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.