Marathon Tours

by Adrienne Wilson on

Only 17 days remain between now and the moment in which I’ll run my first 26.2 mile full marathon in Detroit. Am I excited? Heck yeah, you bet I am. And you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you this, but I despise running. I hate the high impact and grueling feeling it has on my knees. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy the sense of community and spirit amongst runners, the feeling of achievement and most certainly the opportunity to go places, but it’s so hard for me to remain mentally positive when my body is wondering why I’m pushing it the way I am. Anyhow, what I’m trying to say is if you’re in Detroit or Windsor on October 29, come out and cheer me on! I’ll need the support.

Moving right along now that I’ve managed to squeeze my own shameless promotion into the plug, I suppose I should point running loving individuals or people who may want to get into the sport to this Marathon Tours site. First off, if you’re truly a marathon fanatic you’re probably already aware of this site, but even then I encourage you to check it out and start planning some serious marathon trips. Perhaps you’ve exhausted some of your options, favorite races, scenic routes or whatever. Why not run Antarctica or Dubai? To be quite honest it’s destinations like these and doing some so crazy that may keep into all this running jazz. Seriously, how cool would that be? Marathon Tours makes it easier if you’re looking to head abroad and check out the local scene in places like Iceland, Jamaica, Stockholm, Kenya and Australia. With all the other prep going into the race I’d imagine their services to be a huge load off one’s plate.

New Blog Alert: That’s Fit

by Adrienne Wilson on

After much anticipation it brings me joy to announce one of the newest members of the Weblogs, Inc. Network – That’s Fit. Our latest and greatest sister-blog is devoted to all things that allow us “to live well and stay well,” according to Kristi Anderson, who provides the official site welcome message. If you’re a fan of the Weblogs, Inc. Network be sure to bookmark That’s Fit and get your fill on fit living for the mind, body and soul. Exercise, diet, alternative therapies, organic living, inner growth, natural beauty and eco-travel are just a few healthy samplings to be found on That’s Fit!

Go on – swing by, check it out and send a warm round-of-sound to the team!

Caution: Ticks & Lyme Disease

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ticks usually aren’t a concern of mine when traveling, unless of course there is a huge problem with them in the area, but for the most part I have been tick worry free. However, the other day, one of our unsuspecting walkers on the Steps Across team had one on her shirt searching for her flesh. Searching to take a nice cool bath and sip of her ruby red blood, I’m positive. Before the little creature could prove successful in its mission (thankfully) another walker from our group saw the vicious insect lying low and swooshed it up and off the other’s shirt. Whew! Too close of a call if you ask me. Point of this story – know your insects I guess and if you don’t plan on studying fuzzy creepy crawlers, then at least know where more of them are hiding out. There is a current short piece from the Chicago Tribune listing states with the highest Lyme disease rate, which means the ticks are lurking. Here’s the list of CDC figures from Backpacker magazine as found in the Chicago Tribune:

  • Rhode Island 68.39
  • Pennsylvania 46.34
  • Connecticut 40.28
  • New Jersey 33.42
  • New York 28.13
  • Delaware 25.93
  • Massachusetts 23.81
  • New Hampshire 14.76
  • Wisconsin 13.52
  • Maine 13.40

Update from the Road: Walking Across America

by Adrienne Wilson on

My favorite part in telling people that I’m walking across the country is their reaction. I don’t
expect anyone to fall out and faint because I’m not walking the whole length of the country on my own and the idea isn’t
new considering Fat Man Steve should be just about done with his months
long walk on May 8th, but what does surprise me are the number of people who act as if it’s something they could easily
accomplish. Um, sure okay. Even with all the planning and preparation that was made well before me and the 11 other
Americans walking across America with me arrived in NY last month there is still a ton to learn and figure out.

For the most part it’s safe to say my walking days have been fairly mellow and free of drama or headache with
the small exception on Maryland’s hilly state roads. Thus far I’ve walked through Princeton, NJ, West Philadelphia /
West Chester, PA, Rising Sun, MD and did an unofficial walk through Washington D.C. My story however is not the same
for some of my fellow team members. Ken describes America’s roads as Urban Jungles where Urban Bushwhacking must be placed in effect in order to
survive walking along America’s tangled highways and then there’s certain highways and roads you can’t walk on or you’ll get
ticketed $300 as found out by both Ken and Tanya. Who knew?

I suppose what I’m really trying to say to all
those making a walk across the country seem as simple as a walk through Central Park is follow along and see what all
12 of us think as we do it for the first time or read up on
some of the folks in the past who’ve done a similar walk. They’ll be more reports to come, but just let it be known –
it ain’t an easy task.

(Photo taken on my walk through West Philly.)

No Detaining Sick Fliers

by Adrienne Wilson on

Imagine you’re walking through the airport security screening; shoes off, hat off, belt off, laptop visible, all
pocket changed removed, when your allergies suddenly begin to act up and you sneeze while passing through. An airport
siren starts to sound off, TSA dropkicks you, pins you down to the ground and a representative of the CDC comes running
from who knows where to probe you with a thermometer. Your temperature is slightly over normal body temps and next thing
you know your flight to Paris is departing without you. You’ve been quarantined to help prevent the spread of an avian flu pandemic. Luckily things haven’t gotten to the point where people have
to worry about scenarios like the one described above at the airport and thank goodness the plans to detain sick
passengers on planes have come to a pause.

According to this USA Today piece many are opposed
to plans of detaining sick airline
and cruise ship passengers, noting that amount of information needed from each passenger would be a violation of
passengers’ rights. Aside from our very valuable personal information being placed in some scary government database
critics say the plan is quite costly and difficult. Under the CDC’s plan to quarantine passengers he following would
take place:

  • Government could detain passengers for up to three days without proof that they
    were sick.
  • Airlines would store passenger and travel companion information in databases.
  • Flight and ship crews with little medical training would be responsible for identifying potentially sick people.
  • Other passengers will be notified that they had been exposed.

As good as the
CDC’s intentions are in keeping all the frequent and non-frequent fliers from falling ill, I too think I’m opposed to
the plan. They’ll have to come up with a plan a smidge better than this.