Showing posts with label breast cancer 3 day ambassador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast cancer 3 day ambassador. Show all posts

Pink Explosion: Wordless Wednesday

8 Gift Ideas for Your 3 Day Walker: 3 Day Thursday

Thursday, October 7, 2010

After the closing ceremonies for the 3 Day, many friends and family like to bring their walker pink flowers or balloons. While those things are nice, I feel there are practical gifts that someone who just walked 60 miles would appreciate and be more able to use.

Here are eight gift ideas for your 3 day walker: 


EMU Australia Women's Jolie Slipper,Orchid Pink,5 M US


Two years ago I found slippers like these EMU's at Boot World. I surprised Mom and gave them to her right after the walk. I had to take her shoes off for her because she couldn't bend over! She said the soft fur felt really good, especially between her toes. The sturdy sole makes them perfect for wearing out of the house. Mom wore hers to work every day for a week.


Dr. Scholl's DRFB7006B1 Sole Solutions Foot Spa


Last year, because I'm a good daughter, I let my mom use our foot spa first when we got home from closing ceremonies. Getting your feet into warm water with some soothing bath salts is priority number one after walking so far. I was eying it the way a starving person would a pork chop the whole time. This one from Dr. Scholl's is better than ours because it has a heater to maintain the water temperature.


Pioneer 12-by-12-Inch Dreamy Pink Frame Cover Memory Book


My mom hasn't been documenting her walks very well but this year I hope to take a lot of pictures and put them together for her in a Memory Book to commemorate her 10th walk. 

Other ideas:
*Before the walk, give a scarf, hat and mitten set for the cold nights (it gets chilly where we camp because we're on the bay).
*A sleeveless vest. I was freezing in the early mornings! I wanted to layer but not take a chance on getting overheated. I wore a light down vest and it was perfect.
*Disposable cameras for anyone not on the digital bandwagon. No worrying about batteries.
*Gift cards to a coffee house. Many people go out of their way for a gourmet cup of coffee in the mornings. I don't carry my entire wallet in my butt bag. Gift cards save space.
*Certificates for a massage and/or pedicure are obvious but so needed! I think a massage would have helped me recover faster (hint, hint).

If you've done the 3 day walk, what was the best gift you've received? Do you have any other ideas to offer?  

*Affiliate links used

Listen To Your Body: 3 Day Thursday

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Last Friday I dropped Tyler off and came home intending to go for a long walk. I did some dishes, started laundry, answered emails and a few other things. For some reason, I was ridiculously tired. I thought I'd take a quick power nap and still be ready to leave around 11 which would be plenty of time for 6-8 miles. I fell into bed, fully clothed, a little after 10. I woke up at 2:30. Obviously, my body was trying to me something. Good thing I listened.

Click image to donate!

The Breast Cancer 3 Day isn't a race. There are no prizes for making it to lunch before 11 or back to camp before 3. Pushing yourself is not necessary and it's not a good idea. I think the lingering injuries I have from last year's walk are in part due to me trying to keep up with my mom (I'll say it's because her legs are so much longer than mine *ahem*) and not listening to my body.

Since it was my first walk I put a lot of pressure on myself to walk all 60 miles. It can be a little disheartening to see pregnant women or someone my Gramma's age pass you by. It's also hard not to get caught up in the idea that as walkers we need to push ourselves as some sort of symbol. One of the mantra's for the 3 Day weekend is "I may have blisters but it's better than cancer." I took that to heart too. It's hard to see people walking who are bald from the chemo and not think, "if they can do this, certainly I can too!"

I thought taking a sweeper van was a sign I couldn't cut it or that it would take away from the experience somehow. Not true! There are so many things that make the 3 Day so amazing. Sure, walking the whole thing is a great accomplishment but it's not the goal of the event.

Rest when you need to, ride the van when you need to. Take advantage of medical. You will not be letting anybody down. I give you my permission to not be so hard on yourself. Listen to your body!

Picky Eater? Advice for Walking the Breast Cancer Three Day

Thursday, August 12, 2010


To say I am a picky eater is just as much of an understatement that the Empire State Building is tall. I could, and do, happily eat the same things over and over again and I don't like to experiment. I bring things I like, rather than crowd pleasers, to potlucks because then I know there will be at least one thing I will eat.

