Day 181

I got my 2nd pair of New Balance shoes at the 3Day Preview Expo and gave them a try last night for a 5 mile walk. They seemed cushy, but stiff, but overall I did ok. My right heel has already calloused but seems like it can't decide if it wants to get a blister or not. I'll have what looks like 1 or 2 small white blisters on my heel after walking, but by the end of the night they've disappeared. Maybe the callous is just defining itself. Not sure. I haven't tried the moleskin yet, because I've heard that once it's on it'll take a few days for it to wear itself off. I may just try covering the area with a bandaid for Thursday's 6 mile walk. This weekend is the big 17-13 back-to-back walks. Once I complete those my confidence level should be good.
I really need to give myself more credit. People a lot older than me have walked in the event, as well as people a lot less healthy than me. If they can all do it, I'm sure I can too.

Day 176

It's day 176, can you believe it? 176 days since I started this blog and writing about this 3Day journey that I signed myself up for. I'm less than $200 from my fundraising goal of $5,000 - still hoping to make it. My training is going well enough.
Last weekend I took my daughter to the 3Day Preview Expo. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it seemed smaller than I'd imagined. Don't get me wrong, it was all good information about packing, blister prevention, hydration, fundraising and what to expect on the 3Day adventure. I was also able to buy my 2nd pair of New Balance shoes at $30 less than what I paid for my first pair. That alone was a major perk for going.
My walking is going well. Bought some new socks today to try. I desperately need a sock that has wicking, but also has some CUSHION. Let's cross our fingers that these work. The 'shoe guy' at Dick's Sporting Goods swears by them. Today I walked 6.2 miles this morning by myself. If there's one part of training I'm majorly not fond of it would be walking by myself. Walking and talking definately makes the walks go by faster. Tomorrow morning I'm walking 8 miles with Laura. Next weekend is a big back-to-back walk (17-13, I think). I'd love to have good socks for that one. Not 'if', but 'when' I finish the walks next weekend, my confidence level will get a huge boost.

Day 161

The past week was one with training challenges. I went out of town for a few days and was unable to walk my longer training walks on the weekend. I did wear my pedometer to keep track of my walking at the airports and while out sightseeing in downtown Boston. I was also able to walk 2-3 miles on the treadmill in the mornings at the hotel fitness center. While I realize that 'something' is better than 'nothing', I can't help feeling like I underachieved in my training for the week.
This week will be better but still not where I want it to be. Due to summer cutbacks with my job, beginning this week I will have the next 12 Fridays off. I plan to make the best of it and walk my longer walks on Fridays and my secondary longer walks on Saturday so that I will begin having my back-to-back longer walks. Unfortunately while I will walk at least 12 miles this Friday, I will not be walking on Saturday due to a family wedding.
My back-to-back training schedule will have to wait yet another week. Hopefully by the end of June things will slow down. At least I should have 5-6 weeks where I can walk the longer back-to-back walks before the 3Day event ... I just hope that it'll be good enough. I am still walking on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so that part of the program hasn't lacked.

Day 135

It's a BEAUTIFUL day today. Got a 10.6 mile walk in this morning since I took the day off. Hope to walk at least another 6 tomorrow. My shins held up pretty good today, nothing that stretches didn't work out for me. The weather was perfect (low 60s, sunshine & blue sky) - gotta love it, especially after the all the rain we've had this week. A little anxious to see how I'll hold up once the heat of the summer comes. I suppose the trick will be wearing the right clothing and staying hydrated.
I'm a work in progress and trying to listen to all the helpful hints I'm getting and then just going through the process of seeing what works for me. But so far, no blisters! I feel VERY lucky.

Day 123

Overall it was a productive week. Got the last of my auction item donations mailed in to the 3Day to be processed and posted. Now I need to send some thank you letters out to my bakers and auction item donors. The event was good, but a lot of work.
The good news is that I was able to clock in 20.5 miles this past week in walking. I took a vacation day last Friday and was able to meet 2 other women (one of them a fellow 3-Day walker and survivor) for an early morning walk. Got 6.5 miles in for the morning and another 2.5 in the afternoon and evening. Come the middle of June I will have Fridays off of work and will finally be able to get back to back days of longer walks in. Right now it's been difficult to accomplish that with my daughter's school events, work schedules and family obligations. I'm hoping that if I get the mileage in during the week in increments whenever I can now, that if I can finally do longer back to back days every week for the 8 weeks prior to the event that my body will be accustomed enough to the length of the walks. I keep telling myself I need to do more than I am, but at the same time I'm doing the best that I can while still keeping up with regular reponsibilities.
I'll just continue to take it one step at a time.

