Seattle Forrest

I work for a company that makes medical software. At the end of a meeting today, the PM mentioned that it's been decided that a few employees should do a 60 mile, 3 day walk for (or, really, against) breast cancer. He said that two people from our area need to volunteer, that "Forrest is one, so we need another person."

I expressed my great surprise. The boss pointed out that I ride my bike to get to work, take days off to go kayaking and to hike in the mountains, etc. He said "Don't worry - I'll buy you a pizza when you finish." Work aside, it's not like I can refuse to participate in a charity event; that would be bad karma.

So, I'm wondering if I can take my bike, and finish the whole thing in four hours. The longest I've ever hiked in a day was about 20 miles, but I took it pretty easy the next day!

desertdork

The "need to volunteer" should be a personal need, not one dictated by another other being. Do what you want.

engstrom

Assuming this is the Komen 3-Day event - and I don't know of any other 3 day 60 mile walking events - you can always take the SAG wagon to the finish line each day. Of course it's not called the SAG wagon but that's effectively what it is.

10 Wheels

Tell him he needs two more walkers.

Seve

Hold out for a Plaque with your name engraved on it.

Is it possible to split the daily distances into say, 2 walkers doing 10 miles each or is each expected to do the 20x3 ?

Seattle Forrest

Now that's a good question, and one I'll have to bring up Monday.

Well, now that I've been given a push, it does sound worth doing...

StephenH

A bad day walking is better than a good day working? Go have fun!

dbikingman

Let's see if I got this correct. The boss recognizes you for your atheltic ability and volunteers you. If you complete it you get an atta-boy from the boss. You get to do the walk on company time? How much time until the walk. You may need to take off early a couple days to get you endurance up.


What you boss neglected to tell you is you need to do it in pink shoes.

In the end it is your decision. Does sound like some nice perks if you have the right attitude.

Sayre Kulp 

Be like Nike and "Just Do It." If you have the level of fitness you described, 20 miles a day should be no real trouble for you. Just make sure you stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes. I wanted to do the SGK 3 day, but I knew there was no way I'd be able to raise that kind of money. Your employer is essentially paying you to go do it. How cool is that? I wish my former employer gave a crap about anything besides how to make her fat ass richer.

Jamesw2

Why cheat! For $35.00 get a doctors excuse. I have flat feet. Riding a bicycle is about the only way for me to get outdoors for exersize. ( I have an indoor trainer as well) Mowing the lawn is a real painfull event for me and that is about a three mile walk.

bradtx

S F, Often charity walk/run events have volunteers on bicycles riding up and down the route marshaling and looking for people having problems. Maybe a position for you?

Brad

KD5NRH

So does walking cure or prevent cancer?

Rather than more feel-good crap, has anyone thought about putting all that energy into useful research?

Sayre Kulp 

I once asked that very same question. I was told that the spectacle motivates people to part with their money and that the money then goes towards the useful research.

(Of course, that's after they take out all the overhead for these events...)

jr59

Oh man come on. You need to HTFU!

It's for a good cause.

And +1 to a day walking is better than a day at work.

CliftonGK1

The 3-day is a walk only event. No, you can't ride your bike.

If you don't want to hike the 3-day, then tell your boss about other charity events in the area you might like to be involved in. I have a team for the Tour de Cure every year, and that's probably something you're more likely to be interested in.

Seattle Forrest

Thanks for the inspiration. I needed a little. The people who founded the company I work for still work there, and I hear "it's not about the money" about once a week.

It has to be specific to breast cancer. We make software that tries to predict who's going to develop breast cancer, so they wanted to have some people from each department get involved with a b/c charity event.

Suppose I need to HTFU. I hiked to Snow Lake last weekend...

daffonce

Tell them you need four days off, 1 to recover. Get them to buy you some heed or other goodies to help keep you hydrated and nourished along the walk.

CliftonGK1

Then do the 3-day. You should still join my TdC team in the spring and do the ride in May.

bautieri

I agree, this beats working.

Daspydyr 

Cross training is good for you. Time to man up and promote your employer and the fight against breast cancer. I bet most of us in this thread would love to get this tossed our way. Go rep the Clydes and Athenas as well. Grab this opportunity and squeeze some joy out of it.

jyossarian

It's only cheating if you get caught.

Seattle Forrest

skilsaw

Why not surender your selfish soul to this generous act and do it.

Another rationale is if you cheat and are found out, the karma will be worse than if you refused.

Really buy in to the event. Get a pledge sheet. Canvas the office looking for donations. After you've squeezed as much money out of the office as you can, hit on your boss for a pledge. When he sees the pledges from others in the office, he'll feel like a real schmuck if he says "no".

Missbumble 

Man up!

engstrom

Ah yes, the official motto of the Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador club.