Training Has Begun!

Today my team member and I embarked on our 3 Day training routine. We’re on track for the 24 week training schedule. The walk was at a local mall–we were mall walkers! Our walk was scheduled to begin at the New Balance store at 10:00 a.m. We arrived about 20 minutes early. What a good thing that was! Once we were signed in and getting ready to warm up, a large line formed. I hate waiting in lines so I am very happy that worked out as it did.

We split into walking groups. Our group consisted of about a dozen people I’d say. There was a trainer there who led the warm up. We did a few lunges and then we were off! The walk would consist of 9 laps from Macy’s to Sears. This would be three miles. My team and I (a team of two!) started with the group and eventually we noticed we were kind of on our own. That’s OK though. It’s not a race. We talked and got to know each other better. We met through the 3 Day website, after all. It helps to know who you’re walking with. My team member is a survivor since December 2007. She is not much older than I am. I am finding a lot of 30-somethings are being diagnosed with this terrible disease.

Anticipating Some Activity!

I’m so excited! I applied for a fundraiser at a local restaurant and it looks like it’s going to work out. I got a response asking for me to select the dates and provide the donation and mailing info. I hope it works out. My next project is getting donation letters out to friends and family in the from of email and snail mail. I am going to be very busy this weekend!

Training Kickoff

One week from today I will be attending a Training Kickoff at one of the local malls. My team member will be going with me. There will be a 3 mile training walk! I’m excited to get started! I’m getting my fundraising requests out today and tomorrow. I’m applying for fundraiser dates at some local restaurants. That should give me a boost! This is so exciting. I am nervous about the donations being met, but I have learned that if I come up short, I can change my registration from Walker to Crew! It’s a win/win! Crew members do not have a donation minimum required which is a relief. I do want to be able to walk with my team, though. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that I do a lot better than last year!

On the Grow!

I am so excited! My team is growing! I have a wonderful woman calling in this weekend to join my team! She is a survivor–cancer free since December! Woo hoo! She also informed me that she knows someone else interested in joining. This will be another survivor. She just had a double mastectomy yesterday! Prayers for her and we will see if she wants to walk with us in August!

More news: a good friend of mine in Michigan is registered to crew at my walk. The pressure is on! I have to raise all the money so we can all participate together! It’s getting very exciting!  

Get Started Meeting

This morning I attended my first meeting for The 3 Day. It was a Get Started meeting. Basically, it was like an orientation. Some people weren’t registered yet, so they could do that after the presentation. I was already registered. It was good information. Last year, I didn’t attend any of the meetings. The main reason for this was simply because there weren’t any meetings close to me. Last year was the first year they did a walk in Cleveland. There seemed to be a lot of bugs. This year already feels more organized.
I learned a lot of things I hadn’t realized last year. I learned that there are pins we can earn. For some reason, this whole earning pins things appeals to me…a lot! Maybe it’s from my involvement in Mary Kay. There are a lot of similarities between participation in The 3 Day and direct sales (particularly Mary Kay). Last year I raised a bit of money for my walk through my MK business. The woman who gave the presentation today mentioned that a Mary Kay unit helped her raise funds and she also had a purse party. I’m going to go that route along with some other ideas she mentioned.
I’m really getting excited about my involvement in this walk. I really want to raise the money now. My new team member is so nice and I really want to expand the team have a very enriching experience with this–as well as help this cause.
When I got home from the meeting I checked my email and sent the link to my site to my new team member so she can join the team. In my inbox, there was a great message! It said: “You have received a donation!” I got my first online donation for The 3 Day 2008! What a coincidence that I met my team member, went to a meeting, and got a donation all in one day! I am feeling very uplifted and optimistic.

Building My Team!

I’m so stoked! Today I received an email from someone in my area interested in walking on my team. I’m so excited. I will be honest. I was feeling overwhelmed with everything going on in my life lately and was having doubts that I would be able to pursue The 3 Day much further. I have found new enthusiasm recently. This walk is too important not to at least try.
Also, there is a Get Started Meeting next weekend. I’ll be attending that. Last year I didn’t attend any of the meetings–mainly because there simply weren’t any close to home. Maybe they are learning. Perhaps a meeting will help me to gain more ideas for fundraising and expanding my team. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be able to meet my new team member there as well.

Activity Low

I’m still not in full force fund raising mode just yet. I do think at some point I will take a  donation jar to work and set it on my desk. People may be more inclined to give a little at a time instead of feeling pressured to make large donations. Still working out the game plan.

Slacking

I’ve been really slacking on my exercising. I need to get back on the elliptical soon. I’m planning to be in Chicago this weekend–that should be a good way to get some walking distance in. If I don’t make my trip this weekend, I’ll definitely get the exercise in!

More Exercise!

I’m going to be working the elliptical machine again this evening. My goal is 10 solid minutes without stopping. We’ll see how I hold up!

Big Workout

I’ve been lax in my walking the past couple of weeks. Today I sort of caught up. I did 10 minutes on the eliptical. Whew! I’m out of shape, but it felt great! I burned about 100 calories. Not sure the distance I ran. I’m going to work my way up to 20 minutes this week. I want to get back into shape–no need to collapse on the big walk!