After 100-plus miles on "The March," we finally took a big right hand turn and headed south toward Charlotte. All things considered, the walking effort is going well.

Just one issue: THE WEATHER? This is the only state I've ever worked in where the weather forecasters are actually right! When they predict rain, it's rain. When they predict sun, it's sun. I'm from Boston, of course, where we are down to three seasons officially: fall, winter and road construction.

So it's downpouring and we're walking on farm roads – but I'm wearing a plastic poncho (which is very slimming) supplied by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina as well as my trusty blue "urban sombrero." It's a blue nylon and Velcro hat I bought at Gaylan's Sports Store back home, and it's been with me ever since on every walking campaign we've done. Add to this already impressive "road warrior" wardrobe an iPod, cell phone and headset, and I'm a high-tech urban cowboy.

We are looking forward to the event on the Green in Charlotte on Wednesday and our Bobcats Arena event that night. Kathy and I are holding up fine and getting stronger by the day. I haven't had time to search for a scale so I won't be doing any "girth announcements." But I do feel great and I know I'm losing weight. We've also had great people on the walk so far – interesting and fun people. Life is good on the Million Step March.

Posted by Gary Marino on April 14, 2008