Day 103

Well, it's now been more than 100 days since I started this journey. My, how time flies. It's been a busy and productive week. Even though our 3Day team is busy prepping for our Silent Auction / Bake Sale fundraising event in 2 weeks, this past week was my best week in training so far. I joined up with some new local women who are also registered 3Day walkers and did a few training walks. On Tuesday of last week I joined 4 other women and walked 3.3 miles on the Macomb Orchard Trail. We'd had some weird weather earlier that day, but by the time we walked after work it was actually a very nice night. On Thursday the Training Walk Leader (from Tuesday) and I chose to walk indoors at the local mall (because the temps had dropped in to the
30s and was really windy). We were able to walk 5.25 miles in 1 hr. 20 min. which was really good. On Saturday morning I joined up with another woman I hadn't met face-to-face yet (Laurie) and we were able to walk another 5 miles. Laurie is an 8-year survivor so we had lots to talk about and compare. Overall, last week I walked 21.25 miles which was my best mileage yet.

Today is Sunday (my day of rest) and it marks the beginning of a new week for me. Monday I'll hit the gym (I haven't been there in 2 weeks due to the Easter holiday), then Tuesday I'm meeting the other women for another training walk on the trail. I'm so excited to have people to walk with now that the weather is getting nicer and it's daylight out longer. It not only makes the miles go by faster, but I'm getting to meet so many nice people. It's definately a win-win situation.

Day 98

Sorry I got a bit behind last week. I realized this morning that it had been a week since I'd posted to my blog. Last week was Holy Week and a busy week for me since I'm an Administrator at a church. Good Friday ... Easter ... egg hunt ... Easter lily delivery ... you get the idea.

On the weekend we drove to Indiana to visit our son for Easter. It was wonderful to get away for a couple of days. Everything there was green and blooming, leaving me very hopeful that Michigan would not be too far behind. Although my 'white' legs left a little something to be desired in my shorts, but that's ok. Everyone else looked the same. :0)

It was a bit difficult to get my walking in over the weekend since I spent a total of 14+ hours in the van. I was only able to get 2 miles in on Saturday and 2.5 on Sunday. However I have signed up for 2 outdoor training walks this week (today & Thursday). 3 miles & 5 miles respectively. I've grown tired of walking laps in the mall and am looking forward to walking with some fellow 3-Day walkers. Walking with others always makes the time go by so much faster. I'm optimistic that this group of women will be a good match ... the location of their walks is convenient and so are the times. I get off work at 5:00 and can get there for 5:30.

I also picked up my proceeds check on the weekend for my recent Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser ... $184.53. I think it was a good response. So, as they say, the 'check is in the mail' and just awaiting posting from the 3Day staff.

Day 76

I'm loving the blue sky and sunshine outside my office window. While it was only 32 degrees out when I left the house this morning, I skipped the coat and wore a thick sweater instead. I'm optimistic for the rest of the day.

My 3Day fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings on Sunday seemed to go well. Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support. I did discover that doing a 50/50 raffle was difficult given the circumstances. I couldn't go to the customers at their tables to see if they wanted to purchase a 50/50 ticket. I was only allowed to have a sign at my table and they had to come to me. Knowing what I know now I think I would have been better off getting 3 prizes donated for a raffle instead. I would have had the visual of the prizes to draw attention to it. Lesson learned. I won't know the actuall $$ results of the day's activities until a little later in the week.

Now it's on to planning auction items for the team's event on April 24th. It's been a very tiring couple of weeks. Between work, additional functions at church and Emily's school, family obligations and a time change thrown in for good measure ... I'm feeling pretty tired. However I did enjoy the fact that last night the sun was still out when I got home from work. I was able to walk my 3 miles outside before dinner which was nice - however having an 8:00pm dinner wasn't a real good idea. I think that said, my schedule just needs a little bit of tweeking.

Day 72

This week has gone so much better for me than last week. My fundraising donations are still trickling as a result of emails and letters. Plus I have my Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser on Sunday. I'm anxious to see what kind of response I get. Once this one is done I'll need to focus on getting my donations for the team silent auction / bake sale next month.

My training feels like it's back on schedule this week as well which makes me feel good. I'll be honest though the next couple of weeks of training look a bit overwhleming to me. My long days of walking for now are on Fridays and Saturdays. But I still work til 4:00 on Fridays, then my daughter has music lessons til 6:00. getting 8-10 miles in on Fridays is going to be difficult. Starting in June I will have Fridays off during the summer months which will help a lot. Until June I may have to work with Saturdays & Sundays and improvise when I have to. I'll get the total mileage in somehow, it may just not be in 2 back-to-back days like I'd like. That part may have to wait til June.

