Ramon
Half Moon Bay
Santa Clara
Menlo Park
Santa Cruz
Mill Valley
Vacaville
Milpitas
Vallejo
Oakland
Walnut Creek
Pacifica
Woodside

Plus, we have hotties flying in from:
Boston, VA
Boulder, CO
Carmel, IN
Downingtown, PA
Englewood, CO
Great Neck, NY
Huntington Woods, MN
Kent, VA
Kodiak, AK
New York, NY
Santa Fe, NM
Seattle, VA
Westland, MI

Each of us have very personal and profound reasons for walking & crewing. I wanted to take a moment, however, for a few shout outs:
Sarah Moore, hottie since 2003, is the #2 fundraiser for the SF event!!! Sarah we are so proud of you. What a phenomenal effort.
For the first time in my memory we have a whopping five male hottie walkers: Forrest, Jeff, Kevin, Barry & Dan!
Jan Down will not be walking with us as she will be starting her radiation treatment as we walk. Let us all keep Jan in our thoughts and prayers.
Cathy Cabral, hottie since 2004, will not be walking with us as she will be flying to meet her new adopted son!
We have the honor of hosting Barry Blauer, a 14 city walker, as a Warming Hut Hottie as he participates in SF. Let's make him remember this event above all of the others!

I can't belive it is almost here! Rest up, hydrate and start fine tuning your hot pink hottie radar. Over and for now,
Linda

Can you feel the Woooohooo inside of you?!

Okay, so I ripped that off from a WaMu radio commercial BUT the hotties have been all about "the Woooohooo" since 2003!

Weekend Recap: Saturday’s walk was a very vigorous but wonderful 16 miles which started shrouded in fog. We saw the hugeness of the Outside Land's festival, the stunning views from Tank Hill even through the fog and the very glamorous plastic sheeting stall "doors" at the Market St. Safeway. We walked past Duboce Park & Alamo Square on our way back to the Presidio.

Sunday we had another challenging 12 mile hill walk up the “secret forest” behind UCSF and then a "choose your own adventure" portion of the route: I made it walker’s choice to go up the hills of 17th Street OR take a detour up the Vulcan Street Steps. The group voted for the gorgeous but still very challenging Vulcan Street Steps! This is the first time in six years of leading walks I “free formed” our route back to the meeting location: such rebels! What a wonderful weekend of walking.

Wooohooo to Carol for blasting tunes from her cute Mini, to Eric for finding time to eat eggs, bacon & corndogs while still keeping track of the pack, and Avon hottie Judy for being there with us both days with that luscious fresh fruit even though we stopped following the route map. We are very spoiled and grateful to have had you all take such good care of us!

Wooohooo to Heather whose birthday was on Sunday! And double Wooohooo to Charisse for making two batches of cupcakes Saturday night, after walking 16 mile, so we could celebrate Heather's birthday in true hottie style. Mmmmmmm cake – I’ll fess up, I ate three!

Last Training Walk of 2008! Sat 8/30 - Final 12 mile Walk & Walk-luck Picnic 7:00am - meet at West Bluff Picnic Area by the Warming Hut. RSVP for the walk: http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug30 or Potluck Picnic details: http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/NNPHMPIXCZCQTCPUBQGM/walkluckpicnic

Communal Flickr Account: We have a Warming Hut Hotties flickr group – feel free to post any training & event photos! There are also some photos from BUST it out! up as well. http://www.flickr.com/groups/warminghuthotties/

Hottie Gear for your Family & Friends! http://www.zazzle.com/warminghuthotties

Packing List: Email: warminghuthottiesATsbcglobalDOTnet for a copy to be sent to you.

Join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Even though the event is right around the corner we do welcome new walkers to join our team! Email Melissa, 3 Day Field Coach, to be added: mjlabonge@event360.com or call 800.996.3DAY (800.996.3329) You'll get hottie team pride items for the event next weekend at the picnic/at the Event Eve Pasta Feed.

Warming Hut Hottie Cheering Stations & Route Blurb: There is a hottie cheering station each day of the walk so have your family & friends meet you at these appointed locations along the route. Email: warminghuthottiesATsbcglobalDOTnet for a copy to be sent to you.

Event Eve – Team Pasta Feed at the Embassy Suites: Tamara Gabel, hottie moto crew, has worked very hard to secure a Pasta Feed which is open to all walkers/crew. The Embassy Suites (Host Hotel -- 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco , CA 94080 , (650) 589-3400) is offering a Pasta Dinner for all 3-Dayers on Thursday evening, September 4, 2008.

