A Permanent Reminder

2011 will be my fourth Susan G Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer 3 Day walk. Since 2009 I had wanted to commemorate my walking, and my dedication to keep walking in a meaningful way.

This past Saturday I finally did just that. I got a tattoo.
I got the idea from some other walkers who had a very similar design. As a matter of fact, I had a picture of their tattoo that I took in to my artist to use as a reference. It was a pink ribbon with pink Converse sneakers hanging by the shoelaces from the center.

However, since we don't walk in Converse All Stars (well some people might-I certainly don't) I wanted my Nike's. He took notes and we made the appointment.
I arrived Saturday at 11 for our appointment and he hadn't drawn it up yet. I did not bring the picture with me this time so I was a little nervous. He however, remembered what I wanted and sat down and started drawing.

About 20 minutes later he showed me the sketch and it was perfect. It was a more flowy ribbon with the sneakers hanging from the tail of the ribbon. Above it it said "3 Days" and underneath it "60 Miles".

I approved the desgin and we went about getting it inked on my right shoulder blade. About an hour later it was finished and I could not be any happier with the work. I will have a permanent reminder of my journey the past few years, and the next as needed until we have that cure. It brings me joy. It reminds me of what I have accomplished, and what I can accomplish.

So, for your viewing pleasure...here is my new tattoo commemorating the 3 Day walk.

Isn't it beautiful? The shoes are very similar to my Nike shoes I walked in. The colors are the same. The shading is amazing. I love everything about it. The design, the colors, and most importantly what it symbolizes to me.
If anyone who sees this is in the Phoenix metro area...go see Joe at Idle Hands tattoo. He was the artist.

A new adventure begins

I am about to embark on my 4th Susan G Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer 3 Day. I did not realize when I first started in 2008 that this would become my passion. I am grateful that it has.
I have become a Breast Cancer expert it seems like. I read every article I can find. I share stories. I post on my fantasy football sites the articles I read...remind the boys to do their exams as well as preach to them to make sure the women in thier lives are doing there exams.

I have been known on my team (Team Walking On-the best team ever!) to have a bit of a uh hem lack of training. My first year, I did 1 (that's right I said ONE) training walk. ANd it was a 15 miler at that. Needless to say, I didn't fare so well. THe second year I trained more...but finished the event on crutches and had that replaced with a walking boot after the event followed by over a month of physical therapy.
In 2010 I was determined to train and started off pretty well. My foot stated to bother me so I gave in (ok meeting an amazing man and falling in love did not help the motivation to train either). I did however take extra care with my shoes and got custom insoles. I had my best walk to date.

So here I am ready to start 2011. I'm going to the gym to lose weight, I did my first 1/2 marathon (ok I did 9 of the 13.1 don't chastise me), and I'm going to run my first Pat's Run which is 4.2 miles all to help get me in 3 day walking shape. I've signed up to be a training walk leader. I can't slack on training if I'm leading the walks right? Right?
I also submitted an application to be a 3 day ambassador. I felt like one already to all my "boys" as I call them. Oh-I need to tell you all about my boys-but I'll get to that later.
I received a lovely email telling me I was accepted. So here I am, ready for my 4th walk and I am going to be a 3 day Ambassador. Oh the stories I can tell. I have PLENTY of horror stories of what NOT to do (unfortunately, I had to learn these all the hard way).

Before I tell my first horror story, let me talk about my "boys". I am a bit of a tom boy (but also a girlie girl and yes I understand the complete contradiction). I am a sports junkie and play fantasy football (12 leagues isn't too many is it?) Most of my leagues are online with guys I have never met in real life, yet who I talk to either on the site (shout out to pigskinaddiction.com), by email, or by text. These boys have become some of my biggest supporters. I would not be able to walk each year if it were not for them. Literally. Last year A week and ahalf before the deadline to check in online to tent with my team, I had only about $800. As a single mom putting down my debit card to make up the difference was daunting. It was a risk I would not be able to take and I knew I would not be able to walk. I made a quick post to tell them and say sorry that I would not be able to walk for thier loved ones this year. This was unacceptable to them. Over the next week I received email notification after email notification that another donation had come in. My boys came through and in a BIG way. One of the guys had a friend who passed away from cancer and his family created the "Mike McNeil Organization". He got them to donate a large sum. As a result on the event I wore one of their shirts from their pub crawl. It was a hit with all who saw it. It said "Boo Cancer. Hooray Beer". I love my boys and I love the support both emotional and financial they give me. I am also honored that they trust me to walk for their loved ones and I do it honorably and humbly.