I was a little worried about the food situation at The 3 Day last year. I knew the types of things available at the Pit Stops and Grab and Go's because I've been to several with my mom. But I never bothered to ask her about the actual meals. I'm happy to report I shouldn't have worried. The buffet line has something for everyone. Some examples of the offerings:

Lunch in La Jolla
Breakfast: 
Blintzes
Grits
Yogurt
Oatmeal
Coffee
Tea
Biscuits

Lunch:
Sandwiches
Dinner
Fruit
Wraps
Chips
Cheese

Dinner:
Chicken
Pasta
Vegetables
Breadsticks
Rice
Hoping for wheat bread this year

Grab and Go's:
Smuckers Uncrustables 
[these are like gold, take them when you see them!]
String cheese
Orange slices
Water
Gatorade
Bananas

Mom's first Jello Shot!
Plus, if your city is anything like mine, your walk route will be lined with supporters offering everything from cookies and candy to Jello Shots! You will not go hungry during The 3 Day! Some people have gained weight because of all the goodies. But I wouldn't know anything about that. *ahem*

Do you have any questions for me about the Three Day? Please ask! 
Melanie, a Three Day Online Ambassador,  is walking her second San Diego Three Day in November 2010 along with her mother who will be walking her 10th! Help Melanie reach her fundraising goal of $2,300 by donating through her personal page. More photos from day one of the 2009 San Diego 3 Day on Flickr.

Discounted Registration for 2010 3 Day Walks Ends Monday 5-10

Friday, May 7, 2010


Monday is the last day to use code MAY2010 for a $20 discount off registration fees for the 3 Day. The first walk of the year, in Boston, is coming up in July. You can register as an individual, part of a team or find a team to join. Walking really is a life changing experience!

Boston: July 23 - 25
Cleveland: July 30 - Aug 1
Chicago: August 6 - 8
Michigan: August 13 - 15
Twin Cities: August 20 - 22
Denver: August 27 - 29
Seattle: September 24 - 26
San Francisco Bay Area: October 1 - 3
Washington, DC: October 8 - 10
Philadelphia: October 15 - 17
Atlanta: October 22 - 24
Tampa Bay: October 29 - 31
Dallas/Fort Worth: November 5 - 7
Arizona: November 12 - 14
San Diego November 19 - 21 
(If you want to join me and my mom, leave and comment and I'll be in touch!)

Ready, Set, Walk!

Monday, April 26, 2010

I can't believe how fast the year is going! Last year when I was getting ready for the 3 day, I felt like I had all the time in the world to prepare. I was so wrong. November will be here before I know it. I'm heading out for my first walk of the year. I've set my goal today for four miles. My ankle isn't 100% but I went to see my foot guy again and now I have supports in my shoes. I can't train in the pair I have for too much longer since they (literally) have a lot of miles on them. New ones are definitely in order. 

I don't want to make the same mistakes I did last year; namely not training enough and not training on the same streets as the walk route (ie lots of hills and curbs, I may have to do a whole post on curbs!). I also didn't train with my fanny pack last year (BTW I hate the term fanny pack. Is there something better? Butt bag? I think I'll use that).

I used a small backpack last year and hardly carried anything in it. As a result, I wasn't prepared for the weight of all the stuff I lugged around during the walk. Having all of that weight on my lower back definitely changed my stride so this year I'm wearing my butt bag from the start. Mine is from Eddie Bauer and I love it because it holds A LOT. It has adjustable rubber bands on the sides to hold the water bottles in place. That doesn't seem important until the third time you bend over to tie your shoes and they fall out, rolling in everyone's way. Not that I'd know about that from experience. Ahem. This is what I'll be taking with me on training walks:


Two water bottles
Snacks (as the walk gets closer I carry a lot more food)
Sunscreen
Lip balm with sunscreen
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Camera (I'll start carrying the video camera too)
Hair ties
Cell phone
iPod
Nike Plus pedometer (for the iPod)
Business card case with debit card, ID and a little cash
Not pictured: toilet seat covers (for emergency porta potty stops)
Hat (either my wide brimmed straw or a ball cap)

I carry a lot more during the actual walk. My suggestion to first time walkers is to decide early on whether you want to use a backpack or butt bag and carry it from the get go.

I'm excited to be an online ambassador again this year. I'm happy to help newbie walkers any way I can. If you're in San Diego and want to train with me, let me know! There are other ambassadors all across the country.* We'll all be posting our progress and tips. We're here to help, support and encourage. If you have questions, please ask!

*Links to @the3day's profile on Twitter with all the other ambassadors.
 
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