3Day training update

July 11-I chatted on Facebook with a high school classmate, about my sickness and the 3Day.
July 12-I walked 3.35 miles.
July 13-I went to Family Christian Stores, and got a compact hot pink NIV Bible, to go in my backpack on the 3day.  It's very lightweight and more durable than the paperback one I had.
I went to my stepmother's funeral.  While there I got to talk to my aunts and my cousin, and they all said they were going to give later.
I did 15 minutes yoga.
July 14-I walked 5.21 miles, though I felt weak from the summer crud and thought I'd only be able to do about 2.  I saw a rabbit, and some Canada geese grazing.
July 15-I did 30 minutes yoga.
July 16-We went to Gainesville.  I got my eyes checked at America's Best. I chose some pink glasses, to wear on the 3Day.  I gave a donor card to the man who helped me choose glasses.
July 17-I walked 6.42 miles.  On a large yard facing the lake, I saw a flock of 10 Canada geese grazing.  They were there almost the whole time I walked.  I walked a bit with a lady and man who were walking a pair of big boxers.  I talked to the lady most.  I told her about the 3Day and asked her to give.  She said she might.
I went to the park and walked a lap on the track to see how many steps are in one of my miles-I found it to be about 2100.  It helped me convert the totals on my pedometer to miles.
July 18-As I logged on for the day I saw I was getting an email from the 3Day-I opened it and found that my aunt Betsy and uncle Ricky had given $100!
After church I spoke to some people about the 3Day and breast cancer, especially my friends Angela, JD, and Cindi.  Cindi told me her uncle had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy.
I walked 2300+ steps at Wal-mart and Kroger.
Aaron gave me $1.45 he won at his grandpa's playing poker.
July 19-I walked 3.24 miles.
July 20-I did 30 minutes yoga.
July 21-I walked 5.4 miles. I waited until after my favorite morning show went off at 10 to walk and it was a little harder because of the heat.  I met a man mowing his grass, and stopped a bit to talk to him.  I asked if he'd like to give and he said yes.
July 22-Through conversations on Twitter, a lot of us walkers there has formed an unofficial team-Team Twitter.  One of the girls is going to design a logo/shirt for us.
Also I read a blog entry by a Chicago walker about walking alone that made me feel better about it.
July 23-I set out at 6:40 AM, aiming for 10 miles.  I had my pack, with a frozen bottle of orangemint water in it.  I felt pretty good.  About halfway through, I walked back to a point on my route where there's a bench, sat on it, ate a granola bar and read some Bible verses from Isaiah.  Then I kept walking.  I honestly didn't think I would really be able to do 10 miles, but I wanted to go as far as I could and at least beat my best distance, which was 6.43 miles.  When I had almost reached the mileage where I would head home, I saw a car backing up from a driveway so I got onto the grass.  When she got out on the road she had her window down.  I talked to her a bit.  She apologized because she hadn't seen me.  I gave her a business card.  She said she knew I was training for the 3Day, I guess from word of mouth or the fliers I gave out earlier.  I asked her to give-she said she would, because I was working so hard.  I was able to walk 10.14 miles!
When I got home I was soaking wet.  I put on dry clothes and cooled down.  My feet, especially my big toes, are sore.  But I feel great.  I cannot believe I was able to walk 10 miles!
On the Team Twitter front, Julie (@knittingbagel) is designing our logo.
The Boston 3Day is going strong-Kristen and others have posted great updates and pics.
July 24-My mom, Aaron and I left home at 8:20.  We got breakfast at McDonald's, then headed down 400 to Peachtree Road UMC, where the Preview Expo was being held.  We got there about 9:30, so we were able to park pretty well, in the shade.  The church was HUGE.  We went inside and I got signed in.  The vendors were just setting up, but I looked around.  I bought two round stickers that say Walker Girl.
They had stations where people could make signs that are put out on the walk route, and where we could write letters that'll be given to us in camp.  Aaron made a sign that had a big ribbon (it was red, I don't think there were any pink markers) drawn on it, that said, Brandee walk for the cure.  My mom wrote me a note.
Several outfitters had booths, as did several sponsors.  I got a couple packs of AA batteries, some sunscreen samples, a big REI bag, candy and brochures.
I went to a couple clinics, about life on the 3Day and blister care.  In the process of going from one to the other I found several of my Twitter friends-Pam, her teammate Shannon, and Lilly.  Later we found Abby.   I went to the injury prevention clinic with them.  After it, I looked more at the outfitters.  I bought two pairs of padded socks, which will hopefully help my feet and some cherry sport beans. I got some cute stickers, a couple 3Day DVDs, and a bunch of coupons and fliers.  We went to a packing seminar.  After it we found Tammy and got pictures made.  Pam made some of me,with the Atlanta banner.  I took my camera but the batteries were dead.  I got sample size hand sanitizer, and a printed ziploc to put toiletries in.