Who's Invited: All 3-Dayers, whether or not you're staying at the hotelWhen: 6:00 through 8:00 pmCost: $18.00 all inclusive (hotel guests can buy a ticket upon check in and non-hotel guests can pay at a cashier near the buffet)
What: Pasta bar (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), salad, bread, dessert and a soft drink
Why: Because 3-Dayers are awesome and deserve only the best
Also: The Embassy Suites has agreed to open its Cooked to Order Breakfast for the 3-Day guests at 4:00 am on Friday morning!

Magic happens when we are out on the road together walking!

BUST it out! for Breast Cancer was a super success! We had amazing Art Bras, 20 silent auction items, 24 drawing prize items, games, our flower foam magnets (like our pins) for sale, event shirts and See's candy, Joel DJing, Simon Perez MCing, lots of food, refreshments and hottie hospitaility all around. We're still working on the final number but it looks like we raised over $6,000 with money still coming in!

One month ago there literally was no BUST it out! No prizes, no art bras, no food. We had the hall. Period. I almost cancelled the party as it seemed too daunting to pull together a fundraiser that would raise the thousands of dollars we had as our vision. All it took was a few emails and calls out to the network of hotties and hottie friends. Donations and offers of support began pouring in… There is a lesson in there: ask with your heart in the right place and people will respond.

This team, the Warming Hut Hotties was born out of the training walks we lead every weekend. Magic happens when we are out on the road together walking. A community like no other is born. The most kind, generous, caring people you will ever meet in your life walk in these events. Some people have participated every year; some walk one time. We have shared countless miles, conversations, laughter and tears together. We have shared life successes, challenges, achievements and tragedies. We treat one another in the way we wish the rest of the world could: with tremendous kindness & gratitude.

With this party are proud to announce the formation of our non-profit called In Our Lifetime. We have submitted our application and expect our non-profit status by year end. Our first project will be Shoulder to Shoulder: a walker mentoring program with will enable disadvantaged women and men to walk with us in an event. We will work to address certain circumstances that may have prevented them from participating before: financial, childcare, fundraising, transportation or training. We also have the vision of starting an emergency relief fund for people who are diagnosed with breast cancer but are without health insurance. Applications for the Shoulder to Shoulder program and a Volunteer Interest Application are available (email me.)

We want to affect positive life-affirming change just like we do on our training walks and our team: person to person. We can’t solve the huge problems ourselves but can make a huge impact in other individual’s lives. That is the core spirit behind the formation of this non-profit and we are very excited to get underway.

I am thrilled to announce that the Warming Hut Hotties are on the cusp on having raised over $2 million in six years. That is $2 million raised by ordinary women and men... walking. I did the math: that is over 13,000 mammograms! If you can believe in that, you too can believe in a world without breast cancer In Our Lifetime. It is within our reach. To those who helped plan, helped get prizes/food, volunteered during the event, donated an item, or came to the party thank you for making this a true celebration of life and community.

We have BUST it out! shirts for sale - $20.00 each! We’ll have them this weekend and at the Walk-luck picnic.

We will also have a pay pal link up soon - stay tuned - for those of you who wanted to donate but were unable to make the party.

Team Gear Orders Deadline – TOMORROW – Tuesday, August 18, 2008, 9:00pm Email me if you missed the original email with all the details/photos of available shirt styles.

Join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Email Melissa, 3 Day Field Coach, to be added: mjlabonge@event360.com or call 800.996.3DAY (800.996.3329)

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT Event Eve – Team Dinner at the Embassy Suites: The Event Eve Pasta Feed is on! Tamara Gabel, hottie moto crew, has worked very hard to secure a Pasta Feed open to all walkers/crew.The Embassy Suites (Host Hotel -- 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco , CA 94080 , (650) 589-3400) is offering a Pasta Dinner for all 3-Dayers on Thursday evening, September 4, 2008.

Who's Invited: All 3-Dayers, whether or not you're staying at the hotel
When: 6:00 through 8:00 pmCost: $18.00 all inclusive (hotel guests can buy a ticket upon check in, and non-hotel guests can pay either at the front desk or at a cashier near the buffet)
What: Pasta bar (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), salad, bread, dessert and a soft drink
Why: Because 3-Dayers are awesome and deserve only the bestAlso: The Embassy Suites has agreed to open its Cooked to Order Breakfast for the 3-Day guests at 4:00 am on Friday morning!