Day 70

I can't believe that today is the 70th day of my journey and this blog. I am feeling better this week after being under the weather for most of last week. I walked 4.5 miles on Monday and 3.0 miles this morning before work. Yesterday (Tuesday) would have been one of my 'cross-training' days. I planned to go the gym after work, but postponed that until tomorrow. Instead I went with 3 other people I work with and we did a 2 hour 'team building' service project. We went to a local outreach center and bagged 200+ bags of food for them. We laughed that it got brighter in the room the more we packed. Could be because when we started we were working at a table that was surrounded by pallets of boxed food (over 8' high). The more we worked the lower the boxes went and more light came in around us. Kind of symbolic that our hearts got lighter at the same time. It was just another example of how it's so easy to forget that there are others out there who are struggling (often through no fault of their own). It's good to stop and think about other people and stop and take a good look at ourselves. We all need to stop and ask ourselves 'What can I do to help? What can I do to make a difference?'

I think that all related back to the 3Day experience for me. I'm a survivor. I'm fortunate. I'm blessed with wonderful friends. I'm in a position to create awareness and hopefully make a difference. Through my fundraising and training if even 'one' person gets a mammogram or is encouraged to ask their doctor questions, it will have all been worth it.

My pastor said something interesting in his sermon last Sunday (which coincidently was on 'service'). He said that while we often might wonder 'What can I possibly do to help someone else?' that God only gives us gifts and talents that will someday reach out and touch someone else. We may not always know the time or the place that it'll happen, but we should never give up. It may be the person we weren't even looking for that needs our help the most. Just something to think about.

Day 65

Blue sky and sunshine ... you gotta love it. This week had its highs and lows. On a high point I got 2 more donations. On a low point, I was feeling under the weather for a couple of days, so I'm behind on my walking this week. I realize the 3Day 24-week training schedule is just a guideline, but I always take everything so literally. As I was vegging 2 nights in a row in my pjs I was beating myself up (mentally) about getting behind. But my body just laid there and told my mind 'too bad'. It's not a good sign when you start talking to yourself, lol.

Today is a new day and the sun is out. A bit chilly still but hope to layer up and walk a few miles outdoors this afternoon. That should get me back in the swing of things. Think while I'm out walking I'll hand deliver a few flyers to the neighbors for next weekend's Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser.

Day 61

It's been a few days since I blogged. I'm really not sure where the time goes and especially in such a hurry. I've had a couple of days this week of feeling under the weather, but still got a 3-mile outdoor walk in yesterday. The sun was out and it wasn't too chilly. I thought the fresh air might do me some good. I'm pretty sure though that I wouldn't have won any races. But that's o.k.

My fundraising is right on target. I have been sending some emails with flyers out for my Buffalo Wild Wing event on March 14th. I haven't started on the auction too much. Figure I'll get one event out of the way before I start on the next. There's always so much to do. Someone told me once that fundraising and training for the 3Day is almost like having a 2nd job. I'm beginning to think it's a pretty good description. That and the fact that I am an Administrator at a church and right now we are in the midst of Lent makes for some pretty busy days.

I just need to stay focused ... one step and one obstacle at a time. It'll all get done, it always done.

Day 57

It's been a very snowy week, also nearing the end of my 2nd official week of 3Day training. The training has been a bit challenging to fit in around a full time work schedule. I can't walk outside yet ... it's dark in the morning and in the evening. I've been relying on my walking dvds & the gym during the week and hitting the mall on the weekend. It's getting done somehow, but did I mention that I'm REALLY looking forward to the springtime ... warmer temperatures and longer amounts of daylight? I'm sure I did.

Fundraising has been going really well. I've almost reached my minimum required goal which means I'll be able to walk in the event. But I've upped my goal and probably will again before it's all over. I've got a personal fundraising event coming up on March 14th at a local Buffalo Wild Wings and then we have a team event (silent auction & bake sale) scheduled for April. My hope is that any of my fundraising event donations (that are cash or check) I will be able to put aside til the event gets closer then apply them to any other teammate who made need a push to hit their goal. I'm extremely fortunate to have had the response that I've had. I'm not exactly sure why people have been so generous unless it's because I am SO passionate about the cause because of my own personal cancer experience that perhaps they sense that. I am truly thankful for everyone's support, but like I told my husband last night ... 'It is about the money because every donation could bring us one step closer to a cure, but also about the fact that EVERY person that make a donation (no matter how big or how little) ... well it means that I've extended the awareness'. If EVERY person who makes a donation, comes to an event, or goes on a walk with me gets a mammogram or makes sure that they talk about breast cancer with their wife, their mother, thier sister or their daughter ... just think of the possibilities.

I survived cancer because I detected it early and then I had choices. I had stage II cancer AND it had already traveled to my lymph nodes. If I had ignored the symptoms til later, my Stage II could have easily become Stage IV because my cancer grew very quickly. If that had happened you might not be reading this blog.

