Of the walkers, one person was visiting from Salt Lake City, a family came from Phinney Ridge and others routinely come from Kent, Renton, Bellevue and Lacey – here’s a pic:

Click image to see larger version.

“It still astounds me to see how well the idea has taken hold,” said Organizer Maureen Hoffmann. “Some people have only missed one or two walks! Again, we had a beautiful, sunny, mid-fifties day as we walked west from Town Square, circled around Lake Burien, and then back to the center of town. It was an easy time of conversation and walking.”

The next Walk-n-Talk will be Sunday, March 4th meeting at Burien Town Square at 2 p.m. with the walk starting at 2:15 p.m.

If you’re not already familiar with it, C2C’s Angel Program allows people to sponsor as many students or non-profit organization members as they wish for a discounted rate of $25 each. Each sponsorship is a full registration with timing chip, bib and shirt.

According to the C2C website:

Free and reduced lunch students are encouraged to ask their school counselors for about a sponsorship. The counselor then simply emails angels@covetoclover.com requesting an Angel code (expires after one use) for the student. The student can use code to register online for no fee by entering it into the “Angel Code” field. Students are awarded sponsorships on a first-come/first served basis, so qualified and interested students should apply ASAP.

“To qualify for the Angel Program, each school or non-profit organization needs to have an official Angel Program facilitator,” said Organizer John Nelson. ”The facilitator can be a counselor, teacher, staff person of PTSA parent.”

To become a facilitator, simply attend the short (60-minutes) training session to be held on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at:

Normandy Park Athletic Club
19901 1st Avenue South, Suite 401
Normandy Park, WA 98148

You’ll learn:

1. How to sign-up need based kids for the race for no fee.
2. How to fit students for new Brooks running shoes (expert fitter will be on hand from Brooks Running).
3. Ideas of how to manage students attending the race.
4. How to promote the race at your school, to better compete in the School Registration Contest.

If you can’t attend the meeting, it may be possible (if time allows) to have a C2C representative do an individual training. Email angels@covetoclover.com to arrange a special training session.

If you’re not already familiar with it, Cove to Clover is a local, homegrown fundraiser that will benefit numerous local charities, with a weekend that will include a 5k, 10k, talent show, Pub Crawl and much more between March 9 – 11. The organization is very lean and is run by passionate, local volunteers.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” the website adds.

Tickets can be purchased for just $25 each at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub – just ask to buy some from the bartender.

Buy early, buy often and increase your odds of escaping the crazy winter weather we’ve been having. Think of how easy it’ll be to forget the snow, ice, slush, gusty wind, downed trees and power outages when you’re sitting on a nice beach sipping a cocktail…

And did we mention how the odds are 1 in 200 that YOU could win AND help raise money for a great local cause?

Here are some details:

• Winner will be drawn at the finish line of Cove to Clover on March 11 (need not be present to win).
• Single prize is 2 airline tickets for anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
• Chance is 1 in 200!
• Buy tickets for just $25 each at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub!

For more information on this great fundraising event, or to register for the race, go to http://covetoclover.com.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: According to a website about 4-leaf clovers, the odds of finding one are 10,000 to 1.

BTB Advertiser Highline Athletic Club will be presenting “It’s Time – Let’s Move!” this Saturday, Jan. 21st, and would like to invite all B-Town Blog Readers to attend this Open House event for FREE.

This is a group fitness event featuring motivating music, supportive instructors and achievable results in an inspiring group environment. Featured classes will include:

• Group Centergy:
• 8:00am-9:00am
• Group Ride:
• 8:00am-9:00am
• Total Body Conditioning:
• 8:00am – 9:00am
• Group Power
• 9:00am – 10:00am

Group Centergy is an experience a fusion of yoga and Pilates movements in Group Centergy:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Group Power uses simple, athletic movements such as squats, lunges, presses and curls to strengthen all major muscles:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Indoor cycling keeps you ahead of the pack as you climb hills, spin and race over varied terrain during Group Ride:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Total Body Conditioning uses muscular endurance exercises, sport specific training and drills to develop and increase your fitness.