Last walks of 2008! RSVP please:
Sat 8/3 – 16 miles – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut - RSVP: http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug23
Sun 8/24 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Arguello Gate of the Presidio - RSVP:http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug24

Sat 8/30 - Final 12 mile Walk & Walk-luck Picnic (where we will have out team shirts and our hottie swag bags with your team spirit items.)
7:00am - meet at West Bluff Picnic Area by the Warming Hut. Details to come! RSVP: http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug30

40 Miles in the Bag, Baby!

Well the B2B is behind us! You are all brilliant no matter if you walked 40 miles or something in between. We did it - congratulations!!! For some it is a time to look back at how far you have come in your training. I hope you also got a sense of the wonderful community of walkers to which you belong. We try to make the B2B a mini-version of the supportive environment you will be immersed in during our 3 Day walk in a month.

There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met. - William Butler Yeats

That is how I feel after sharing 40 miles of stories, laughter, tears, stretching, snacking, hydrating, peeing, blisters, aches and pains with you all. What a tremendous weekend.

It is a great idea to head for an easy ½ hour or hour walk to get the kinks out. If you are really sore or wiped out take it really easy this week. Arnica Gel/Oil is great for sports trauma. Ice and Advil if you are more than sore and see contact info below for our hottie podiatrist if you are having foot issues. Keep hydrating and stretching!

Many, many thanks to this weekend's remarkable Route Support Team: SATURDAY: Avon Walkers Sharla, Carol SUNDAY: Pip & Joel and Marsha Sutherland. It was like we were on a 40 mile buffet. Thanks for being right where we needed a little support, cheering, salsa dancing, deveiled eggs, dance music or woooohooing. Thanks for giving up a big portion of your day to be out on the road with us!

Our fundraiser BUST it out! for Breast Cancer is this weekend: Sunday, August 17th from 1-4pm. "Art Bra" Silent Auction & “Pick a Prize” Drawing with over 30 items. We are trying to raise as much money as possible in one afternoon! Please come on by for games, refreshments and a whole lot of pink! Invite your family, friends and team - we'd love to see you there and please spread the word: http://tinyurl.com/bustitout Email me to volunteer or donate an item for the drawing: warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net

There is still time to join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! So you've been training with us all of these weeks and unlike many college courses there are no prerequisites to joining the hottie team, except having the heart of a hottie. Remember it's not a physical attribute, it's state of mind, spirit and heart. Once a hottie, always a hottie! Why join? To show our colors on event (we have a lot of special hottie spirit items for the event), to have a community within the greater walk community throughout the event weekend, to compound our fundraising dollars - the hotties have raised over $1.975 million together since 2003. Don't be shy, take the leap! Email Melissa, 3 Day Field Coach, to be added to the team roster : mjlabonge@event360.com or call 800.996.3DAY (800.996.3329)

Dr. Jenny Sanders, our hottie podiatrist: She’s wonderful (and is a past walker) and knows how to help keep you walking even if you are having foot or blister issues. When you call be sure to tell them you’re a hottie! Financial District Foot & Ankle Center, 100 Bush Street, #420, San Francisco 415-956-2884, web: http://www.fdfac.com/

Team Gear Orders: Keep an eye out for a separate email to come today!

Remaining Training Walks… we are in the home stretch! PLEASE RSVP as we will be limiting the walks to 50 people:
Sat 8/16 – 10 or 20 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut. A number of people missed the Back to Back and a small group will be heading out for a "self-led" second 10 mile loop.

Sat 8/23 – 16 miles – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug23
Sun 8/24 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Arguello Gate of the Presidio http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug24

Sat 8/30 - Final 12 mile Walk & Walk-luck Picnic. 7:00am - meet at West Bluff Picnic Area by the Warming Hut. Details to come!

We made the paper!

Hope you are feeling OK after this weekend's 24 miles of eXtreme butt-buster hill and stair walks. Once again Saturday’s brilliant sunshine dissolved into cold fog on Sunday (I felt like a clammy popsicle when I got home.) Both days were very challenging walks but everyone banded together to support one another in true hottie style. First thing we tackled Arguello hill, then on to the Moraga St Stairs continuing with a climb up to Grand View Park, on to the the massive Sutro hill on Medical Center Way behind UCSF, and the grand finale up 17th Street! No matter what comes our way during the 3 Day… we will be ready! We are learning each other’s names, laughing at silly jokes and sharing our stories why we walk. One of the beautiful things about leading training walks is the safe place it creates for us to train and be a part of the greater walk community – friendships blossom where you may not have thought you’d find them.

