Paths Are Made by Walking

the wood line sculpture, in the presidio

WEEEND RECAP

We were greeted with another spectacular sunny morning at the Warming Hut. Per Catronia's request, we started the walk on Saturday by heading up the path by the "Wood Line" sculpture. We exited the Presidio by Mountain Lake Park, down Funston, across a few neat cross paths in Golden Gate Park where we had out first visit of the season at Andronico's. Oh, boy do we love our breaks at Andronico's! The second half of the walk took us back across GG Park, out 30th Ave. for a few great hills, finishing the walk with Lobos Creek Trail and the Park Trail. We noticed a new set of stairs which connect the Mountain Lake Park Trail... we'll have to check them out soon!

WEEKLY INSPIRATION

I read this amazing piece from Daily Good and wanted to share. It really rang true for me as walker, and as a person making their path in this world. This speech speaks to some of the deep things I think and feel about our community and alllll of this walking we do. 

Paths Are Made By Walking Nipun Mehta, May 14, 2012

Offbeat Graduation Speech Gets Standing Ovation: 2012's Baccalaureate speaker at the University of Pennsylvania was an unconventional choice for an Ivy League school. To address their newly-minted graduates, aspiring to dazzling careers, they picked a man who has never in his adult life, applied for a job. A man who hasn't worked for pay in nearly a decade, and whose self-stated mission is simply "to bring smiles to the world and stillness to my heart". This off-the-radar speaker launched his address with a startling piece of advice. Following up with four key insights gleaned from a radical 1000 km walking pilgrimage through the villages of India. As he closed his one-of-a-kind Graduation Day speech, the sea of cap and gowned students rose to their feet for a standing ovation. Read the full article here.

The W in WALK stands for Witness.

The A in WALK stands for Accept.

The L in WALK stands for Love.

The K in WALK stands for Know Thyself. 

THIS WEEK'S MAP QUOTES

Travelers, there is no path, paths are made by walking. Antonio Machado 

The world is mine: blue hill, still liver lake, 

broad field, bright flower, and the long white road

A gateless garden, and an open path: 

my feet to follow, and my heart to hold. Edna St. Vincent Millay

UPCOMING TRAINING WALKS

Saturday 6/2 - 10 Miles - 7:30am

Sunday 6/3 - Up to 15 Miles - 7:00 am - South Entrance, Sawyer Camp Trail
Sunday 6/3 - AIDS LifeCycle Cheering - 8am - 11am - South entrance, Sawyer Camp Trail

Saturday 6/9 - 10 miles - 7:30am

Sunday 6/10 - 10 miles - 7:30am

RSVP here: http://groupspaces.com/InOurLifetime/calendar/

The full poem from Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Second April

JOURNEY

Ah, could I lay me down in this long grass

And close my eyes, and let the quiet wind

Blow over me--I am so tired, so tired

Of passing pleasant places!  All my life,

Following Care along the dusty road,

Have I looked back at loveliness and sighed;

Yet at my hand an unrelenting hand

Tugged ever, and I passed.  All my life long

Over my shoulder have I looked at peace;

And now I fain would lie in this long grass

And close my eyes.

Yet onward!

Cat birds call

Through the long afternoon, and creeks at dusk

Are guttural.  Whip-poor-wills wake and cry,

Drawing the twilight close about their throats.

Only my heart makes answer.  Eager vines

Go up the rocks and wait; flushed apple-trees

Pause in their dance and break the ring for me;

Dim, shady wood-roads, redolent of fern

And bayberry, that through sweet bevies thread

Of round-faced roses, pink and petulant,

Look back and beckon ere they disappear.

Only my heart, only my heart responds.

Yet, ah, my path is sweet on either side

All through the dragging day,--sharp underfoot

And hot, and like dead mist the dry dust hangs--

But far, oh, far as passionate eye can reach,

And long, ah, long as rapturous eye can cling,

The world is mine: blue hill, still silver lake,

Broad field, bright flower, and the long white road

A gateless garden, and an open path:

My feet to follow, and my heart to hold.

Be Open. Be Happy.

Saturday's walk started on a very foggy and windy way. Approximately 25 walkers (with some new first-time walkers joining in the fun!) took off along the water, headed onto the Ecology Trail, and after our first time back to the potpourri scented Presidio Golf Clubhouse bathrooms, we walked out on Lake to the Legion on Honor. The fog obscured the regular spectacular views to the bridge but by the time we left the bathrooms at Baker Beach, the sun was trying to burn through. 

