The 3 Day in Pictures

12 more days

The decision was made in March.  Jessica and I were sitting across from each other at The Prohibition Room when I made the comment about the Susan G. Komen 3 Day.  “I’m thinking about doing it” I said casually as I sipped my old fashioned.  “Me too!” she said.  And so it began.

The decision was easy.  I would train until November to walk 60 miles in 3 days.  The actually training, shoe horror stories and even hitchhiking ridiculousness has brought me where I am today: 12 days away from the 60 mile walk.  If I knew what I know now about the emotional roller coaster this would end up being would I have signed up in the beginning?  Probably not.  I had some really low points on this journey and it was a hard journey to do alone.  That said, I’m doing it again next year.

I like the difficulty.  I like how the difficulty strengthens my mind.  I like taking care of my physical body.  And I like raising money for an important cause.

The Susan G. Komen foundation does get a lot of attention.  There are a million other very worthwhile causes to support who do not get the support that Komen does.  Still, I believe it is a very important cause to walk for, and I do not want to say goodbye to another person because they are dying from breast cancer.  So, I decide to walk.  

Jessica and I are making a “garden” for our tent decorations.  You have to decorate - - not my thing at all but how else can you identify your tent among a sea of pink tents?  The two people closest two us - one who survived and one who didn’t - will have a garden around our tent with their favorite flowers.  They will be painted flowers but I think we will smell their sweetness still.  

For those of you who have supported me with my fundraising, personal needs and awesome words of encouragement, thank you.  Every time you reached out you touched my heart and I appreciate you more than you can know.

looking forward to normal

I'm looking forward to returning to normal again.  Normal not meaning spending my Saturday watching Bravo television all day and sharing a blood supply with my sofa, but normal as in walking 10 miles or less on any given day.

This Saturday I walked 17 miles.  It was okay.  It wasn't great.  The last 2 miles were a little tough and I didn't make it out the following day.  I could have.  I should have.  I didn't.  I slept most of the weekend, actually.

I am planning on walking a marathon in April, so I can't drop my mileage too much, but the idea of walking an easy 9 or 10 instead of 15+ just sounds heavenly. 

My walk is in about 30 days.  I can't believe it has happened so quickly.  It seems like I only just began this journey.


If you would like to make a donation or learn more about what I am doing,  click here.

Well call me crazy but I've decided I'm doing it again.

I know.  I haven't finished training yet.  I haven't even walked over 15 miles yet.  And I haven't walked 60 miles in 3 days yet.  But I'm doing it again.  2012.  Dallas.

So if you haven't donated yet for this year - go right ahead.  I will be seeking donations through next year as well.   ;-)  (I really don't want to be a nag but it IS an AMAZING cause.) 

So yeah - - I'm doing it again.

Thank you.

a short update from a tall person

Alas.

It has been an interesting journey.  I have had this deadline (for the walk - first weekend in November) to focus on and keep me motivated, but I have also had what has felt like a million setbacks.  Back problems, foot problems, shoe issues, stomach bugs and increasing amounts of overtime at the office have taken their toll on my enthusiasm.  All through it I think I have done a decent job staying positive and moving forward, but here at 8 weeks away from the walk I am feeling a little nervous and unprepared.  I really wish I had been able to do all my training walks.  I really wish I was more confident with my shoes.

I took the last shoes (the shoes from hell) back to the store I bought them from and they were overwhelmingly helpful.  They spent time with me to troubleshoot the issues and then exchanged the shoes and inserts with no problem.  I was so relieved.  These new shoes felt good right away, so I am optimistic.  This week is a short week, mileage wise, so I won't have to work at breaking them in on a 15 mile trek. That didn't work so well for me last time. 

I am hoping these shoes will be perfect and I can go buy the other pair next week.  If not, I feel I am getting dangerously close to the walk for having new shoes.  I know it will all work out - - but those little butterflies in my stomach are really wanting some sneakers on their imagined feet.

I have raised 51% of my fundraising goal.  Have you donated yet?  Your donation will help bring an end to breast cancer.  Save the life of someone's mommy today.  Donate here.