Abby, Lilly, Tammy, Pam, me, and Shannon.

July 25-I did a 3Day habitat for my virtual pet, Elizabeth, with my donor link.
I got pink crocs with a grey plaid lining to wear in camp.  I got pink ribbon charms to go on them, along with a Star of David and an Israeli flag.

Pam sent me the photos she made of me, and they're great.  I changed my profile pic to one of them on everything but Twitter, where I've not been able to.
I put all the word magnets I got at the Training Kick-Off on a magnetic board I got.
July 26-I walked 3.32 miles.
I got a $25 donation from my cousin Debbie.
July 27-Carol, the lady I met on my 10-mile walk, gave $50.
Julie is designing a magnet for my car.  Cat is getting some kind of wristband for our team.
I worked out on Mother's elliptical-like machine for 30 minutes.
I went to the bank, and deposited the money Debbie sent and $10 I had in our coin jar.  I donated it online.
July 28-I walked 5.31 miles.  As I left the house I saw the flock of geese grazing down by our club pavilion.  On about my first or second lap they were over on the big yard next to the water.  I also saw a turtle by the road.
July 29-Julie sent me the magnet design, and it's great. I ordered 2 from Vistaprint.
I did 45 minutes on the machine.
I went to the bank.  I gave my business card to the teller, in the hopes she'd give.  Instead she asked when the 3Day was, and acted like she wants to do it too.  I told her I'd bring her a DVD.
July 30-I walked 11.1 miles!  I stopped about halfway through, sat on the bench a bit, and ate a granola bar.  On my next to last or last lap I saw a lady in a red VW bug.  She had her window down, and asked if I was still training for my event.  I said I was, and gave her my card.  She said she would give to me.  Also about then I refilled my water bottle, using the spigot on a house.
Julie designed a couple logos for Team Twitter, and they're adorable.
We went to Cumming.  En route we talked about what I still need.  I said, when we get a sleeping bag and pad, I can keep it if I want to do it again.  I honestly thought my mom wouldn't like me doing the walk again, but she acted like it wasn't a big deal if I do.
July 31-I walked 5.14 miles. I saw a lady walking a dog who looked a lot like our dog Gracie.  I gave her my card and asked her to give.
I got a $25 donation from my aunt and uncle in the mail.
There's a Cafe Press site with clothes with the Team Twitter logo on them that Julie designed.
August 1-My Twitter friend Jay has started a Team Twitter to walk in the 2011 Atlanta 3Day!  I'm hoping very much I can be a part of it.
August 2-I walked 4.15 miles.
August 3-Cat got a 3Day Tweeps site sat up.
I went to Chick-Fil-A and spoke to a manager about a donation-I was told I needed to talk to their marketing director.  I went to Wal-Mart and spoke to a manager there about fundraising-he said that corporate would not let them allow people to raise money there, it raised too many complaints from people.
I went to the bank and spoke to the teller I talked about the 3Day with.  I gave her a DVD and ring.
I did 30 minutes on the elliptical.
August 4-I walked 5.06 miles.
August 5-I did about 45 minutes on the elliptical.
A $25 donation from one of our neighbors posted.
August 6-I walked 12.11 miles.  About 4 miles in I took a break and ate a granola bar.  After another 4 miles I stopped and ate a pack of pizza sticks. I refilled my water bottle, again with a spigot on a house.  With about a mile and a half to go, I opened and ate the pack of sport beans I got at the Preview Expo.  When I hit the 11-mile marker I started to drink the bottle of peppermint water I had with me.  I put it in the freezer for a couple days, then put it, wrapped in a towel, in my walking pack as I left.  By the time I was nearly done it was almost thawed.  Between the sport beans and the mint water I caught a second wind, somewhat, and felt good when I finished.
August 7-I walked 7.24 miles.
I went to a local bike shop and got some more sport beans.
The magnets I ordered from Vistaprint came, and they look great.  My mom and I are going to put them on our cars, and hopefully get some donations.

