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!

Training Tip

Hi,

This week I got an email from the 3 Day coaches saying I have 24 weeks until my walk with training and fundraising tips.  So I thought I'd share one with you:

Training Tip of the Week: Your Training Program

Training for an endurance event like the 3-Day involves three things:

• Developing muscular strength and endurance
• Building cardiovascular fitness
• Experimenting with exercise gear, diet and fluids 

To be honest,  the one that I found the most challenging last year and the year before was getting the correct exercise gear (read: the right clothes)!  Getting shoes that don't give you blisters and shorts that don't creep up after 5 or 6 miles can be difficult as well as expensive.  The good news is I still have last years clothes so all I have to do is get walking.

So tonight - I start walking!

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