Ok...my first horror story. For any first timer, PLEASE let his be a lesson in what NOT to do.
Day 2 of my first walk in 2008, I wore a pair of skorts. I had worn them around but again, since I had done all of 1 training walk hadn't worn them enough. They crept up in the thighs. Anyone of you who have a little weight and thighs that touch know exactly what I am talking about. As a result of the "creepage" I was also starting to get some chafing. Well, we have all been taught (or will be taught) that when you start to get a hot spot on your foot to put some mole skin on it. So I thought to myself "It works on the feet, it should work for this too right?"...I can hear y'all start to gasp and giggle already...so I took 2 full sheets of mole skin and slapped one on each thigh. Seemed like a good idea at the time. On I proceeded to walk and it went fairly well until my calf muscles seized.
So that night in the showers I tried to peel the mole skin off. Not an easy feat. One that was not entirely successful either. I was left with quite a bit of adhesive on my thighs. Did I mention that body heat makes the adhesive very sticky? No? Did I mention that I slept in my clothes for day 3 with my adhesive filled thighs? No. Well it does, and I did. Everytime I hit the port-a-potty I literally had to PEEL my pants away from my very sticky thighs. I had to take rubbing alcohol to them at home to get the adhesive off (which add to the bit of chafing was not fun. I am sure my boys learned some new words to take to school).

So, learn from me. Mole skin on a hot spot on the foot =good. Mole skin on a chafing thigh=not good.

I will be imparting more of my "What Not To Do" lessons as I blog on my training and my 4th walk in November.

Tribute to Scott Wedell-the little brother I never met

The little brother I never met.



I adored Scott Wedell and loved him like a little brother. Crazy considering we had never met. But I felt a connection to him from our first interactions.

When I drew him in the secret Santa exchange, I was thrilled. I still remember sending him an ASU hat (to bring a little of the desert to him) and his worm and scorpion suckers. I recall his message to me when he got them. He thought they were cool…in that gross but awesome way scorpion and worm suckers are cool.

We bonded over his love of PF Chang’s. I also loved it and did before I even started working for them.

It was that love of our food, and his struggle that first sprung me into action. I went to the CFO’s admin and told her all about this sports loving, cancer fighting guy and simply asked “What can we do?” Next thing I know I’ve got a hat, shirt, bracelet, mini Terracotta Warrior statue, Lucky Cat, and gift cards for him. I was jealous. I didn’t even have a warrior statue and wanted one! I went around to my team and again, told them all about Scott and how he loved us and sports. Everyone signed a card for him. I packaged it up and sent it to him. He was so excited when he received it as he had no CLUE it was coming. He told me how much he loved it and couldn’t wait to go and order more Chang’s.

From then on, Scott was a part of the PF Chang’s family. I would get asked by team members and Mary the admin to the CFO how he was doing. I’d give them updates. We all looked up and learned more about his cancer. We all looked into the Proton Radiation he was undergoing. He was a part of us…and today, we are all saddened.

Scott and I debated in the NFL debates last year. He made me think. Here was this young “kid” who knew more than me. That didn’t seem right. But that was Scott. He knew more about stats and sports than people twice his age. He studied, he memorized, he learned and he shared that knowledge. He was a great contributor who wrote thoughtful and insightful articles. Sure there was some homerism in there but aren’t we all big homers when it comes to our teams?

On his Bleacher Report profile, he stated he hoped to be a sports writer. Little did he know…he already was.

In 2009, I participated in my 2nd Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 day walk. While mainly a walk for Breast Cancer, I walk for all cancers. It was the first year I walked for Scott. Last year, I again walked for Scott as well as others. In 2011, instead of walking in support of Scott, I will be walking in memory of him. It doesn’t seem right, and it doesn’t seem fair. I would gladly change places with him. I’ve lived. I’ve loved. I’ve experienced the joy of being a parent, of marriage. I had the fun of going away to college and the parties that go along with it. These are things Scott will miss out on. Things that the Rhabdomyosarcoma took from him.

