Thirty and Thirty-one--halfway there!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures! The walk I just finished was number thirty-one for me and was actually held on Mother's Day. The organization called Lach's Legacy sponsors Run for Their Lives, a 5K in memory of infants lost to SIDS. While I would have loved to be in Spearfish to walk with the group, today was a beautiful day to be alone on Red Owl Creek. I saw some of the hay Rob cut yesterday, blooming wildflowers, a bunny, and more. And I was out early enough to enjoy 72 degree air before the high 90s hit later today:-).

Walk number thirty was another Walk for Life sponsored by Black Hills Pregnancy Center. Once again I did it right here at home on May 18. (Pardon the black eye--had a fight with a panel with a little help from the bulls!) Next on my calendar is this year's Memorial Mile that honors Coach Kambestad in Rapid City and the Prairie Berry Wine Run in Hill City. Looking forward to walking with people!

Eighteen through Twenty-nine

 Well, I wish I could say that getting behind once made me stay caught up, but I am afraid it is even worse this time. It has been almost two years since I updated my blog. Thankfully I have kept walking although as predicted, all but one of them were done right here at home. I will include a few pictures, but many are all the same:). And I am happy to say with the walk I just signed up for, I am halfway to my goal  of 60 walks by 60 years!

 

                                    

5/18/20	Walk to Cure Arthritis (Virtual)
5/9/20	2nd Annual Walk for Life
7/7/20	Belle Fourche Rodeo Run/Walk
8/3/20	ALS (8/23/20)
9/26/20	Walk to End Alzheimers
4/30/21	Autism Awareness 5K
5/2/21	Little Black Hills Battles
5/6/21	3rd Annual Walk for Life
5/30/21	Run for Their Lives
5/31/21	Lupus Awareness
7/3/21	Centerville Tornado 5K
9/16/21	Tom Pfeifle Run/Walk

Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen

I hate it when I get behind, and that's just what I did. I walked two more times last July and August but never blogged about them--so here I go catching up. On July 27 in Sturgis, I walked the Brandon Delzer Legacy 5K. The path took us from the 4H Barn at Sturgis High School through Fort Meade and back again on the bike path. I had a great visit with Sandy Bucholz as we walked together. Also got to see Cheryl Delzer--bandage and all after a mishap with a sprayer.

 A month later on August 24, I participated in my second Colton Derr 5K at the Central States Fairground. The Derr Family makes this a special day to honor all active and retired military in memory of Colton who suffered from PTSD. It was another great walk along the bike path from the Fairgrounds to Memorial Park and back.

Today, April 21, I did my first 5K of 2020. It was the Uniquely You 5K sponsored by the Autism Society of the Black Hills. Due to the social distancing made necessary by COVID-19, it was the first of what I think will be many VIRTUAL fundraiser walks. I missed the camaraderie of walking as a group and skipped the costume since the cows didn't care:-) I walked around our place until I couldn't anymore--forgot my water bottle and was "like 99% parched here"! I got a drink and then did the last 0.6 mile on the treadmill while watching TV:-).


I'm off and running...err, walking...for another year.

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.

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