The 3 Day - Day 1

The 4 am wake up call came too early, we jumped out of bed drank our coffee got dressed and headed out. The hotel we were at was kind enough to have a shuttle for us, even though they normally don't start running till 7 am. When we got to Port Authority it was still dark. We dropped off our gear at the gear truck and was greeted by the overly awake and excited crew. I said bye to my mom and started to make my way where opening ceremony would be. I picked up my lanyard, signed Jeana's name to one of the memorial ribbons on the flag. I wrote my goal on a dot that was a on a big banner, and picked up some last minute things in the shop3day.com store. I was there before most of the walkers were there, because I went with my mom who had to be there at 5am. I took some pictures, and collected stickers at each on of the giant globe lights, and of course got my picture taken in front of the opening ceremonies sign. As the sun came up the sky turned bright pink, it was quite a sight.

Soon all the walkers were led into the circle where the ceremony would take place. Opening ceremonies was beautiful, I cried (again). Soon we were off and walking, we started walking past the Browns stadium and the Rock Hall. Before we realised it we were at pit stop 1. Which seemed to come up so soon. There was a long line for everything, but we got in and out in good time. I finally found Jenn and Julie who I walked with for the rest of the day. There was a really cool bridge we walked over before pit 2. When we arrived at pit 2 the sun was out, so I used the worst sunscreen ever. It was sticky and oily eckkk. I took care of the hot spot I got. I ate a Pb&j graham cracker sandwich....sounds gross but it is so good.

We had lunch in the park, which was nice and shady. Lunch was a turkey sandwich, chips, and apple. I took care of the new hot spots, re-applied body glide to my feet and changed my socks. As we were leaving lunch I had the opportunity to carry the "my children" flag to the next pit stop. That was my only flag I wanted to carry that weekend. We had a huge hill we had to walk up. Julie was in a lot of pain so she took the van to the next stop. A lot of walkers did that and for good reason that hill was steep. Jenn and I walked together for the rest of the day. I got lots of good pictures along the way.

Lots of families had water, Popsicles, candy, coffee and even beer along the way. The signs in yards and on the light posts kept us going. There were 2 cheering stations that day, and they always seemed to be exactly when we needed them.

When I got to camp, I was so sore and hot! I was greeted buy the Kid Crew that drew inspirational sayings on the sidewalk, and played music for us. Some of the walker stalkers were at the finish line too. For anyone that has never walked before, a walker stalker is someone that shows up all along the route everyday cheering you on. There was Jerry...who tells you that you look strong, and that you are doing great. He is always a joy to see. There was also and group of three men that cheered us on all weekend, and the kid crew. Then there is the hug lady, she greets you when you arrive at camp and gives a hug to each one of the 900 walkers.

I grabbed my bag and tent, only to find out that someone took my assigned spot. Grrr so I had to limp over to the gear and tent crew to find out where I should go. I finally got a new spot. I tried to put up my tent, but its not easy to do alone. Some of the camp angels came over and did it for me, I tried to help but they just smiled and told me to rest. I decorated my tent while I waited for dinner and my mom to get back to camp. Dinner that night was steak, potatoes, salad, green beans and apple pie. It was yummy. While I was eating I ran into Michael and Monica from Chicago. I made their logo and designed their tattoos. They brought me homemade chocolate chip cookies and hugs.

I showered in a semi truck for the first time in my life. I have to say that was the best shower ever (or at least it felt like that after being covered in sweat and nasty sunscreen) There was karaoke that night, but I missed it because I was checking out the 3 Day main street. New Balance had a store where I got a new shirt. The 3 day had their store where I got these kick ass pink pajama pants that say kindness rocks. Energiser had massages and massage chairs as well as laptops with Internet access. AT&T had phone charging, so I dropped my phone off for a while. There was so much to do at camp, its a shame I didn't have the chance to do it all. Lights out was at 9pm but we were all so tired it was not a problem to fall asleep.

