I've stopped and started several blog posts this last week. They either started out real strong and fizzled out quickly or were kind of lame from the beginning. I want to talk about why I'm walking, why this cause has become a big issue for me, why - after doing this 60 miles last time - I am knowingly putting my feet through that torture again. But I honestly don't know where to start.
I guess I'll start with a story that will make you all think I'm crazy. This is something I don't think I've ever shared with anyone before. (And now I'm sharing it with anyone who reads this! Way to start small, Me.)
I don't know where I heard the term "breast cancer" first. I do know that I was young when I came to understand what it meant. I remember obsessing over the fact that a lump could turn into something deadly in your own body; that your body could essentially turn on itself. I don't know how or why, but I became convinced I would get breast cancer on the outer side of my left breast. I checked for lumps constantly and, as any woman knows, teenage years are extremely lumpy years. I would poke and poke and poke and ensure nothing ever changed size (had no real knowledge of what to look for, just lumps). Never spoke of it to my mom, convinced that if I uttered my fears they would be realized.
When I finally started going in for checks, I was educated on what to look for, how to do it, and when to be worried. It alleviated most of my anxiety over the issue, but to this day I still get freaked out a little when I go to do my self breast exam.
So, this is why I'm walking: I want to help find a cure for future generations of girls so they don't have to worry, wonder, and fret about breast cancer. There are so many things to stress about already, let us take one off the table.
60 miles is a long way. It is Seattle to Olympia; Garden Grove to Malibu. Trust me, walking 20 miles for three days straight is no picnic. Blisters, black toenails, and quivering leg muscles are in my future. But I do it gladly if it will help raise awareness and funds for research to get even a little bit closer to finding a cure. 60 miles I can do.
It sucks that we have to live in a world where diseases like breast cancer must take up our time and thoughts. Let's help end it so future generations can think about more worth-while things. Let's make it so breast cancer is a part of medical history, not emerging medical research.
Please join me by donating today. I'll gladly do the walking and campaigning knowing I have your love and support.
Thanks.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Walk A Mile
I walk every day whether I feel like it or not. I gave up my car two years ago when driving my old junker became so infuriating (because of major leaking and beeping issues) I decided I'd rather walk through a blizzard naked than get back in that car one more time. So, I started walking everywhere - clothed for the sake of humanity.
I've become such a walking snob. I don't count anything under 5 miles of straight walking exercise even though I know it doesn't matter the distance, it only matters that you are out and doing it.
Yesterday, I did my first real training walk after work. It was a nice day when I got home, so I changed clothes real quick (before the weather changed its mind) and out the door I went. There are two things you should know - or actually, you probably shouldn't know but I'll tell you anyway - about my exercise wardrobe:
1. I wear baby-blue old pj bottoms to walk in. I'm always the only one in color walking around the track.
2. I inevitably never have a pocket to keep my keys in, so they end up jangling around in my sports bra. Pockets! Why don't any of my workout clothes have pockets?
As it was my first real walk of the season, I decided to just go up to the park and do laps. It's relatively flat with a slight incline and some steps to get a good variation. Since I hadn't walked for exercise in, oh, about four months, I figured it would be a good starting point. My goal was 5-6 miles which translates into 10-12 laps.
Also, the park is fantastic when you're walking alone because of all the people watching opportunities. Last night was no exception. There were the typical Bellevue-ites out with their tiny dogs, walking in heels on gravel. There was the stereotypical wealthy couple: her with her fake boobs and skin-tight everything, him with his designer shades and the phone clutched to ear. Lots of middle-aged women with their dogs chatting in the middle of the track, dogs sniffing and growling with wagging tails.
And then there were the single walkers like me. These people I enjoy watching the most. I notice I tend to make up stories about why they aren't walking with anyone. She spent the day homeschooling her three kids and now that Dad's home, she gets an hour to herself to unwind. He spent the day having tests run and found out he needs to start exercising to stave off high blood pressure. That one had a fight with his lover and needs to cool off. She wants to shed just a little more so she can fit into her dress for her high school reunion. I invariably start to wonder if anyone else there is walking like I am: to get ready for 60 miles. I wonder if I were to wear a sign if any one of them would come up and say they are walking for the same reason. Perhaps next time I go, I'll wear my old 3-Day shirt and see.
