Please read through for lots of good scoop, compiled by multiple hotties over years of walking...Hello there fabulous, wonderful hotties (and hotties-in-spirit!)! As of today, our mighty hottie team has raised an impressive $112,719!

Well, its here, can you even believe it? We have all made it to event week - blisters, bunions, blisters, pulled hamstrings, blisters, falling arches, blisters, sore Achilles tendons, blisters, meniscus tears, blisters, numb toes and all! We all should already feel extremely proud of our accomplishments. The rest at this point is gravy. Let's head out and enjoy our camaraderie and all around great hottie-ness!

WE CAN DO THIS!
WE CAN DO THIS!!!
WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

On to practical matters…First and foremost, your Hottie deeleebobbers, which you received at the picnic. WEAR THEM! How else will you know when you've run into another Hottie along the way? Trust us, they are ideal for spotting that fellow pal in the crowd. Also enclosed in your goodie bag is the Hottie cadence. If you are on a long, slow stretch and feel the need, break out in song! It will help you and others through a tough spot. If you don't not receive your Hottie goodie bag at the picnic, I have them! I will be at Event Eve from about 3:30-5. Please find me and pick them up (Or call my cell, below).

The weather looks like it is going to be ideal! 80 degrees during the day (Saturday, Mill Valley ) and 56 degrees at night. Bring good warm layers for camp and to start off the inevitably cold morning on Saturday at GG Park. I also highly suggest plastic sheeting for your tent as I imagine being close to the water we'll have lots of dew. Andrea found this article on layering for hot and cold weather: http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/content.jsp?contentId=200106

Meet Up Plan for Event Eve: If there are Hotel Hotties who want to meet up for an early dinner, plan to congregate in the lobby (main floor, near Michael Minna restaurant) around 5:15. I can recommend a great pasta place steps from the hotel. I'll check in with you hotel hotties that afternoon.

Meet Up Plan for Opening Ceremonies - Saturday Plan to arrive at Opening Ceremonies no later than 6:00 a.m. You need to drop off your gear, use the potties, take some photos and make you way to the stage. Be sure to wear your hottie headgear. When you arrive, look for a little swarm of the deeleeboppers congregating near the breakfast picnic tables.... so we can be together for opening! We know this from past events... they release walkers from the front of the stage area so we plan on going straight down to the stage at 6:15 am. Ceremonies begin at 6:30 am

SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN Apply in the morning and reapply often. I saw a walker once on an event whose chest was so sunburnt it was PURPLE. Need I say more? Get the backs of your legs, your ears and the part in your hair if you aren't wearing a hat.

Nutrition: Treat yourself to a good protein/carb dinner Friday. Now is not the time to worry about calories.

On the Road: Be mentally prepared that you will not be able to walk your normal pace for the hours as all of the walkers make their way onto the route. It is stop and go as 2,500 walkers make their way thru city streets and street lights.I f you are worried about time (ie - being swept to camp or the finish) or are having problems, one strategy is to get swept to lunch, then rest and carry on walking from there. Take time at the top of hills or long road stretches to enjoy the view and take a photo! You will have earned it! Take time to look back, stop and encourage other walkers. Walk alone for a bit – it can be a very powerful experience to be able to hear the silence on the road among thousands of people.

Stop as soon as you feel any hot spots and lance blisters as they appear. Don't wait! You will be very sorry. Even if you have never had problems with you feet – blister have a funny way of appearing when you least expect it!

Offer to take photos for solo walkers and teammates so everyone has photos of themselves on their own rolls of film.

At the Shower Trucks:I brought a really small tote bag with shoulder strap to take all of my stuff to the showers. (No juggling toiletries, etc.) I hung it on a peg in the shower truck while I was showering (nothing to fall on the wet floor) then I shoved all my sweaty clothes in it and sorted everything out when I got back to my tent.

May I also suggest chums for your sunglasses (the little sunglass necklace holders)...you do not want to look down in a porta pottie and have them fall off...'nuff said.

At Your Tent:Practice rolling up your sleeping pad & sleeping bag before you leave home to make sure you'll be able to manage.
Pack a favorite snick-snack in your luggage. A nice treat once you have that tent set-up! And it’s a great way to meet your neighbors in camp – “knock” on the door and offer a snack! If you have time, take a 1/2 hour to 40 minutes to do some deep stretching at night after you have showered but before you eat dinner. (Stretching with a full tummy can give you indigestion.)
Bring your own blister treatment kit in your luggage. I spent a lot of time in line at the medical tent when, if I had only brought my own needle, alcohol wipes, etc. I could have treated myself. They do have some stuff for self-service but if you need treatment the line can get long. Take all bandages & tape off of your feet overnight to let your tootsies air out. I slept with my feet hanging out of my sleeping bag too!

At Camp Services: Fill up your water bottles at the last pit stop or as you arrive in camp so you will have water in your tent without having to traipse to the food tent for water. For a yummy treat in camp: mix hot cocoa with coffee instead of hot water. A delightful taste sensation....
If you do need medical treatment (especially in the morning) consider getting your food (or have a *super nice* hottie helper get a plate for you) and then place yourself in the medical tent line (which can get long.) Then you can "kill two birds with one stone" and get out on the road a bit faster.

Closing Ceremonies: Bring your hottie flag if you’d like to have it for closing. Bring/wear your hottie shirt/socks on Day 2 so that we can take a team photos while we hang out in the Holding Area.I also suggest bringing flip flops with you to change into while waiting for closing. It feels divine to get those walking shoes off!Let’s try to gather in the holding area to take group pictures before the closing ceremonies. People tend to get the h*** outta’ dodge once the closing in over.

There are so many wonderful surprises waiting for us on the road, thanks to the kindness of the community at large and our amazing butterfly walker-stalkers -- we love you, w-s! Phil and Eric too -- we love you! But I must particularly call out our founding leader and Avon logistics coordinator for this walk, Linda Imlay. Without her, there would be no walk, literally! Thank you, Linda. Finally, I wish you all a wonderful journey. We are all in this together, whether you are Hottie in team or Hottie in spirit (you TITTS and Gail's Angels know who you are, and anyone else receiving this email).

We're all off to do a wonderful thing. Shoot me an email if you have any questions! For now, *hot pink hottie radar* engaged - over and out!

Sarah, Andrea, Sandy, Tanzeem, Meg, Lynn, Linda et. al for The Warming Hut Hotties