Day 3--November 21

Every year, the 3 day walkers are escorted through the streets of San Diego by hot cops on bicycles. Officers fly down from San Jose just to keep us walkers safe. They are great, so much fun and so encouraging. We don't mind all the attention! Last year, my walking partner Kim and I came up with a plot to have a sign that read, "Pat me down, Officer, I have concealed weapons!" It took me three days but I finally got up the nerve to make the sign and hold it as I cheered.

I was a hit! Oh my goodness, those walkers LOVED the sign. And the cops did, too! I did not mind "taking one for the team". A pat down for the cause was well worth it!

I love how the officer on the right planned out this action shot. Hilarious!


Oh yeah, guys, bring it on!


I was so dangerous, the sergeant had to get involved. LOL!


Ut oh, full TSA pat down involved here!



Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience as a cheerleader!

But even more so, I got a lot of feedback from the walkers at closing ceremonies that I was a great encouragement to them and that is what it is all about. Two of them even gave me their finisher roses. So sweet!



Kim was thrilled that I made the sign...and that I received such great responses to it! She is already planning a "Pat Me Down" cheerleading theme for next November. I can't wait to start training and fundraising for next year. My cheerleaders/walker stalkers are going to be a huge hit on the course!

Day 2--November 20

My fellow Boob Crew'er, Mike, joined the 3 Day Crew as an official "welcomer" to lunch time. He referred to himself as the "Hug Whore" and practically set a world's record for how many hugs a guy can get in a hour. However, he did realize that the guy walkers weren't as excited about hugging him, and assigned me to be the unofficial guy hugger. Oh, the sacrifices we make in the duty of cheerleading!


I got to know certain faces and costumes that first lunch, and would see some of the guys over and over again. Here are my "Don't Be a Wimp" (aka Not Wimpy) boys.


And Pink Tie Guy!


And my "Pink Harley Shirt" guy. Hee hee, he started calling me "his girl" towards the end of the 3 day. So glad I could make his day! ;0)


Here are my Not Wimpy guys crossing the finish line with their team. Way to go, guys!!!


I so enjoyed cheerleading that I do believe I will alternate years of walking with years of cheerleading!

Day 1--November 19

As disappointed as I was to miss out on walking, I still found myself getting excited about being a cheerleader because I myself have been so incredibly blessed...and entertained...by the cheerleaders on the course in past walking years. Honestly, it feels so amazing to have so many crowds of people out cheering you on. There are some cheerleaders who "walker stalk" the course. You see them multiple times a day, and look forward to seeing their smiling faces and encouraging words/songs/dances.

The Hula Hooters are amongst my favorite. They often hold a sign that says: Body By 3 Day. Love these ladies and their infectious spirit!


When I grow up, I want to be a "Hooker for Hooters"! These ladies are AWESOME!

I loved that I got to "brush boobs", so to speak, with them at closing ceremonies. They loved my sign!


The "Hakuna Ma TaTa's" with their "Free Hugs" are awesome.


I think more and more of their cheerleaders have ended up walking but they still seem to have more "free hugger's" out on the course than the year before!.


Oh, the Melon Men! They are such fun guys!


And the pink wigged group. One of them is a survivor!

And one of their guys graciously offers his energy kisses. It took three days, but I realized I needed some energy and got one last year as I walked into downtown towards the finish line.


Even cheerleaders need energy so I made sure to get one this year, too!

And of course, generously returned the favor!

I heart his Kissteria sign!

The TAG Team are my absolute FAVORITES! They just show up along the course, whenever and wherever! Bill, the Boob on the left, is incredible. He's cheers have gotten me to keep walking when I wanted to quit more than once.



My goal was to become a familiar face of encouragement and find the spots where cheer leaders don't tend to frequent. I think I succeeded. What an amazing three day journey of my own I got to have as a cheerleader!

1 Week! Making Plans! 11/15-18

I was never successful in doing any training on the second week, so don't be surprised if you are so busy packing and preparing that your workouts go by the wayside. Heck, conserve energy, you are going to need it!

My favorite "walk" the last week was when my training group would get together in the parking lot of Fuddruckers or Pat & Oscars and "walk" into the restaurant together. Good times, good memories. Makes me excited to think of training with a group again next year. I missed my boob crew!

This is it! All of the training and fundraising has gotten you to this time, to this week. You are going to experience a lifetime of excitement, emotion, tears, joy and laughter this weekend. Good luck and God bless!

Countdown: 1 Week

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 5 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday Rest
Friday 20.5 miles Day 1
Saturday 19.5 miles Day 2
Sunday 16.7 miles Day 3

2 Weeks...Tough Decisions...11/8-14

The letter I sent out this week, explaining why I'm not walking in the 3 day this year :0(

"The San Diego Breast Cancer Three Day is only 11 days away! Next weekend, the city of San Diego will be awash in every shade of pink imaginable as thousands of walkers journey sixty miles over three days, from the fairgrounds in Del Mar to Petco Park in downtown San Diego. It will be a time to remember those who’ve lost their battle with breast cancer, celebrate those who have survived it, and hope for those still enduring the fight against it.

