love your path

Hope you are all good after our long weekend - rested and ready to hit the road again! Just a few notes about Upcoming Walks:

Sat 5/31 - 12 miles - 7:00am - Warming Hut - Approx Finish 12:00pm
Sun 6/1 – 12 miles – 7:00am – North entrance, Sawyer Camp Trail – Approx Finish 11:30am

Sat 6/7 - 10 miles - 6:30am - Lincoln High School - walk in conjunction with the 3 Day Expo - We already have over 170 RSVPS! Avon Walkers you are welcome to join this walk, please RSVP on the 3 Day site. (Expo 10am -1pm)
RSVP HERE: http://08.the3day.org/goto/june7
Sun 6/8 - 14 miles - 6:30am - Arguello Gate of the Presidio - Approx Finish 12:30pm

Sat 6/14 - 12 miles - 7:00am & 10 miles -1:00pm - Two loops - Warming Hut. Walk one or both loops. We will break for lunch after the first loop.
Sun 6/15 - 13 miles - 7:00am - Warming Hut - Approx Finish 12:00pm - Father's Day Walk.

As we all begin to dig deeper into our collective and individual 3 Day or Avon Walk journeys I wanted to share the following with you.... I get DailyGood emails from Charity Focus and this came over the weekend. The only part I would change is the part about the tools he says you need to be be well equipped: a fanny pack, hydration supplies, wicking socks and layers might work best for us. I would add YOUR BODY to this list of tools too. It is true, "take care of your tools, they are your best ally."

Love Your Path -- Paulo Coelho

1. The path begins at a crossroads. There you can stop and think what direction you want to take. But don’t spend too much time thinking or you’ll never leave the spot. Ask yourself the classic Carlos Castaneda question: Which of these paths has a heart?

2. The path doesn’t last forever. It’s a blessing to travel the path for some time, but one day it will come to an end, so be prepared to take leave of it at any moment.

3. Honor your path. It was your choice, your decision, and just as you respect the ground you step on, that ground will respect your feet. Always do what’s best to conserve and keep your path and it will do the same for you.

4. Be well-equipped. Carry a small rake, a spade, a penknife. Understand that penknives are no use for dry leaves, and rakes are useless for herbs that are deep-rooted. Know what tool to use at each moment. And take care of your tools, because they’re your best allies.

5. The path goes forward and backward. At times you have to go back because something was lost, or a message to be delivered was forgotten in your pocket. A well tended path enables you to go back without any great problem.

6. Take care of the path before you take care of what’s around you. Attention and concentration are fundamental. Don’t be distracted by the dry leaves at the edges. Use your energy to tend and conserve the ground that accepts your steps.

7. Be patient. Sometimes the same tasks have to be repeated, like tearing up weeds or closing holes that appear after unexpected rain. Don’t let that annoy you; it’s part of the journey. Even though you’re tired, even though certain tasks are repeated so often, be patient.

8. Paths cross. People can tell you what the weather is like elsewhere. Listen to advice, but make your own decisions. You’re responsible for the path entrusted to you.

9. Nature follows its own rules. You have to be prepared for sudden changes in the fall, slippery ice in winter, the temptations of flowers in spring, thirst and showers in the summer. Make the most of each of these seasons, and don’t complain about their characteristics.

10. Make your path a mirror of yourself. By no means let yourself be influenced by the way others care for their paths. You have your own soul to listen to, and the birds to whisper translations of what your soul is saying.

11. Love your path. Without this, nothing makes any sense.

Good Day, Sunshine!

On Saturday 32 terrific walkers started our day with the Feldenkrais clinic - hula everyone! For the Avon Walkers this walk was a great route teaser for your event as we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, walked thru Sausalito to Mollie Stones and back via Ft Baker under the bridge. Thankfully it was far less hot than the day before but the sun was out, as were the shirtless male bikers and runners. Even on a very sunny/warm day crossing back over the the bridge was freezing cold and crazy windy. Terrific effort everyone.

What a difference a day makes; our old friends cold, fog and wind greeted us in the morning at the Warming Hut. Sunday we had 19 walkers who went on a bit of a "nature/trail walk." We took a "new-to-us trail" down to Baker Beach to find open bathrooms, then went on to theLand's End Trail - even in the wind and fog the views on the trail are breathtaking. Even though 60,000 people were a mere mile away at the Bay to Breakers where we walked it was very quiet in the city. I wonder if that man connected with his girlfriend who was, "gonna kill me if I don't pick her up!"

Now is when we really start to build mileage and stamina so be sure you are taking good care of yourself - rest, stretch, hydrate, eat well after you train to avoid injury and burnout. We still have 154 training miles planned in the next seven weeks before the Avon Walk event weekend.

We invite you to join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Unlike many college courses there are no prerequisites except having the heart of a hottie:
For the Avon Walk. Email the teams coordinator 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 team.


