Sam Bono jazzed Jen Boyette and I into it in 2008 and in 2009 we had 7 cavers. This is a unique event and cavers, being physically fit pretty much (wait...wait...I can sense it in cyberspace...a comment from Fleming coming...). So let's meet and do it again and get some more cavers. It's the Bataan Memorial March, on March 27, 2011. This is a marathon - 26.2 miles. We start at 0730 and finish before the sun sets. Every two miles is a station with water, gatoraide, bananas chunks, and sectioned oranges, so one doesn't have to carry a pack, although most people carry a canteen or small hydration pack and a few extra energy goodies to assist. We have found the best way to do this with friends is not form an official team, but just walk along as an informal group. We don't necessarily finish together but try to assemble at the end for beer &c. In 2009 Linda Starr and her husband, and Jen Boyette and Robert uh, drat, Robert of the MVG did it in about 9 hours I think. Carol Lucero and her sister were less than that. Meanwhile, it took me 10 hours.
This is a really nice way to pay tribute to the Bataan Men - I think we'll only see 5 or so remaining. You may have known a Bataan Vet. If you have a relative who was there, families get royal VIP treatment and organizers really encourage those persons to attend commemorative activities on Saturday. All Saturday the 26th are interesting activities on base and we're allowed to camp overnight near the starting area. A free pasta meal is served. And then off we go Sunday morning. All around us will be 5,000 + marchers - the visual is stunning - to me it looks like a Civil War army on the move, because 3/4ths marchers are modern Soldiers in Grey!!! But leading us off - and finishing it - are the truly impressive Wounded Warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan - men and women with prosthetic legs, feet who are damn sure not giving up. If you can join us on this unique desert hike, let me know so we can coordinate where to camp and meet. Choose a good pair of walking or hiking shoes and start walking right away - I advise you get 100 miles on those shoes and your feet, which works out all the kinks. Walk each day and carry some kind of load for resistance training. A month from now you should be doing a few good 8-milers and two months from now some 10-15 milers, and train toward a goal of 3.5 mph (which ends up being 4 mph on March Day because the adrenaline goes up). If you happen to be a marathon runner, like a certain Jim Goodbar, you could do that or just walk with us. Those runners are amazing, at Mile 6 walking, here come the runners back!!! Jeez. You can register and pay online or send money and registration by mail. Here's the website - http://www.bataanmarch.com/r09/reg.htm At the place on base where you get your number, shoe sensor and a nice certificate, there's also a lot a cool Tshirts and swag to buy. If you're not inclined to walk 26.2 miles, there's also a 15-miler for wusses, and if you're not inclined to do that but would like to be on kick-back, take-it-easy status, we can also use a cheering section and somebody with beer for when we finish. I have some example photos of the cavers in action - can we post photos on caver.net?
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