If you would like to help me purchase the items I need for the remainder of my training and the walk itself, please check out this link.

Many thanks to all of you for your love and encouragement.

feet, Stephen King and a broken rule

Last week I walked 13 miles in new shoes.  As a result of them either being new or not correctly fitted, the end result was blisters on a good percentage of my feet and awkward and painful walking until Thursday.  Mom, my biggest cheerleader, thought they would certainly be broken in for this weekend's walk.

I headed out really early this morning.  The sun didn't even begin to peek its sleepy self up over the horizon until 5 miles in.  I was so proud to be on schedule, wanting to be done and headed home just as the heat of the day was picking up.  My feet were really struggling though.

I stopped at 5 miles, put moleskin on my feet, slathered them in petroleum jelly then started again.  At 6 miles I put more moleskin on.  At 7 miles I changed socks and debated continuing around the lake for 2.5 miles or taking the long route back.  If I continued, I could be at my car in only a half hour.  If I turned around I would have to walk the 7 before any relief.  I turned around.

My feet seemed worse when I stopped.  If I kept going and didn't allow myself any rest - at all - - the pain would be constant.  So I told myself to just keep going.  Don't stop.  Don't rest.  If I did stop, I would kick at the ground a bit to keep the pain going.  I know it sounds crazy but it was easier than resting them and then starting on them again.  Those fresh starts were really tough.

At 8 miles I wrapped my feet up in ace bandage and called my dad.  I really wasn't sure if I could do this or not - but what choice did I have?  I knew my feet weren't going to fall off under these socks - they were just hurting.  So I told myself to deal with it - keep walking - and get to the car.

At 9 miles I passed a police officer and resisted the overwhelming urge to ask for a ride back.  This was all in my head.  My body felt good.  I wasn't tired or too hot, hungry or thirsty.  My feet just hurt.  I could do this.

What didn't make any of this any easier was my audio book choice. 

The last two books I have listened to have contained a lot of talk about Italian and French food.  Instead of feeling tired, I would dream of food, coming up with some new recipe with mushrooms or trying to think of something that does not go well with Champagne.  For the record, I'm not sure there is anything that does not go well with Champagne.

I am not a huge fan of fiction, but one of the few fiction authors I do like is Stephen King.  So when someone recommended The Long Walk and I read the synopsis I thought this could be a great book to take along.  To describe the story on a very basic level, the 100 walkers are participating in a sport - a long walk.  They must keep their speed a 4mph, never stop, as well as follow an assortment of other rules.  Should they break the rules they receive a warning.  If they receive 3 warnings, their next slip-up will buy them their ticket.  What is the ticket?  They are shot dead.  I love King.

So I think to myself, this will be a great story to listen to.  I'll get myself involved in the story, walking along with them and not want to stop.  It is a great story.  What I heard of it, that is.  A lot of the text however, is centered on the psychological game the walk participants are in.  They imagined lying down and never getting up.  They described in detail the pain in their feet.  They talked about one participant who crawls for miles at 4mph because his feet gave out on him.  In other words, King's words were my own miserable thoughts being played aloud via my iPod.   So much for distraction.

But I pushed through, not even hearing the words anymore and staring off into the horizon.  I could see the parking lot from where I was - only about 2 miles away at Louie's restaurant on the lake- but I kept staring at that horizon almost begging my mind to go into some sort of altered state of consciousness.

I felt great.  I was not tired.  I could have gone for miles more if it had not been for my feet.

Finally.

Finally I made it to the picnic area about 1/2 from my car - the same picnic area I stopped at last week.  I sat down, looked at the ground and my feet resting on it and considered lying down.  I looked up and saw two cyclists talking as they mounted their bikes onto their cars and I looked back at the ground.  A thought flashed through my mind and I wrestled with it for what seemed like an hour.  I thought some more about lying down, looked up and still seeing the cyclists chatting, I debated getting up or crying.  A little whimper did escape as I considered how I would feel walking the 1/2 mile back to my car.  It's only 1/2 mile!!!!  I can do this!  I stood up, took a few painful initial steps, walked over to the cyclists and said  "I'm sorry.  Would one of you consider giving me a ride to Louie's?"

