Gunpowder Fall Hike -- 3/27/2010

Good evening and happy Palm Sunday!

I know I’ve been silent for the last few weeks, but they have been quite busy! Our hike on 3/13 to Gunpowder Falls was cancelled due to inclement weather. That was good because my knee was really sore and I spent the day icing it! On 3/20 I missed the hike because we had our annual Women’s Conference at my church. So instead, I took a walk and did some extra exercising to make up for it.
That brings us to 3/27, yesterday. Yesterday was a ‘mentor weekend’ day. That means that our mentors lead a hike instead of the coaches. So Arden and Kathy, our mentors, took us back to catch up on the Gunpowder Falls hike that we missed. First let me say, hiking is a MUCH different experience when its not in the snow! And I am so THANKFUL that we did not hike there while there was still snow on the ground! Yesterday’s hike included some stream crossings and LOTS of up and down hills. I did a little bit of scrambling over rocks and trees. I even crawled underneath a tree that had fallen across the path. (My cousin says she would pay to see a picture of that!) Oh and did I mention the up and down over hills?! We ended up going about 6 miles yesterday. And I have to say, that I was more wiped out than when I finished my first 10 mile walk. I started out pretty good, but man I faded toward the end. I offer my thanks to Kathy who pulled me up those last few hills to the ‘finish’ line. She knew I was beat and kept giving me small goals to keep me going! I was never so happy to see my sister in the parking lot waiting for me. Man sitting down felt SO GOOD! But there was no rest for the weary. I went home, took a shower, and then headed to church to host our Hopekeepers Wellness event kickoff. I was there getting people to sign up for the stairclimbing event and our walking for wellness event. I was there also showing folks how to play different games on the wii fit and wii active. I didn’t get back home until after 10 pm last night. You can imagine I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
So today, on Palm Sunday, I am sore and achy. I have rubbed my calves down with tiger balm. I am plotting my weekly exercise regime to help me have a bit more stamina to make it through a 7 mile hike next Saturday. I am also trying to regroup on my fundraising – It is time to recommit and I am going ALL IN, hoping that my friends and family will follow me and make those contributions that will make a difference in the fight to cure blood cancers!