My Big Walk

Who are the friends accompanying me on my journey?

Here’s a cast of characters.  And they are characters, believe me!

Midwest Mary claims she is not a poet. But she writes like one. She says… I walk in the morning to start my day, preferably before first light. /I walk in the late afternoon to shake off my day, preferably before last light. / Sometimes I walk in the middle of the day, just because. // I walk because buying shoes is so much more fun than buying a car./ I walk on city streets and on trails in familiar and unfamiliar places, depending on where I am traveling. // I walk because it’s just the best.

Energy Elaine: Last year my friend Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery that  than twelve hours, and began a long season of treatment and recovery. Last week, Elaine was back on the tennis courts whipping the pants off of her opponents. Next month, Elaine will be joining my team and hundreds of other walkers for  the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life all-night walk in Brookdale park* June 4th-5th. Elaine says she has much to be grateful for; she’s an inspiration.

Avon Amy: Amy is a  kindergarten teacher, aspiring writer and blogger, mother of three grown-up daughters and am in training for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to be held in Santa Barbara, California in September 2010.  She had a minor setback when she broke her ankle in January she’s back on the roads, and walking every day.

Joan & Peanut walk every day, 2-3 miles, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  Joan says, “Even though he has very short legs, don’t let that fool you, Peanut can walk all day.  And chase squirrels and dig up voles and moles along our daily journeys.”
Brave Betty If you meet me at 9:30 on a Sunday morning to walk in frigid January weather, you get instant membership on my Wall of Walkers. Like Betty did!

Glamalynn’s been walking 3 miles every morning since 1992.  She gets out the door at first light. Sometimes she takes her camera and takes photographs.  It’s a silent journey she calles her “drug of choice.”

Lucky Lucy enlisted two friends to join in her 1000 in 2010 journey. They’re starting on New Year’s Day. She says, “ We don’t live close to each other, but that isn’t the point.  As nice as it would be to have a walking partner, I think I will enjoy the serenity of going it alone.  Thank YOU for this idea – I really really like it.” Yay, Lucy!

Heavenly Maree Lost 60 pounds year before last, and has worked up to walking 4.5 miles a day. She says, “it takes just under an hour and includes 3 big winding hills. I’m in heaven! ”

SoTex Cara says, “You guys have inspired me to become a daily/lifelong walker and push myself!  I live about an hour away from the beach so next time I’m down there I’ll take pictures …thanks for the inspiration, look forward to many miles together!”

Nanci, the Professional Listener. She walks her dog Cody, runs along the ridge overlooking Manhattan, plays a mean game of tennis, and keeps her busy family going. When she’s not listening for a living, Nanci’s out having fun. And when she’s sitting, she’s knitting. You go, girl. You go, and you go, and you go…

MenWalkToo, Ed! After years of hiking in the mountains and woods, Ed’s walking 15-20 miles a week, locally. He brings his dog Duke when the pace is slower, and Ed says, “Men walk too…I appreciate your blog – used to do South Mountain all the time. Sign me up.”

“Happiness” Gretchen. One of the things that makes The Happiness Project writer Gretchen Rubin happiest is to walk around New York City. Advantage: she saves a lot of money by walking. Disadvantage: her fashion is seriously compromised by her desire to wear running shoes at all times.

Just-so John. This charming friend walks a set route each day and times it to precisely 60 minutes on his iPhone stopwatch.  Now he says he’s willing to follow instead of lead.  Viel glück zum geburtstag, John. And enjoy that beer!

Wendy the Walking Maven lives in southern Washington state and takes very long walks mostly-with-but-sometimes-without her iPod and her husband (though not necessary in that order?). She’s got tons of great informative, inspiring stuff on her daily blog and walking site on About.com.

Gillian’s Daily Poetry. She walks her dog rain or shine / snow or not / frigid or hot. A woman after my own heart, Gillian always says hello to people, always wears a slouchy cap, and rarely carries an iPod. If you have a photo please send it!

“I-Don’t-Drive” Dara: this Montreal student  gave up her car (or never had one?) and walks everywhere. She’s young and energetic and writes a fun blog. I hope to join her for a walk when I visit my daughter at McGill. Meanwhile I’m following her adventures here.

Speedy Sandy walks 4 miles in 50 minutes, and has been keeping up that daily pace for more than 20 years! “Sometimes I compete in half marathons and sometimes I just do extra miles for a challenge. I walk down country roads in central Indiana and long for beaches and mountains to make my walk more interesting.”  Having lived in the midwest, Sandy, I really, really know what you mean about the beaches.

Easygoing Atzin (send a picture!) This cheerful walker made my day when she wrote, “You have most certainly inspired me. I will start my one hour a day walk. I have everything I need, feet, shoes, a pedometer, a watch, and a beautiful track near my home. The track is the best place for me to start. What a wonderful way to live life!”