The female in the group immediately says yes and asks me if I need some water.  I say no - my feet are just hurting so bad I don't think I can make it back to my car.  I get into this stranger's vehicle without much hesitation at all, hope that she is not a crazy psycho killer but being willing to take my chances if it means I don't have to walk that 1/2 mile to my car.  This is something I said I would never do - but here I was.  Here I am.

Sigh.

Her name is Tracy and she was my savior today.  She cycles with a guy named Dennis and she works in sales.  That is about all I know of her.  I hope I get the opportunity to thank her again someday.

I have spent the better part of this day in a sort of sad frustration.  I don't think the physical aspect of walking 60 miles is as big of a deal to me as it once was.  But I must get this shoe thing worked out very soon.  I cannot do this and be unkind to my feet.  Right now my feet despise me. 

I never thought the shoes would be the thing that could prevent me from getting where I am going.

the solo walks, blisters and two lessons

Lesson #1

After two very long weeks my foot seemed ready to cooperate with my training and I headed out for 12 miles (19k).  That was last weekend.  I felt really good for the most part and got an early start so I would be out of the heat of the day as quickly as possible.  What I find interesting about these walks is how I can feel on top of the world, and not even a full second later feel the intense need to sit down and never get up again.  That is how I was from about 8.5 miles and on.  It was brutal.  I looked at my sportband every few seconds seeing how far I had gone (the weekend endurance athlete equivalent to the nagging child in the back seat saying "are we there yet?).   At 9.3 I was only feet away from my car.  I stretched for a moment in the grass, debating whether or not I had it in me to complete the 12 miles or not.  I hit "end" on my Nike Sportband, got in the car and cranked up the AC.

Then I called dad to have him help talk me off the ledge.

Dad was realistic.  He reminded me that I will know when I need to stop and just to listen to my body.  He reminded me that I hadn't walked in 2 weeks.  He reminded me that it was over 100 degrees outside.

I decided to sit in the car longer, enjoy an apple and the air conditioning a little while before I decided to head back out or go home.  This was when I got my second wind and understood this weekend's lesson.
It is okay to rest.

I know that may seem like a silly lesson - but I don't like to stop once I start.  If I stop - I stop.  So if I felt the urge for a break, I would allow myself 15-30 seconds of stretching then start again (sometimes less than that - I want to keep moving forward).   Enjoying that wonderfully delicious fuji apple in the car (and it was an absolutely intoxicating fuji apple) gave me just what I needed to head out again.  And I did.  I only made it to 11.3 but like dad said you know when you need to stop.

By the way, I headed out the next day for 7 easy miles and it felt really good to hit those back to back.  I was surprised, but these distances are getting easier to get through.

Lesson #2 


Yesterday I headed out for 13 miles.  I wanted to get an early start and bought a flashlight the night before and then overslept.  I didn't start until 6.  I knew it was going to be a hot day.

I laced up my new shoes and headed out.  The air was still.  Usually there is more wind by the lake and I really hoped it would pick up.  It never did.  There were fewer people out than usual and more gnats.  There is one section about 1/2 mile long that is filled with gnats.  They fly in your face, ears, all over your clothes.  I learned the first week to keep my mouth closed during this portion of the walk.  You get the idea.  I shudder now thinking about it.

This walk I was determined to let myself rest whenever I wanted.  If I wanted to sit on a bench for 30 minutes so be it.  When I hit 6.5 I turned around and headed back the other direction.  I was afraid that if I passed my car at 9.5 that I would be tempted to stop because my feet were really beginning to hurt.  I might as well create the situation where I must complete the walk.

Still glad I did it this way, but mad that I didn't get that earlier start because the last 5 miles are in full sun and right on the water.  It was exceptionally uncomfortable.  Finally I pushed myself to a covered picnic area about 1/2 mile from the end of my route and hung out there for some time eating figs and talking with a runner named Patrick.

