Live Sincerely

WEEKEND RECAP

This past weekend was our BIG Back to Back – 20 miles Saturday in the city and 20 Miles on Sunday to Tiburon. I fondly call it our "B2B", but not to be confused with the Bay to Breakers! It is a big bonding walking weekend.

On Saturday the walk was in two 10 mile loops with a lunch break in between. The first loop took us out along my favorite trail, Batteries to Buffs. A number of us stopped to watch a pod of dolphins swimming out in the water heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge. What a rare sight! 

The Batteries to Bluffs Trail early in the morning.
#notsunny

We continued out 25^th Ave into Golden Gate Park where we were met by Connie & Renee, our route support for the day. They had plentiful snacks and hydration for all.

Getting our snack on!

We left the break refreshed and continued out of the park on 8^th with a walk trough the inner Richmond to the Presidio and back down along the Park Trail! All in all an easy 10 mile stroll.

The 3 Day Warming Hut Hotties Team (who by the way, are this.close to surpassing the $100,000 fundraising mark!Woooohooo. ) had a celebratory picnic but, after a quick lunch break, a group of us continued on the second 10 mile loop. 

The second loop took us up along the Ecology Trail, down the shady Mountain Lake Park path and onto Lake Street. We were waking along Lake Street when we stumbled upon a garage sale and these Toy Story toys looking for a new home. Money was pooled and walkers picked which toy went to new homes. (We also bought hot cocoa with marshmallows for the bargain price of $.25!)

Photo from Trina

From there we pushed on to the Land’s End Visitor’s Center, even though the cold and fog did not let up all day, our spirits remained light. After resting a bit we continued out the Land’s End trail, on through Sea Cliff, walking in the sand to Ocean Beach. Sharla spotted the pod of dolphins once again – they were swimming right along the beach! So breathtaking! (I found this video. I guess the dolphins have come around before.)

Walking into Baker Beach

We finished the day’s 20 miles by walking along the Coastal Trail toward the bridge, and as we came into view of the bay we got front row seats of the America's Cup race.

Photo from Trina

What an excellent day full of laughter, story telling, intimate conversations and support.

On Sunday, we rose early to meet at the Marina Middle School for our epic trek to Tiburon. This walk takes all day because we walk 18 miles, eat lunch in Tiburon, then we hop on the ferry for an hour and finish with another 2 miles back to our cars. It is always an adventure and a challenging day for everyone. 

The group was totally fired up for the day!

We started by walking down Chestnut Street (where we scooped up Peggy!) into the Presidio past the Letterman Digital Arts Promenade. For the first time, I had the route take us through the San Francisco National Cemetery and it was so stunningly beautiful I can’t believe I had never been there before. The sun was rising over the cemetery and there is a gorgeous view through the cypress trees out into the Bay.

San Francisco National Cemetery in the early morning.

Even though the wind was howling cold when we met, by the time we crossed the bridge it had turned into a spectacular, spectacular day! Not hot and hot cold: prefect walking weather.

GOOD MORNING San Francisco! Photo from Trina.

This was new to me: In Paris, lovers put locks on the Ponte des Arts and throw the key into the Seine. There were lots of locks on the fencing along the first part of the bridge. This lock was inscribed in German with a mock ring and all.

We walked through Sausalito and took a long break a Mollie Stone’s where we ate our Hobbit’s "second breakfast" at 10am. On a walk like this we burn close to 2,000 calories - food is fuel!

I whacked part of my old route off the second part of this walk, given that we had logged additional miles before crossing the bridge. While the second part of the day was shorter in length, we added in a HUGE hill climb before taking the Tiburon Linear Trail into town. There is a point when you are on the pathway where you can look across the water and see where we had started earlier in the day. Let me tell you… It is FAR and the sense of accomplishment is HUGE.

The highlight, other than finishing 40 miles, is our celebratory lunch at Sam’s Anchor Café. We start talking about onion rings, Bloody Marys, Mojitos and burgers at mile 15, so when we finally arrive it is game on!

