Written by Guest Blogger, Tasha Cervantes, Coach, Lone Star Trail Ultimate Hike
Many years ago I hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. The company I worked for sent out an email, which most people promptly deleted, to get a group of people to each raise $5000 and hike Kili. The donations we raised would benefit a community outreach organization that provided home care to those infected with HIV/AIDS. This had my name written all over it. The only downside for trips like this is that you are on the hook for any funds you don’t raise, and that probably scares some people. Well, I didn’t raise all the money, but I can say I summited the highest mountain in Africa.
So, when I read a tiny blurb imbedded in a work email about a hiking coach needed for CureSearch I was intrigued. Next thing I know I’m on the phone with the organizer offering my services. While I’m describing my qualifications to Michelle, the organizer, about the hikes I’ve completed, the run club I coach and my love of endurance events (that may have been a slight fudge of the truth), I realized how thankful I was that I saw the opportunity and just said yes before I had time to doubt myself.
In that moment, I was the person I wanted to be. But could I coach the hikers to success? Would I be able to encourage them, and would I even be able to hike 25 miles in one day? I was unsure.
The Ultimate Hike for CureSearch in Texas goes like this: a one day hike of 22.7 miles on the Lone Star trail in the Sam Houston National Forest while participants raise $2500 for pediatric cancer research. The Austin area group consisted of seven hikers and their coach – me. We would meet other hikers from around Texas for the actual event.