Walk-a-Thons Aren’t What They Used to Be

9 Comments

1. 

   Alana on July 16, 2016 at 1:19 pm

   You are right. Years ago, I used to participate in the American Cancer’s Society Relay for Life. The challenge was to have a member of your team on the track for 24 hrs straight – a lot of people camped out and tried to stay up all night. The last two years I did it there was something just so “blah” about the whole thing and no one seemed to care about that aspect – it may have been purely my attitude, but I haven’t done it in several years.
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     HollyJahangiri on July 16, 2016 at 2:20 pm

     I know what you mean. The first time I did Relay for Life was with Scouts, and I came fully prepared to camp out all night. My daughter and her friend ran about 5 miles, some of it in heavy rain, around the track. When the lightning started and the tornado warnings came, we flattened and rolled my tent about as fast as it’s humanly possible to do and ran for the car. (Not exaggerating – I have video on my YouTube channel from when the thunder set off all the car alarms in the parking lot, and of the two of them still running around the track.) Anyway, in later years, I didn’t bother with the tent. I stayed till it wound down around midnight and left. By the second year, though, I got honored in the Survivor’s Lap and dinner. That was a mix of heartwarming and humiliating – I mean, it was sweet (especially with friends cheering me on at various points around the track), but I felt very self-conscious. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, if you’re having fun. And I raised a decent amount of money for them. But I didn’t go last year or this year.
2. 

   Michelle Rene Goodhew on July 16, 2016 at 5:27 pm

   Wow Holly, what an amazing and inspiring story. I can’t say that I would have been quite as dedicated at twelve-years-old. This gives me some motivation to get started on my new Yoga program, thanks for such a wonderful story. Lovely writing too 🙂
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     HollyJahangiri on July 16, 2016 at 5:41 pm

     Thank you, Michelle! I was probably more headstrong and determined at 12 than I am now. But I think I passed that gene to both of my children!
3. 

   laura routh on July 16, 2016 at 10:38 pm

   This brought back memories of “Walk for Mankind” in eighth grade. We actually walked the walk – all twenty miles of it. No one could move the next day. We had all played around with getting in shape beforehand, but who really fully prepares for an event like this? Being sore the next day was like a badge of honor. I haven’t participated in anything like that since – a warm memory of helping others while sharing the experience with friends.
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     Holly on July 16, 2016 at 11:28 pm

     I’m glad my post brought back warm memories for you!
4. 

   Mitch Mitchell on July 20, 2016 at 8:05 pm

   Mine wasn’t a walk-a-thon but a bowl-a-thon. Up front that might not sound like much until you realize it was 24 hours with only a 5-minute break every 2 hours for the first 12 hours and then one every hour after that. And I was totally alone because back then parents didn’t hang around for stuff like that.

   I was older though, 17 and then 19; nope, didn’t learn my lesson after the first one. Still, I gave to the cause… even if I don’t remember what the cause was now. 🙂

   Good for you on continuing to push. That’s how I felt about my task.
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     HollyJahangiri on July 20, 2016 at 9:45 pm

     Good for you! My high game is 105, and that’s with bumpers, so hat’s off to you. I think I did 3 walks for The Match of Dimes; 1 bike a thon around the Daytona Speedway for…don’t remember; and a last 20 mile walk for Little Lighthouse for the Blind.
5. 

   Tracy Roy on August 10, 2016 at 7:29 am

   My first walk was in April this year in a Rock Round Park, Texas, a Cystic Fibrosis Walk a Thon. entire area is so beautiful and well maintained. Being a nature lover I was enthralled with the various views available. I hope a return visit will soon be possible.