I didn’t realize planning a training walk would be so much work! I need to map out my route and make sure of the mileage, and document what kind of terrain it is – hilly, sloped, paved trails, etc, before I can put it on the training schedule. The Google pedometer feature is a big help for mapping the route out, because unlike using Mapquest for directions, you can plot exact points out on the map, and not necessarily plan the shortest, or quickest route.
If you’re a registered 3-Day walker, check your email for a special offer from Thorlo socks! I woke up and found an email in my inbox from the 3-Day coaches, announcing that Thorlos (a leading activity specific sock manufacturer) is the newest national series sponsor of the 3-Day. Makes sense, since any walker I ever met knows about how GREAT these socks are! Inside the email is a special link to visit so that every registered Breast Cancer 3-Day participant can get a free pair of the new Thorlo Heros Distance Walker socks! (The socks I have cost $9 a pair, so free is good!)
The new Thorlos HEROs Distance Walker sock was designed especially for the extreme stresses placed on the foot while training and participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day event and provides the greatest level of protection and comfort found anywhere today. At Thorlos they like to ask the question, “Do your feet feel better?” Why not find out!
Thank you Thorlos!!
There’s a really cute new show on TLC, called Jon & Kate Plus 8. It features a couple who has two year-old sextuplets and six year-old twins. Hence, the “plus 8″ of the show’s title. I’ve seen specials on this family before and love that they’ve got their own show now. I’m not sure if they used in vitro fertilization to conceive or not, but I know a lot of times, that results in multiple births. You can learn more about that, and other bits of IVF fact and fiction at the website of fertility specialist Dr. Randy Morris in Chicago, Illinois. His website has tons of information for couples undergoing the IVF procedure, or anyone who wishes to simply learn more about the process.
One of the things I had to agree to do, in order to become a training walk leader, was to conduct my walks in the same manner that the 3-Day is done. Meaning, no talking on cell phones, no children under the age of 16, no iPods while walking, do stretching before and after, and I need to have everyone sign a wavier of liability. That protects me and the 3-Day people in case something happens during the walk. Common sense type stuff, but I can just see it now – someone is going to show up with a baby in tow to a training walk and say that they didn’t have a sitter!
I’m now an official 3-Day training walk leader. Yay! Go me! I don’t know when I’ll be able to plan my first walk – our schedule is kind of packed for the next month or so with my son’s first communion, his birthday, mother’s day, and a trip out of town. And, since kids aren’t allowed to attend the training walks, I need to make sure I can leave mine at home that morning!
I squeezed in a bit of walking this weekend. In addition to the walking Jim and I did during our 5 hour Magic Kingdom Keys To The Kingdom tour, I walked about 1 or 2 miles on my own Saturday night. We were at the EPSN Club at the Boardwalk Inn and during the 2nd period, I decided to take a break from the beer and hockey to see if I could find something to bring home for the kids. I didn’t, so I walked the loop around the boardwalk. You can go from the Boardwalk Inn to Yacht Club, then Beach Club, and then past Epcot and back around. It was a great night for a walk!
A local walker who is participating in this years 3-Day in Tampa Bay called me last night about training…which made me realize, I haven’t talked to my coach about getting my training walk added to the official calendar. Whoops! I did the training, but I think I had to sign a wavier and send it in…I can’t remember now. But the phone call last night prompted me to email my coach and find out what else I need to do before I can start my duties as an official training walk leader.
My sister has asked a few co-workers to donate to her 3-Day campaign, only to be told they “can’t afford it”. Well yeah, if you spend money on eating lunch out every day at work, instead of brown bagging it, I can see how it’s hard to cough up $5 for a good cause. ::eyeroll::
The next time she is met with that response, she could quote from this list of 101 Ways To Save $1 A Week. If her co-workers put a few of the ideas to good use, they could easily afford to donate $5 or $10 to her 3-Day campaign. My idea of brown bagging it to lunch made the list (#97) , and there are other similar ideas, like only dining out once a week, or once a month. Or, go out for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch specials are often much cheaper, and the smaller portions mean less waste.
For those of you walking in the 3-Day and wanting to save money, borrow a sleeping bag from a friend. Split the cost of a hotel room before and after with other team members. Shop around and use coupons for deals on your sneakers, socks, and other gear. And most importantly, ask, ask, ASK for donations so you’re not coming up with the $2200 out of your own pocket!
My daughter had her surgery last week and she came through the whole thing just fine. I took a before picture so you can see exactly how tightly her tongue was connected to the area underneath her tongue:
A little snip and a stitch, and she was done. She still says that it hurts from time to time (we’re 5 days post procedure now) but I think that’s normal, considering she’s able to move her tongue in entirely new ways now. We have to do little exercises with her every day to prevent it from healing back the way it was.
My son was scheduled to have his procedure for the same thing on Thursday, but I just rescheduled it. With my husband and I leaving town on Friday for the weekend, I didn’t want to leave a little guy who just had laser surgery, especially now that I see how Grace felt in the days following her surgery.
Last month, the house voted on the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The Senate still needs to vote on the companion bill, so this is a great time to send a letter to your senator and make your thoughts known.
What is NBCCEDP? It provides uninsured women across the USA access to breast exams and mammograms that they would otherwise not be able to afford. The program has screened millions of woman and diagnosed thousands. We are looking to increase funding to $275 million per year to reach even more woman.