This is your invitation to join us Jan. 21st and sample all the fantastic benefits of exercising with a group. Recent studies done on group exercise find individuals are more inclined to stick with a program and put forth a better effort because of the group dynamic. The supervision and support offered in a class is a huge motivator. This is true not only for a person new to exercise but for seasoned veterans of the weight room and cardio equipment.

“It’s Time – Let’s Move!” sends an all-important message. It’s time to improve, empower and inspire! Highline Athletic Club and our team of dedicated fitness instructors are here for you. Our goal is to assist and encourage you as you reach toward your fitness goals.

Check out a trailer links that are included in this invitation of each class format, then come try a class for yourself. There is no time like the present. “It’s Time – Let’s Move!” Saturday, January 21st classes begin at 8:00am.

It’s a great time to join Highline Athletic Club who is currently offering zero enrollment fees through January 31st 2012. Month to month memberships available! Group classes are included in membership lots of fun.

If you want additional membership information please email: membershipservices@highlineathleticclub.com.

Highline Athletic Club is located at:

125 South 156th Street
Burien WA

Phone: 206-246-9000

Web: www.highlineathleticclub.com

If you register now to run in the 4th annual Cove to Clover fundraiser (coming up March 9-11), you’ll save some serious ¢lover, ‘cuz registration rates are at their lowest right now!

We’ll be a Sponsor for the fourth consecutive year (learn more about becoming a Sponsor here), and we encourage all our Readers to find a way to participate – even if you’re not a runner – as this is a great, fun, local fundraiser. Last year over $37,000 was raised and distributed to these local charities:

• Highline Area Food Bank: $16,000
• Highline Schools Foundation/Schools: $12,500
• Hospitality House: $3,000
• Para Los Ninos: $2,250
• YETI Club: $1,550
• Emergency Family Relief: $500
• Hi-Liners: $500
• Girl Scouts: $350
• Boy Scouts: $350

There are several new elements this year, including a 10K run and a Talent Show, along with the usual 5k race and Pub Crawl.

The race starts near the cove in Normandy Park, then winds its way up ‘Snake Hill’ through Burien before ending up in front of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub. The 10k will start at the Normandy Park Towne Center and catch up to the 5k route (click here to see a map of the race course).

“Cover to Clover is unlike any other 5K or 10K,” reads a note on the C2C website. “For one thing, it is very hard. So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, “Snake Hill” rises nearly 1000′ in the first mile of the course. Around mile 2 you’ll encounter ‘The Uprising,’ a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children).”

The Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities. The organization is very lean and run by passionate volunteers.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” the website adds.

This year there will also be a ‘Corporate Team Challenge,’ where companies can participate by registering their employees; here’s more info:

“It’s easy to do; just have each member of your team use a ‘Registration Code’ representing your company’s name. Also, be sure to email us at

“'The Uprising' will be at least double in size and absolutely impossible to scale. I suggest organizers begin working with City officials on a solution to help the estimated 2000 runners that will likely be stranded. This year you are mine…ha, Ha, HAAA!"

corporate_teams@covetoclover.com to let us know the code you are using so we can insure you get proper credit for each registration. We’d also like to have a team captain’s name and email address, so that we can pass on the information of who joined your team. Then all you have to do is promote the race at your company and encourage your co-workers to register online using your ‘Registration Code.’

The team with the most team members (registered with your unique code) will be recognized with a special award at the finish line. Cove to Clover will throw an extra special catered party for the winning team at a later date. We don’t want to be pinned down to a location, since the size of the winning team may require a bigger venue.”

Also, the sponsorship window will be closing relatively soon, so if you’re with a business that wants to do good and get great local exposure, contact sponsorship@covetoclover.com ASAP to let them know of their interest.

Click image to see larger version.

If you’ve taken a cool photo around the B-Town area, please email it to us!

The 4th annual ‘Cove to Clover’ fundraiser will be held March 9 through March 11, with a Sponsor Kick-off Party to be held at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12th.

This year will bring several new events to this great local event, including a new 10K run, a Talent Show and an Angel Dinner to be held Feb. 4.

