Missing it

So here it is, months and months after the 3Day walk in San Diego. I had an AMAZING journey, which I wrote about here... http://debs3day.weebly.com

I doubt anyone checks my blog after all this time, but there it is, closure :)

Today out of the blue I got curious as to where I was at this time last year, and decided to log on and take a look. I was 16 weeks into the 24 week training program, and feeling good. Sometimes I really miss my whole 3 day experience. It made me feel as if I was DOING something, making a difference.

The 3 Day walks have started up again, and I do follow them a little. It kind of makes me sad, but I know there just isn't room for that in my life right now :(

Time flies!

Wow. It's been a loooooong time since I've posted. I would like to thank my legions of faithful readers for not hounding me day and night while anxiously awaiting my newest words of wisdom and wit. In fact, you all did a great job of remaining silent. Oh. So. Silent.

So here's the thing - Life. It got complicated and it got busy (I'm now working 2 part time jobs, soccer season is upon us, kids have homework, etc etc etc). And as important as the 3-Day is to me, I was feeling as if the whole thing was taking too much time away from my family, and my duties as a family member. Ultimately, family wins.

No excuses, just reasons. My training has not at all been up to par for those same reasons.

I have my list of things I still need to buy (not sure I can get it all), and things I need to borrow. Pretty sure the borrowed part is covered - I've got great friends!
I could print out my credentials RIGHT NOW, but I won't. That would make this seem even more real, and I'm not ready for that yet.

So here I am, less than one week from the big event. (YIKES!!) I'm a little nervous, and a lot disappointed in myself. I wish I was more ready for this than I am, but I don't live in a vacuum. Life happens. Onward I will go - ready or not, here I come!

Money raised to date: $2,735 !!!

Help me #FightBreastCancer

** Copied from the #fightbreastcancer facebook event page **




Today, September 30, may be our biggest event ever, as we ask people from around the globe to make a promise to take action against breast cancer — all through social media. This global effort starts with you, posting to your Facebook profile or Twitter and then asking your friends to do the same. We’ve made it easy for you to do.

How does it work? From midnight (EDT) September 30 to midnight October 1, we are kicking off Breast... Cancer Awareness Month by asking Facebook/Twitter users and bloggers to visit www.69-seconds.org. On that page, you can take action and update your status using the hashtag #fightbreastcancer.

What is a “hashtag”? Hashtags allow you to quickly identify special topics, and help spread information while organizing and making it searchable within social media.

Why 69 seconds? Because that’s how often a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. A statistic we’re trying to change. It’s also about how long it takes to #fightbreastcancer by choosing to drive change, share support or educate at www.69-seconds.org.

What’s the goal? We hope to mobilize millions to take 69 seconds to #fightbreastcancer AND break the Guinness World Record for Most Widespread Social Network Message in 24 Hours.

How can you join the fight?

1. Visit www.69-seconds.org and take action!

2. From the website, change your Facebook and/or Twitter status to one of the following:

• Every 69 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. #fightbreastcancer at http://69-seconds.org/.

• Today is not about raising funds. It’s about raising virtual voices around the world to take action in 69 seconds or less. Visit http://69-seconds.org/, post #fightbreastcancer to Facebook and Twitter or blog about it before midnight and help turn the virtual world pink. How do you promise to #fightbreastcancer?
3. Use #fightbreastcancer in your statuses pertaining to breast cancer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® or Breast Cancer Awareness Month several times during the day!

4. And lastly, make your Facebook posts public for the day. Facebook recently overhauled their privacy controls for personal profiles which could potentially compromise our Guinness World Record. In order to be considered eligible for our attempt, your statuses must be open to the public. Here are instructions to help you make your statuses public:
• In Facebook, click on “Account” in the top right corner
• Scroll and select “Privacy Settings” in the drop down menu
• Under “Sharing on Facebook,” select “Customize Settings”
• Under “Things I Share,” select the drop down menu next to “Posts by me”
• Select “Everyone”
• Your status updates are now public
• After midnight (EDT) October 1st, please be sure to change your privacy settings back to where you had them as we don’t want to compromise your privacy.

It costs nothing and takes just a minute of your time – or maybe 69 seconds. So blog about it, post it, tweet it, retweet it, use it in all your statuses and urge everyone you know to do the same.

