Pink Ribbon Angels walk Lake Geneva! (well, hiked really)

Last weekend was pretty busy! I was scheduled to take my longest training mileage walks, with Saturday covering 8 miles and Sunday covering 20. I got the miles in, but in an unexpected way.

On Saturday, I walked for 6.3 miles early in the morning and then spent the rest of the morning and half the afternoon fundraising for my upcoming AVON Walk. We held the "Bark for the Cure" event -- a 5K walk where you can take your dog on the walk with you through the Moraine Hills Park. It was the first walk I have been to where the sponsors and vendors were for the pets mostly. It was a lot of fun. The humans got t-shirts and the dogs got bandanas to wear. It was in the mid 80s so we had lots of water for both humans and dogs. And after the walk, the post-race food was a 'bob for hot dogs' activity. It was classic!

While at the event, several members of our team "The Pink Ribbon Angels" were talking about doing our Long Walk of 20 miles on Sunday. Sue suggested we take a walk along the circumference of Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva. WI. She said it was 21 miles around, and there was a printed tour guide to the walk (you are basically walking in the backyards of the million dollar beachfront properties around the Lake). We all thought it was a great idea. If you are going to spend hours walking, why not do it in a very scenic, beautiful setting!

So Sunday, we met and carpooled to the Lake at 7:15am. The weather was sunny and warm (in the mid 80s), with a nice breeze off the Lake and a threat of rain later in the afternoon.

Well, it turned out to be 22.4 miles and was not just a 'walk'. The 'path' we followed turned out to be one heck of a 'trail walk'! In fact, I think I would call it a 'hike'. We encountered sections of forest, fallen tree trunks to climb over, rocks, grass, dirt, steep hills, steep declines, you name it. It was tough!

It was a beautiful walk, actually. But most of the time, we dared not take our eyes of the 'path' we were following lest we get tripped up and get hurt. At about the halfway point, my right foot caught a root and I fell down -- inches from the edge of the lake (it would have been an ugly 10 foot drop to rocks below). Luckily, I caught myself (embarrassed but alive).

It was a lot of fun though. I brought plenty of fuel and a hydration pack (which was a godsend) so I was good there. But I could've used some trail shoes and not my usual Brooks running shoes.

It took us, including a few rest breaks and three porta-potty breaks, 8 hours and 19 minutes to complete the walk. Way longer than we had expected (none of us realized what kind of walk we had gotten ourselves into) but it is in the books! 22.4 miles for the day, after burning over 6300 calories. Total miles for the week came to 28.7.

The first thing I did when I got home was take an ice bath. Heavenly! When I woke up this morning, I was full of energy, and other than some soreness in my quads, I felt really good! I guess I should do more 22 milers, right?

On Monday, I received my AVON Walk final materials! I have my wristband to get me into Soldier Field, access to the aid/food stations along the route, and the Wellness Center/Park where the Full marathon ends on Saturday afternoon. Very cool!

Today I went downtown to pick up my race packet for the Soldier Field 10-Mile Run race this Saturday. My running partner Mike and his wife, as well as a good friend Jess, are also running this race so it should be a lot of fun. The best part of this race is finishing it by running across Soldier Field (the home of The Chicago Bears) to the Finish Line at the 50 yard line! I cannot wait for this race!

After the 26th, I have a 6-mile walk scheduled and then I rest until the beginning of the AVON Walk on June 2nd. Let the fun begin!

"So how are you feeling about the AVON Walk?"

Last Thursday, I arranged a meeting with the Board Chair of the corporation where I work. She is a strong, smart, and engaging person who I admire very much. In our brief meeting time, I shared with her my participation in the AVON Walk, and that she was one of the reasons why I was walking (she is battling cancer, and I am praying that she will be one of the survivors). It was a special moment for both of us, and I will carry it with me on June 2-3.

Last Friday, I ate dinner at a restaurant and pub in Chicago called "The Garage". I went with my good friend Ron so we could meet the owner of the restaurant, who is another good friend who we haven't seen in over four years. That friend, Lisa, is a great person with a brilliant smile and a heart to match. Of course, being the owner meant that we only got a portion of her time because she was busy keeping the place running smoothly. But nevertheless, it was a great evening and a special treat being able to share it with Lisa and Ron. Oh, and the food was excellent as was their 100+ selection of beer.

Lisa is well acquainted with the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer. She has participated in the fundraising event for many years, and I had the privilege of supporting her. She has a passion for the cause. So it was awesome being able to hear her talk about her experiences, and to feel her support for my walking the Walk this year. Her enthusiasm and support mean a great deal to me.

Sunday was Mother's Day. And for many families, this is a day of celebration and thankfulness. A time to give flowers, candy, cards, and have special dinners. But for others, it can be a day of mixed emotions. Grief, sadness, loss, and pain can mix with memories of pleasant, more happier times. It was like that for my wife, who lost her mother to breast cancer over 20 years ago. In a private moment that afternoon, she came over to me and we hugged. And she proceeded to cry. And when she could speak, she said "You'd think after 20 years, I'd be over it."

No sweetie. I don't think that at all.

Today, one of my friends on my Disney racing team asked me the question in the Headline of this article. On any other day, I would have responded with an immediate "Feeling good! Training is going well. I am really looking forward to the experience!" And all of that would be true. But today, the question hit me differently. It made me think not about the training, the preparation, the logistics, and the challenge physically; but of the emotional and personal reasons I am engaged in it.

Those who know me will tell you that I am all about the logistics and planning and training and achievement of my goals. Am I ready for the Walk? Yes, I believe I am ready for the AVON Walk. I have two more Long Walks this weekend (8 miles on Sat before our 'Bark for the Cure' fundraiser, and 18-20 miles on Sun) and then I get to rest. Yet I know AVON is not a race. It is not timed. But for me it feels like my first Full & Half Marathon challenge (I guess it is... from a 'distance' point-of-view) -- like an untimed 'Goofy Challenge' event. Certainly, it is an endurance event that will test my ability to go 39.3 miles.

But the experiences over the past five days remind me that AVON is so much more than all of that. Completing this Walk will be very emotional for me on many different levels. Walking with my team of Pink Angels, many of whom have done this for 5+ years, will be something I cannot even imagine right now. Lisa tells me that it will be life-changing to share this with so many others who have been touched by this disease and are united in a common goal to bring an END TO IT!

I am not usually the most emotionally expressive person when it comes to public displays. I'm no Vulcan, but I tend to share my feelings in a more 'one-on-one' type of setting. But I have a feeling that won't be the case after this Walk. What I will have accomplished on June 3rd will make a difference. And I want to feel that deep satisfaction and share it with my wife, my team, and everyone else who walks the first weekend in June. I want to laugh, and smile, and cry, and reflect.

And when someone asks me on June 3rd, "So how do you feel about doing the Walk?", I want my answer to be "AWESOME and AMAZING and THANKFUL!"