If you’re interested in Sponsoring this event, please come to Mick Kelly’s on Thursday night Jan. 12 – we’ll be there!

Here’s more info on this great, locally-produced fundraising event:

This race is unlike any other 5K or 10K. For one thing, it is very hard. So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, “Snake Hill” rises nearly 1000′ in the first mile of the course.  Around mile 2 you’ll encounter ”The Uprising”, a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children).

The Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities. The organization is very lean and run by passionate volunteers. Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community.

2011 Charity Payouts included:

• Highline Area Food Bank $16000
• Highline Schools Foundation/Schools $12500
• Hospitality House $3000
• Para Los Ninos $2250
• YETI Club $1550
• Emergency Family Relief $500
• Highliners $500
• Girl Scouts $350
• Boy Scouts $350
• Total $37000

Here are the different Sponsor Levels:

Lead Race Sponsor – 5K and Wee Race – $10,000
Financial commitment and branding opportunities are fully negotiable. Some possible corporate image opportunities:

• Name/logo on sleeve of the race t-shirt (long-sleeved)
• Large name/logo on all printed materials:
• Promotional banners placed in 3 race locations February 1-race day
• Approximately 500 18×24 posters placed in businesses Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, West Seattle, Georgetown
• Name/logo on home page of event web site
• Name/logo on Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub web site
• Name/logo on pre-race promotional e-mails sent to Cove to Clover database (over 1000 entries) • Verbal recognition and thank you throughout the race
• Pre-race announcements
• Post-race awards ceremony
• All pre-race events (Pub Crawl, Community Talent Show)
• Recognition in all press materials Additional Visibility opportunity for large presence at race finish line in Burien Town Square:
• Main Stage Banners
• Main Stage Tent – 130’ x 40’ o Start/Finish Line Banners
• Pace Car and Keg on a stick
• Beer Garden Banners and Cups
• Root Beer Garden
• Runner Bibs
• Pub Crawl Bibs, Banner
• Giveaways
• The Uprising Banners
• Drink Stations – 5 available
• Runner Packet Inserts
• Stocking Hats
• Yard Signs
• Wrist Bands

Clover Level-$5,000
Three opportunities are offered at this level:

• Logo on back of the race t-shirt (smaller than Lead Sponsor)
• Name/logo on all printed materials (smaller than Lead Sponsor)-Promotional banners placed in 3 race locations February 1-race day
• Opportunity for logo banner at race start and finish (provided by sponsor)
• Opportunity for presence at race finish line in Burien Town Square, including booth for promotional giveaways, or other opportunities to be agreed upon.
• Verbal recognition and thank you throughout the race:
• Pre-race announcements
• Post-race awards ceremony
• All pre-race events (Pub Crawl, Community Talent Show)
• All the benefits of the Snake Level

Kilt Level-$2,500
Five opportunities are offered at this level:

• Logo on back of the race t-shirt (smaller than Clover Level)
• Name/logo on all printed materials (smaller than Clover Level)
• All the benefits of the Clover Level
• All the benefits of the Snake Level

Piper Level-$1,500
Ten opportunities are offered at this level:

• Logo on back of the race t-shirt (smaller than Kilt Level)
• Name/logo on promotional banners placed in 3 race locations February 1 thru race day
• All the benefits of the Snake Level

Gaelic Level-$750
Fifteen opportunities are offered at this level:

• Logo on back of the race t-shirt (smaller than Piper Level)
• Name/logo on promotional banners placed in 3 race locations February 1 thru race day
• All the benefits of the Snake Level

Snake Level-$250
Twenty opportunities are offered at this level:

• Name only (no logo) on back of the race t-shirt (smaller than Gaelic Level)
• Name on approximately 500 18x 24 posters placed in businesses
• Name on Cove to Clover web site
• Name on pre-race promotional e-mails sent to Cove to Clover database (over 1000 entries)
• Recognition in all press materials

For more details, check out the Cove to Clover website here.

Defending plunge champ Bart Bryan was there of course, jumping in with everyone else while wearing the exclusive B-Town Blog Waterproof Point-Of-View Splash Cam.

