Halfway Point

I am now at my halfway point in my training. I never thought I would be able to make my fundraising goal by this point and I am thrilled that I actually haven't had to worry about that at all! The training has been great. There have been some tough times but I've always managed to make it through. This week I have been struggling with some motivation issues and haven't done my walks but I have decided today that I'm through with that excuse. I will get up in the morning and get started again. In the grand scheme of things, missing one week out of 24 isn't that bad.

Last weekend, we traveled to Diamondhead, MS and I was so proud of myself for getting up at 6am on Saturday morning and walking 10 miles. I had no idea where I was going but I really enjoyed it. The unknown scenery was a great distraction and it didn't seem like I had been walking for 3 hours.

I have been going to yoga on a regular basis and I'm surprised how much I like it. My yoga pants are thrilled to be living up to their name! I like the fact that in yoga there are several different ways to do certain positions. I am definitely always in the beginner position but it doesn't bother me. I just like the stretch. I have been very surprised with how much it helps with my headaches too.

Recently, I found out that a girl I went to college with was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have added her to my list of people to walk for. No matter how much I have learned about this disease, I was shocked that someone that young could be diagnosed. It really can happen to any of us!

Looking forward to getting up in the morning and getting started again! I got an email from Komen saying that I can check-in now and print my credentials. I can't believe it is getting that close!

The Need To Clean

I am going through a summer cleaning phase at the moment. I want to get rid of everything! I am one of those people that in order to really clean something,  I have to make a bigger mess. At this point, the cleaning phase is only mental. I haven't actually physically started doing anything. I'm just so exhausted! No excuse, right? Actually, I'm afraid I will get started and then I will have to leave it for some reason and I will never come back to it. I want to make sure I have PLENTY of time.

My kids have WAY too much stuff. I don't even know where to begin getting rid of stuff. Mindy manages to find the smallest areas to hide stuff in and she isn't organized at all when it comes to putting stuff back where she got it. There are game pieces, puzzle pieces, nail polish bottles and don't even get me started on the ponytail holders! These things are everywhere! Mason actually does a better job at keeping things organized except in one small area which makes things a little easier. I am actually thinking of rearranging his room. My husband will be thrilled!

My dream would be for someone to just show up at my house and go through each room and get it organized and deep cleaned. I would want that person to throw things out and then I would never know what we got rid of. Basically I need a deep cleaning lady or man. I would hope I would only need this person once or twice to get me started and then I could keep up with it on my own. Just out of curiosity, I looked up the average rates for a professional organizer: $55-$85 per hour. Maybe this is a career path I should look at!!

I'm no hoarder by any means but we could really use some help with the process. I think I use up all of my organizational skills at work. I am absolutely OCD about my desk and if any one removes something from my desk or just puts something where it doesn't go, I will notice. I'm not like that at home. None of us are actually.

I know this has nothing to do with my fund-raising or my training but I needed to just kind of "talk" it out. On another note, the training is fantastic. On Saturday, Edie and I did 8 miles. It was going fine and then after about 1.5 miles it started raining. Not a hard, pelting rain but just a steady rain. It stopped raining as we were getting closer to our cars. We were soaking wet but proud of our early morning accomplishment.

Moving At a Snail's Pace

I am trying to hard to keep my eye's open at work and it isn't working out so well for me. After a couple of weeks of no rain, it is finally looking like it might rain. Even if it doesn't the dreary atmosphere has me so tired and moving at a snail's pace. My walk yesterday was pretty slow and it wasn't even cloudy yet. But you have your fast days and you have your slow days.

Last week was sort of a rest week since we didn't walk over 5 miles all week. But this week they are bumping us up to 8 and I think next week is 10! This week is my ninth week of training! I am trying very hard to stick to my schedule and I'm not doing too bad at all! For the month of June, I completed 62 miles. The mileage will only get higher and higher! When I was running and training for my other races, I never had blisters or bruised up toes (until the race was actually over). Walking has given me blisters and I swear my middle toenail is going to fall off any day now since it is such a dark shade of purple.

My walks have been extremely hot. I am sweating bullets by the time we are done. But I definitely feel like I have gotten a good workout. The yoga is helping as well, especially with my migraines. I didn't realize how much it helped until I skipped a few times and my headaches started coming back.

Things have finally calmed down a little at home now that swimming lessons are over. The kids are enjoying the air conditioning and an occasional trip to the pool. I have noticed that whenever I have a conversation with Mindy, it centers around a television show or a commercial that she saw. So we have decided to start limiting her T.V. time. What do you limit your kids to?

Busy, Busy

I should have posted so much sooner but it seems like every time I turn around there is something to do. Between swimming lessons, dentist appointments, hair appointments, doctor appointments, work and training I am exhausted! But I gotta keep moving.

I had a pretty slow week last week with my training but it might have been just what I needed. I have been having a lot of knee pain and left foot pain. Last Thursday, I was supposed to do five miles. The only time I would have had would have been at 5 in the morning. My walking partner was all for it but when I got up at 4:30, I really wasn't feeling it. I told myself, you made a promise and a commitment to do this 3-day challenge. I really needed the extra sleep but I got in the car and drove to her house. When I pulled in her driveway the house was completely dark. I said a little prayer, "If I am supposed to go home and get more rest just let me know." I waited for 10 minutes and decided it was time to go back to bed. It turns out her son had been playing with her phone the night before and turned the sound down. I'm telling you, these kids can really mess up your phone now! Mason almost made a purchase on mine the other day! Anyway, I didn't do the 5 on Thursday and then I didn't do Sunday either. Sunday we went to the indoor pool so I did a little bit of water aerobics to try to strenghten some muscles. Today, I felt much better when I was walking so I think it was a good idea to rest some last week.