But I have left out something.    I was also having a hard time concentrating, was somewhat faint and had the overwhelming urge to lick my arms.  LOL   I'm a salty sweater - - and this week's lesson for me:  "I must take salt."  Now this is really counter to my natural way of thinking.  I have to avoid salt because it triggers my Menieres Disease symptoms.  I don't touch the stuff if I can help it.  But I came home and poured a little salt into some water and drank it up.  So now I know.

You may have noticed earlier that I mentioned wearing new shoes out on the 13 mile trek.  I don't know if that was the best decision or not and I still am not sure.  My other shoes were too small and were extremely painful to wear on longer walks.  These were not broken in however, and now I am suffering.
Blisters on the balls of my feet and around the entire heel on one foot.  Alas.

I did not make it out for my 9 miles today as a result and am now hobbling around with layers of band aids, moleskin and athletic tape.  It could be worse.

To help bring an end to breast cancer, please consider donating to my walk.

If you would like to help me purchase the items I need to finish training and for the walk weekend itself, please visit this link.

It's true. I've used Google for almost every step of this journey.

Rest. Ice. Elevate,

After two hours at a doctor's office (and only about 10 minutes total with said staff and doctor) those words are what is scrawled along the bottom of the paper they hand me as I check out.

Rest.  Ice.  Elevate.

I'm glad it isn't a fracture.  Well - we don't think it is.  The radiologist will read it and get back with me next week.  I don't want it to be a fracture, but the dull ache is one that I recognize from previous similar injuries.  Of course, this whole training ballgame is different.  I can't depend fully on what I have known before.

So rest.  Of course I am interpreting "rest" as don't walk 16 miles this weekend (as planned).  I joined the gym again this morning.  I'll be there - on a bike and/or elliptical for the same amount of time I would have been walking.  If you think I'm slowing down one bit then you don't know me very well. 

;-)

Injury (question mark)

Sometime during the night, during one of the dozen times I was awake, staring at the ceiling in a certain degree of pain and wondering if my foot has a stress fracture or not I decided not to walk this morning. 

I am not at all convinced that the discomfort I am feeling is anything more than muscles and tendons fighting the abuse I have put them through.  Still, I have decided to ice it today and tomorrow and hopefully that will set me up for success for my Tuesday walk.

For the curious:  I have already walked over 30 miles since the symptoms began.  There is no swelling.  There is some limited movement but that is all.  Oh - and it hurts. 

That isn't pain, it's pride.

I walked my first 10 mile day in this training so far.

All week I have been trying not to psyche myself out about it.  I knew I would be alone and it would have been the longest I had walked yet.  In addition my right foot is not playing along as well as I would like.  But I knew that if I kept thinking about the negative, kept wondering if I could do it, that I would not do it.

I knew I could do it.  But the mind is either your friend or your enemy and I needed it to be my friend.  So I focused on the truth.  I could do this.  I would do this.  And I will do it again.

One of my friends/co-worker joined me for the last 4 miles.  That was a real boost and came at the right time.  I was happy to have the company and someone to enjoy the beautiful weather with.  I think I would have been just as successful without her, but it would not been nearly as enjoyable.

I've been so proud of myself all day I find myself smiling from time to time.  Accomplishment feels good.

I repeat the same workout this coming week.  Sunday 6, Tuesday 3, Thursday 5, Saturday 10.

Thanks for coming along.

Counting back from 1000

My foot began hurting a few days ago.  I don't think it is any serious injury - just a result of a whole lot of walkin'.  It's uncomfortable enough just getting around the house and work, but heading out to intentionally walk, aka train, on it isn't much of  a picnic.

This morning at mile 3 I started counting back from 1000.  999...998...997.   And on I went for some time, enjoying the scenery and the walk, my mind distracted from my foot.

658..657...656...On to mile 4.  Almost done.  410..409...... 657..656...

At first I don't notice.  In fact I don't notice that I jumped up 200 numbers until I hit 410 again.

Oh well - - I ended mile 5 somewhere in the 200s.  It was a good walk.  I finished.  That's good enough.  I limped a bit the rest of the day but I guess I need to be showing those I work with how hard I'm working at this walking thing. 