Upcoming Walks:

Sat 5/24 – 10 miles – 7:00am - Warming Hut – RSVP directly to Sarah Moore sarahrmoore AT gmail DOT com

Sat 5/31 - 12 miles - 7:00am - Warming Hut - Approx Finish 12:00pm
Sun 6/1 – 10 miles – 7:00am – North entrance, Sawyer Camp Trail – Approx Finish 11:30am

Sat 6/7 - 10 miles - 6:30am - Lincoln High School - with the 3 Day Expo - Approx Finish 10:30am
Sun 6/8 - 14 miles - 6:30am - Arguello Gate of the Presidio - Approx Finish 12:00pm

*Special Note 6/14 Walk: Per request for our Avon Walkers, on Saturday, June 14th we will have 22 mile day: a 12 mile loop followed by a 10 mile loop. We want to make sure you get one big 20+ mile day in before your event! It is exactly one month before the SF walk so the timing will be great. We will walk the 12 mile loop, break for lunch (pack sack lunches) and then we’ll start out on the 10 mile loop at approx. 1:00pm.

"Did we go up just to come back down again?"

On Saturday, 22 walkers bravely tackled a partly new walk route! It was a trial run for the 10 mile 3 Day Expo training walk the hotties will lead on June 7th. Our virgin trek up the Moraga mosaic stairs (wowie!) and climb up to the top of Grand View Park (double wowie!) was spectacular. Hello lungs, hello quads, hello views!!! "Did we go up just to come back down again?" Laurie asked as we made our way down the backside if Grand View Park. Linda's reply... "Yup!" [insert evil training walk leader cackle here - see walk photos from Joel.] We ambled down "Lover's Lane" back to Crissy Field where we were greeted by 8,000 Girl Scouts participating in the Bridging Ceremony.

On Sunday, the crabbers were already at the Warming Hut when we arrived. We had 15 walkers - great job Jeff and Andrea for hitting the road again after Saturday's spectacular mosaic stairs walk! We saw some familiar faces and long-time Hotties, and met new people. After a chilly start, it warmed up. When we headed back to the Warming Hut along Crissy Field, we saw lots of families celebrating Mother's Day - one 2-year old boy in particular who said his name was "Little Dawggy" and then went for a dunk in the cold bay water.

Next Saturday we will have a very special clinic! Deborah Bowes, PT and Feldenkrais Practitioner has graciously offered to lead us in a "stretching for walkers" clinic before our walk.
6:45am: Sign in & hear the Safety Speech.
7:00am - 7:25am: Clinic
7:30am: Walk will depart!

Upcoming Walks - Remember to please RSVP:
Sat 5/17 – Clinic/12 miles – 6:45am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish: 12:30am
Sun 5/18 – 10 miles – 7:00am – Warming Hut – Approx Finish 11:00am

*Avon Walkers Special Note: Per request, Saturday, June 14th we will have 22 mile day: a 12 mile loop followed by a 10 mile loop. We want to make sure you get one big 20+ mile day in before your event! It is exactly one month before the SF walk so the timing will be great. We will walk the 12 mile loop, break for lunch (pack sack lunches) and then we’ll start out on the 10 mile loop at approx. 1:00pm.

We invite you to join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Unlike many college courses there are no prerequisites except having the heart of a hottie:
For the Avon Walk. Email the teams coordinator 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 team.

Have a wonderful week everyone! Linda & Andrea

adding your bright light!

This weekend’s walks were a great mix of veteran and newbies, Avon and 3 Day walkers. We even have some old faces coming out of the woodwork to walk again this year! I am continually inspired by our collective determination and hope you are as well.

Thank you for coming to walk each week.
Thank you for adding your bright light to our community.
Thank you for walking to end breast cancer in our lifetime.

On Saturday 39 marvelous walkers tackled the Lyon Street stairs (hurrah!), the hill on West Pacific Ave. , the climb up Wedemeyer Rd. , the longer-than-I-remember hill up to the Legion of Honor and the Grande Finale..... Lincoln Hill! THAT is a great walk.

On Sunday 12 walkers meet in foggy Millbrae . The Saywer Camp trail is lovely – lush and peaceful with two good hills that rival Lincoln hill - we'll certainly go there again! It’s a treat to walk without stopping at stop signs and red lights for a change. We walked the 6 miles in 1 hour 20 minutes which is 4 miles/hour! I find hard to believe but Sandra had her GSP. Wowie. That is great as everyone should try to average 3.5 mph on the event itself to keep on pace with the closing times of the rest stops.

Keep stretching, keep hydrating, keep walking! Have a great week & hope to see you soon,
Linda

Upcoming Walks - Remember to please RSVP:
Sat 5/10 – 12 hilly miles - 7:00am - Warming Hut – Approx Finish: 12:00am
Sun 5/11 – 8 miles – 8:00am – Warming Hut – Approx Finish 11:00am

We invite you to join the Warming Hut Hottie Team! Unlike many college courses there are no prerequisites except having the heart of a hottie:
For the Avon Walk. Email the teams coordinator 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 team.