Portland to Coast - 2008

I participated in the Portland to Coast relay walk with 11 other ladies on August 22 & 23. It was an amazing and exhausting experience. Our goal was to have fun {which we defiantly did - we laughed hard and often} and finish. We found out later that we did better than just finish. Out of 145 teams in our category we finished 49 {the top 1/3 rd}. We didn't place but it was much better than I thought we had done, especially since I was constantly "road kill". Road kill is when you pass someone and I was passed often {I road killed only 4 people on my two legs}. We did have some fast walkers on our team and shaved off an hour and an half of our projected time though. 

Jane and I got up at the crack of dawn, stopped at Starbucks and got coffee {we are the Walking Lattes after all} for van #1 who's start time was 5:45 am with Jennifer being the first walker.

Jane and I then headed back to her house and tried to rest a bit {no such luck} and then met up with the other ladies in van #2 to head out to the area where we would begin our first portion of the walk.

Van #2  {left one is me getting ready to walk my first leg}

Aideen, Jane, & Molly walking their legs

We met up again with van #1 for the second exchange where van 1 would begin walking through the night while we drove to Mist to eat {I am embarrassed to admit I actually ate 2, yes 2, burgers} and get some sleep {yeah, right} and wait for the next exchange to walk our second legs. I think I am being generous if I say any of us got more than two hours of sleep between our accommodations {a Suburban with 6 people in it} the people talking outside and eventually the runners and walkers coming through the exchange.

I had the second to last leg {and second longest leg at 7.29 miles - the .29 part was the killer} and Aimee had the last leg. We all ran across the finish line together and it was an amazing accomplishment and I couldn't have asked for a better group of women to complete it with. After we got our medals {yes, participation medals} and had our pictures taken we headed to the beer garden - however once I sat down in the sun, with only 5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours - I hit the wall. I was seriously considering curling up in the sand and going to sleep. I lasted a couple of hours {with some head bobs and doing my best impression of being awake} and then we headed to our rented house. I was so tired I just could no longer function and crashed for several hours - I don't think I have ever felt that tired but we are already talking about doing it again next year - SIGN ME UP, I HAD A BLAST!

I've got legs

I found out that I will be walking legs 23 & 35 in Portland to Coast in August. Leg 23 is 4.18 miles and is basically flat terrain on a country road and it is considered easy. Leg 35 is 7.28 miles and is a rolling terrain on a combination of paved and gravel roads. This leg is considered hard and to top it off no van support is allowed on the course on this leg. 

Now that I know what legs I am walking I am even more excited about about the race. A few of us met at the school on Friday and went for 5 mile training walk.

Walking Lattes

* Soheila Beberness
* Molly Bell
* Julie Dod
* Molly Ferris
* Aideen Gaffney
* Molly Lytle
* Jeanne Nave
* Aimee Potter
* Chris Samwick
* Susannah Sedgewick
* Jane Slingsby
* Jennifer Viuhkola

We have our Portland to Coast team filled and baring any injuries we are good to go. We met at the school this morning to discuss what needed to be done next and some of us even picked our legs {I am letting Jane fill me in where she needs me} and after realizing Molly Bell is super organized elected her as co-caption to Jane. We have to get a house to stay in at the beach {Molly Lytle thinks she has this one covered} and we need two vehicles {Aimee Potter and Julie Dodd offered} then once we figure out all the legs we will know who will be in each car {van 1 or van 2} and then we will need to make more decisions {shirts, food for the trip etc.} I am really excited to find out what legs I will be walking and then to get moving!

Officially Training

I have officially started training {if you can call it that} for Portland to Coast. Several months ago I got fitted for a pair of shoes {first time ever} and I now own the first pair of shoes that don't hurt my feet and just a few days ago I put together some fast paced music to walk to {it still needs some fine tuning} and I have actually hit the streets and started walking. I figured out the millage from my house to both ends of the road and have set out on the shorter of the two a few times {working up to the longer distance}. The road is a country road with no sidewalks so it is a little scary at times but with one earphone in I can hear cars coming. I am just excited to be moving and working on getting some distance to my walks.

The Walking Lattes

Its official. I will be walking in the Portland to Coast the weekend of August 22-24 {the weekend of my 42nd B-day I might add.} I filled out my paperwork and everything! We had our first team meeting today. Really it was an excuse to meet for coffee at Chuck's and the inspiration for our team name "The Walking Lattes". We discussed filling our roster {we currently have about 9 walkers and we need 12}, where we are going to stay at the end of the race, t-shirts, to rent vans or not {not}, and we took a look at a list of the legs {but haven't decided who will have which leg yet}. It has gotten me very excited about the walk and made me serious about my knee {which still is bugging me since the surgery} so I scheduled physical therapy appointments so I can be ready for the walk. Portland to Coast here I come!

This is who we have so far

1. Jane Slingsby
2. Aimee Potter
3. Ssannah Sedgewick
4. Molly Farros
5. Aideen Gaffney
6. Jeanne Nave
7. Molly Bell
8. Chris Samwick
9. Molly Lytle
10. {?}
11. {?}
12. {?}