The night before the walk

Twas the night before the 3 day...and man was I pumped! I had packed my bag, and then checked it about a hundred times. I said goodbye to my kids and I was off to the hotel. We stayed at the Double Tree hotel because the host hotel was full, but it ended up being much closer to opening ceremonies. My mom left for her crew meeting and I was left behind to relax before the big day. But I was too excited to sit around so I decided to go for a walk and check out the sites on the lakefront. It originally was only supposed to be a quick walk to the rock hall to take some pictures, but I decided to take a sneak peak of where opening ceremonies would be held.  My heart started to race when I saw the first of many signs for the 3 day. I walked along the fence taking pictures with my phone, and then decided to step inside and try to find my mom. Yes I crashed the crew meeting.

It was pretty cool to hear all of what they had to say. After the separate crew meetings they introduced each crew one at a time, and they danced their way into the tent for the all crew meeting. My mom was a bus liaison and one of there members was not there, so they pulled me over and I filled in for her when they were introduced. It was a little weird, but fun.

A veteran walker and survivor shared her story, and it was very moving. They crew members were so nice and so full of energy. I got to watch the dress rehearsal for opening ceremonies, which made me cry. I also got my first blisters of the weekend, from wearing brand new flip flops, one giant blister on each foot between my toes. This made me so mad, but it was a dumb move on my part. I ran into Julie a women I met on Facebook, I had already planned on walking with her and her team on day one. So it was nice to meet her ahead of time. My mom bought me a 3 day bandanna to wear on day one and some 3 day pins...the first of many I would collect this weekend.

After the meeting, we enjoyed Starbucks at the hotel, went swimming, took care of my blisters and enjoyed a very nice but ridiculously expensive dinner at the hotel, then went to sleep early with a 4 am wake up call.

I'm a nervous wreck

It has been a while since I last wrote. I was not dead, nor did I quit the 3 Day, but my family did experience a crisis that put everything on hold. When I say everything I mean EVERYTHING. I stopped training, and fundraising, I just wanted to focus on my family first. Once things settled down and things started to go back to normal I realised that I wanted to walk more than ever. I started picking up the items I still needed, started walking again, kicked up the cross training (which I continued through everything) and bought my second pair of new balance shoes. I booked the hotel for Thursday night, the host hotel was full so we are staying at their sister hotel down the street.

My mom switched to the crew a few months ago and my husband just recently made the change to Camp logistics. They were in need of strong men that didn't mind hard work and heavy lifting. Which is exactly what my hubby does for a living, so I will be walking alone this year. OK OK I know I'm not actually alone, I'm walking with thousands of other people. I am a naturally shy and I suffer from anxiety so I am overwhelmed and nervous about going without anyone I know. But at least my family/team will be with me at camp.

The closer the event gets the more nervous I become. I'm sure that its only because this is my first walk. I don't know what to expect other than what I have been told, and I am walking without my team now. I find my self stressing about everything. What to pack, what to carry on the walk, will it all fit? Aahhh. when I bought my "waist pack" (yes I refuse to call it a fanny pack) I didn't keep in mind the things I would have to carry other than the drinks. So finding ways for it all to fit as been a challenge. As silly as it may sound the biggest problem I had was sunscreen. I burn really easy, and knowing Cleveland there is a good chance that it will be HOT and sunny...or raining and cold all in the same day. I wear a SPF 90 spray on no rub sunscreen. But the bottle doesn't fit in my pack. So I bought a travel size of lotion, but I realised that I wont have the guts to ask a stranger to rub lotion on my back (I'm wearing a tank top) So I really needed the spray. Go ahead and laugh now. This is all very petty, but to me it was important. So after trying out a lot of other options I found a neoprene beer bottle holder that zips up. So the sunscreen went in there, and clipped onto my pack. But then it was bouncing every step I took. (you can laugh again, I did) So I finally found the armband for my Ipod and strapped it to the pack,still clipped of course. It may look silly but it works. One problem down 50 more to go.