Status report

June 27-My friend Anita gave me a pair of pink ribbon earrings.  She also told me that her mom has breast cancer.
June 28-I walked 3.27 miles.
June 29-I did 25 minutes yoga.
June 30-I walked 5.5 miles.
July 1-I sold my friend Betsy and her daughter Hope 8 of my old books for $8.  Hope and I watched the 3Day DVD.
I did 30 minutes yoga.
July 2-I walked 4.22 miles.  I walked all over our neighborhood, and put fliers about the Walk in mailboxes.
My cousins donated $50!  Also the donations I sent in posted online.
July 3-I walked 3.35 miles.  My sister-in-law promised me a $50 donation later on.
July 4-A dear friend promised me a donation later on.
July 5-I walked 3.4 miles.
July 6-I did 15 minutes yoga.
I called the 3Day coaches to cancel my RSVP to the Super Clinic in Buford Saturday-it sounded a lot like the one I went to at North Point.  I spoke to a lady named Maggie.
July 7-I walked 5.31 miles.  
I braided a bracelet with the pink embroidery floss I have, and tried to braid my hair for the first time.  The bracelet looked better than my hair, but my hair looked OK.
July 8-I got a $50 donation in the mail from some cousins.
I did 30 minutes yoga.
July 9-Starting Thursday morning, I have felt very weak, mostly because of what I believe to be an allergy attack.  This is causing much sinus drainage, mostly in my nose and throat.  I was able to do yoga Thursday, but did not feel up to walking 8 miles.  My family and I went to a bowling alley/arcade and had pizza for lunch, and between all that and grocery shopping, I logged 2745 steps.
July 10-My legs felt pretty sore, and I felt weak, though stronger than yesterday.
I have been faithfully following the 24-week training plan, though I have modified it so that my day of rest is on Sunday instead of Monday.  The only reason I have not walked is illness, yet for some reason I feel very guilty when I have to miss a day (or two).  I know this is just a bump in the road to doing the 3Day, yet somehow in the moment it seems very discouraging. I am praying I feel well enough to meet my training goals for the next week.

Status report

June 13-I walked 4.22 miles.  I took a pack of pizza sticks with me.  I sat at the top of a hill, in our boat storage area 2 times to rest and ate them.  I wanted to do 5 miles but didn't think I could.
June 14-I walked 3.41 miles.  I took a short break.
My cousin Jane called.  She said she got my letter, and wanted to know who to make the check to.
My lumbar pack and buttons from the 3Day shop came.  I love them.  The pack is able to be carried several different ways.
June 15-My uncle Jim called, saying he got his letter.
I did 20 minutes yoga.
June 16-I walked 5.27 miles.  It was very humid.  I saw the orange and black cats.  I didn't have to stop and rest.
In the mail I got $25 from my cousin and $50 from my uncle.  
June 17-I did 30 minutes yoga.
I walked .57 miles with the dogs.  Part of it was trying to get Grace out of the dog's pen across the street.  I ran a little with her.
June 18-I walked 6.39 miles.  
I have the beginning of a blister on my big toe.
June 19-I walked 5.12 miles.
June 20-Saturday evening my grandnephew Aaron told me our neighbor Lance wanted to talk to me, so after I got dressed I went and talked to him.  He gave me a $100 donation!
Coming in from seeing Lance, I stumbled and twisted my right foot a little.  I tried to put on my tennis shoe, but it hurt.  I got my dad to come and get us so I wouldn't have to drive.  After we got home, I put it up and wrapped it in an ace bandage, and put ice on it some.
June 21-My foot felt much better.  I went shopping in Cumming and only felt a few twinges.  
I did 15 minutes yoga.
June 22-I walked 3.29 miles.  My foot felt OK.
June 23-I walked 5.1 miles.  
June 24-I did 30 minutes yoga.
June 25-I left home at 7:30, meaning to walk 7 miles.  About a mile and a half in I had to stop and rest.  My right leg hurt.  I sat, caught my breath, and listened to my favorite morning show on 104.7, through the radio in my iPod.  After that I had to stop every lap, which is a little over a mile.  I felt light headed a little, especially toward the end.  
I carried my lumbar pack with me-I like it, especially as a waist pack or slung over my shoulder with the strap.  Training, using it as a regular backpack is too hot.  On the event that way may be OK.  It didn't bump me at all any way I carried it.
I think maybe several things made my walk as bad as it was-I only made it 6 miles, I had to cut home across the lake and up through the woods, and it took me over 2 hours. (Only 3.7 miles is recorded because of an error on my part.)  One, it was the first walk I had with the pack.  Two, either PMS or some illness seems to have weakened me.  Three, it was about 80% humidity.  It was like the perfect storm, and a miserable walk was the result.  I thought for a while it was the pack, so on my last loop through our boat storage area, I stowed it between some sheds.  
One good thing-I was crouching in the street resting when a small black lab came to me.  She licked my hand a bit.  Her owner saw us and asked if the dog was scaring me.  I said no, and told her about our chocolate lab Levi, who outweighs her by about 50 pounds.  She said she's seen me walking a lot.  I told her about the 3Day, and asked if she'd like to give.  She said yes, so we went in her house so I could give her my email address, but then she decided to give me a check right then.  She gave $25.
When I got home I was drenched in sweat.  My bra was soaked.  I've walked that far (and farther) but have never sweat so much.  I'm very glad the walk I'm participating in is in October, when it's cooler and less humid.  I think if ours was before Labor Day here it'd be pretty bad.
I put seven miles on my training log because I logged about 2,000 steps at Wal-Mart.
June 26-I walked 6.25 miles.  It went much better than yesterday's walk.  I felt pretty good when it was over.
I helped a 3Day friend from Twitter get going on the Nike plus website.
Yesterday, through someone I follow on Twitter (I think)  I got led to a blog entry about a lady who is running the Chicago marathon to raise money for World Vision, whose work partly is to help those in Africa who don't have access to clean water.  On the blog she is keeping about her training program, she put this verse: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)  This verse has really inspired me last night and this morning, and also the song by Twila Paris, How Beautiful.  I'm thinking of changing my team name (at this point it's just me) to Beautiful Feet.  I can't think of much better tidings than an end to breast cancer once and for all.

