One hour:-)Soooo Touched:-)

I went to the gym, did 30min, stopped for less than 2 min. drank water, then 15 min. 2 min. water break then 15 more min. So sorta total 1hr on the StairMaster:-) I feel that really worked out better, I was at a lower level to begin with and went longer, so I wasn't heaving a lung most of the way, then at the end I stepped it up cause its too slow. So that is just level 2. I still got a good sweat and heart rate up. I was planning on doing that again this morning, but I got an email from Julie asking if I wanted to go and try Castle Crags Peak Trail, uh DUH. So maybe that will happen, I hope so.
Bonnie forwarded the lovely post she sent to all of her address book encouraging supporting me and BCF~CAO, omygosh it was sooooo wonderful I got teary. Thank you soo much Bonnie. I went to put some cards at the Jeep dealer in Mt. Shasta and Helen wrote me a check, and Bob H. gave me a donation. Thank you Helen and Bob:-)
Talking Talking Talk more talking in the past few weeks to people than I did all last year. My Recycling fundraising project loose ends are just about tied up. I got allot accomplished yesterday with that. I just have to talk to the Manage at Rays Mt. Shasta. I got the bags donated.
I gained 3 lbs this week, no not muscle, salty vinegar chips, omygosh soooo addictive after the gym I think I deserve them.

What and Incentive

I got kind of a late start on the wood cutting I got side tracked talking in town to people. I got quite a bit done (my arms and back said so) I was thinking of not going to the gym cause it was a little slow getting out of bed, but then I got an email from Bonnie. Bonnie wrote me $100. check yesterday when I ran into her in front of the post office. She wanted a prayer flag for her cousin Kasey Lind who had been like a sister to her that had died of breast cancer. This is what Bonnie wrote:
"I have another way I'd like to contribute to this cause. Do you have training goals in preparation for the climb? If so, I'll contribute another $25 for each month you feel you have completed your preparation satisfactorly (not necessarily perfectly, but good enough... remember it's an honest program!) So, with Feb., Mar., April, and May that's potentially another $100. What do you think about this idea?" Well I think it is WONDERFUL, I think I better get my butt to the gym today and at least do my half hour on the StairMaster:-)

Tuesday I hiked up from my house round trip 5 miles, yesterday rt 6miles. Today I have to seriously start cutting next winters wood, I should have it cut already. Tuesday Kelly gave me $20. when I ran into her at Rays, Thanks Kelly:-) Yesterday Patti from Rapunzel's gave me a used stationary bike sooo excited. Its hard for me to get to the gym it seems. I need to go there for the StairMaster though. I had an interview with Paul from the Herald. That was good, he gave me some Fundraising tips. He is VERY supportive of BCF. I got a couple of ideas that have been floating around in my head and are just now coming out on paper, I did a bunch of talking to businesses and asking for support for this new project yesterday, I got a lot accomplished. Julie just emailed me this morning said she was backing out on our Training tomorrow. Need to find someone to go with me, that will push too:-)Linda sent me a gift certificate for part of the training boots at 5th season, WHAT A BRAT she is soooo WAY cute:-) I need to get them before Monday, she might want us to do Rainbow Ridge again AHHHHHHHH:-)LOL

This morning Linda, Julie and I started snowshoeing from Bunny flats and went up the road to about the old ski bowl parking approx. 5.5 miles round trip, 2 1/2 hrs. Yep that would be me bringing up the rear:-) Kathy met up with us when we were about 1/2 way down and went the rest of the way out with us:-)

OK, so today Connie ( Climb and sponsorship Coordinator) started a fundraising contest OMYGOSH!!! Starting today, January 26th, and running through February 20th (a Friday), the top four fundraisers during this period will receive a pair of Asolo hiking boots. http://www.asolo.com/content.asp?L=3&idMen=412. I am pretty sure my name is on one of those pair of boots:-)

Friday Julie and I went in her car (she drove there and back) to San Francisco for the Strong Voices training. We stayed Friday night and Saturday night at www.harborcourthotel.com we were right next door to the www.ymcasf.org/Embarcadero/ where the training was held 9:00am to 3:00pm. It was very kool I learned a bunch of stuff. Teaching us so we can talk about the Breast Cancer Fund a little bit more knowledgeable:-) Then we went on our training hike with Connie in the lead:-) we walked (pretty fast pace) up the stairs to Coit Tower http://sanfrancisco.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Coit_Tower (we didn't go inside) and back down again TWICE ohmygosh:-) I didn't write the times/mileage down but I was definitely sweating and bringing up the rear. People were taking pictures I hope to get one posted soon. Then Connie opened her home up to all of us and we had a wonderful Vegetarian Chili feed, oh and loved that corn bread:-) then early back to the hotel and early to rise to drive home.