Those 5 miles were invigorating and eye-opening. When I walk for exercise, I walk at a good clip. I was done with 5 miles in a little over an hour. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy that endorphin rush that only exercising can give you. It was eye-opening because today my glutes and hamstrings are singing. I have a long way to go before I'm in shape!
I've become such a walking snob. I don't count anything under 5 miles of straight walking exercise even though I know it doesn't matter the distance, it only matters that you are out and doing it.
Yesterday, I did my first real training walk after work. It was a nice day when I got home, so I changed clothes real quick (before the weather changed its mind) and out the door I went. There are two things you should know - or actually, you probably shouldn't know but I'll tell you anyway - about my exercise wardrobe:
1. I wear baby-blue old pj bottoms to walk in. I'm always the only one in color walking around the track.
2. I inevitably never have a pocket to keep my keys in, so they end up jangling around in my sports bra. Pockets! Why don't any of my workout clothes have pockets?
As it was my first real walk of the season, I decided to just go up to the park and do laps. It's relatively flat with a slight incline and some steps to get a good variation. Since I hadn't walked for exercise in, oh, about four months, I figured it would be a good starting point. My goal was 5-6 miles which translates into 10-12 laps.
Also, the park is fantastic when you're walking alone because of all the people watching opportunities. Last night was no exception. There were the typical Bellevue-ites out with their tiny dogs, walking in heels on gravel. There was the stereotypical wealthy couple: her with her fake boobs and skin-tight everything, him with his designer shades and the phone clutched to ear. Lots of middle-aged women with their dogs chatting in the middle of the track, dogs sniffing and growling with wagging tails.
And then there were the single walkers like me. These people I enjoy watching the most. I notice I tend to make up stories about why they aren't walking with anyone. She spent the day homeschooling her three kids and now that Dad's home, she gets an hour to herself to unwind. He spent the day having tests run and found out he needs to start exercising to stave off high blood pressure. That one had a fight with his lover and needs to cool off. She wants to shed just a little more so she can fit into her dress for her high school reunion. I invariably start to wonder if anyone else there is walking like I am: to get ready for 60 miles. I wonder if I were to wear a sign if any one of them would come up and say they are walking for the same reason. Perhaps next time I go, I'll wear my old 3-Day shirt and see.
Those 5 miles were invigorating and eye-opening. When I walk for exercise, I walk at a good clip. I was done with 5 miles in a little over an hour. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy that endorphin rush that only exercising can give you. It was eye-opening because today my glutes and hamstrings are singing. I have a long way to go before I'm in shape!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Cookies for a Cure
Last night, I baked!
I'd been thinking about how I wanted to kick off this year's fundraising for a month or so and then I found the cutest cookie cutter, and I knew sugar cookies were the way to go! As I'd never made sugar cookies before (on my own), I was a little nervous. Anyone who has eaten my food knows I tend to be cautious in cooking to the point where everything turns out well-done. Cookies are no exception. I like to blame it on my great grandmother who served me many a crispy chocolate chip in my impressionable early days, but that excuse only goes so far.
 |
| The Beginning |
So, I squared my shoulders, put my head down and got to business. And lo! Cookies were born! *An aside here: I never knew how many cookies one batch of sugar cookie dough could make. My final count was 116.
 |
| My Pink Cookie Army - Can you spot the "wounded soldier?" |
Thank you, coworkers for donating to the cause for a sugary treat! This one fundraiser pulled in $47.50. Not a bad start toward my goal!
The Simple Things
Walking. It's such a simple thing to do. As children, it was our first real mode of transportation. As adults, it is a form of exercise and stress-reducer. One foot in front of the other. It might be slow, it might take time, but so long as you continue to put one foot in front of the other, you will reach your destination.
I have signed up again this year to take part in the Seattle 3-Day for the Cure. This is a 60 mile walk over three days (roughly 20 miles per day) benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I have pledged to raise $2,300 before September 16th when I start my 3-Day journey in Seattle with thousands of other participants.
