Stretching 101

My Breast Cancer 3-Day Walker Handbook 2009 reminds me that "it's very important to stretch before, during and after training walks in order to avoid injury."

I promise to start stretching ... but I have to tell you ... I don't enjoy it.

Have a look at page 35.

I have a lot of trouble doing the "Quadriceps Stretch."

(Feel free to biggify)

You might remember the following picture of me doing the Quadriceps Stretch with Beth on our first walk.

My handbook also says: "Only stretch within your limits. If you feel any discomfort, stop."

Do you see the look on my face?

Fortune cookie speaks the truth!

A thrilling time certainly is in store for me!!!

And that thrilling time is in less than 200 days!

I am so excited!

I am posting a link to a wonderful video that I hope you will take the time to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvyBtQtZ7n0

What do you think?

This one's for you Tracy!

My friend Tracy is wondering:

"how you can do 20 miles three days in a row."

You push yourself, Tracy. But let me show you some ways walkers walk the walk...

We do it with lots and lots of other walkers ...

we do it with lots and lots of laughs ... (and some whining!)

We do it together ... sometimes pushing one another up a steep hill ... sometimes just by showing each other love and support ...

and ... of course ... there's always a sweep van waiting if we just can't take another step!

Somehow we do it ... 60 miles in 3 days ... an amazing journey.

(photos 1 and 4: Boston 3-day ... photos 2 and 3: New York 2-day)

Memory Tent

I finally found my pictures from the 2-day walk in New York City and more pictures from the 3-day in Boston. These pictures are from the Boston walk.

This was a "Memory Tent" where walkers could take time out to reflect on why we were really walking ... and could leave a message in honor of or in memory of a loved one. I was asked to remember our friend Nancy who had lost her battle against cancer. I wrote on the Memory Tent for her husband Ron and her daughter Genni.

After a long day ... this was a quiet place to visit ... a place to think.
As we get closer to the walk in San Francisco, I will ask you to send me the names of those you would like me to walk in honor/memory of ... and I will carry them with me.

Anything for a cap!!!!

Beth and I met Tara from Texas on the trip up to Bear Mountain in 2000.

I thought ... "She came all the way from Texas to walk in the 3-day?"

Ha! I'm going all the way to San Francisco!

We took to Tara right away! She was a lot of fun! She was a survivor!

Tara and I decided to become "safety patrol" because we liked the cap!

I'm sure we did a great job keeping the troops safe!

Now ... I have had over 1000 visits to this blog ... but only a few commenters.

I know that I have probably visited 800 times myself ... but I also know there are others out there!

You wouldn't want me to ask Auntie Bee to get involved, would you???

Please leave a comment!
ps--feel better Kiera

Get Started Meetings

When I registered for my first walk in 2000, I attended a "Get Started Meeting" in a town near my home. At that time, there was a 3-day event in New York, so I didn't have to travel far. I walked into the meeting alone ... but immediately felt a part of something very big! It was inspirational. Get Started Meetings include information on training and fundraising ... and prepare you for an incredible experience.

I looked at this year's calendar of events and found that the closest meetings are either in Massachusetts or New Jersey. The great thing about the Breast Cancer 3-day is that they will find any way to get you there ... and that means "Over-the Phone Get Started Meetings" so that will be the route I take.

Here's another thing: You don't have to be a walker to attend a Get Started Meeting! If you would like to learn more about the Breast Cancer 3-Day ... you're invited to attend a meeting! What a great opportunity for you to become even more involved than you are now as a reader of my blog!!!!!

Here's a link for you to explore. Let me know if you're going to attend something really special!

Roberta Harris--3-day Ambassador

I was asked to be a "3-day Ambassador!"

I am honored!

So this means that I will be sharing some facts with you.

Here's today's fact:

One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

One in eight.

I will walk to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer!

I just spoke to my principal about fundraising in school ... and taking those extra days to travel to San Francisco. She showed me a picture of her friend ... a beautiful woman who lost her battle with breast cancer last year.

We all know someone.

Crowds of people line the route on the 3-day walk!

Before each walk the organizers will post the route and walkers will let friends and family know where they can wait to greet them.

Here are some well-wishers on the Boston route!

What a crowd!

I hope some Californians will be able to cheer team "Jersey Girls for Shore."

The weather has been improving here on Long Island. Most of the snow from last Monday's storm has melted. I look forward to walking long walks on the weekends as my weekdays are so busy. Ronnie gave me a pedometer (woo hoo!) ... that doesn't work! (duhr!) So I will clock the mileage by driving the route later today.

Men With Heart

You know ... I was looking at that photo of Beth #2 getting the greatest foot massage of her life (!) and I remembered how wonderful the Men With Heart were on our Boston walk. Please click on the link and see how these men who are dedicated to the fight against Breast Cancer do their thing.

One word ... "AWESOME!"

(un) Happy Feet ... (ah) Happy Feet

If the petroleum jelly doesn't work ...

there's always the guy with the blue gloves to take care of your blisters ...

And, if you don't have blisters, but you have walked the 20 miles and you're feeling it ...

some absolutely fantastic guy will come to you to massage your aching feet.

Can you think of a better way to finish the day?

(in the first picture, Beth is getting the royal "blister" treatment on our Bear Mtn to NYC walk ... in the second picture Beth #2 is getting a fantastic foot massage after dinner on our Boston walk.)

Petroleum Jelly

I promised to tell you about the importance of petroleum jelly.

Here's the pj that I've had since my first walk.

I slather it on my feet before a long walk.

Using it keeps blisters at a minimum.

here ... read more about it!

Trust me, though. There are still blisters ...

after all ... 20 miles a day is a lot of walking.

3-day "twittered" me asking if I would sometimes blog for them ... I was very honored.