Team Tenting Online Check In Deadline - Wednesday, August 6 which is tomorrow: If you are in search of a hottie tentmate let me know; I'll pair of people as you email me. Why join the team? So we have a home base within the greater walk community during the event. It is great to be able to tent with the people we have training these many weeks. The only prerequisite for joining the team is to have the heart of a hottie. (And, we have fabulous hottie swag, the famous deeleeboppers and team gear too.) Email Melissa, 3 Day Field Coach, to be added: mjlabonge@event360.com or call 800.996.3DAY (800.996.3329)

Our fundraiser BUST it out! for Breast Cancer made the paper! It was in Upcoming Events in Sunday's Chronicle style section! Yehaw. Sunday, August 17th from 1-4pm. "Art Bra" Silent Auction & Prize Drawing. We are trying to raise as much money as possible in one afternoon! Please come on by for games, refreshments and a whole lot of pink! Invite your family, friends and team - we'd love to see you there and please spread the word: http://tinyurl.com/bustitout
Email me if you would like to volunteer or donate an item for the drawing or an Art Bra: warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net

Many, many thanks to this weekend's remarkable Route Support Team: " Senior Route Support Specialist” Eric, Avon Walkers Judy, Tory, Jessica, Jonathon with 3 Day Walkers Sarah Moore and Aubrey’s husband Michael. You guys took our Route Support to a whole new level with two words: HOT COFFEE! Thank you for the amazing array of snacks and ensuring we were well hydrated & safe!

Team Fundraising Update: We broke thru to $101,500.67!!! Amazing!

The B2B Weekend is here!
Saturday – 20 miles – AT CAPACITY. We are limiting the number of walkers on Saturday to 50 people for safety and logistical reasons. If you come without RSVPing, unfortunately, we may have to turn you away.
Sunday - 20 miles to Tiburon – there is space! Please use this link to reserve your spot: http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug10

Remaining Training Walks – PLEASE RSVP as we will be limiting the walks to 50 people:
Sat 8/17 – 10 or 20 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut. A number of people are missing the Back to Back; it will be possible to walk the 10 mile route twice.

Sat 8/23 – 16 miles – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug23
Sun 8/24 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Arguello Gate of the Presidio http://08.the3day.org/goto/aug24

Sat 8/30 - 12 miles - meet at West Bluff Picnic Area by the Warming Hut - Final Walk & Walk-luck Picnic Celebration. Details to come!

What are you Grateful for?

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melody Beattie

There was a bumper sticker on a car in front of me as I drove home from the Warming Hut on Sunday, "What are you Grateful for?" It made me take pause as I have had a rough week and frankly, have been feeling a little beat up. What was I grateful for?

1.) I am grateful for our beloved home base; the Warming Hut.
2.) I am grateful for strong legs, deep lungs and sturdy yet blistered feet that enabled me walk 36 hilly miles this weekend.
3.) I am grateful for the stunningly beautiful places we are able to walk.
4.) I am grateful for the company, conversation & conviviality of women and men who lift my spirits and make the miles fly by.
5.) I am grateful all of our walking (and fundraising!) makes a difference in the lives of so many people.

I made my list as I drove home and then a flip flop fell in the back seat and depressed the “siren” button on my megaphone… the high pitched “SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” jolted me right out of my reverie. I had to pull the car over to figure out what the heck was making that sound. I thought maybe my car engine was about the blow up and that was the signal to GET OUT OF THE CAR! I added another thing to my list: I am grateful that no matter how tired I am a good laugh is always the best medicine!

Many, many thanks to this weekend's remarkable Route Support Team: Avon Walkers Shobana, MJ, Laura, Sharla and our "Senior Route Support Specialist” Eric!" We are very lucky these individuals gave up a large part of their weekend to support us, keep us snacked and hydrated. The cheering, music, woohooing and clapping make the next hill, next set of stairs or next mile possible. Thank you for keeping us safe!

