I a still on the job hunt. I have looked at a lot of jobs, applied to a lot and can not get an interview. I am not sure why. I continue to try to find new network opportunities. So what is my next step?

Alive to Grow

2011 brings a New Year to learn. Initially I am learning to be patient as I search for employment and that is such a challenge. Like anyone I have days when I just wish I could run to Hawaii and sit in the sun on the beach. Then I come back to reality and say hang in there and do the work of sending out my resumes. The job will come.

Seattle Fun

Make a Smilebox photobook

San Diego Rock 'n' Roll

July, 2008

Dear Friends,

Time to share with you the incredible experience I had in San Diego at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon event!

The feeling of being with all team members began at airport check in. There is nothing more fun than traveling with a team. Friday evening some of us were excited to be able to go out to dinner near the hotel and sit out on the deck. It’s San Diego…sunshine!

Saturday we had free time until our Pasta Feed at 1PM. The food was fantastic. The program highlight was the guest speaker from Fairbanks, Alaska, David Monson. He spoke with such passion sharing from his heart the story of his wife’s fight with leukemia. David then went out the next morning with all of us and ran the full marathon in honor of his wife, Susan Butcher.

On to race day. We were all up and at the course by 4:30am to sit and wait for the starting gun at 6:00AM. Being a walker I was in Coral 23 (the last one) and it took about 30 minutes for me to cross over the starting line. It was a beautiful sunny warm day. One highlight was when I reached the half way point at mile 13.4. The next highlight was as I was approaching mile 19 the last cut off point on the course. I had to be beyond mile 19 at 12:15. As I saw that point it was almost 12:15 and we heard that the police were getting anxious to open up the road to traffic. Can you believe it…we ran to get past that mile point. It was unbelievable. Then I knew I would make it to the full 26.2 mile point. I felt okay physically until I got to about mile 21. At this point my feet, legs and back began to feel the strain of being on my feet for more than six hours. One of our coaches, Katie joined me at this point and walked the rest of the way with me. It was so good to have her beside me. Her conversation was so good to have as it kept me going until I made it across the finish line. I remember seeing mile maker 24 and thought wait a minute I already passed mile 24 it should be mile 25!!! I guess at that point I had hit the wall!

Two point two miles later though there was the finish line and the neatest thing was I heard the man up on the stage say and here is Faith Gray from Maple Valley!! I did it in 7 hours 56 minutes.

The entire experience wouldn’t have been possible without your financial and emotional support. Thank you so much. Our Washington/Alaska Chapter this Spring raised over $300,000 to the continued research for a cure for leukemia and lymphoma. I was especially moved as I walked along the course when I turned a corner in the road and a gentleman was there with a sign showing he lost his wife to the disease and was thanking us for walking. I was humbled to be able to endure the pain of training and then walking in memory of those who have died from the disease and in honor of those who have won the fight and are experiencing remission.

May we continue to raise money to further help the possibility of finding a cure for these diseases.

Grateful to you all,

Faith

Last Saturday Training...WhooHoo!

Today, Saturday, May 24th was our last training walk! I walked for 80 minutes. We started again at Matthews Beach and headed north. The weather was perfect, clear, warm in the 70s and it was just exciting to realize this was our last Saturday to train. I walked with Janet and Stephanie (whose dad had died of leukemia years before.)

We wore signs for Neil (one of the Anchorage runners whose dad died of leukemia last year at the age of 61) and Grant (one of our honorary ambassadors who is struggling with leukemia now. He has really been having a tough time lately. There was also the poster with pictures of those of us walking and for whom we were walking. I am so proud to be walking in memory of Ron Hamilton.

At the end of our walk I stayed until the Anchorage runners came in after their 20 mile run. It was fun helping hang the checker flag, write with chalk on the walk way and then ring the bell and shake the flags welcoming them to the finish line. It brought back memories of two weeks ago when I did my long walk...you are just so glad you made it.

This week will be the send off party on Wednesday and then late morning on Friday boarding the airplane for the trip to San Diego.

I still can't believe I am going to walk a 26.2 marathon walk.

Hot weather but training is winding down

Today, Saturday May 17th at 8 a.m. we began walking on the next to the last Saturday before the Marathon, beginning at the Redhook Brewery. I only had to walk for 100 minutes but it was 80 degrees as we finished at 10 a.m. I wore my half size larger walking shoes today and think maybe that has been my problem. When I got done my feet did not hurt as much.

There was some Wisteria blooming at the Herb Farm Restaurant next to the brewery. It was really beautiful. I just love Wisteria.

It was so nice to have only a short walk today partly because it was so humid with the high temperature and partly because it is just getting time to do the real thing...bring on the marathon!

I then went to Harry and Tordis' home. Tordis and I had planned to go to the 17th of May Norwegian Parade in Ballard. This was the 119 annual parade. Tordis put on her festive buna and off we went. As we walked along the street a young man came up to Tordis and spoke to her in Norwegian. He recognized the design of her buna as being from the same area of Norway where he was from. He is studying here in Washington. That was really exciting for Tordis to have some one from her area of Norway spot her in the crowd! David (Tordis' nephew) his wife, Terry, and their son found us so we watched the parade with them. The parade was two hours long but we were in the shade and there was a slight breeze although standing was tiring. Next year we should bring chairs. Harry didn't come as his knee is causing him pain. He has surgery on Tuesday to get a new knee. We stood right across from the center stage so we had a good view.

Harry picked us up after the parade and we all went out to dinner. It was a nice afternoon.

Then it was home to bed after a long hot day.

My longest walk yet...from Gas Works Park

Ouch...my feet are sore tonight because today, May 10th I walked almost 18 miles in 5 hours.

Before we headed out Amy gave those of us who walk a turtle pin...for the slow and steady people! Amy usually walks with a stuffed toy turtle on her hat so it was fun to get a turtle to be a part of the "slow and steady" team! We began 7:15a.m. at Gas Works Park in Seattle. The temperature was good - 53 degrees but we did not get the sunshine, in fact at one point we had a rain shower.

I walked along the Burke Gilman Trail just past Mathews Beach. I almost made it to the 9 mile water stop. (It was probably just around the next corner, but you can never be sure and it was time to turn back.)

Half way back I stopped and changed socks. My hot spots didn't look too bad so I thought this is good. I ended up finishing the last 3 miles with some of the team from Tacoma. I enjoyed getting some pointers about the course in San Diego.

As we turned in to the park the TNT Coaches and Mentors were there with cheers welcoming us back to base! There were decorations (Rock 'N' Roll) and Alexxx took my picture after Gerb put my medal on as I walked over the finish line!

I walked down into the picnic area and there was food, the gang, and a kid's pool with ice water in which to soak my feet. It did feel good. Thanks Team for giving us such a great party!

After relaxing for a while I headed up to Lynnwood to help Grant's Mom, Kim, with her laundry. Grant is our team's honorary teammate. He is fighting with leukemia and is back in the hospital right now. I stayed until the laundry was all folded and put away. Kim felt good that her laundry was all done for once. Hopefully her Mother's Day will be a little brighter. Her husband is in Alaska fishing so she is here dealing with Grant's illness by herself....and that is a heavy burden for a mom.

I made my way home, showered and assessed how my feet were doing. It turns out I have a very small blister on the side of each foot. Oh...I was so hoping to avoid them. I'll have to try and figure out why I had rubbing on those spots.

Otherwise, it was a good walk. Only three weeks to go before the big day!