Is it animal cruelty?

It's warm here in New York. Everyone was out ... runners, walkers, bikers ... it's beautiful! When I got to the pond, I saw something that disturbed me. A man was running with his dog. The dog (some kind of hound) was trailing behind on his leash and it was clear to me that he wanted to stop and "do his business." Mr. Runner wasn't going to let him interfere with his run and continued to pull him along. The poor pooch pooped his way around the pond. Mr. Runner never stopped ... never cleaned up the mess ... I was so angry.

Is this animal cruelty?

Just wondering.

Finally fundraising

okay ... I finally wrote my fundraising letter. It's here for you, friends, to read.

I'll make the copies tomorrow.

training walk

Maybe it doesn't look like much in this picture, (taken with my cell phone), but this is one of the prettiest spots on my training walk.

Although not as warm as yesterday, today the temperature is in the 60s and it's beautiful walking weather.

I met my friend Joan and walked with her for a bit ... then went off on my own.

Total hours: 3

Total miles: 9+

My training is great!

My fundraising is at a standstill.

Maybe Mike will try to take another picture today.

Maybe I'll look a little better!

Tom ... painter? yes! photographer? Not so much!

Tom, the painter, took this picture of me for my fundraising letter.

I didn't like the way my face looked ... so I did some editing.

(That's pretty funny that I would opt for my body over my face! Ha!)

I'll try again tomorrow.

Here's my suggested training schedule for this week:

Countdown: 24 Weeks

Monday--Rest
Tuesday--3 miles Easy walking
Wednesday--Rest
Thursday--3 miles Moderate walking
Friday--30 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday--3 miles Easy walking
Sunday--3 miles Easy walking

I think I can do a little more than the suggested schedule, as my walks are 6+ miles.

I still don't have a cross-training plan.

I got as far as walking into the gym and looking around!

To all my Twitter and Facebook followers ... Thank you.

And to my loyal, from the beginning, readers... you're the best!

Why I love Baseball!

Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Major League Baseball are Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer to help your home team hit one out of the ballpark.

To show their support of Going to Bat for Breast Cancer, Major League Baseball Players will wear pink wristbands and pink ribbon decals are provided to all the players, coaches and umpires to wear on Mother’s Day, May 10th. Louisville Slugger has produced and donated pink bats that hundreds of players will be using on Mother’s Day. Additionally, specially designed Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer merchandise is available on-line and at ballparks nationwide. Fans will also proudly wear their pink attire in “Pink Zones” at all home games on Mothers Day.
This year, Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are inviting fans everywhere to join in the action through the 1st Annual Honorary Bat Girl Contest. Individuals that embody passion and dedication for the breast cancer movement will be selected as Honorary Bat Girls for each club and will be celebrated on-field during the game. Do you know a young woman who is a devoted baseball fan and has a compelling personal story and a true passion and commitment to the fight against breast cancer? We want to hear from you! To submit your nomination, please visit www.mlb.com/honorarybatgirl

Program Information
Program Name: Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer

Benefit to Komen for the Cure: 100 percent of funds donated through the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer online fundraising initiative and auction

Guaranteed Donation: $50,000

Program Active: April 10 through December 31, 2009

2008 Contribution: $230,000

Total number of years for program: 5 years

Promotion

There is a special team-building promotion that starts today, April 13th and runs through April 24th.

I invite YOU, my friends and family, to register for the Breast Cancer 3-Day and join my team Jersey Girls For Shore during this period. You will receive a $35 discount off your registration fee. The promotional code is 60MILES. It can be used to register online at http://www.the3day.org , via phone at 800.996.3DAY or in person at a Get Started Meeting.

What do you think?

How about joining my team!

Facebook

Left out the two-person tent last post.

Here it is!

(from the Boston walk)

...

Well ... I've now linked this blog to Facebook! So , if your visiting, please let me know by becoming a follower.

Yesterday my friend Joan and I walked together for about 45 minutes. Joan is pushing 80 ... but SHE was pushing ME on our walk! She's amazing!

After we finished walking, I continued on for another hour and forty five minutes. I thought it was warmer and walked without a jacket. It took me the rest of the day to warm up.

On my walk I decided that I will write a fund-raising letter to all my doctors today. Let's see how they respond! In another week ... I'll set up a fund-raising letter on the front desk in school. I've been training ... but I'm a bit lazy when asking for $$$!

tents

I thought you might like to see some of the 3-day tents!

(Those who opt to sleep in a hotel miss out on all the fun!)

These pictures are from the Boston 3-day walk.

...

First, the "3-day Cafe"

I think this was a place to "take a load off" and relax on a comfy blow-up chair!

I can't remember exactly what was going on here. I think there was a lot of reading material to peruse!

It has been said that women like to shop.

There is shopping to do in a 3-day village.

You can find everything "3-day" at the General Store tent.

Ah ... the mess tent. This is where you can sit in a real folding chair and enjoy a nice meal. After dinner there is always entertainment.


Beth and I enjoyed the baked salmon this night.

You have seen the sleeping arrangements.

Tent for two anyone?

...

My 6-mile training walk is getting too easy. I think it's time to kick it up a notch and add on some miles. Tomorrow I'm walking with a friend for half the trip. I'm looking forward to that.

Today I walked in the rain.

I enjoyed it! 3-day suggests that we train in all kinds of weather. You never know what the weather will be in October!

...

I stopped by a gym on my way home.

I'm thinking I'll try the elliptical ... or even Zumba!

More later!

t-shirt and training walks

Jeter is inspecting my new SGK 3-day t-shirt!

I received it the other day.

Jeter says it's a good one. He can't wait to see me wear it!

I generally walk on my own, but training walks are great for learning how to pace yourself ... knowing when to stretch ... and meeting new people.

Beth met our team in New Jersey (Jersey Girls For Shore) on a training walk. I'll meet them all in San Francisco.

...

Beth and I did our training walks in Provincetown on the bike paths to the National Seashore. Here I am with the dunes and scrub pine.

See the smile on my face?

Beth and I almost never stopped laughing while walking the path.

Ah ... the beach looked so good on a hot day!

The hours of walking flew by.
(we did have a bit of an incident by the nude beach ... but that's another story! ha!)

Mom's first steps ... step up to training

Well ... it has been some time since I've created a post.

You might know that my mom fell ... broke her hip ... had surgery ... has been in rehab ... and will be released next Wednesday.

It has been a whirlwind these past ten days.

I thought I would post a picture of Mom taking her first steps after the surgery.

She has been doing great.

Now that Mom is taking her steps back ...

it's time for me to do some real training.

...

The 24 week training schedule has begun, and I still don't have another activity.

I'm on vacation this week (with a quick trip to Florida to get Mom set up) so I'll try out a few options.

My starting point for my training walk is 6 miles. I can walk that pretty comfortably. Now I have to gradually increase that ... so I can work up to the 20 miles a day.

...

Here are training tips from 3-day:

*incorporate different types of terrain and weather conditions

*build endurance by fitting in small walks throughout the day (walk before work)

*take one day off per week to rest

*don't push yourself beyond your ability ... listen to your body

*do longer walks back-to-back

More on training tomorrow!