Jogging for Jugs

Sooo maybe I’m just a smidge crazy for wanting to sign up to RUN in my first ever 5K a mere 3 weeks before my wedding date?  Oh I don’t know, it sounds like a fabulous idea… right? Right?!

Ok so maybe some of you out there are thinking what’s the big deal? You run… its over, No competition with the wedding… maybe blow off some steam pre-wedding…

Except for one thing. I HATE to run.

Ask me to walk a 5K any day and my answer will likely be SURE!! Heck I’ve even walked 60 MILES in 3 DAYS several years in a row without another thought.  Running?  Well it’s a whole other ballgame my friend.

I’ve done a mile here or there and once I ran because my walk got rudely interrupted by a torrential downpour but I’ve never done it seriously or for any significant distance.

So why RUN?  Well running a 5K.. it’s on my 101 in 1001 to do list for starters. Also? I really need a kick in the booty to get in shape for the wedding… another tick off that list. 

Also?? I’m missing my pink family and really couldn’t just abandon the cause completely this year.  I mean, I may be super busy with working & wedding planning but cancer?  It doesn’t take a break – EVER. 

So while I have my selfish reasons for signing up, I had to at least choose a good cause to support.  Because in the end, helping to fight for the cure is still my biggest motivating factor.

ps: if you want to join the team or donate just go here!

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

3 {three} Months

Wow.

Three months?  Really?

Has it been that long since I last posted?

It must be true because the almighty internets never lie… right?

I could write a post filled with excuses as to why I haven’t posted… but in all honesty I’ve just been out there living my life. 

I’ve been to Florida once, Colorado once, Michigan twice, and Texas a ton. I’ve walked 60 miles in 3 Days and not moved from the couch for 24 hours.  I’ve spent many weekends with the person I love, a few surrounded by the love of family, and yet another surrounded by 10,000 Women of Faith.

So much has happened in the past fast 3 months that they deserve many more posts than just this one… I promise I will be sharing more very soon!

Please Mr. Postman

I have a couple trivia questions for you all today…

What does every 3-Day walker love more than anything else? 

Answer: Cheerleaders!

What is a close second to that? 
Answer: Mail!

This is my 4th 3-Day and every year the cards and letters I get from friends and family help me keep my mind off my aching, blistered feet and focused on the reason I need to go out and walk 20 more miles the next day.  A little encouragement really goes a long way!

With just 66 days to go until the Tampa 3 Day, it’s time to get your letter writing skills polished up.  You can start sending mail to your favorite 3-Day walker today!

Send letters to:

3-Day for the Cure Post Office
ATTN: (INSERT NAME OF PARTICIPANT)
PO Box 40013
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-0013

Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than October 18 in order to ensure delivery at the 3-Day Camp Post Office.

Why I Do What I Do: SOCS

We are only 10 short weeks away from this year’s Tampa Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure!  I have so much to do… from training to fundraising to gathering up all the necessary gear. (to do: order new socks asap!)

Yesterday the team had a fundraiser at Appearances Hair Salon in Johnson City, TN.  The 2 fabulous stylists donated their day to cut solely for donations – they are two truly amazing and fabulous people!  During the course of the day, we had a variety of customers but the one that touched us all the most was a little girl of maybe 10 years… 

As she was leaving with her mom, we asked if there was anyone they would like their donation to be in memory or in honor of.  The mom thought for a moment and then looked to her daughter who said a name immediately. We wrote down the name and they started out the door.  Suddenly the girl stopped and took off her little backpack.  Mom looked at her with curiosity and we all watched as she took out her little wallet and proceeded to fold up her money and put it in our donation jar.

As those of us left in the salon wiped away our tears, I was struck by how this little girl understood.  She knew what cancer was, and she personally knew someone going through it… Children shouldn’t have to know something like that and yet too many of them do.

It’s just one more reason why I find it hard to say no to the fundraising, training, and walking 60 miles in 3 days with feet covered in blisters…

…

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

• Link up by clicking on the button below!

Kick In The Booty!

I logged into my 3 Day participant center to read…

“95 days until the event!”

What?! That is just 3 short months away!  And then I found this…

“On July 28, a link will appear below to enter online check-in. Online check-in will be open from July 28 to October 24.”

Yikes!  When online check in opens it’s business time!  When you check in, you have to have your fundraising minimum raised or put up your own personal credit card for the remaining amount.  The 3 Day takes serious commitment to not only training but also to fundraising.

