• The event was at a Soccer field. The 'track' was made with cones, with the tents in the center.

• Each time you did a lap, you picked up a paper clip to help you keep track.

• We estimated that it was just over 7 laps to a mile.

• We could do around 24 laps in an hour which checks out to a 1/3 mph walking gait

• I ended up doing 185 laps, which is around 25 miles. Given I was more hobbling on the last 48 or so, I figure I walked 8 hours or more. My legs are still a bit sore a day later.

• We walked much more than the minimum...we only needed on person on the track at once. That would have been around 2 hours apiece, and a total combined distance of 79 miles. I'm guessing we walked at least a cumulative 250 miles.

• The Luminaria ceremony was great. They lined the inside of the track with the luminarias with glow sticks as illumination. They remained lit for a long time.

• One fun incident happened around 2 am when the sprinklers came on. Evidently great care had been taken to prevent this from happening, but Murphy's law overruled. They came on in rows (imagine yard lines on a football field), and luckily the first row was on the far side of the field where no one was camped. Our team anticipated that the next rows WOULD cause some man-made rain on our parade, but couldn't find the sprinkler head in the dark. While Eric sought out the water control valves, the rest (save the few asleep including yours truly) waited in anticipation. Will pounced on the nearest sprinkler head with his foot, and eventually covered it up with a trash can. I now recall in my half-awake state hearing a jet engine-like whoosh from the contained sprinkler. As the active sprinklers marched down the field a few camps got soaked despite best efforts as at least one team had their tent planted directly over a sprinkler. More alarming, however was that they were approaching the stage and a lot of audio electronics (too much to dismantle and move in time) at the far end of the field. Eric luckily turned off the water with one row to spare!

I'm part of a team doing the 24 hour Relay for Life event this Friday, April 29th at the Menlo/Atherton High School.

Relay for Life is a 24 hour walk/community party that raises money for cancer programs and research. The Menlo Park Relay for Life will be from 10AM April 30th to 10AM May 1st.

-- MattWalsh - 27 Apr 2005