Coach Rosalie. A life coach and walking coach, Rosalie took up daily walking after a (false!) cancer scare, and asks her clients to offer this life-affirming message to themselves everyday: I am proud to be a healthy walker. You can read more on her site, LiveHealthybyWalking.

PraiseWalker Darlene. This Canadian walker is turning 50 in 2011. She started walking in 2008 and completed  a full marathon last October! She’ training for her second one now, and uses walking as a form of meditation. You can check out her progress  here.

Leaf Boy. This is my son! Yes, my 16-year-old Johnny came for a walk with me this weekend. And we had a great time.  I just don’t know if he wants his friends to know!

Mystery Megan – Megan, if you’re out there, please write to me again! I remember your Vibram Five Finger Walking Glove Shoes but I can’t find your link or messages!

Mighty Martha: My multi-talented friend Martha  throws herself into new projects and new careers with absolute fearlessness. While listing and showing houses, acting as the defacto official photographer for our local realtor’s board, and celebrating her son Abe’s Bar Mitzvah, Martha’s also been walking almost every day.  I think her fab self-portrait says it all!

Jessica, A Big Loser: That’s right, Jessica lost 20 pounds this year — not just by walking every day (if only it were that easy) but by following Weight Watchers and doing funny math…expanding 300 calories walking, and allowing herself a 75 calorie banana. You can read more about Jessica and bananas on her blog.

Judy L.: This talented author hikes up the hill into South Mountain Reservation every morning. “Besides clearing my head for writing, it’s given me the chance to know the forest in all seasons for several years now.”

Cowgirl Storey: When she’s not in Montana, Storey hikes with her dogs in the wilds of NJ. “I began in earnest the year I adopted my first dog Chester, 1995. …13 years and two more dogs later I spend each morning in Eagle Rock Reservation,” she says. “I know the res like the back of my hand and don’t know what I would do with out its respite from life in northern New Jersey. Walk on!”

Oh My Melissa, Living in Montreal: First forever, my daughter is fun, fit, and a favorite companion. If I had one wish it would be to spend more time with her.  But GEEZ, she runs up Mont Royal every day, and that’s a hard act to follow.

Nadine ( Nimble Nicotine Addict): How does she stay so fit and youthful? If she knows her own secret, she’ll never tell!   Reaching for her walking shoes instead of her car keys, Nadine is logging mileage simply keeping up with her weekly errands. Where next, Nadine?

Intrepid Antoinette: The first friend to accompany me on my maiden runs, talented Toni writes weekly New York Times real estate articles while balancing a full plate of artistic, domestic, and spiritual pursuits.  See her most recent articles here.

Pam Never Acts Old: If you’re lucky enough to meet Pam walking in NYC, NJ, Paris, Wisconsin, Virginia, or any of the other places her adventurous spirit takes her, be sure to ask her How Not to Act Old.  She’s sure to have a tip that’ll tickle your funny bone (ooops — that expression’s way old!).

Leapin’ Lori: Artist, cyclist, learning specialist, tennis court terror– Lori leaps from one project to another with the speed of lightning. And she’s good at everything she does.  Check out her paintings.

Slobbering Sarah: My most reliable and loyal walking companion. People say she needs to lose weight. A year of walking should put my overgrown puppy on track.

Leslie, Lady of Letters: A veteran journalist with a bittersweet story of love and loss to share, Leslie’s been posting fabulous walking routes on the site since it launched.

Black Belt Cyd: Celebrating strength and vitality, this walker marked her 50th year by earning a Tae Kwon Do Black Belt in Martial Arts.  Cyd walks in Manhattan and  New Jersey but later this month she’ll be walking in Berlin. Watch for her updates here.

My Darlin’ Darline: A lifelong Long Islander, with a house overlooking the bay, Darline is walking a half hour a day– a huge committment for someone with two careers and two lively granddaughters who keep her life joyous. (no pic)

Donna, My Sistah: I’m the oldest of three sisters. Which means I’m the first to turn 50. But Donna’s not far behind me. For her milestone birthday she’s planning a hike down into the Grand Canyon.

Laura. A Leading Lady. Laura doesn’t walk — she runs! Sometimes I keep up with her in Verona Park. She and I wrote a novel together, and once we’ve stopped to catch our breath, we’re planning to write another.

Frank. Loving. Kind. Jock: This is my husband. He changed my life, always for the better.  For my 50th we went to Paris together. It was thrilling…and exhausting. Our greatest romance always seems to come when we least expect it — and often at home.

Watchung Booksellers is Watching: Don’t know if they’re walking, but the women at my cozy independent bookstore around the corner have been supplying me with a steady special order diet of books that feature walking. This week it’s Meredith Hall’s gorgeous, chilling memoir, Without a Map.

Me. That’s me on Saturday October 2, 2009, setting out for a 2-hour walk because I missed Friday. To tell you the truth, it was sort of fun.

Want to be added to the Walking Wall? Send me a short note about yourself and your walking habits (new or old!) and I’ll add you to the Wall of Walkers.