I am currently just $950 short of my fundraising minimum which may sound like a lot, but I've already raised $1350 toward the $2300 goal!  I know I can reach that goal but I just need to get focused. 

So this is me… focusing…

I’m asking your help to get me there!  Consider sponsoring me $1 per mile for a total donation of $60 or... If you can’t spare $60, please consider a donation in an amount you can give. To donate by credit or debit card, just visit www.the3day.org/goto/christina2011 there you have the option to split your donation into 4 easy, tax-deductible, payments.

Each year the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure events raise $50+ million for cancer research. Cancer research is expensive, the current treatments are expensive, the screening tests to catch the disease early are expensive... but if the money donated leads to just ONE life saved, that is priceless.

In honor of…

In honor of…

In memory of…

Blisters for Boobies!

Have you noticed the little mileage tracker creeping up over there on the sidebar?  That means I am *officially* in Susan G Komen 3 Day training mode!  I am finishing the 2nd week of a 16 week training plan with 10 miles tomorrow. 

Yes, I said 10 miles tomorrow.

I will be walking with my team for approximately 3 hours starting at the lovely hour of 6am on a Saturday to beat this crazy heat.  All in the name of boobies everywhere.

I am no stranger to this event.  This will be my 4th year walking the 60 mile journey. I’m no stranger to walking in heat indexes of 100+ degrees or temps that dip into the 30’s. I’ve seen team members go down with mild dehydration and I’ve seen them spend hours in the med tent being taped up.  The 3 Day is no joke and the 500 miles of training prepares you for that.

But one little problem has plagued me every year.  Blisters.  And I’m not talking a little tiny bump on the side of my toe. I’m talking heel encompassing, foot swallowing, toe engulfing blisters.  By the end of each event, my feet are so sore I hobble around like I’m 100 years old. 

I have tried everything… band aids, blister bandages, Moleskin, Duct tape, Body Glide, powder, Vaseline, soaking my feet in Epsom salts, socks, different socks, and then two pairs of socks at the same time, new shoes, more new shoes…  It doesn’t

matter.  My feet just blister.

I have learned a few tricks along the way… like wrapping my 2 last toes on each foot with Meijer fabric bandages to prevent little tiny blisters on the pads of those toes.  And that moleskin just refuses to stay put on my heels unless I use fabric {not paper} medical tape to encase the moleskin.

So far this year… {knock on wood}… I haven’t gotten any blisters from training.  It is too early to declare victory just yet, but I have to admit I am pretty excited by this lack of development!  Tomorrow’s 10-miler {the first of the season} should be a pretty good test.

But even if they do pop up again this year I will cheerfully wrap them up and remind myself…

Let’s Try Something New: SOCS

I’ve seen a few bloggers do this (Jenn, Dutch, Fadra) so I thought I would give it a try… and who doesn’t need a good brain dumping now and again, eh? Here goes…

 

Ok so I’m hoping my timer actually works because I dropped it just as I was about to begin typing.  Plus it’s ancient and I never use it anymore because I have the handy one that comes on my stove.  I guess we shall see! 

 

Today I’ve been up since about 5:30am – yes it is a Sunday and no I did not have to work.  I tried to go back to sleep, it just wasn’t going to happen today.  So I got up and made some quiche and then started my day…

 

If you didn’t know, it is national Cancer Survivor’s Day and I donated my FB status to SU2C/Livestrong in honor of the day.  Then I decided cancer needed just a bit more a$$ kicking and I made up the team logo for the 3 Day and flyers for our upcoming event Grillin for the Girls.  Take that cancer! And as my lovely cousin so wisely put it in her status: Suck it cancer!  And now it is not even 2pm and I feel like I’ve been very productive – GO ME!

 

What else is on my mind… oh let’s see… a little thing called GRAD SCHOOL.  Do I want to do it?  Do I not?  And if I do, what for?  How can I make that happen with a FT job?  And then there is the WHERE question… perhaps the biggest one of all…

 

And with that my friends we have the buzzer… hmmm maybe my brain needs more than 5 minutes to fully dump?  Or perhaps I just need more practice… either way – Happy Cancer Survivors Day to all my fellow survivors out there!  Oh and if you didn’t know… yesterday was Hug Your Cat Day.. so make sure to hug your feline friend!

…

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw. 
• Link up by clicking on the button below! 

