Saturday my friend Adrienne and I walked the Discovery Walk Half Marathon. I kind of suckered her into signing up with me months ago, thinking that there was plenty of time to prepare. When the days to the walk were in triple digits it seemed like a really great idea. Before we knew it the walk was literally a few days away, and the panic set in. We walk most mornings somewhere between 4-7 miles, but 13 miles is a long way!
Saturday Morning 6:30 AM Downtown Vancouver

We looked happy and rested at the beginning. We started out strong and pretty fast thinking that we would pace ourselves. We were getting passed by the "mom walkers" swinging there hips and hauling their butts. That was cool. Adrienne and I both refuse to do the speed walk thing.

About a quarter of the way through came our first hill. And it was nasty. The cars passing us were down shifting more than once to make it. That was not a pretty sight. I panic when I get winded, and I did. Adrienne made me keep going, and things went fine.

Then about 3 or 4 miles later another hill. This one was not as bad, but we were running out of steam. We felt someone creeping up on us, and low-and-behold she was like 80!!! Yeah, that was a total blow to the ego, but she was a champ. She wasn't even walking in the "walk", she was just taking her morning stroll. Good on her. I would never in a million years wake up in the morning and voluntarily climb that hill. She very well may out live me.

Finally, the walk was almost over- or so we thought. We had walked a good distance since the 10 mile marker, Adrienne checked her pedometer and we were already way past 13 miles and super far from the end. What the Crap!?! I was mentally prepared for 13 miles, NOT longer. Apparently a "21K" is anywhere from 13-14.5 miles. Good to know!

When we finally made it to the finish line Rex, Amanda and the kids were there waiting with a sign and flowers. What a great family. I am so lucky! They support me in this journey I am on. I am so grateful for them and their love. That is why I am doing this. To be healthy for them. I won a big mental battle with myself Saturday. I know a few months ago I wouldn't have been able to walk this walk, and hopefully next year I

will be able to do this walk even faster, and then walk the 5k with my family. That is the goal for next year.

Here are our stats:

14.77 miles 4 hours 31,000 steps 2000 calories and all before noon.

I was a waist of space for the rest of the day, but that is besides the point

Way to go Us!!!