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.

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.

Learning Each Day

So far, I had not seen any way to create a personal URL address for my 3 Day website. Today, I discovered it is there. Now, I’m not sure if it was always an option or if they are updating the new 3 Day info as time progresses, but in any case, I found it. My 3 Day URL is: http://08.the3day.org/goto/mpes. Not real simple, but a lot easy than the actual URL address it forwards to!  To make a donation on my behalf, you must click on the area that says “Support Marnie.” The personal website has a link nearer to the top of the screen that says “make a donation” and that is misleading because then you must type in the participant’s name and get rerouted. Ugh! Last year’s website system was a bit better than this year’s so far. We’ll see how it goes! My team page URL is: http://08.the3day.org/goto/miraclewalkers.

First Walk!

Today I took my first steps in conditioning for the 60-mile walk! My mom and I walked at the park about 1.5 miles. It felt great! This time we drove to the park and walked the trail. Next time, we are going to start from Mom’s house, walk to the park, walk the trail, and walk back home. That should total 3-4 miles. I look forward to it! Next, I will start Pilates and yoga on a daily basis. I also plan to take advantage of my parents’ eliptical machine. I want to be able to walk the walk! My husband says raising the money will be no problem, but he thinks there is no way I can walk 60 miles in 3 days. I’ll show him!

Privileges

I can’t not sign up for The 3 Day now. Because I was involved last year, I have been offered a discount for my registration! That is awesome! I’m going to sign up this week and in the meantime, I’m going to get started with my campaigning.

First off, I will be contacting my Mary Kay customers for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That will generate some sales and I can donate part of the profits to the walk! Next, I will get those 3 Day business cards printed off

Breast Cancer 3 Day 2008!

I’m contemplating giving the Breast Cancer 3 Day another try in 2008. I registered for the 2007 walk and failed to raise the required funds to participate in the walk. Perhaps by signing up now for the next year I can achieve my goal and join the walk. The first day is on hubby’s b-day. Not sure how I feel about that, but maybe he will turn a new leaf and join me!

So, if I decide once again to participate, I will post my intent here and be actively chronicling my progress. I’m excited to get to work fundraising. I learned some lessons this past year about the walk and how to raise the funds. I’m sure I will be able to make it happen in 2008. I love being a part of such important causes!