They say people come into your life for a reason. Scott came into all of ours to teach us and show us what true strength and courage looks like and acts like. Here was an amazing young man, his whole life ahead of him fighting for just one more day…one more hour, one more birthday, Christmas, football season. And yet, I can’t recall a single moment where he ever complained. He didn’t want our sympathy. No one ever gave him pity. When we expressed our love and concerns, he tried to make us feel better, when we were trying so hard to do that for him. Scott never had that “woe is me” attitude. He had once said that he had come to grips with his death. I remember how much that shook me. How I felt it was so unfair that at his young age he should have to THINK about his own death, much less come to grips with it. It was like he had accepted his path. How at 36 even I haven’t come to grips with my own death yet. His concern was for his family and friends. Typical Scott. He had a tender, gentle, and caring heart about him. He was a comedian and would always make me laugh and smile. Scott had a quit wit and a sharp sense of humor that will greatly be missed by all who knew him.

Some people come into our lives for a season, some for a lifetime. While his lifetime has now ended, he will forever live in our hearts, our minds, and our memories. Scott will be in all our lives for a lifetime and beyond.

While he taught us so much, how to stand in the face of adversity greater than most of us have ever and hopefully will ever know, I think what he will be the most thrilled with…is that he turned each and every one of us into Jets fans…if only for a few games. I believe in my heart of hearts, that he is looking down on us, laughing, smiling, eyes shining saying, “So THIS is what it took to convert you all?” and “About damn time!” Now, all he has left is to convert us to TCU fans. But I have an inkling that some of us will cheer for them a little more, and a little louder next season to make up for the voice they lost.

Scott…RIP my friend. You will always be remembered and loved.

God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around you and whispered, “Come with me”.
With tearful eyes we watched, and saw you pass away.
Although we love you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stops beating, hard working hands at rest
God broke our heart to prove to us, he only takes the best.

I wrote this for sportsjabbet.net about Scott Wedell who at the very young age of 19 lost his battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma- a fairly rare form of cancer. Our little corner of the Internet is certainly not the same without him.

What's the difference between a half marathon and the 3 day?

Ok, other than the actual milegae involved overall (13.1 miles compared to 60), what is the difference between walking (with a small amount of running) a half marathon and walking 1 day in the Breast Cancer 3 day walk?

In reality...a LOT. In the 3 day, we take frequent breaks (oh how I love the Pit Stops). We also have as much time as we need (as long as the sun is out) to finish. Ok so there are small considerations but there is AMPLE time to get to each stop and lunch.

I recently walked/ran the PF Chang's 1/2 marathon. It was my first. I will say it was a lot harder than the 3 day. We were given 4 hours from when the first group started to finish. That is not a lot of time. I have a tiny bladder (seriously, when pregnant they need to relocate my desk into the restroom-ugh) and if I'm drinking I need to stop. There were much less places to stop which created long lines and a serious delay. I was a bit frustrated that I felt so rushed to complete the event. As it ends up, I had to get bussed to the end (I'm slow what can I say). By having to get bussed, I was not going to be able to complete the ocurse and walk through the finish line. Well, this was unacceptable to me. I walked around and moved a baricade to get back on the course so I could finish. I ended up walking about 9 miles of the 13.1. Not too shabby for a first timer. However, had there not been such a rush, I know I could have finished all 13.1 miles.

There were similarities to the events however. The half marathon had its share of supporters. Mainly local cheerleaders but they were wonderful. There were also people is funny costumes. I don't know about you but I don't want to run (or walk) 13.1 miles with a tutu on! I give credit to those that do. I don't envy them their port-a-potty breaks though. :-)

I did enjoy both events and came across quite a few 3 day alumni walking in the half marathon. As one told me as we were crossing that finish line "This is a good training walk". Indeed it was.

I would love to do the half marathon again, and I guess to finish on time I need to either walk faster or run more, or drink less so I have to pee less. I did suggest to the organizers that they give a tad bit more time. I think more people would be able to finish and that is one heck of an accomplishment. I think more people would come back if they were not "rushed through" as I along with others felt.

Until then, I'll continue to walk the Susan G Komen for the Cure 3 day walk!