The Breast Cancer Three Day is one of my favorite weekends of the year, though quite possibly, the most tiring of them all! This year, however, there has been a change of plans and I will be cheering along the route instead of participating as a walker. I’ve had some ongoing medical issues since the summer and have realized that it would be in the best interest of my overall health to cheer on the other walkers this year and wait to walk in 2011.

The Komen Foundation is graciously working with me and will apply all of my funds raised for 2010 to my 2011 account. My 2010 account is officially considered closed, which is why those of you who have tried to donate online the past few days have been unable to access it. Any funds sent using an old 2010 donation form will be applied to my fundraising minimum for 2011 though the donation will not show up on the 2011 donation site. For those wishing to donate money in 2010 for tax purposes, please feel free to donate towards my 2011 walk! I will create a link to that site later this week. In the meantime, you can find me by name at the participant center: http://www.the3day.org

I’ve already starting putting together my cheerleading outfits and begun designing my cheerleading signs. I plan to cheer along the route all three days. I know from personal experience just how vital the encouragement from people along the route is to the walkers. Sometimes it’s the honking horns from passing motorists and the cheers and claps from a stranger that can motivate you to go on for another mile. Please contact me if you’d like to come down and join me!

Thank you so much for your support this year. I look forward to walking again next year and will keep you posted on Team Jil’s plans for the 2011 Breast Cancer 3 Day!"

Countdown: 2 Weeks

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 10 miles Easy walking
Sunday 8 miles Easy walking

3 Weeks...Race for the Cure...11/1-11/7

I joined Laura's family at the Race for the Cure this year, walking under "Judy's JUGgernauts," in celebration of Laura's mom who is a one year survivor.



Laura designed some awesome shirts online for us to wear!





Of course, our favorite part of the walk is walking on the freeway!



Judy's beautiful finisher's medal, in honor of her being a survivor. Woohoo, go Mrs. Stokes!



Countdown: 3 Weeks

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 6 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 18 miles Easy walking
Sunday 8 miles Easy walking

4 Weeks...Mud Run Fun...10/25-31

Laura came up with our costumes for the Mud Run at Skyline this year. I'd never dressed as a devil before, but I think we pulled it off rather well!

The Devilish Duo finds their guardian angel, LOL!

Breast cancer awareness team, woot woot!

Amy, Laura's sister, became our own personal paparazzi and cheerleader. Go Amy!

The aftermath of the muddiest mud run I've ever done!





Countdown: 4 Weeks

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 5 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 10 miles Easy walking
Sunday 8 miles Easy walking

5 Weeks...Fuddruckers Fundraiser!...10/18-24

I had my Fuddrucker's fundraiser this week! A group of my high school friends and their families came out to support me and eat lots of squeezy cheese! Woohoo! They brought their moms and daughters, which was pretty cool!

Wendy let me "borrow" her younger daughter, Abby, to help me with the raffle sales. She was a pro!

Laura and her mom, a one year survivor!

Class of '93, still close after all these years! Love the pink shirt, Steve!





Countdown: 5 Weeks

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 5 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 18 miles Easy walking
Sunday 15 miles Easy walking

6 Weeks...Oktoberfest!!! 10/11-10/17

This week I went down to train with the Boob Crew.



It's the annual "Oktoberfest" walk where we walk from Santee to La Mesa and end up at the beer gardens. Laura met me there. We forgot cash, so no beer for us.



It was a long, hot, and did I mention LONG 15 miles with about 5 hills. Ugh. I was sure that she wanted to kill us that day! All felt better after lunch and hydration.

In the meantime, Laura found this uber-cute car parked on the street near by. Do you have a bra whisperer? LOL





Monday Rest
Tuesday 5 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 10 miles Easy walking
Sunday 6 miles Easy walking

7 Weeks...10/4 to 10/10

One of my favorite foot massages on the 3 day is a bottle of cold juice or can of soda. I just roll it back and forth under my foot, switch, and repeat. My sister brought cold juice bottles for me and using them on my feet did wonders. Start experiment on and after these long walks for what works to relieve pain and keep you going!

Monday Rest
Tuesday 5 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 17 miles Easy walking
Sunday 13 miles Easy walking

8 Weeks...9/27-10/3

The 3 day is tough, it's grueling. It's emotionally draining. It's also the most fun time you've ever been that tired. You bond with your walking partners in a way you didn't know possible. You have inside jokes and stories that will last a life time. Bekki of the Boob Crew has a "fun" little habit of taking pictures of people as they come out of portapots. I still always try to remember upon exiting that someone might be waiting to snap a photo of me and to beware! Kim, on this occasion, was not so cognizant. Fun times!




Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 45 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 6 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 8 miles Easy walking
Sunday 6 miles Easy walking