Saturday, August 25, 2012

Back-to-Back Weekend Part 1: Saturday's 20-mile training walk


Saturday's first 10-mile loop

It's the annual Warming Hut Hotties Back-to-Back Weekend! What does that mean? 2 Days, 20 miles each day! We are just over 4 weeks out from the Immediate Impact Breast Cancer Walk. The back-to-back weekend is the pinnacle of our weekend training for the year. From here, we'll scaling back on the mileage, getting our bodies prepared for the big event.

Saturday's 20-mile walk is two loops of 10-miles each. It's planned in a way so that walkers can choose if they want to walk 10, 15, 18 or 20 miles for the day.

We had an early start at 6:15am, departing at 6:30. The sun had just started to rise when we left. Actually, I should rephrase by saying it was just starting to get light by the time we left. The sun never really came out all day. The temps were in the mid to high 50s all day. I wore my usual layers - a tank top, a long sleeved shirt and a jacket. I never took any layers off all day.

We started the walk by walking under the Golden Gate Bride, and walked down and up the fantastic Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Along the way, we spied several schools of dolphins playing in the Pacific Ocean! So cool!

We walked through Golden Gate Park to Stow Lake, walked around the lake (very pretty) and onto JFK Drive. We came out to Lake Street, back into the Presidio, and made our way back to the Warming Hut by 10:00am for our "lunch" break.


Foggy, Golden Gate Bridge at 6:15am


Batteries to Bluffs Trail - where we saw the dolphins


Finishing Batteries to Bluffs, looking back at the Golden Gate Bridge


Saturday's second 10-mile loop

As we headed out for the second loop, we walked along the Ecology Trail, and up to Inspiration Point Overlook. For the first time that I can recall, we saw a group of painters at Inspiration Point creating landscape paintings. Very cool.


plein air painting at inspiration point

One of the most memorable moments of the day was when we passed a Garage Sale on Lake Street. We pass many garage sales during our walks, but this was the first time that we all stopped and actually purchased! Part of what was being sold was a box full of toys from Toy Story! Most of the characters were represented: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bullseye (the horse), Slinky Dog and Jessie. They were all in a box labeled Sunnyside (nice detail!). We simply couldn't leave them all there. The Hotties pitched in and divided up the Toy Story gang amongst three people. As much as I would have loved adopting a new friend, I'm kind of proud of myself for showing restraint. We all know that I do not *need* another doll in my house. :) All toys went to new loving homes - some of them even got to go together! :)


Box o' Toy Story Toys at the Garage Sale


Happy Toy Story Toys rescued by the Hotties!

The Toy Story Toys hitched a ride with our fantastic route support vehicle - Thank you to Connie and Renee for providing awesome and much appreciated route support all weekend long! Connie and Renee provided snacks, water as well as a ride for anyone who needed it.

We walked all the way down Geary Blvd and took a quick break at the beautiful Land's End Outlook. From there, we headed up the Land's End Trail (and stairs!)


Hottie Group Shot!


Walking up the Land's End Trail stairs


Carol and Monica sitting in a tree...

We walked the length of the Land's End trail, and came out onto El Camino del Mar, and walked around Sea Cliff. We waded through some sand at Baker Beach before heading back towards the Presidio.


View of the Golden Gate Bridge in the mid-afternoon

Apparently, The World's Cup World Series took place this weekend in the San Francisco Bay. I had no idea. ;) As we rounded the corner and saw the bay, we saw hundreds of boats out on the bay! It was very cool. We were able to see some of the competing boats speed across the bay.


boats on the Bay

Saturday's walk(s) were great! Lots of fun, even without the sun. :)

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