Status report

May 30-I printed my letter and donation forms, and took them to church.  I gave out several.  Also my friend Mary, and Todd, who preached, prayed with me over the envelopes.  
I got a pair of blue shorts to walk in.
May 31-I walked 3.25 miles, in light rain.
At the end of my walk, a car passed me-he rolled down his window and said something like, even in the rain?  I said, I have something big to train for.  Later, I was out on the porch calling Grace, our dog.  He lives next to us, and he asked what I'm training for.  I told him about the 3Day, and asked if he would like to donate.  He said he would, so I came in and got my donation form and a business card and took it to him.  We had a nice conversation about the 3Day, what made me do it, and the Lord-they're believers too.  
June 1-In response to the entry I wrote on June 1, my friend from school Kesa wrote me a nice note on Facebook.
June 2-I walked 4.14 miles .  
I ordered more business cards with printed backs.
We got stamps.  I stamped envelopes, put our address on some, and put the SASEs in the original ones.
I called the 3Day coaches, and spoke to a lady named Carol.  I asked if the things in the shop would be available at the Preview Expo.  She wasn't sure so I called the 3Day shop and asked-they said no.  I also asked about shipping-it is about half the price to ship if you order over the phone.
June 3-I did 30 minutes yoga.
June 4-I walked 5.94 miles.  I saw a rabbit.  The black cat at see on my route let me pet him.
June 5-I walked 4.11 miles.  
June 6-I tweeted some celebrities I follow about the 3Day, and Mandisa retweeted me.
June 7-I walked 3.72 miles.  
I called the 3Day shop, and ordered a set of buttons and the lumbar pack I wanted.
My new business cards came, and they look great. 
I printed my letters, stuffed envelopes, got them ready to go, and put them in the mailbox.
June 8-I did 15 minutes yoga.
June 9-I walked 4.2 miles.  
My teeth, especially my false front one, hurt badly.  It hurt so much that I was crying.  It was just throbbing.  I knew it was my sinuses because the pain kept jumping around my mouth.  I tried to eat but I would accidentally bump my teeth and it hurt very much.  Finally at about lunch time I called and was blessed enough to get a doctor's appointment that day.  At the doctors' I spoke to a physician's assistant and then the doctor. He thought I have a sinus infection, and maybe some allergies.  He gave me an antibiotic, a tablet that is bigger than the seizure pills that I take.
June 10-I woke up in less pain.  I did 30 minutes yoga.
I was unable to train on Friday and Saturday because my infection and the antibiotic made me a bit dizzy and weak.  I am getting better every day, thankfully. My appetite is returning to normal.  These trials in my training seem to be a real test of my will, but I am determined to not give up and meet my goal of doing the 3Day walk.