$2,300 and 60 miles may seem like a lot to ask from one person. I know the first year I took on this challenge, it seemed almost impossible. How am I, little ol' me, going to persuade people to hand me money for charity? I start by asking, continue by entertaining, and - if push comes to shove - end by begging. Most of the time though, it doesn't take much persuading. Breast cancer is, after all, the #2 cancer killer among women. It is a scary fact that every woman lives with every time she does her self-check and thinks she might feel a lump. #2. The only thing that beats breast cancer is lung cancer. I'd love to see this number fall off the map. I've known too many people over the years who have been diagnosed with this awful disease. My goal in walking and in raising funds is to raise awareness and give research a chance to find a cure before the next generation of little girls grows up and has to face the #2 cancer killer of women. Mine is a simple task.
Today starts my campaign to educate while I raise funds in preparation for the 3-Day walk starting in Seattle on September 16th. Tomorrow starts my walk training, rain or shine (though, I'm really hoping for shine!). If any of you are in the Seattle area and ever feel the need to go on an extended (or short, I'm not picky!) walk one day, please let me know. I'm always looking for walking buddies! Or, if you've ever wondered what it would be like to walk between cities (like, say, from Bellevue to Issaquah or Bellevue to Seattle or Redmond to Issaquah) don't hesitate to let me know you're interested. Those are just some of the walks I plan on doing this year. 60 miles is a long way - longer than you realize until you're on day three with 5 miles to go and you're legs and feet hurt so bad that curb in front of you might as well be Mount Everest. But in the end, it's worth it. Because walking? It's a simple thing to do.
The difficult thing is getting a diagnosis of Cancer. Making choices you'd never thought you'd have to make and then watch your family worry while you're terrified is difficult. Donating money and walking miles is simple by comparison.
If you have a moment and some spare cash, please consider helping me to reach my goal of $2300 by clicking on the Donate button to the right. Let's do what we can to help those that we can. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
I have signed up again this year to take part in the Seattle 3-Day for the Cure. This is a 60 mile walk over three days (roughly 20 miles per day) benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I have pledged to raise $2,300 before September 16th when I start my 3-Day journey in Seattle with thousands of other participants.
$2,300 and 60 miles may seem like a lot to ask from one person. I know the first year I took on this challenge, it seemed almost impossible. How am I, little ol' me, going to persuade people to hand me money for charity? I start by asking, continue by entertaining, and - if push comes to shove - end by begging. Most of the time though, it doesn't take much persuading. Breast cancer is, after all, the #2 cancer killer among women. It is a scary fact that every woman lives with every time she does her self-check and thinks she might feel a lump. #2. The only thing that beats breast cancer is lung cancer. I'd love to see this number fall off the map. I've known too many people over the years who have been diagnosed with this awful disease. My goal in walking and in raising funds is to raise awareness and give research a chance to find a cure before the next generation of little girls grows up and has to face the #2 cancer killer of women. Mine is a simple task.
Today starts my campaign to educate while I raise funds in preparation for the 3-Day walk starting in Seattle on September 16th. Tomorrow starts my walk training, rain or shine (though, I'm really hoping for shine!). If any of you are in the Seattle area and ever feel the need to go on an extended (or short, I'm not picky!) walk one day, please let me know. I'm always looking for walking buddies! Or, if you've ever wondered what it would be like to walk between cities (like, say, from Bellevue to Issaquah or Bellevue to Seattle or Redmond to Issaquah) don't hesitate to let me know you're interested. Those are just some of the walks I plan on doing this year. 60 miles is a long way - longer than you realize until you're on day three with 5 miles to go and you're legs and feet hurt so bad that curb in front of you might as well be Mount Everest. But in the end, it's worth it. Because walking? It's a simple thing to do.
The difficult thing is getting a diagnosis of Cancer. Making choices you'd never thought you'd have to make and then watch your family worry while you're terrified is difficult. Donating money and walking miles is simple by comparison.
If you have a moment and some spare cash, please consider helping me to reach my goal of $2300 by clicking on the Donate button to the right. Let's do what we can to help those that we can. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