I joke.

Saturday I walked 8 miles.  I was so thankful to have a training partner during that walk because I could feel myself mentally crumbling toward the end.  My toes were killing me and it seemed like we were walking down hill a whole lot.  Sunday I got up and walked 6.  I really didn't feel up to it but I knew I would hate myself if I didn't do it.  I did it.  I'm glad I did it.

Muscles are achy but not anything I can't deal with.   This week I walk 3 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles Thursday, 10 miles Saturday and 6 miles on Sunday.  My 10 mile day will be a new mental challenge for me but one I am looking forward to conquering.

I'm still fundraising.  My goal is $5000 and I have reached $1700.  I would love for you to consider making a donation.  The money goes straight to the Susan G. Komen foundation.  Virtually every milestone made regarding breast cancer has come as a result of the Komen foundation.  Think of the first person that comes to your mind who has lost their battle with breast cancer and what you would give to have them back with their family.  Or think of the one person closest to you and what you would give to keep them healthy.  Your donation will help bring an end to breast cancer.  How awesome is that?

company

Today was my first 7 mile day.  When I think of it as 6 miles +1 it really doesn't seem all that long.  Someone I knew was interested in joining me for the long walks after she read this blog and how could I refuse!  This morning we met for the walk and it was by far the easiest and most enjoyable walk yet.  What a difference a little conversation makes!

I have walked a total of 135 miles now, 28 of those this week.  Next week is a little calmer but then the higher mile walks really kick in. 

I have raised 28% of my goal.  Would you consider making a donation if you have not already?  Visit this link to learn more.

define yourself

We were a little more than halfway to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall when I gave up.  My mind told me I was done - so I was done.  Thankfully, I had partners with me who set small goals.

"Keely, make it to that next patch of shade and you can rest." 

"Okay - we'll go two more switchbacks and then drink some water."

I felt like such an idiot but I made it to the top.  My people are book people.  We read about people who do great feats - we do not engage.  We are observers.  However, there is only so much you can observe from Yosemite valley, and I pity those who have not set out to see what there is to see.

I think of those tough hikes in Yosemite sometimes when I'm walking and doubt and the negativity creep into my mind.  I wonder what I am doing out there.  Who do I think I am?  Will anybody worry if I just go lay down under that tree for a while?  I'm tired.  I'm hot.  I'm hurting.

So I went online to see what I could do to overcome those thoughts.  There is almost nothing for long distance walkers out there, but there is a ton of info for marathoners.  Many suggested running mantras.

A running mantra is a short phrase (5 words or less ideally) that you can focus on instead of the negative thoughts.  I was reading through some of the runner's mantras when I read "define yourself"  and I knew that was my mantra.

For years I have defined myself as; injured, tired, busy, hot, night person, morning person, over-committed, etc.  They were excuses - - more importantly though I was defining who I was by a set of excuses.

This morning I passed a woman smoking a cigarette in her driveway.  I had just finished 3 miles and had about 1/2 mile left.  She says to me "I wish I had your energy"  and I thought to myself  "you do!"  But until she chooses that for herself I suppose she is defined as something else.  It's unfortunate.

me and my toes are no longer friends

104 miles down.


Most of me is loving this journey - - part of me does not.  That part of me that is not having fun is mostly my toes, my shins and my right hip.  I laugh and try to figure out how to cope with these things because it is only just beginning.  We are still 19 weeks from the event and I will be logging a whole lot of miles between now and then.

Yesterday's walk really hit me hard.  I didn't eat well before I went and had nothing but water with me.  I crashed hard at 4 miles and dragged 2 more after that - the lesson is learned.  I can assure you THAT will not happen again!

So far I have only found one walking area that has water faucets, which is unfortunate.  I did not want to do it but I am going to have to buy a Hydration pack (Camel) like I used to wear when I hiked.  There is just no other way to ensure I have the water I need.  I'm still looking for walking partners for the weekend walks.  Those longer walks allow a lot of time for negativity to enter the mind.  While that negativity will be a good thing to overcome, I just assume have a partner to distract me.  lol  Hey - I'll take what I can.