You’re invited to our fundraiser BUST it out! for Breast Cancer - Spread the word & CLICK HERE to RSVP:
Our team’s first fundraiser is Sunday, August 17th from 1-4pm. "Art Bra" Silent Auction & Prize Drawing. We are trying to raise as much money as possible in one afternoon! Please come on by for games, refreshments and a whole lot of pink! Invite your family, friends and team - we'd love to see you there: http://tinyurl.com/bustitout
Email me if you would like to volunteer or donate an item for the drawing or an Art Bra: warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net

Want to be a hottie? Gladys asked me if there was an "initiation" to join the team. The answer: you have already passed our initiation by walking through the many challenges we face while training and continuing to smile. We absolutely welcome walkers and crew to join the Warming Hut Hottie team! The ONLINE CHECK-IN deadline is August 7th if you want to be in the hottie tent section in camp. To join the 3 Day Team, email lovely Melissa, Field Coordinator with the 3 Day: mjlabonge@event360.com

Remaining Training Walks – PLEASE RSVP as we will be limiting the walks to 45-50 people:

Sat 8/2 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut
Sun 8/3 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Arguello Gate

Sat 8/9 – 20 miles/Back to Back Weekend – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut
Sun 8/10 – 20 miles/Back to Back Weekend – meet at 6:00am – Ft Mason Parking Lot

Sat 8/17 – 10 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut

Sat 8/23 – 18 miles – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut
Sun 8/24 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut

This is such an exciting time!

Charisse and I were walking on the Golden Gate Bridge and we got talking about the great training walk turn out this year, our team and our upcoming fundraiser. She said, "This is such an exciting time!" And she is right. We have a whole lot of great stuff happening between now and our 3 Day. It is so great to see so many new walkers joining us every week!

47 hearty walkers took off on Saturday on a quintessential hottie walk that included the Lyon Street stairs, Land’s End trail and the Lincoln Blvd. hill. When we got back to the Sports Basement Dr. Sanders, our hottie podiatrist, helped us get into the right shoes for out feet. Even I, after 8 long years of walking, learned a lot about my feet and proper shoe fitting.

Get measured!
Chuck the insoles that come with your shoes. Use Super Feet insoles instead.
The sole of the shoe should match the shape of your foot.
Dr Jenny likes Zappos if you need a hard to find shoe sizes.

20 walkers took a lovely walk on Sunday to Mollie Stone’s and back as about half of the group had walked 12 miles the day before – their first big mileage weekend! It is hard to remember it is summer when we arrive at Crissy Field and it is so cold, windy and foggy – especially when the fog doesn’t burn off all day. But even in the fog the waterfront is spectacular.

Tremendous thanks to Avon walkers Marsha Sutherland and Sharla Gullerton for providing exemplary Route Support this weekend. Tissues to deviled eggs to salty baked Lay’s… you sure know how to spoil us walkers!

Got Podiatrist?
If you missed the clinic on Saturday we can’t recommend Dr. Jenny Sanders enough. She can help you work with the shoes you already have – unless you will end up injured by wearing them. Tell them you are a hottie when you call for a priority appointment. Jenny is offering a comprehensive foot/shoe fitting assessment for free ($115 value) to walkers! Financial District Foot & Ankle Center - 100 Bush Street, #420, San Francisco 415-956-2884 - Email: info@fdfac.com

BUST it out! for Breast Cancer Fundraiser. RSVP here
We are having our team’s first fundraiser Sunday, August 17th from 1-4pm.We are trying to raise as much money as possible in one afternoon since our team goal this year for the 3 Day is $300,000. Come on by for games, refreshments and a whole lot of pink! Email me if you would like to volunteer or donate an item for the drawing: warminghuthotties@sbcglobal.net

Want to be a hottie? We absolutely welcome walkers and crew to join the Warming Hut Hottie team. The ONLINE CHECK-IN deadline is August 7th if you want to be in the hottie tent section in camp. To join the 3 Day Team, email lovely Melissa, Field Coordinator with the 3 Day: mjlabonge@event360.com

The hottie team's fundraising keeps growing & growing! Since 2003 our team has raised $1,903,835 and I have no doubt we’ll pass the $2 million mark this year.
Our SF Avon Team raised: $86,278.42 (with money still coming in!)
Our SF 3 Day Team is at: $85,598.67
Our Seattle 3 Day team: $51,039.55

Upcoming Training Walks – PLEASR RSVP! See details HERE:
Sat 7/26 – 20 miles to Tiburon - meet at 5:45am – Ft Mason Parking Lot
Sun 7/27 – 16 miles – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut

Sat 8/2 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Warming Hut
Sun 8/3 – 12 miles – meet at 7:00am – Arguello Gate

Sat 8/9 – 20 miles/Back to Back Weekend – meet at 6:30am – Warming Hut
Sun 8/10 – 20 miles/Back to Back Weekend – meet at 6:00am – Ft Mason Parking Lot


Keep stretching, keep hydrating & keep walking everyone! Have a wonderful week and we'll see you soon,
Linda