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

9 Weeks...9/20-9/26

Training gets long and tiring and you have to remind yourself what is driving you to complete the 3 day in the first place. Some do it for the cause and the experience. Others do it for themselves or for a loved one. I not only walk in memory for my aunts, but I walk so that we find a cure now and my nieces won't have to walk for me or any other family member who might be next. My nieces have been down to cheer for me and I can't tell you how much they lifted my spirits! Start rallying your own personal cheerleaders to come down to encourage you to keep walking when it starts to get really tough on the course.






Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 15 miles Easy walking
Sunday 11 miles Easy walking

10 Weeks...Hiking a Mountain...9/13-19

This weekend I took a break from working on my mileage and focused on some serious cross training. I agreed to meet some friends for my first trip up Iron Mountain. Move over Cowles, this hike kicks some butt!



A big challenge for me was the heat factor. Poway was predicted to hit 85 and we weren't starting the hike until at least 8:00 AM. Usually, I'd want to start that trail by 6:30 or 7:00. But it is much more fun to hike with friends and since we went out for dinner and drinks the night before, a little extra time to sleep was appreciated. Man, though, did it get HOT.




(We all groaned when we saw this and realized it'd only been a mile since leaving the parking lot!)

(Finally, half way!)

I did not go prepared with enough water. Thankfully, the "event coordinator" brought tons of extra water. Still, I'm pretty sure I ended up dehydrated. My legs cramped up afterward in a way I've never experienced even on the 3 day. The view and the fun times shared make the trek more than worth it. Though honestly, I'd rather go up that hill than down it!


(Not really an over-dramatization...we were really wiped out here!)


(Yes! Finally down the hill and back to the cars! Turn on the AC, stat!)

I am glad I've been training on hills so much since moving to Oceanside but really, I'd like to get a bunch more in before conquering that bad boy again!

Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 14 miles Easy walking
Sunday 10 miles Easy walking

11 Weeks...9/6-12

This is the milestone week. The week of the 13 mile walk. It's a half marathon. And wow, did I really feel like I had accomplished something by completing a half marathon! I made sure to announce it to my co-workers the following Monday. It's quite amazing to realize how kick @ss you do something like that for the first time!

Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 13 miles Easy walking
Sunday 9 miles Easy walking

12 Weeks...8/30-9/5

I've started getting back into my "Walking with Leslie" DVD's...you remember Leslie, don't you?

Wow, I can feel it just enough the day after I do a walk with Leslie at home as I'm walking up and down the hills in O'side and Carlsbad, to realize that her videos really helped tone and strengthen my legs during my past two training seasons. Read between the lines--I realize how I need to get back into working out my legs by incorporating her vidoes into my workout...stat!

Monday Rest
Tuesday 4 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 12 miles Easy walking
Sunday 7 miles Easy walking

13 Weeks...

I've mentioned before, one of the best parts about the process of the 3 day are the cheerleaders. I wish I had them around me all of the time, cheering me on. I've put up some pictures of some of my favorites from the 2008 Three Day








Training for T Minus 13 and counting week!

Monday Rest
Tuesday 3 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 30 mins Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 45 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 11 miles Easy walking
Sunday 5 miles Easy walking