In my pack, is 2 water bottles, sunscreen, bandaids, moleskin (pre-cut), wet wipes, socks, chapstick, bodyglide, camera, 2 extra batteries and my cell phone (poncho and flip flops if it rains- but im not sure where that will fit) I plan on carrying some cash, but that will go with my credentials. Dont forget to use ZIPLOCK bags to put this stuff in. Nothing worse than a wet cell phone or camera...and bandaids dont stick well when soaked.

I am trying to relax, and keep laughing through all this stuff. This is supposed to be fun and I caught myself turning it into something its not. I read the underground guide to the 3 day, that Larry wrote. Which if you haven't read it you need to. He talks all about packing too much. I am trying to carry only what is necessary. I am taking advise from all the veteran walkers. I'm sure I'll be fine if I just relax. :) So when packing take into consideration the forcast for your walk. Carry only what you really need to, and the same goes with your bag at camp. And if you are walking in Cleveland, come find me i'll be looking for someone to walk with :D

The Recharge I needed

Training is in full swing, fundraising is a constant effort and we are making progress. However I started to feel a little worn out, both emotionally and physically. Between training walks I have cross training and running, because I am also working very hard on loosing weight and strength training. There are my 2 kids, my two dogs, the horses, housework and cooking. (sigh) I am just a tad overwhelmed. When I first registered for the 3 day I dove into training and fundraising. I was pumped, excited and fearless. But the more I push myself the worse it gets. My husband and I thought that going to the 3 Day preview expo to get a "recharge" I got more than I bargained for.

When we got their we went to the "Life on the 3 Day" seminar. Which for a 1st time walker is a must! It was an hour long, it was led by walkers that have done this numerous times. We watched a slide show of photos from past walks. We we told how our day and night was going to go on each day of the walk. We learned what goes on at opening and closing ceremonies. What camp was like, what you should and shouldn't pack. After the presentation, there was a question and answer session.

There were other seminars they included "Attack the Pack" "Blister care and prevention" and "Injury Prevention" Because we arrived a little late, we didn't have enough time to participate in the others because we wanted to look around the expo hall. There was a giveaway bag filled with AWESOME stuff from NB and sponsors; Congratulations to Diana Prehn for winning! We did get grab bags of goodies- Snacks, tampons, sun screen, wet wipes and more. I am all about freebies!

They had some tents set up showing how everything would fit and work out. They even had a booth just for tent decorating. There were booths about fundraising, training, breast health and SHOPPING. In Cleveland Achilles and New Balance were there with lots of stuff for sale. New Balance held fittings...the even test the way you walk to see where your pressure points are and help find a shoe best for you. They had great deals and sales. Before we left we took our pictures in front of the Cleveland banner and we got the chance to write letters to each other, to receive at camp. You can even decorate signs for the route. I even wrote a letter to my future self, reminding me of how far I have come and to stop whining about my feet :) Overall it was a lot of fun. I met a lot of great people, and got the motivation boost I desperately needed.

Drink, Pee, NO IV

There is a motto at the 3 day "Drink, Pee, no IV." There is less than 90 days to the Cleveland 3 day. I have been hard at work with fundraising and going on plenty of training walks. The weather is warming up and the walkers are getting longer which reminds me why the topic of hydration on the 3 day and during training is SO IMPORTANT.

Each walker is told to drink both water and Gatorade during the walk. To prevent Hyponatremia (low sodium) is a rare but serious condition that can cause weakness, cramps, swollen hands and feet, confusion, and even seizures.

Pre-training walk/Pre-event:

• Drink an extra 8 glasses (64 ounces or 2 quarts) of fluid during the 24 hours before a long training walk or the event.
• Drink 2 glasses (16 ounces or 1 pint) of fluid 2 hours before exercise. This will allow time to excrete the excess fluid prior to walking. Remember, in hot or humid weather you may need to drink more fluids.

During your walk: Monitor your fluid intake. Drink when thirsty. Your urine should be dilute and you should be urinating frequently. Try to consume 4 to 5 ounces of fluid per mile. This should include water and sports drink. Post Walk: Drink a combination of water and sports drink and consume food with some salt after exercising more than 1 hour.