Tired but totally inspired!

HUGE THANK YOU's to Connie, Buffie and Renee for their outstanding support this weekend. The TLC you showered upon us made us feel like VIPs! Fruit kebabs, camp chairs, banana bread, plentiful snacks and water refills, to carefully tracking us along the 40 miles of route and shuttling walkers in need.. You must be just a tired as we were from walking. You all are such a blessing.

I certainly am tired after our efforts this past weekend, but am totally inspired by this community of strong & compassionate women; such amazing role models, mentors, and friends. We are so very lucky to be able to tap into the deep well of our community’s support  and compassion. It never ceases to amaze me what a group of committed women can accomplish together.  I hope you feel inspired too! 

Hope you are all feeling OK after all of those miles; not too tired or too sore. Keep hydrating, take ibuprofen and stretch! Take good care of yourself in the coming weeks before your event. 

WARMING HUT HOTTIES 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! 

Don't forget! Our birthday party is this Saturday. Let's gather in celebration of 10 years of commitment & community with our traditional potluck picnic. Saturday, September 1st at 12:00 noon after the 10 mile walk. 

At the Warming Hut, where else?!  RSVP Here: http://groupspaces.com/InOurLifetime/item/310426 

10% DONATION BY glassybaby SHOPPING IS THRU 9/9!

If you were not able to make the fundraising party, or didn't find the color you wanted, you can shop online at www.glassybaby.com. 10% of your total order will go to our fundraising through September 9th. Use the code "IMPACT" at checkout. Shipping is FREE!

THIS WEEK'S MAP QUOTES
We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit. E.E Cummings

Take pride in how far you have come; have faith in how far you can go. Unknown

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller

The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it. John Ruskin

Only when we’re brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. Brene Brown

WEEKLY INSPIRATION

I became aware a truly amazing project via the Metastaic Breast Cancer Network:  Vanessa Tiemeier was in her late 20s when she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. She recently entered into hospice, but her and her sisters continue to work on their creation The Live Sincerely Project. The Live Sincerely Project challenges people to take a pledge that reminds us no matter how crazy, unfair, messy and awesome life is to always live it sincerely. 

You can take the pledge here: http://thelivesincerelyproject.com/pledge/

The Live Sincerely Pledge

I will live sincerely.

I will learn from each person and each day on my journey 
and will share ideas and wisdom from my own experiences.

With a grateful spirit, I will acknowledge my need for others
and will in turn be loving and generous, 
remembering that every member of a community plays a unique role.

I will remain strong in my convictions
while keeping an open mind to perspectives beyond myself.

Courageously, I will respect each movement of my heart, 
through fear and joy, grief and peace.

I will cultivate my passions with delight
and also take time for honest introspection.

I will love the person I am today
while constantly striving towards my best self.

I will keep a healthy balance between the rewards of discipline
and the growth and wonder that spontaneity brings.

I will acknowledge both the marvel and the limitations of my body
and respectfully take care of it the best I can.

Accepting the reality that there are circumstances I cannot change,
I will seize my power to actively change that which I can control
with hope and creativity.

I commit to living each chapter of my story: 
honoring the lessons and gifts of my past, 
fully participating in the fleeting beauty of the present, 
and bravely walking towards the unknowns of my future.

Knowing that life is an enduring but glorious struggle, 
I pledge to live each day with purpose.

I will live sincerely.

UPCOMING TRAINING WALKS

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

Saturday 9/1: 10 Miles followed by the 10th Birthday Picnic – 7:30am – Warming Hut

Sunday 9/2: 10 Miles - 7:30am – Presidio Sports Basement

Sat 9/7 & 9/8: NO WALKS - SF 3 Day Event!

Sat 9/15: 12 Miles - 7:00am - Warming Hut

Sunday 9/16: 12 Miles - 7:00am - Transit Cafe

Saturday 9/22: 10 Miles - 7:00am - The Warming Hut