Color Your World

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
Marcus Aurelius

I was wandering through Wally-World to pick up cat litter about a week ago and found myself in the health and beauty aids (read: cosmetics) because there is always something you need. 

I had happily filled up my “buggy” (Appalachianism) with all natural, organic shampoo & conditioner, a clay face mask, and tea tree oil based foot massage lotion when I wandered past the Nicole by OPI nail polish. 

I’m a sucker for nail polish. And I got rid of a bunch of it when I moved. Bingo!  I have PLENTY of need for more nail polish!  I grabbed a few colors and decided I could allow myself one new one, but just one.  It was narrowed down to two… the deciding factor?  What were their names? (fyi for the males, all the good nail polishes have names)

I can’t recall the one I didn’t buy… but the one I did?

Name: Change The World.  Color: Pink

Sold!

Blisters for Breast Cancer!

Yes, I'm doing it again - I signed up for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure! I had such incredible experiences while walking the 3-Day for the Cure that I'm going back for more. I'm so excited about this event, especially since I will be walking in a new city - Tampa Bay!

I had not planned on walking this year because if you haven't heard, I moved 12 hours away from Michigan to Tennessee!  With the move, a new job, new surroundings, I just wasn't sure how the fundraising and training would fit.  But in the end I knew I had to walk... not walk away.  This event isn't easy, but I promise you, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't believe 100% that it was worth every muscle ache, weary night and training walk!

I need your help. I am planning on surpassing the $3000+ that you - my friends and family - gave so generously last time around to help end breast cancer.

This year I'm walking in memory of my Grandma S and in honor of the many, many cancer survivors in my life.  I would be honored to walk in memory or in honor of one of your loved ones too!

Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising Web page to make a donation.  And please share this post with your friends and family that may want to donate too - the more people this message will reach, the closer we get to finding a cure!
 
If you have any questions or want to hear more about what I'm doing, I love talking about the event. Thanks for all of your support. I'm incredibly lucky to have people like you in my life!

Love,
Christina
www.the3day.org/goto/christina2011

P.S. Don't wait - donate today!  The sooner I reach my fundraising goal, the sooner I can focus on the training needed to make it through all 3 days!

Wordless Wednesday

Nutty Part 2

Did you notice something new on the bloggy blog perchance?

I’ll give you a biiiiiiig hint…. its right over…

<==============THERE================

Yes ladies and gents, I’ve drunk (drank?) the Kool-aid once again!

In 2009 I told you all I must be nuts because I had just signed up to walk 60 miles in 3 days… for the 3rd time… in the middle of treatment for my thyroid cancer.  Perhaps I was suffering from cancer brain at the time?  So what is my excuse for signing up for my 4th…. hmmmmm… let’s expound on that, shall we?

My 3rd 3-Day was nothing short of amazing.  I was able to walk with one of my inspirations - my aunt who is a breast cancer survivor.  My mom experienced her first 3-Day as a medical crew member.  I watched another of my aunts carry the “Birthdays” flag in Opening Ceremonies.  Watched as my team mate succumbed to the evil thing called dehydration.  I had blisters covering my heels and between my toes and road rash covering my calves. (ps: no one tells you but your skin does weirdo stuff in a post-cancer world)  And I didn’t know it at the time but I saw Jenne Fromm in one of her last 3 Day events as National Spokesperson… gonna miss that girl this year. Walked in ridiculous heat that fast approached the 100F mark.  And as a team we raised almost $20,000 even in the crappy economy of Michigan!

And why was all that amazing you ask?  Because of moments like these…

SGK Plates!

I recently discovered that I have 30 days to get a new drivers license and plates on my car – oh the joy.  Now imagine my delight when I found out that I have to visit not only the DMV but also the county courthouse to do both of these things.  It *almost* made me miss the Secretary of State office back in Michigan… almost. 

But then as I was looking into my local Komen affiliate info I found one tidbit of joy in the growing to-do list... 

They have PINK RIBBON license plates in Tennessee!!!  Oh.Em.Gee. I die.

This is the most exciting news I have had since I found out I got the job!  You bet your bippy I will be getting one of these beautiful plates.  I mean seriously… pink+SGK+platinum VW = fabulosity does it not?

In other exciting news… I learned how to Skype tonight!  My first call included dad, mom & Grandpa S!  What a nifty bit of technology that is!  I shall definitely be participating in more videoconferencing fun!