I had a very challenging walk a week or so ago. It was raining cats and dogs outside so I just decided I would go do my miles at the gym. I got all my stuff together and when I walked in the gym, all the TVs were off. I was super bummed because without the TV, I wouldn't have anything to look at. There weren't a lot of people at the gym either so I couldn't even people watch. I turned my iPod on and started walking. About a half of a mile into my walk, my iPod battery died. Seriously? It was the absolute worst workout ever! BUT, I finished all four miles!

So, the walks are going great. I am feeling great. The closer it gets the more excited I get and it will be here before I know it!

me with my sisters and brother

I want to end this post by thanking everyone that has donated to Susan G. Komen 3-Day on my behalf. I want to give a big shout out to my sister, Maureen for putting me at the $3,000 mark with her donation tonight!! My family has been so supportive during this process and I definitely couldn't do any of it without them!

Jill Montgomery

Jill and Marti

As you know, my friend, Marti Scarborough started this team. Unfortunately, because of her own health reasons, she is unable to participate. Marti was inspired to do the walk by her dear friend Jill Montgomery. I have met Jill and she truly is an amazing person. Below is what Marti wrote about her friend, Jill Montgomery.

"This journey is about this most AMAZING woman I know, Jill Montgomery. I was blessed with her in my life after our youngest children, Emily and Josh, now age 15, became friends years ago. We have developed a friendship that blesses me daily. I truly smile everytime I think of her. She is so inspirational that I would never be able to do her justice by trying to use words. There are so many that come to mind when Jill is involved. Jill and her family can literally "light up" an entire room when they enter. All of them radiate true beauty. A beauty that will never fade because it comes from within.

Jill and her husband

Jill, is a 45 year old Wife, Mother,Daughter, Aunt, Cousin & Friend to hundreds of people in our community and throughout the State of Alabama. She has been involved in helping others with cancer for over 25 years having worked in Hospice, General Surgery nursing and The American Cancer Society. She is the mother of two girls(ages 15, 18) but actually is the mother to every child who enters her home. She loves having fun with all her "kids" and their 2 dogs are the joy of her life.

 

On February 14, 2012 she was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carinoma found on self exam. Biopsy revealed a 1cm tumor of high grade which will respond to immediate chemotherapy and surgery in the future. Her outlook is so inspiring and positive but she knows the times ahead will be difficult. Please add Jill, Frank, Anna and Emily to your prayers. We know that God will use this trial for His glory and to help others as this disease continues to "try" to destroy God's beautiful creation of women. Jill loves to make others laugh and now it's our turn to help her keep that smile throughout each phase of treatment. "

 

Jill just finished up her chemotherapy treatments yesterday!! She is now on to Phase II of her treatments. You can donate today to help Jill and thousands of other women beat this fight against breast cancer at www.the3day.org. Please make a donation toward Jessica Mitchell's or Edie Kyser's fundraising efforts. As Jill and Marti would say, "WE GOT THIS!"

Jill and her family

 

Holy Cow!!

Happy National Running Day! I always celebrate this day with a run. Today, on my training schedule, I had to do 15 minutes of cross training so I thought what better way to cross train than with my old running workout. Holy cow!! I felt like I was running through mud. My shins were hurting so bad that I started to wonder if I would be able to lift my feet because those muscles just wouldn't work! I continue to be surprised at how different running and walking are. When I laced up my running shoes today they felt so different from my walking shoes. I also didn't realize that walking and running used such different muscles. I don't think I will be running again anytime soon. Today's little jog made me realize how badly I need to do some strength training. So, it looks like I will be spending some time in the weight room! Wish me luck!

4 Weeks Down...

...20 to go! After a full month of training I have done a total of 49 miles. The longest walk I have done so far in the training is 5 miles and this coming weekend I will move up to 6. Things are going great. I have horrible knees but I'm hoping in the coming weeks and months I will lose a little weight and I think the pain in my knees might ease up. It's amazing what extra weight will do to all parts of your body!

I have been doing my shorter walks on the treadmill at the gym and then my longer ones I do around town. Having someone to walk with really makes the time go by so much faster and when you get done you are surprised that you have just done 5 miles. My team partner, Edie has been doing the long walks on Saturday with me. She said it was a good thing she was such a chatter box because we will have no trouble finding something to talk about for 3 days! I am very thankful for that. My friend, Taffy has been doing my Sunday morning walks with me. We both agree that these walks can be a very good source of stress relief besides the yoga we are already doing. We also spend the entire time talking and it is nice to have someone to complain to or to help sort out a problem or just to be able to ask each other questions that we wouldn't ask anyone else.

I never realized how nice walking can be. When I run, I really can't have a conversation with anyone because I will run out of breath way too fast but walking gives me the luxury of exercising and talking and I am loving it!

My original fund-raising goal was $2,300 and in my letter writing campaign I said I really wanted to be done with my fund-raising by May 30. As of May 30, I had raised $2,810!! WOW! I couldn't ask for better friends and family to help me with this experience. Don't worry, I haven't stopped! I would love to make it to the $3,000 mark!