Whoo-hoo!

My non-fanny pack has arrived!

It's NOT a fanny pack!

I went to REI and looked at the packs they had there but they were really expensive. I was looking at a few other stores when an email came from the Susan G. Komen folks. They must have magically sensed my frustration. It was letting us know about a sale on 3 day-themed gear included...drumroll please.....a waist pack! So I ordered the pack at a great price and its just the size and style I was looking for. Tada! It should be big enough to carry my water, snacks, camera, first aid stuff, sunscreen and chapstick. So I'm going to start wearing it on our training walks so I can get used to the weight of it, etc.

Laura

Tips from the Experienced Walker

I'm lucky to know someone that did the 3 day last year and was able to have dinner with her this week to pick her brain a bit. Kris, long-time Stokes family friend, reiterated the NO COTTON edict given us by the Komen trainers. I'm definitely going to have to get some more workout clothes that are nylon and spandex (Let's all try to avoid the mental picture of what that's going to look like!). She also gave me some tips about making 2 nights in a little hot pink pup tent a little more comfy.

The final day of the walk is concluded with a closing ceremony. The ceremony doesn't begin until all walkers are done with the walk and have arrived at the ceremony location. Kris recommended sleeping in a little on that last day rather than getting an early start so that we don't spend several hours at the ceremony location waiting for the other walkers to finish.

It was great to get some inside info from someone that has been there and done that. Kris helped ease my mind a bit and make me feel better prepared as Jenn and I continue our training.

Thanks Kris!!

On the training front, I'm checking routes and calculating mileage in other areas Jenn and I can walk so that we don't get bored from walking the same route all the time. Plus it will be good to test ourselves on different types of terain.

I'm going to REI later to check out some of the waist packs they have (NOT fanny packs, mind you). We'll have to carry several things with us during the walk - water, sunscreen, snacks, first aid items, camera, etc - so we'll need to have packs that can fit everything but hopefully not be too obtrusive. I want to get one soon so I can wear it on our training walks and get used to the weight and feel of it.

Laura

Vanity Fair

You just aren't going to see many pictures of me right before, during, or right after a walk. I'm generally not a vain person. I can leave the house without make-up on and not worry about it. But I rarely get photographed without it. Something about the glare of the flash does not do any wonders for my appearance! Not to mention, I'll also be in Spandex/polyester mix and my hair slicked back into a ball cap. I'm not so vain as to refuse a picture taken of me training for this. And there will be tons taken during the 3 day... I'm just warning you, there won't be many until then!

Laura and I met up at Lake Murray again this morning . She had tickets to see "Phantom of the Opera" and needed to get downtown later on. The last half mile of the lake has been closed off the past two times we've gone. Making it a 5.5 mile loop instead of a 6.4. Laura went 5.5 before heading home to get ready, I determined that I'd do 12.

Laura mentioned that I'm having problems with my new shoes. Last week, I figured I just hadn't broken them in well enough. They weren't bad when I was working out at the gym. But I still had problems with them today. My body seems to be fairly content with me going 8 miles...so the last 4 miles were killers! I am sporing several new blisters, unfortunately. There are several factors to consider as to why my feet are so "jacked up", but in all, I just didn't have problems like this until I tried these new shoes. So, back to RoadRunner to take advantage of their 60 day return policy. I'll give another pair a try on for size, and hope for the best!

8 Miles

Jenn and I are up to walking 8 miles at a time now. We walked 8 at Lake Murray this morning and did so with a minimum of whining. =) It took us about 2 1/2 hours.

My new shoes are awesome - New Balance rocks! Jenn isn't so sure about hers. She may have to return them to Road Runner - luckily they let you trade in shoes for a new pair for up to 60 days.

I got a knee brace this week and it is helping a lot with my tweaky knee (sorry, to throw such technical medical terms at ya). It just adds a little stability and that seems to be doing the trick.

Laura

The First Days of Summer

The first days of summer in San Diego have been HOT! Upper nineties to triple digits hot! I knew that I wanted to get back to Miramar Lake this weekend, it is so nice to walk outside versus the treadmill. I did eight miles at the gym Friday night, so by the time I got my weekend chores done and my walking shoes on Saturday morning, it was already HOT. I started at 8:45 and thought that I should take the dirt path around the lake instead of the paved route, since there are more trees and bushes that shade the dirt path. I was worried about getting sunburned. I was on serious antibiotics a number of times last year that cause sun sensitivity. And all these months later, I am finding that I still burn quite easily. I slathered on the 45 SPF and it was enough (with the partial shade) to keep me from getting PINK. But SPF couldn't do anything about the heat.


Wow, did I get hot! The paved path is about a five mile loop, and dirt path goes about three miles of it before just becoming a tangled mess. I had planned to go in four miles, then walk back. But after I got off the dirt path into the direct sun between mile three and four, I realized it was just too hot to do a long walk. At the four mile mark where I had planned to turn around, I opted to just keep going on the five mile loop to get back to the parking lot. The four mile mark has the coolest purple flowers. I tucked my camera in my walking bag and snapped a shot. But I didn't stop to admire them this time. All I could think about was getting to my car!I am a stickler about stretching after exercise, but this time I just didn't care. I got in the car and headed home. Whew! I am going to make sure that I start my weekend walks as early as I can. If I want to get out of the gym (with its blessed air conditioning), I'm going to have to walk with the sunrise to beat the heat this summer!

--Jenn

New shoes!

I went to RoadRunner Sports today and got some new walking shoes for training. They were really helpful there. They do a whole shoe analysis before you pick out your shoes to see how you walk, what type of foot you have, what you'll be using the shoes for, etc. so they can help you pick just the right shoe for you.

I walked on a computerized pressure pad thingy (its all very technical) to see how my foot falls when I step down. Then I walked on a treadmill while they videotaped my feet so they can see how I roll my foot as I take a step. I figured I would be a challenge for them since I have somewhat flat feet and I walk like a duck - seriously, I've had people ask me if I'm a ballet dancer because they noticed I was standing around with my feet pointed straight out to the sides - but they worked it out and recommended shoes that are for stability to keep my foot from rolling so much when I walk.

They are giving 10% off to all breast cancer walk participants so I got a nice little break on the price on my New Balance shoes. I took them out for a spin around the neighborhood when I got home and tested them out. Pretty comfy. This walk was also my first foray into the world of synthetic socks (this is very exciting stuff people!) as all the trainers, experienced walkers say, "NO COTTON!" They felt a little odd but I think I'll get used to them. This was also the premiere walk for my new ipod Shuffle as my previous mp3 player died at the gym last week (R.I.P. my little hot pink Sandisk). It was great.

So now I feel all set to take on training!

Laura