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Walk New Mexico

A Here to There, LLC Event 

I've received many requests for a blog.  People want to follow along with this journey.  Right now I'm posting stories from my prep for this walk.  Once I'm "out there" posts will be random as there will be many days where I have no electricity and no internet access.  Still, you can catch up as the miles roll along.  Here's the link:

Susan Talks the Walk 

Special thanks goes to Keen Footwear - they've sponsored me with donation of shoes and sandals for me, shoes for Matt, several tees, a couple of caps (hats), and the daypack I'll carry the letters in.  Here's a link to their site: http://www.keenfootwear.com/

Updated 03-19-08

Everywhere we turn these days we hear politicians and the press addressing the issue of obesity in this country.  I have done everything I can think of to promote "walking to fitness."  I've got several things in the works that may or may not develop further, but one thing I have decided to do is put my walk where my mouth is.

In April 2008 I will be walking from Las Cruces to Santa Fe following as closely as possible the ancient trade route of the Camino Real, passing through the historically infamous Jornada del Muerto, onto the Turquoise Trail scenic byway, into Santa Fe eventually picking up the Old Pecos Trail and finishing on the Old Santa Fe Trail.  I've invited others to walk with me, but have no "definites" as of today. 

This is not a trek for the timid.  I will average 17 miles/day.  There will be one support vehicle to carry supplies and gear.  It is not for riding in.  I am not fundraising nor am I charging a fee for anyone wishing to walk along with me.  The support vehicle will get us to and from each night's accommodations - over half of the nights we'll be camping.  It's going to be a great walk and should raise awareness of how exciting and fun walking can be.

I did decide that it would be great to include some kids from along my route.  I contacted some schools and will be visiting one in Las Cruces, one in Mountainair, and one just outside Santa Fe.  I'll share with the kids what I'm doing and why.  My hope is to motivate them to getting outdoors and to inspire them to have dreams.  I thought about what might impact them, and decided that getting kids inspired often requires more than one voice.

So to give my efforts a little more "oomph" I sent 80 invitations to various public officials representing either the state or specific counties in NM.  I'll be walking through 7 counties, and included all the state senators and legislators from those particular counties, the Governor, the Lt. Gov., the Attorney General, my district's Public Regulations Commissioner, all 3 US Congressmen (one is a woman), and both US Senators.  There were a few cabinet members also included.  The invitation was to write a letter about what the individual likes to do outside, or did do when young.  The plan was to have the letters delivered by me when I arrive at the school.  They'll be carried in a backpack for the duration of my hike.

Sadly, only three of the 80 responded with letters.  For all their rhetoric, no one seemed to have the time to actually write a paragraph and drop it in the mail.  So I turned to family and friends, including my Ghost Town runners and others from the ultra-walking and ultra-running worlds.  I now have something close to or beyond 100 letters for each school.