Day 178: What a journey: 23 miles today.

Today I was to walk 18 miles in preparation for the Breast Cancer 3 day.  I thought I'd change it up a bit, since I am also training for a 10 mile run in September.  I set off on my journey this morning via bike.  I biked from my house to Lake Calhoun.  It is about 10 miles.  I didn't mind the first 5 but the last 5 were through downtown, and I had to stop at many stop lights which made it less exciting. It took me 55 minutes. I got to Calhoun and met Kim (we missed Krista today) we ran 3.2 miles in 32 minutes.  Kim can run much faster but all I could commit to was an 11 minute mile.  We had a fun time running.  It was over so fast!  Then I stopped for lunch before my next journey, from Lake Calhoun back to Roseville.  It was a great walk, and I made some amazing time my first hour, but decided to take the last 5 miles a little slower, as to not injure myself.   I made the 10 mile walk in just about 2.5 hours. Tomorrow I get to walk 15 miles.  So I will walk to church in South Minneapolis it is 8 miles each way.  I may consider walking home, but may also do 8 miles in the evening.  We will see how I feel in the morning.

As I was walking through Minneapolis today, I noticed how people looked at me.  I was wearing knee-length spandex yoga/walking pants and a tank top.  Not fashion first, comfort first, I am exercising.   I am not a size 4 or even a size 14.  You can see on peoples faces as they looked at me.  It was rude and disheartening.  I would have thought people would think like I tend too...she is out losing weight, but instead their looks were almost that they were embarrassed for me.  They needn't feel that way, because I am not embarrassed, I am working it!  I am feeling good.  I was bee-bopping to music, smiling and generally enjoying myself.  Ironically these were the people drinking their large frappuccinos weighing in at a whopping 650 calories, and likely the same folks out drinking and eating last night, but there they sit, skinny on the outside...and past them I walk, skinny on the inside.

When you do that much alone time, you have time to think.  I thought about life and how good it is.  I thought much about Beth, my sister (in law)'s mom who is battling breast cancer right now.  I thought that I can do this to raise awareness, so more people do their self breast exams.  (Have you done yours this month? If not, do it right now, my blog will wait)  I thought about how I am doing this to raise money to help stop cancer.  Then I started to think, I hope myself or my daughter, mom, siblings, friends don't ever have to know the pain and hardship of breast cancer.  I will walk, my feet may get sore.  I will walk, my back may hurt...but I will walk.