Hike # 1 Inspiration Point - Nimitz Way, Tilden Park

Well, we did it! Our very first hike of the season and what a wonderful day to have it - the weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, breezy - what more could a hikin' gal ask for?

Although the hike team may change locations every week there is always one similarity between the previous hike: meeting at the trail head at 8am. This way as we increase our distances, length of hikes throughout the season, we'll be starting at the same time. Even if we do an 8 hour hike by the end of the Summer, we'll be finished at 4 pm with the rest of the evening free! Waking up early in the morning is not new to me; I like to get up every morning and go for an hour long jog around the neighborhood. So getting up in time to arrive at the trail head at 8am was no problem for me; but there were a few late arrivals. It's okay! We understand!

After our initial group meeting, we finally hit the trail at around 8:45am. Problem was that I had to leave to go to a bat mitzvah! I was on the trail for 5 minutes, sadly, before I had to turn back and head home to change. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to do the whole hike with the team, I still wanted to be there for the first meeting and I was very glad that I went.

After attending the bat mitzvah (so proud of you, Jessie, honey!) and a luncheon after the service, my partner Derek and I raced home to change and make our way to Tilden Park. Today I got to test my new gear: my sun hat, my new boots, and my fancy Osprey hydration pack (Ooooo0o0o0oh!). With my Team in Training shirt and gear, I looked like a pro. And so began our 2 hour out-and-back hike on Nimitz Way in Tilden Park.

Here are a few photos of the hike, enjoy!

Why did I join team in training?

My first introduction to team in training was when I happened to be in a bookstore looking for a hiking book. I was in the process of creating a "training schedule" to prepare myself for the Half Dome hike in Yosemite National Park. I had been invited to tag along with a few friends and I thought that the best way for me to increase my stamina and endurance on the trail was to gradually increase the difficulty of each hike. I had found the book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles by Jane Huber and was interested in several of the hikes it described. As I was purchasing my new book, I saw a team in training brochure perched against the counter and I slipped it into my bag as I was leaving the book store.

To be honest, I was originally interested in joining TNT for selfish reasons. Enjoying hiking but not owning a car turns out to be quite the hassle. If I get the urge to go exploring, hike the trails, and be one in nature I'm out of luck because there's no public transportation to get me there. Joining team in training, I thought, would be a great way to get my hiking fix and train for my Half Dome Hike in August. I would go hiking every weekend, increase the length/elevation gain of each hike and I'd have a RIDE! How awesome is that?

But my reason for joining changed at the first informational meeting that I attended to learn more about joining the team and what I would be accomplishing by raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Although I was moved by the statistics associated with blood cancers:
An estimated 139,860 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma this year.Every four minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer.An estimated 912,938 Americans are living with leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes.Every 10 minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer. That’s 146 people each day, or more than six people every hour.I was more moved by one man's story, an honoree participant named Matthew Parrott who had been diagnosed with a blood cancer. Listening to his triumphs, his struggles, and ultimately his remission and recovery was truly awe inspiring. After going into remission, Matthew joined Team in Training and ran a full marathon! That's 26.2 miles! The thing that touched me the most though was when Matthew said that the reason he was alive today was because 10 years ago a group of people, just like us got together to make a difference. They raised funds which sponsored the research that developed the medication that saved Matthew's life. He said that 10 years from now, some other cancer survivor would be standing in his place telling a group of people that it was us that funded important research or patient services that helped them. I really wanted to be a part of that.

I registered that very same night and there was no looking back. :)

The Kickoff!

Yesterday was the 'Kick-off' - the day that all of the Team in Training participants for the Summer 2010 season gathered together to meet their individual teammates, coaches, mentors, and captains who will help them along the way to reach their fitness and fund raising goals.

What a wonderful group of people! And a large group of people. Hundreds and hundreds of individuals all joining together for a common goal: to find a cure for cancer.

Our first speaker, Russ (the fundraising captain for the Diablo Valley Summer 2010 running team) talked about how the funds we raise are going to be used for research and patient services, honoring area patients and their families, and finding a CURE for all forms of leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related illnesses.

Our second speaker, Michelle, told us about her diagnosis of myelo dysplasia, her treatment and battle with the disease, and ultimately her remission and recovery.

Finally we split into our teams to discuss our training schedule, the hikes we'll do, and fundraising techniques to help us along the way. There are a number of different endurance events this season with Team in Training, the smallest team being hiking with a total of 31 members (we may be small but we are mighty!). Other teams include: triathlon (swimming, cycling, and running!), cycling, marathon runners, and marathon walkers.

"What is the difference between walking and hiking?" a woman asked me. "Asphalt," I said.

Other TNT participants asked me why I was doing hiking and not just walking a marathon - I replied that instead of listening to the sounds of cars and buses pass me by, I'll be listening to the wind in the trees and the delicate chirps of forest birds. I'll be walking on dirt and I'll be smelling wild flowers instead of city air. Who wouldn't want to experience those things?

I don't mind the small group of dedicated hikers - in fact, I believe this will help us grow closer as a team and form good friendships and bonds with one another.

The hiking team spent the next hour getting to know everyone, going over the 2 separate trips (Tahoe Rim Trail or Zion National Park), learning about the right gear and wrong gear, and we talked about what trails we'll be visiting over the next 4 months of training.

Next week will be our first Team Hike at Tilden Park, Inspiration Point. I'll be sure to keep you updated and I'll have another post up soon.

Photos courtesy of Oda Bigler