Here’s a video of today’s wacky event as shot and edited by Scott Schaefer, with help from Bart, Patricia Schaefer, former Sales Diva Janet Grella, Photographer Michael Brunk and a cast of 40+ (be sure to try and watch full-screen at 720p for best viewing experience):

Click here to view the embedded video.

Along with providing a free, easy and social community-minded exercise, this may also serve as a way to work off the previous night’s celebrations!

“Burien’s sixth monthly Walk-n-Talk just happens to fall on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2012,” said Organizer Maureen Hoffmann. “What a great way to launch into your health and fitness resolutions for the new year!”

Maureen adds:

This Sunday, (rain-or-shine), we’ll walk from Burien Town Square southwest into the slightly rolling hills of Gregory Heights. There’s a great viewpoint spot along the route which may give us a view of Mount Rainier if the sky is clear.

Here’s a map of the New Year’s Day route:

Click image to see larger version.

• Begin at Burien Town Square.
• West on SW 152nd St.
• South on 8th Ave. SW
• Cross SW 160th St. at 8th
• West on SW 160th St.
• South on 10th Ave. SW
• Viewpoint at 10th Ave. SW and SW 166th St.
• West on SW 166th St.
• North on 13th Ave. SW
• West on SW 162nd St. to Gregory Heights Elementary
• North on 16th Ave. SW
• Cross SW 160th St. at 16th
• East on SW 158th St. (It’s unmarked)
• North on 12th Ave. SW
• View of Lake Burien at 12th Ave. SW and SW 156th St.
• East on SW 156th St.
• North on 10th Ave. SW
• East on SW 152nd St
• On the way back to Burien Town Square, stop at a local restaurant for a cup of hot coffee, bowl of soup or other snack to warm you.

NOTE: The route is 3.3 miles, a little longer than previous Walk N’Talks, and with a few more slopes than some of the previous, flatter routes.

WHAT/WHO: This is a FREE Walk-n-Talk open to walkers and talkers of all abilities, including families and dogs.

WHERE: Meet on the grassy knoll at Burien Town Square, at 5th Place SW and SW 152nd Street.

WALK TO: Gregory Heights area, southwest of Burien Town Square (see map above).

WHEN: Sunday, January 1; meet at 2:00 p.m., start walking at 2:15 p.m.

INFO: Intentions for Burien’s Walk-n-Talk:

• “Encourage active living to support physical and mental health.” (Part of Burien’s new “Vision”.)
• Initiate conversation between friends and neighbors, new and old.
• Nurture the idea of our Town Square as the “living room” of Burien, our center and gathering place.
• Create our own little “volksmarch“, in the European tradition.
• Support our local cafés and restaurants on Sunday afternoons.

For a review of the first neighborly walk, click here: http://www.kunstdame.com/we-walked-we-talked/

For more information, email: design@RedRedCircle.com

Aside from the Pie Joust in August (see our coverage here), nothing else can quite match this wacky tradition – just look for the foolish, er we mean brave folks gathering ’round in bathrobes and swimsuits in the 3500 block of SW 172nd Street just before Noon on Jan. 1st.

The entire affair lasts 15-25 minutes, and the actual plunge itself is about a minute or so. Or longer, depending on the participants.

Everyone’s welcome to attend this free event, and we encourage all participants and visitors to bring some non-perishable food (or a check) for the Highline Area Food Bank. Oh, and a blanket and your swimsuit too!

Never done it, but want to see what it’s like? Just check out our videos below of defending Polar Bear Plunge champion’s Bart Bryan’s previous plunges, shot and produced by Publisher Scott Schaefer, and featuring our exclusive, waterproof “Polar Bear Plunge POV” cam:

Click here to view the embedded video.

From 2010:

Click here to view the embedded video.

From 2009:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Also, here are some great pics shot by Jana Kleitsch last year:

As usual, The B-Town Blog’s foolish, er we mean intrepid Bart (pictured above with an actual Polar Bear) will be plunging again, using our high-tech waterproof video cam for another exclusive “POV” first-hand view of his chilly, shrink-inducing experience.

We’ll see ya there!