Fourteen: 1st Annual Black Hills Walk for Arthritis

Saturday, July 13, brought a new tradition to the Black Hills. The Arthritis Foundation held its first walk on the west side of the state. As is the case with most first year walks, the turnout was somewhat smaller than established walks.


Thanks, Melinda, for bringing this walk to my attention--and congratulations on being the top fundraiser. Woot, woot!!




 It was great to be walking along Rapid Creek since the weather was hot and humid as it has been so much this summer.



















Tanner thought the walk would never end.






Luckily for him, some flooding shortened the original route from three miles to two.






 







We were all glad to make it back to the Old Storybook Island Shelter where there was water and snacks waiting for us.














 


Next up is my first time at the Brandon Delzer Walk in Sturgis. Hope to see you there!

Thirteen: Tom Pfeifle 5K

On June 29, I did walk number thirteen. It was the second time I participated in the Tom Pfeifle 5K. If you have never heard the story behind this walk, please check out the link. It is a wonderful example of how tragedy can be a catalyst for good.












There was a great crowd on hand to support this worthy cause.

The Stevens percussionists gave us a spirited send off from Founders' Park.

I enjoyed the chance to visit and walk a bit with fellow Honduras traveler Lorie.

 The weather was hot and humid—thank goodness we began walking at 8AM before the real heat hit.








  I was thankful for the shade of a few trees along the path--and thankful to see the end in sight.









 With a “baker’s dozen” in the books, next up is the Arthritis Walk on July 13.

Twelve: Coach Kambestad Memorial Mile

 On Tuesday, June 18, I attended my 12th walk--the second annual Coach Kambestad Memorial Mile. This year it was held at Sioux Park in Rapid City.

 That's my friend Bobbie Kambestad in the green jacket. I met her at last year's first walk in honor of her husband. Evidently our paths were destined to cross. This August we will travel together on a mission trip to Honduras.

 This year's crowd was much bigger than last year's. The rain stopped just in time for the first race to begin and held off until we were done. I am one-fifth of the way to my goal and ready to begin the next leg. Hope you can join me on June 29th at the Tom Pfeifle 5K!

Eleven: ALS 2019

 On June 15, I joined the Wicks family for the Annual ALS Walk in Rapid City. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning.

         



 Mayor Steve Allender welcomed the crowd.









 Amy and her mom got geared up for the walk.

Due to wet weather, the creek was too high for the regular path. We followed the sidewalk and looped back to where we started. I missed my walking partners from last year, Conner and Kaye, but Travis and I had a good visit while we walked.

June is filled with chances to walk, and I am taking advantage of it. Tuesday, June 18, is the 2nd Annual Coach K Memorial Mile. Saturday, June 29 is the Tom Pfeifle 5K. Maybe I'll see you at one!

Ten: Walk for Wishes

May 18, 2019, brought my first repeat walk at the 2019 Walk for Wishes. I missed last year's walking partner, Peggy, who was busy celebrating a 1st birthday with her granddaughter. And since I had a meeting scheduled at the same time as the walk, I did the walk early...by myself...in the rain:-)

 The path through downtown was marked with posters and presidents.

With the Walk for Wishes, I made it into double digits and one-sixth of the way to my goal. I'm right on track to make sixty walks by the time I turn sixty. Hope to see you at the next one: ALS June 15, Coach K Memorial Mile June 18

Nine: Walk for Life

 

 My ninth 5K is in the books. On Saturday, May 11, 2019, I joined about ninety other walkers for the First Annual Walk for Life sponsored by the Black Hills Pregnancy Center in Rapid City. The walk began at 10:00 AM--and the rain began around 10:15. The clouds, however, were beautiful.



  Luckily I had my umbrella along, so I stayed dry...almost. Kristin called to offer a ride about halfway through, but I kept on walking until the sun came out again.

The walk was a full 5K that took me from the Old Storybook Island Picnic Shelter, past the little league baseball fields, under Jackson Boulevard, to Canyon Lake Park, and back again. Since it was the day before Mother's Day, all moms received carnations before they left. I finished walk number nine, and the 2019 Walk for Wishes will put me in the double digits.

Eight: Bottoms Up

I loved having my sister-in-law Melinda join me for my first 5K of 2019. The weather was brisk--in the 30s and breezy--for the Bottoms Up 5K in support of colon cancer research. The wind was even more noticeable on the return trip, but we persevered. After our finish, we treated ourselves to Blaze Pizza and a visit with Kristin!