DID IT!!

I did it!  My third 3 Day Walk!  60 miles through San Francisco, did you know that city is very hilly?  Oh, yes.  The route took us through the city, through Berkley & Oakland.  Then on the third we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Many of you don't know this but I am terrified of heights so this was actually a huge accomplishment for me.  Well, I held the hand rail the whole way and almost threw up at the end - but I did it.

Along the way I met so many caring people.  It's amazing to be part of a group of people like that, no one is mean!  I wish you could all experience it.  Every one helps each other, is friendly and even when exhausted will smile and crack a joke.  I also hear a lot of stories. But the best part was at the closing ceremonies when we heard that this particular event had raised almost $4 million to help fight the battle against breast cancer!  Then we raised our shoes to show the world that we would keep on walking, to do whatever it takes. I was in tears (honestly, I'm in tears now remembering it). If you ever get a chance to attend the closing ceremonies for one of the 3 Day walks you should go, it is amazing.

4 Weeks till the 3 Day

Can you believe it?  4 weeks from today I will be flying to San Francisco to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure. The time has flown by.

All my stuff will be in Ziploc and garbage bags in my husbands large gym bag ready for the camp.  I'll be wearing pink and eating plenty of pasta.  Then on Friday I'll be there by 6:30 in the morning when opening ceremonies start, along with around 2,000 other walkers, ready to walk 60 miles through SF. The next three days will be fun, entertaining, heart wrenching, and exhausting but in the end it will be so worth it.  I'm hoping for no blisters and a few new friends.

Can you tell I'm excited?  I'm excited to be part of something this big, that helps so many people.  Last year people walking in the 3 Day raised more than $77 million.  Did you know that most of the money raised goes towards breast cancer education and awareness? That's important because so many women don't know that they need to get checked or what to even look for.  If you can catch it early enough it can be cured.

So, once again I'm going to ask for money.  I haven't raised my $2,300 yet, but am very close.  Those of you that have already donated, thank you so much!!  I know many of you give to other causes and I respect that so I'm not asking you. But there are some of my friends who say, "Oh, right, I was going to donate." now is your chance.  :)

Help me help others. Everyone deserves a lifetime is the slogan of the 3 Day and mine is If not me, who? If not now, when?  I can walk, so I will.

Thank you for reading and for donating. 

Cate

PS Let me know if you want updates on my walk. I'll be texting family and can add you to the list!

Walking and technology

Recently I found three new apps for my phone and I love adding them to my walking time. I have a Droid and love it.  As I start doing more and more miles alone it's nice to have the distractions.

One is Endomondo.  It tracks distance and time walking - which a lot of apps do  - but what I like is it tells me when I've gone a mile and gives me my times.  Every mile after that it gives me my splits. The uploads to a web site.  The web site has lots of fun stuff - like how many times I've walked to the moon (none) and how many times I've walked around the world (.003 still a ways to go).

Another app I'm loving is my new podcast player called BeyondPod.  I can stream or download podcasts.  I like having them pre-downloaded then it doesn't seem to take as much of my battery life.  I'm catching up on all kinds of stuff.

The third app is a mobile version of GrooveShark, my favorite online music player, called TinyShark.  I have had so many problems with Pandora on my phone that I took it off and switched to this one.  Same concept except you can actually play the song you like.

One other addition to my phone isn't really an app but Dennis has been downloading audio books for me and I love listening to them from my phone.

Walking alone isn't boring any more!

Cate

Change is in the air

It is time for me to start moving, in 6 months I'll walk my 60 miles in San Francisco but before that I'll walk many times that in training.  Although I exercise sporadically all the time, when I'm training I try to focus on increasing my endurance and calluses.  HA!

I also have to get my fundraising into gear. I've sent some emails and set up a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings but I think I need to be a little more proactive.  I'll be reminding people to donate, talking about how they can help and explaining how this walk is helping women all over the world.

So, it's time for change, I need to get out of my winter hibernation and move.

I also think it's time for change in my personal life.  I feel like my work needs to shift but I'm not sure what that looks like yet. I know there is something I'm seeking I'm just not sure exactly what it is yet.  When I figure it out I'll let you know.

Thanks for reading.

Cate

50

In a couple days I'll be 50!  Amazing huh?

I know what you are thinking: "Wow, I need to get Cate a gift."  But I don't need any gifts, I have everything I need; a wonderful husband, an awesome son, super friends, a great job - in short a wonderful life.  Yes, an excellent life. I'm alive.

I've made it to 50 and I'm hoping for another 50 - why not?  But there are many people who won't make it to 50 because cancer takes them. That's not right. I'm walking in the 3-Day to find a cure for cancer so more people can celebrate the big 5-0.

So here's what I want from you for my birthday.  Help me fight to give others the same chance, donate $50  in my name to the Breast Cancer 3-Day. That would be an excellent birthday present.

Thank you.

Cate

Bonding

Being part of the SGK 3-Day for the Cure is more than raising money to fight cancer, it's a bonding experience.  I am part of a huge movement of incredible people who all have the same goal.  Save lives.

When I was training and then when I walked last year I heard so many stories.  Some were the same as mine: I am doing this because I can and everyone deserves a life time.  But others were harder to tell. But they shared them with me.  Each time I realized how lucky I was to meet this person, to become friends with someone else who cared, cared about the future enough to walk miles and miles, not just the 60 together but the hundreds of training miles.

I cry a lot normally - I wear my heart on my sleeve - so I cried a lot during the training walks and at the actual event (not big sobs just the tears that slip out of the corner of my eyes). But at the end of the walk when we held up our shoes I was crying with joy.  We had raised a lot of money, raised a lot of awareness and bonded with so many people.

Last week I went to a training walk and met some new amazing women, women who will walk hundreds of miles and raise thousands of dollars.  How amazing to be part of that.

Cate

I love technology

When I was growing up we had 5 exchange students.  Because of technology 35 years later I am still able to keep in touch with two of them.  It's amazing that I can just chat with Arlene or Regina,  I know what their kids are up to and they know about mine.  Arlene even donated to me for the 3Day, from Abu Dhabi!  Thank you Lu!!

I am so amazed at how easy it's becoming to stay in touch.

Take care,
Cate