Roses along Baker Street

New walkers, who are amazed by everything we see while walking in this beautiful city, continually remind me how lucky we are to be able train where we do: gorgeous houses and architecture, amazing vistas, people watching, great trails, pretty gardens, and urban splendor. Travelling by foot lets us soak it all in!

TRACK YOUR CALORIES & EXERCISE

I told a few people about this site on Saturday but wanted to share. A friend recommended this site as a great way to track calories and exercise: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

THIS WEEK'S MAP QUOTES

We are not powerless specks of dust drifting around in the wind, blown by random destiny. We are, each of us, like beautiful snowflakes - unique, and born for a specific reason and purpose. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Practice being kind... not right. Wayne Dyer

CHEERING FOR THE AIDS LIFECYCLE!

Sunday 6/3 at Sawyer Camp Trail, South Entrance - Approx. 8:30am - 11:00am. 

There is a training walk scheduled for that morning as well so you can decide to walk or cheer, or do both! We'll set up a tent, play some music and cheer on the AIDS LifeCycle riders on their first day of a 7 day, 545 ride. You can RSVP here, but no RSVP necessary... just come on out and cheer! Map to meeting location at Skyline Blvd. and Crystal Springs Rd. See you there!

WEEKLY INSPIRATION!

I have a quote taped to my mirror I tore from a magazine, "happiness is not destination, it is a way of life." This quote hit me like a slash of cold water. Happiness isn't something SOME people get and some people struggle to get. We can all, even in the most difficult times, find happiness. It is there all of the time. Just like Linda E. said about the sun on Saturday, "Oh, it's up there, it's there all of the time even when we can't see it." We get to choose happiness moment to moment. Be open, be happy!

UPCOMING TRAINING WALKS

Sat 5/19 – 12 miles – 7:00am - Warming Hut – Approx. Finish 12:30pm

Sat 6/2 - 10 miles - 7:30am - Warming Hut - Approx. Finish 12:00noon

Sun 6/3 - up to 15 miles - 7:00am - Sawyer Camp Trail, South Entrance

June walks are posted! Please RSVP for training walks here!

10 Years. Phenomenal people. Phenomenal commitment.

What a spectacular day it was for our 10^th walk season kick-off! We had first year walkers (whooohoooo!) and walkers all of the way through 9^th and 10^th years walking. Andrea G. is the longest walker, this being her 13^th year participating in breast cancer fundraising walks! Phenomenal people. Phenomenal commitment.

We started the walk with 110 seconds of silence. Each of these seconds marked a life lost today to breast cancer. After the impact and change to our team from of the Komen situation earlier this year, I asked everyone to take these 110 seconds to reflect upon the many deeply personal reasons we walk. It was an opportunity to honor our personal event choice, other walker’s choices and to honor the people for whom we walk. Then, we began the first part of the walk in silence to reflect, ground ourselves and set our intentions for this year.

beginning our walk in silence

We then made our way on an easy breezy 8 miles through our beloved Presidio by crisscrossing streets due to the crazy road construction. We stopped at the very swanky bathrooms at the Rob Hill Campground, got a peak at the new Doyle Drive tunnel and made our way back along the waterfront promenade. A terrific first walk of the season. The bar has been set high!

Thank you all for taking the HUGE step to register for your walk, to come out for training on a Saturday morning, for fundraising, and for your commitment to finding an end to breast cancer in our lifetime. I know that we are all walking in memory of or in honor of very dear people. I am honored to share the road with you and we hope to see you soon!

Linda

CHANGE IS AFOOT EVERYWHERE!

The Presidio is undergoing so much change! Road, trails and more. As I plan our walk routes for this year we will all have to be flexible when we come to a point, like today, when the road we have always used is closed.  I’ll do my best to pre-scout but like I always say, pack your sense of adventure!

WEEKLY INSPIRATION

UPCOMING TRAINING WALKS
Sat 5/12 – 10 miles – 7:30am - Warming Hut – Approx. Finish 12:00pm

Sat 5/19 – 12 miles – 7:00am - Warming Hut – Approx. Finish 12:30pm

June walks are posted! Please RSVP for training walks here!

ROUTE SUPPORT!

We really like to be able to offer route support for walks over 12 miles. Shoot an email if you or someone you know would be interested in providing route support for a walk.  Even if you are not planning on walking this year there are numerous ways to be involved with the events, the hotties and our community - reach out & stay connected!info@inourlifetime.org