Wooohooo!

YIPPEEEEE YIPPEEEEE!!!










On September 19th I officially made it to my fundraising minimum!!!
A very generous donation from my friend Terry and his company ( http://www.yourenglishsuccess.com ) put me over the $2,300 mark. Terry has been an amazing supporter through his own donations, and in his efforts to help me spread the word to his friends and family. THANK YOU!!

When I got the email congratulating me on making my minimum I just sat there in tears. I couldn't help it! I was so overwhelmed with feelings of both relief and utter gratitude. I am so blessed to have such amazing, generous and supportive people surrounding me.

On another note, my knee sucks. After such great success on my 14 mile walk, I had high hopes for my knee. Extreme, out of season, heat has put a bit of a damper on my training. Last weekend I had mapped out a 14 mile route that would enable me to get in my miles while walking to, from and between my kid's soccer games. It was toooo dang hot =( Instead I walked almost 7 miles the next morning before the weather got out of control. My knee hurt before I got home. Maybe it was all the uphill walking, maybe I hadn't been stretching it enough during the week. Maybe the fancy strap doohickey that I bought really doesn't work as well as my homemade ace bandage/folded up napkin contraption. I'm not sure, but I REALLY need to figure this out. Darn you ITB syndrome and you pesky lateral epicondyle!!


Donations to date - $2,470
Miles to date - 243!

like a ray of sunshine

Wow. Just wow. I am so thrilled today, I can not even express it. It's a calm, relieved excitement... such relief.

Yesterday was my 14 mile training walk. After the horrible knee pain I've had the past two weekends, I was pretty worried about my Saturday walk. Yes, I managed to make it through the 12 and 13 mile walks, but I was in a lot of pain at the end, plus the rest of the day and the next few days. This ITBS junk doesn't just go away when you stop your long walk. It sticks around and tortures you as you walk up and down the stairs in your house many many many times a day.

I did a lot more researching online, and have started using other stretches, plus I'll be working on strengthening other muscles to help support my walking. I also
tried a different way of wrapping my knee to try and simulate the straps/bands
that can be purchased to help with ITBS. There's no way I want to go to this 3-Day event knowing that I'll be unable to participate in the second day (at least)!
I need to be able to walk two (or three) days in a row.

I am thrilled to say that with this new technique I was able to walk 12 miles before the pain set in!! TWELVE rather than 8! Not only that, but yesterday afternoon and today there has been little to no pain while traversing the stairs. I actually feel that with some more icing I would be able to do a training walk tonight - with wrapping of course. Maybe not the full 10, but something, which was more than before.

This ace bandage wrapping I do will not cut it long term, so I'm going out tomorrow and buying one of the bands made for this kind of thing. The band will be easier to place and easier to tighten, and should do an even better job of keeping me going.

Yay!

short update, long time

It's been over 2 weeks since I've updated... I'm sure my loyal followers have been worried sick - LMAO!

What can I say? I haven't been feeling my best mentally or physically. Guilt has kept me from writing about my failed mileage. So rather than dwell on what I didn't do, here's what I did do...

** 12 mile training walk

** 13 mile training walk (in the same amount of time it had taken to do 11 miles just 2 weeks prior)

** Had the raffle and did okay, not great, but it's more than we had before

** Got to $1,960 in donations! (not including any of the cash fundraisers)

** Handed out a few more donation forms

** did more research on the ITB pain - it's been super bad, hurting after 8 or 9
miles on the long walks which led to my dropping the shorter weekday walks..

** did a 4 mile weekday walk this week w/o knee pain during but questionable now... but at least I DID it

Trying to get back on track. Hoping my knee makes it through the 14 mile this weekend. Would LOVE to get to where I can walk back-to-back

bummer

Okay I know I'm a chick, and chicks are known for being emotional... but sheeesh!

Today I am bummed.

Today I am bummed because:

- I could not get my 4 mile walk done (go back to school kids!!... I love you)

- After contacting at least 15 businesses for donations I didn't get a single yes

- ...

- .....


Huh....

Just those two things? Really?

Feels like so much more.....

Huh.

I was truly expecting that to be a much longer list of bum-worthy events.

But it's just two.

Heck, I think I can let that go then.

Nevermind.

Not bummed = )