My toes really do hate me right now.

Interested in Donating?  Visit this link

boredom

This week I became very bored with my walks.  I have walked my neighborhood and a local park.  Now I feel like I have seen all there is to see and it has become really repetitive.  Take the added feat of adding at least 1 picture from each walk to my online album, and the challenge was almost more than I was capable of.

So I decided that my week day mornings would keep me near by, but I had to get away for the weekends.  This brought on another challenge; tracking mileage.  I found a good deal on a Nike + Sportband so next weekend's walks should be less stressful (No more trying to determine my pace and attempting to remember the time I began).

I am hoping to meet some other people in the area for some training walks.  My partner in crime, Jessica, is dealing with a back injury that is preventing her from joining me.  I think I will be fine up to 7 miles, but I really would like company for distances longer than that.  Maybe I'm not giving myself enough credit, but as of now I fear the negativity in my mind that can creep in when tired will overcome my desire to complete this.  I know I will complete this.  But I do hope to have someone else along the way who can understand this journey as well.

determination

Sometimes our bodies don't let us succeed and sometimes it isn't our bodies at all.

I have a bad back.  I have had a bad back for as long as I remember.  I get it from my dad.  One moment everything is fine and the next thing you know you get this lightning fast jolt of pain in your lower back.  The pain interferes with all efforts to be comfortable and I end up walking around like a duck for a few weeks.  A few months ago it happened, and it progressed to some of the worst pain I have endured.  It was at the start of this journey.  Actually it happened the day I decided to do this.

After a combination of meds and chiropractor visits, I felt ready to go.  Not 100% but enough to start moving.  A month later it happened again.  I walked 3 miles that morning.  It was a challenge and I had to really concentrate on every step.  Am I taking a longer stride with one leg over the other?  Am I turning out my left foot?


This morning I taped up my feet, stretched for 10 minutes and was ready to go and then it happened.  Lightning pain radiated down my back into my legs.  I walked to the medicine cabinet, took a naproxin and muscle relaxer and headed for the park.

Did I do the right thing?  I think so now.  I didn't for the 1st two miles - and especially the 1st mile.  The muscles in my back were so tight I was having a hard time walking normally.  I wondered if I should turn around.  I wondered what would happen if I got to the far side of the park and couldn't go any further.  I kept walking.

At mile 3 I could tell the muscle relaxer was working cause I was feeling loopy.

At mile 4 I traded out my water bottle for a fresh one in the car.  My body was screaming at me.  I started down the trail again.

At mile 5 I was feeling pretty good.  In fact, I knew I would feel better walking than I would sitting but it all must come to an end.  Now, I am laying on my bed, barely able to move but tomorrow is a rest day.  I fully plan to be ready to hit the pavement again on Tuesday morning.  I'm glad I gave my mind an opportunity to pull me through this physical journey today.  Sometimes the body won't cooperate - and sometimes it is the mind.  Today we both won.

Donate here

59 miles

Since I began my training and "pre- training" I have logged 59 miles. I have also become somewhat of an expert on feet and blister care. What I have not done is lose any weight. Oh sure - I lost 8lbs total but 7 has returned. Well - actually I seem to fluctuate all over the board. Of course, I am walking over 600 miles between the start of my training and November if I keep to the training schedule - and there is no chance I won't lose the weight. I am sure it is the muscle and re-arranging game that is going on. Still - not gonna lie I am a little disappointed.

On a upside - I have lost 4 inches from my waste, and 1 inch on both my thighs and hips. I am thankful to at least see *that* progress.

I have collected $1035.00 towards my fundraising goal.  That is 21%.  Please consider making a donation today to get me closer to 100%.  Donate here.

24 week kick off

The 24 week training schedule kicked off this morning.  I was up at 5:15 this morning and had a fantastic 3 mile walk.  I'm down to 15 minute miles now which will be really helpful when I am walking 6 miles before work.  Thankfully, the longer walks are on the weekend.


 Click here to donate.