Day 52

Yesterday we had blue sky and sunshine and I was able to take my walk outside for the first time this year. I'm now starting the 2nd week of my actual 3-Day training program. The first week went good. Sundays are my scheduled day of rest, which is great. I went to church this morning with my family, was given a donation after service, and am now home getting things caught up. I've got my favorite flannel shirt on and my new pink fuzzy slippers. Feeling pretty good right now about everything (the fundraising, the training, and the excitement of everyone on our 3-Day team)... guess this is why they give you one day of rest a week. It's good to recharge.

Day 50

I found this week's training to go pretty well ... of course, this is the easiest week of the 24-week schedule. I think my biggest problem is going to be trying to get all of the training in, work full time and still keep up with all my regular (wife & mother) responsibilities. And that doesn't even include the fundraising aspect. Fortunately that part is moving along at a good pace. I still have a ways to go, but feel confident that I'll get there.

One of my problems (or strengths, depending if you're a 1/2 empty or 1/2 full kind of person) is that I have what a friend of mine terms 'Gene 126'. That's the extra gene that can either make you REALLY organized or REALLY anal about stuff. If the minimum fundraising goal to walk in the 3-Day walk is $2,300, then I want to start with $2,500 (it's a more well-rounded number) ... and if I'm shooting for $2,500 ... well $3,000 sounds so much better. I'm sure my friend (who shall remain nameless) and I probably aren't the only people out there with this extra 'gene', but who really knows for sure.

On a positive note, I did get up early this morning and walk my 3 miles before coming in to work. I knew I'd be busy tonight and didn't want to feel guilty when I was trying to have a little down time and little fun with friends.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support with fundraising, walking, motivation and prayers. I certainly couldn't be doing any of this without you.

Day 48

According to my 24-week 3-Day training schedule, yesterday was my cross-training day. The first couple of weeks they have it set as 0 minutes (meaning it's another day of rest), but I went to the gym and got in about 40 minutes of strength training. Today I should walk another 3 miles. Since it's Ash Wednesday and I'll be going to church tonight, I think I'll get to do my 3-mile walking dvd in the comfort of my basement.

When you work full time it's difficult to get the walking in during the evening ... I won't go out and walk in the dark (I'm not that much of a diehard ... YET). I will definately be glad when the weather warms up and it stays daylight out a bit later. I can't wait to start getting some fresh air. Until then it'll be the mall, the gym, and my basement. HURRY SPRING ... PLEASE!!!

Day 45

Today is the first 'official' day of my 3 Day 24-week training schedule, although I've been 'pretraining' for about 6 weeks. Last week I attended a 'Getting Started' meeting and discovered that if I follow the mileage of my training schedule I will have walked 544 miles in preparation before the 3Day event. Pretty cool. That doesn't even include the 50+ miles I did in pretraining. I suppose after 24 weeks 60 miles won't look so bad (at least that's what I'm hoping). Of course that'll all be in 3 days, completely different scenario, I know.

Day 44

Went on a 'get to know you' walk this morning. I walked 4 miles with my sister and one of our 3-Day teammates, Stefanie. It'll be good for everyone on the team to get acquainted. Might be difficult sometimes for all 5 of us to get together at the same time, but every time we can mix it up only helps us all to get to know one another. It's a good time for walking and a good time to bounce ideas off each other.

Although on mornings like today when we walk indoors at the mall there's always that threat of wanting to go back for the kelly green spring trenchcoat that was in the window (lol).

Day 41

Today was a snow day for many people, including my daughter ... but not for me. Although, having so many people off of the road made my drive to work much easier and a lot less stressful. That was a good thing.

Today I received 2 donations toward my 3-Day goal. I've now raised $1,150 of the required $2,300. That's very encouraging. I'm working on a personal fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings for March and as a team we'll be having a silent auction/bake sale in April. I feel confident that everything will come together for all of us. I truly believe that it's our turn to do something positive and help to make a difference.

My official 24-week training will begin this weekend. I've got my shoes, my water bottle, my Ipod charged, and my schedule ... so I guess I'm ready for the next phase to begin.

Day 37

I took my daughter walking with me at the mall this morning. Apparently it'd been a while since she'd done some 'consistent' walking ... after 2 miles she was like "don't we get to sit down and take a break?" We took a short one and got back at it for another mile and a half. Next weekend I'll walk with my sister and we'll get more mileage in. I still managed about 15 miles this week, which isn't bad considering I had a really long week of late nights and projects.

I did have to return my new tennis shoes, though, last night. I think I got a defective pair. So I went to a running shop and got a new pair. Tried them out this morning. My feet did OK, but my legs were a bit tired.

Other than that, things are progressing along. I'm up to about $920 so far in my fundraising, which is just plain AWESOME!!! And I have 2 fundraisers in the works. I'll let you know once the details are all ironed out, but one will be in March and the second one in April.