Rainbow Ridge Training

Part of the North West team named "Buff Babes" Well I don't know about that yet. I am working on it. Left to right, Julie, Linda and me:-)

Yesterday we went 2 miles up Rainbow Ridge. OHMGOSH!!! that is way so steep. I think about 6 years ago I hiked up there twice as far and had no problems. I smoked like a fiend back then too. This time I had to slow my pace quite a bit after about a mile up, then on the way back I was definitely bringing up the rear. It was really good, it showed me where my weak knees really need some help to make them strong. I need to work on lots of lunges and squats. Julie and I are going in her car down to San Francisco today for "Strong Voices" training put on by the Breast Cancer Fund. I think we are going to learn more about the environmental causes of the disease and how to present it better. That will be tomorrow morning, then we have another training hike, Urban style in the afternoon then we get to go to Connie's home for dinner she is the "Climb and Sponsorship Coordinator for BCF:-) Hopefully more pics:-) Then we will drive home Sunday morning. Possibly another training hike with Linda and Julie on The Mountain on Monday.

Yesterday I received a check in the mail from Betty, thankyou soooooo much for your support Betty:-)

Yesterday my cousin Joanna made an online donation, Thankyou Joanna:-) Today I am to meet with Julie and Linda and I think someone new for a training hike. YEA!!! I hope they take pics to send me so I can post them here:-)

Yesterday I received a check from Lilium in the mail, John from John's 45 Shop gave me a check, and Vicki posted on line a donation :-) Thankyou sooo much for your support. Yesterday 30 min on the Stairmaster. I was able to drive in for the first time in over a month with a car load a groceries :-) feels VERY good to get some of the heavier items in. Stocking up. We are sure to have more snow. Now I am going to have to make more of a conscious effort to rack up the miles.

Friday Hillie Crowfoot called me to introduce herself and offer fundraising/training support. That was sooo nice:-) Yesterday "Free" and I hiked up a little over 2.5 miles, the snow got deep in this one spot I just turned around and went back.

Yesterday Kay wrote me a check and the other day Patti at Rapunzel's wrote me a check so those aren't in the total on my web page. I will wait till I get a couple more checks then send them on to the Breast Cancer Fund to get totaled up:-) Thank you Kay and Patti:-)
I did 30 min on the stair stepper. Next week I want to get 3 days in again 30 min also so the following week I can start to up the time. That's the plan:-)

Thank you Carol for your donation:-)
I ended up doing 5+miles yesterday. I went for a 2mile hike with my friend Adamine and her German Shepherd Bridget. Then in and out from the house and my puppy walk.
Yesterday I was in the paper http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/lifestyle/x1017442574/Climber-raises-over-7-000-for-breast-cancer-services I intend to go to the gym today:-) not to sore today:-)

"Free" that little bisquit boy and I hiked up to the 2 mile landing, I took a picture but I need a better camera, the view is just amazing. We did a little leash refresher course on the way up. I didnt see any fresh Mt. Lion or Bear tracks so I let him loose on the way back. That boy might think they are naughty and they might not find any humor in that. No people tracks YEA!!! My friend put a little statue up there prob about 6 years ago, to much snow to find it now. A little more than 1/2 mile from the house I hit some ice and went down hard on my right cheek. On Wednesday on my way out I had hit some ice and went down on my left arm, ouch. This morning I had planned on going to the gym and doing the 30 min. on the stairmaster, I think I am going to have to cancel that. My back seems to be a bit sore, sooo this will prob be a light training/rest day. I was talking with this friend of mine that works for the Forest Service she knows some really good hikes and is in better shape than I am so I asked her if she wanted to go for a hike next week. She said down at Flume creek was a good one we might try:-) I am looking forward to that:-)

Thankyou Joy for your Donation:-)
Yesterday I got to the gym and did 30 min. on the stairmaster, that thing is kick but. I cant make myself sweat like that just hiking. definately going to be a #1 training tool. Hiked out and had a 12lb pack on the way in.
This little boy dog :-) Freeland thinks this training stuff is the best. He just got through running a very naughty squirrel.

The farther we go up the naughtier stuff is:-)

These pictures were from the Tuesday hike, very crummy ones, I know, its really quite a nice view of The Lady:-)

Yesterday morning I hiked up 1 mile from my home and took pics overlooking Mt. Shasta from there. I had this "throwaway" camera thats very old I will turn it in today and see if they came out. My little boy dog says this training thing is a really good idea:-) Then I hiked down 1 mile and packed back in 19lbs of groceries;-)

I got a donation from Laya for $18.00 thankyou soooo much:-)

I actually started training to get ready for training over a month ago. I have lost 20lbs., no bread, dairy or sugar. I figure the less weight on my joints the better. Last Monday I met Linda C. our training leader, and Jullie Q one of my team mates for the first time. Very excited, we snow shoed for about 1-1/2 hours. Friday I met with Linda and she showed me the Stairmaster machine she wanted me to use regualarly and eventually work up to wearing a pack. Its not a regular stair stepper, very kool. I have been packing in our food approx 20lb pack a couple times a week. I was on snowshoes for about a month, in and out from the house 2 miles. Snow is melting fast now I am just walking, very soon I will be driving in again. Yesterday I started sending emails out and the real fundraising began. I got my first online donation from Lee, Thanks sooooooo much Lee for your support $100. Yesterday I went to the gym and did the Stairmaster for 30 min.