We all know we need a water bottle or hydration pack while on the 3 day, but exactly how much do you have to actually carry? On the walk there is some form of pit stop or grab and go every 3 or so miles. So based on the recommendations given by the 3 day coaches, you need to carry at least 12-15oz with you and refill at EVERY stop. My walk is in in the end of July and it can be very hot and I want to be as comfortable as possible. So carrying anything heavy or bulky is not an option. I found a really attractive lightweight fanny pack style pack. It is made by Amphipod, I bought it online @ runningwarehouse.com.  It bought the 24oz lite version. It has an adjustable wide belt. It has (2) 12oz bottles that each sit on a slant with a small pouch in between to carry the other little things you may need. The bottles are more flat than round, so they don't bounce around and sit flush with my back. This company has multiple versions in all different sizes. I can now fill up with both water and sports drink at each stop. What I have found about this pack is that its not to heavy even when full. I did consider a pack that has just one larger bottle, but I felt unbalanced and over 20 miles that could cause issues.

A lot of walkers like the camelbak style packs, which look like a backpack and has a leak proof bladder. They range in sizes and some can hold a LOT of water. For me there is a few problems with this type.

1. My back sweats and my shoulders hurt when carrying a backpack in the heat, so it wouldn't work for me on a long distance walk.
2. I would have to switch every other stop between water and Gatorade. I'm not even sure if I would want to put a sticky sports drink in that bladder, for cleaning reasons.
3. and finally I don't believe that you should lug around more than you need. Why carry 2 liters when you don't have to. Comfort on the 3 day is the difference between having fun and being miserable.

I am NOT saying steer clear of these. I am just giving the reasons it wouldn't work for ME. To each their own. What works for me may not work for you and visa versa.

Latest logos

I have openings again for logos. In addition to team logos for shirts I have been making letterheads, flyers, donation cards and graphics for fundraisers. Here are some of the latest. I'm sure there will be more to see soon. Remember if you got a logo from me be sure to spread the word.

Where have you been?

Well It has been quite a while since I have posted on my blog. At the end of March I went on a business trip with my husband to St. Louis, I took my laptop with me to work on some logo requests I had. Well when I got to my hotel room and turned the power on I got the black screen of death- far worse than the blue, lol. I tried everything but I couldn't get windows to open. So I sent it out for repair. Well it took FAR too long and the teams waiting for logos were getting kind of impatient. So I went out and got a brand new laptop. A couple weeks later I did get back the old one, complete with a new hard drive but I lost EVERYTHING, all my logos all my clip art, and all of my photos including my kids pictures. So now for my public service announcement: BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM FREQUENTLY, I didn't and learned my lesson. Well the new laptop was great with the exception that my only copy of photoshop was gone, and that opened up a whole new can of worms. Ahhhh, well now I am trying to get everything back in order.

Whats the saying? "what can go wrong will?" This last few weeks have been completely insane. Issues with my boys; one is loosing a tooth, one is teething, and my husband and walking partner has something seriously wrong with his foot and the Dr thinks is gout.  Then over the last couple days I noticed a pain in my back between my shoulder blades but more on the right side. It got worse and worse till it had me in tears and I went to the ER. There was no injury, which I could have told them. Instead the benign lesions on my liver are acting up and I was having referred pain. Which means lucky me I get to go through lots of testing again. I pray everyday that they stay benign, I focus so much on breast cancer, that the c word is always in the back of my mind as a possible issue. Last thing I need now is a cancer scare. But I'm at home with severe pain and nausea with my two young boys, while my husband is out of town for the week.

I have decided to push past my fears and discomfort and work hard on my logos and fundraising. In a way I am hoping karma will roll around in my favor for once. So please keep our family in your prayers too. I will be sure to post updates on the whole liver issue when I know something. I am stuck between a Dr that isn't worried at all, and one that is very concerned...hey guys I'm not a case study or a medical mystery, so please find out whats wrong with me, before it becomes too late to do anything about it.

I love all my 3 day walkers I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to. Your positive attitudes are exactly what I need right now. I don't mean to post something depressing or unrelated to the 3 day, but I just had some people asking questions, so I hope that sums up everything