I have a few weeks under my belt-or maybe under my feet would be more appropriate. The biggest challenge has been the weather. My training for the past 6 Walks took place in San Diego. The biggest news was my 1st year when air quality was the concern from major fires. Not so in Boise, ID.
We have literally had snow, rain, hail and wind – not to mention temperatures below freezing (after the 1st day of spring!) Isn’t there a law that spring means no more winter temperatures or precipitation? I’m sure I read that somewhere. I was forced (and it comes so easily in the beginning) to delay training outside. No excuses – I start again. The weather is back to gorgeous!
Back to my Training
You know you are in trouble when just stretching before the 1st day of training causes pain. Undeterred, I put on my sweatshirt with the pink ribbon, my baseball hat with the pink ribbon, my pink & white socks (don’t think I’m overdoing the pink bit, do you?) and my MBT sandals. Yes, I had pants on but they were just plain old black-but drywick! Does that count? I’m such an athlete!
It didn’t take long into my 1st day of training to have past training memories rushing back. Here are 5 things I forgot about training for the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walks.
- Running-not Walking– What is it about walking outside that gets the nose running, the eyes tearing and whatever other places I don’t want to think about? We have always teased my Mom about her habit of stuffing kleenex in every pocket she owns. Who’s laughing now? Note to self-take kleenex. You never know when a hot guy may jog by – as if kleenex would help – not even if I stuffed it in my bra!
- Hills Hurt – I’m not talking about the big Torrey Pines-type hills in the San Diego 3-Day. At this stage, street curbs are challenging. Even the slightest incline has me wondering how my lungs dropped out of me when I wasn’t looking. I’ve always hated hills. My Fight Like A Girl teammates are hikers and just love hills. Hills are their favorite part of the 3-Day. I’m sorry, that is not normal – but they love me anyway. They take pity turns by trading off who lags behind with Cathy on the hills.
- Muscle Mania – The body is an incredible machine – or so I’ve heard. But, really, does it have to have so many muscles? So many just waiting to pull, strain, spasm and generally whine! And then I had to inherit Dad’s big calf muscles that I swear have a bulls-eye on them in case the pain forgets to grab them.
- Isolated Bliss – Once I get warmed up, the muscles stop screaming and I’m actually walking upright like a fully evolved human being. I am strong – I am woman – I am so lame.
- Reality Bites – So wrapping myself in the bliss of a training session where I actually feel good, I then make the mistake of sitting down. Oh, the sitting’s okay. It’s the standing up where reality returns. Did I really think after one training walk I would be turned into the lean fighting machine of an Olympic athlete? With my MBT and socks on the floor, I drag my body to the shower and let the sweet heat of the water beat my muscle mania back into place.
Just another day in my journey towards the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk.I took some pictures so you can see part of my Boise training environment – really just awesomely beautiful! Later I may try video – after I can walk and talk without sounding like I escaped from a T.B. ward.
Thank you for taking this journey with me. If you can help with a donation – no matter how small – please do so by clicking here. And even if you can’t donate, let me know the names of loved ones you would like remembered on the Walk. Thank you as always for your continued support. Walk on!
Live…Laugh…Love
I hear ya about the nose running. What is up with that?! Okay, so you’re the second 3 Day walker that I’ve heard mention the MBT’s. I was considering getting a pair of the similar Skecher’s Shape Ups, but can’t imagine walking 60 miles with that extra weight. Do you just use yours for training?
Yes, I do train with them. I’ll give you my experience with them. I have participated in 6 Walks. The 1st few years, I went the walking shoes route. I never had blisters while training but got blisters on every Walk.
I tried the MBT closed shoes (on my 4th Walk). They worked great in terms of blisters – none for the 1st time! But I lost both big toenails from the constant sidewalk pounding. For Walks 5 & 6 I switched to the MBT sandals and I absolutely love them! I will never go back to anything else. I’ve seen the Sketcher’s, but for me, the key is no closed shoes. I had experts fit me every year but it wasn’t until I switched to the sandals that I had no blisters & kept all my toenails!
Good luck in whatever route you go. Which Walk are you participating in? Thanks for dropping by & Walk on!