Comfortable Shoes And Cancer Walks

Mrs. Inscrutable and I will be heading up to the cool pines in Flagstaff this weekend to participate in the American Cancer Society's Climb to Conquer Cancer walk. My mom is a cancer survivor, and we're doing it for her and all of the people who can still beat this thing with the additional research and whatnot that can be achieved with our donations.

Now, I'm not an exercise-y sort of guy. I walk - to the couch. And I "exercise" when I mow the lawn, weed-wack the backyard, take a ride around the galaxy neighborhood on Starship Rasmussen at a leisurely warp 2, or head down the road to recover the day's mail from the mailbox. But I don't exercise in the traditional sense.

So, I have been thinking about my choice of shoes to wear while walking up the mountain in Flagstaff - 7 miles uphill! I mean, I wear flip-flops 350 days out of the year. I asked Mrs. Inscrutable, seeing as she is a former high school and college track star, and predictably she says, "Wear your running shoes."

Gah. My "running shoes", as she puts it so delicately, are an old pair of Reeboks that I got from the bargain rack at The Sports Authority for 11 dollars about 5 years ago. I bought them because I needed shoes that I could trash while working on a friend's roof re-shingling job. They have seen better days, in other words. And, because this seems to be an very important point in my consideration of potential footwear, I have to mention that I have never really walked anywhere in them. I've stood around on a hot rooftop in Phoenix, and lugged buckets of tar and nails across said rooftop in them. Climbed up and down a ladder. Driven in them. But never "walked" walked.

I actually thought about wearing my flips. I am used to them, they are comfortable, and like I said, I wear them all the frickin' time. But that'd be stupid I guess. Sure, I have walked a lot more than 7 miles in them, but never all at one time, uphill. And they have no arch support. (Hell-oo flat feet in a few more years! Woo!)

I about to conclude that I was going to need to make a trip to the shoe store and get a new pair of comfortable walking shoes when it hits me...

I hunt about twice a year. In my hunts I walk, and walk, and walk, and walk, etc., ad infinitum, for miles. Up the mountain, down the mountain, through rushing rivers, over rocks and boulders, on dirt roads, and pavement sometimes - in my hunting boots. Perfect! They are comfortable, broken in, have arch support, and fit my feet like a, um, a shoe I guess. :) (I was about to say "glove", but that didn't sound right at all. Heh.)

So, if you happen to be at the Climb to Conquer Cancer walk this weekend in Flagstaff, keep an eye out for me. I'll be the ugly redneck in shorts, a tshirt, my cowboy hat, and my calf-high camo hunting boots.

I have gotten a late start in my fundraising this year, and my personal goal is to try to donate a minimum of $500 to the organization. I have already kicked in 40 bucks, and my good friend Dave De Neui contributed $200 (thanks again Dave!). If you would like to contribute (no matter how large or small - even a buck will help!) and help me achieve my goal, please go to:

1. http://main.acsevents.org/goto/brentrasmussen
2. Click the "DONATE" button and make your donation.
3. Win. (heheh)

Once you have donated, it will add to my (and our team's) total goal.

We will be walking with the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant Team and supporting this wonderful cause. With the current economic downturn, we need to try a little harder this year to raise the money that is needed to continue the treatments and research that our peers, colleagues, friends, or family needs.

Thank you in advance for anything you may be able to give and feel free to let others know how to donate. Although the donation is under my name, I am just the messenger who will hopefully deliver a large amount from all of us.

Thanks again! :)