3Day training update

May 17-I walked 3.78 miles .
May 19-I walked 3.69 miles .
May 20-I did 30 minutes yoga.
May 21-I walked 5.75 miles.  At mile 1.3 I stopped because my shoe felt too tight.  I pressed pause, and it somehow reset the iPod, so it erased my workout.  I started it again, and I got 4.45 more miles.
I called the 3Day coaches with a question--can I break up longer distances on the schedule?  I spoke to a lady named Nancy, and she was very helpful.  She said it's OK to break up the distances some.
I did almost 6 miles.  I cannot believe I did it.  I thought I was unable to do 5 miles, so it surprised me greatly I got nearly 6.
May 22-I walked 3.05 miles .When I got to where the orange striped cat I've been petting lives, he was standing at the end of his driveway.  It's like he knew I was coming and was waiting for me.
The dog stepped on my shoe and made a hole in it and my sock.
I got a tweet of encouragement from Heidi this morning.
May 23-I walked .21 miles with Levi.

Weekly journal

March 15-I went to Michael's and got 3 different shades of pink embroidery floss. I may make bracelets or bookmarks, and either give them to my donors as a thank you or sell them.
I told the teller at my bank about doing the walk, and gave her one of my donor cards.
I wrote my cousin Staci on Facebook, asking for her prayers as I do this. She wrote me a nice note back.
March 16-I was a bit depressed/upset and wanted to do something productive so I went on a walk. I was able to walk almost 2 miles.
When I got home my mom and nephew were in his room. Mother said when the Walk comes through Buford, she and my sister-in-law Debbie at least would come and cheer for me.
I had on 2 pair of socks while I walked, and where the seams meet rubbed my right pinkie toe and made a blister. It happened because my walking shoes are tighter fitting than the boots I usually wear.
I formed a challenge on Nike+ to track my training walks mostly, and ultimately the Walk itself. If I can find team members to walk with me, they can put theirs there too.
I made a playlist to listen to on my walks-it ended up being 36 songs.
I tweeted about my walk and blister-my sister Julie said she did four miles on Sunday, and she had a blister on one of her pinkies also.
March 18-I walked about 2 miles-the iPod acted screwy so I'm not sure of the exact distance. I met a sweet cat and his owner who lives near us. I talked to her about the walk. I also had a nice time of worship while I walked. I felt like David on the back 40.
March 19-I walked 2.07 miles-I felt bad and on thought I'd be able to do one.
March 20-I ordered some business cards with my donor information on them from Vistaprint.
I walked 2.16 miles-I felt weak and thought I wouldn't be able to walk at all, but I was able to do 2 miles.
My walker handbook came. It also came with a nice button.
I made a training schedule, based on the one in the handbook, but where the week starts on Sunday.
March 21-I gave out some more donor cards at church. I gave my friend Jeannie my extra 2010 3Day DVD. I spoke to our elder about maybe making a widespread announcement to our church to rally support from there.
A friend I made through my virtual pet Elizabeth, gave $10 to sponsor me-my first donation!
March 22-I walked 2.56 miles.
I got some pink shoelaces.
March 23-I walked 2.5 miles. I walked on the opposite side of our home to where I usually walk, to see how long that loop is.
Near the end of my walk, I saw a lady who lives near us, and gave her my donor card. She is going to try to publish my info in our club newsletter.
I joined a couple Nike+ challenges.
In the car on the way home from school, my grandnephew Aaron and I were talking about musicians. I said, not everyone is a musician. He said, not everybody is doing the 3Day Walk, but you're doing it. I thought it was sweet.
I am feeling anxious about meeting my fundraising goal, though my walk is 7 months away, and I have told relatively few people about my walking. This morning the road I walked on was right next to a pasture with cattle in it, and I thought of this verse-"For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills." (Psalm 50 10) Also I see all kinds of birds in the trees around my home as I walk, and they reminded me of this verse-"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for Your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are?" (Matthew 6 26) Seeing the animals this morning reassured me once again that my doing this walk is truly of the Lord this year, and that He has provided for my signing up for the walk and for all I have need of do the walk.