Saturday was the beginning of tax free week here in Florida, so I took advantage of that, and the sale at Target on Champion C9 gear (which ended Saturday). Got my last sports bra, a pair of shorts, and 1 pair of the dry wick undies (they only had 1 in my size). I’ll have to check another Target this week to get the rest while they are still tax free.

I walked Saturday morning, this time swayed from the normal route and went through Lansbrook for a change of scenery. They have a trail all through there, and it’s got a lot of shade. I didn’t have a planned route, just started walking on the trail , and if I saw a yard sale sign, I’d veer over and follow the signs….so I got to walk and browse thru some sales! Came out on East Lake Rd by the Publix, and had to cross over and use their potty after 1 bottle of water and 1 bottle of sports drink!

Champion C9 gear on sale this week at Target! This is the workout gear with the material that “wicks” away the sweat…I have the sports bra and they are great for walking/training!

So, have you thought about what you are going to pack for the 3 day? Have you figured out how you are going to stuff it all into a 35 lb duffel bag? A few things I found when going over the checklist, that I hadn’t thought of bringing….Plastic tarp (in case of wet weather to cover your gear), clothespins (to hold the tarp down), Flashlight w/batteries, Mirror, Bug Spray, a flag or marker for your tent. How on earth are we going to get that, plus clothes for 3 days, towel, extra shoes, sleeping bag, raingear, first aid kit, and toiletries into ONE duffel bag that weighs no more than 35 lbs??

The Philly route has been posted on the 3 day website! Go to the Information tab, click on About the 3 Day, and Philadelphia Event Info. There you can see where opening and closing ceremonies are, so those of us that have to fly in can start looking at pricing. No hotel info has been posted yet. There is also a blurb about American Airlines offering discounts for 3 day travellers and a special number to call and find out about that.

I went on the training walk Saturday morning in Palm Harbor, met some nice ladies who are doing the 3 day here in Tampa. The walk leader, Kim, had done the 3 day last year and had lots of good info to share. We started at Wall Springs Park , went south on the Pinellas Trail to the Palm Harbor Resort RV & Trailer park, then turned around and came back north on the trail to Klosterman Rd, turned back around and went back to the park and did a loop throughout…6 miles when all was done. We saw geese in someone’s yard, a family of river otters playing in a creek, and stopped to visit the monkeys at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary (former chimp farm)  in Tarpon!!

There is a scheduled 3 Day training walk tomorrow morning, July 8, at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor. 5 miles through the park and on the Pinellas Trail, starts at 07:30am. You can find directions to the park at http://pinellascounty.org , you can search for the park under resources. Hope to see you all there!!

The heat and humidity are not condusive to the training atmosphere….it’s extremely hard to motivate yourself to go out and check the mail, let alone take a long walk! If you don’t go as early as 5am, or as late as 7pm….you will end up with bloated little vienna sausage fingers, and a hot red face from the heat (at least those are my 2 signs that it is unbearable!). Anyone got any motivation for me, because I am not interested in getting up at 5am !

I did 10 miles Saturday morning with Dana. We started at 7am, as it is so hot here already…. by 10am it was 87 degrees! I had taken the past 2 weekends off training due to being out of town, and my body is feeling it! My lower back and leg muscles are sore. No more days off….I am paying for that! Thanks to the East Lake Library lady who was watering the garden and allowed me to walk up and get sprayed with the hose so I did not pass out from heat exhaustion !

Today I went over my initial $2200 goal, by five dollars!! I have now met the minimum requirement to walk in the 3 day. I would like to thank all of my friends and family for thier generous donations to this important cause, and I am not stopping here, so if you promised me a donation, please follow through on that, as this is money well spent!