Canning

I learned a new term on Saturday (July 17th): "canning." When I first heard our team would be fundraising by "canning" I thought we'd be adding fish to metal cans. But, as I have learned (on several occasions), Georgia is a LONG way away from California, especially when it comes to canning! The Georgian definition of canning is: begging people for money in front of a store with cans, usually tin. So, that's what our fundraiser was: begging people for money in front of "disco" Kroger's!

Upon figuring out that we would be begging for money, I couldn't imagine making any money. I know that people that beg for money on the street sometimes make more than I do in a year, but in my mind I couldn't translate the homeless guy on the freeway off ramp into a group of women dressed as pink pirates in front of a grocery store.

I mean, how much money could we really make here?

Answer: over $700 in 5 hours!

But this fundraiser wasn't just about asking people for money. It was about being visible to the neighborhood, because being visible shows survivors there are people out there fighting a good fight for them, and it shows former walkers that their cause lives on. It was about being audible to the parking lot so that we can share statistics of the disease (1 in 8 women will be diagnosed) to people who aren't necessarily shopping in our store but elsewhere within the shopping center. It was about  handing out flyers to people interested, but not willing - giving them a souvenir to take home to read in order to understand the enormity of what we are doing. It was about learning how much we mean to people who have been through it, and how much we are admired by people who have walked it.

It was about having fun, because life wouldn't be fun without a couple of laughs!

We harrassed the money truck......

We rode carts through the parking lot......

We danced..........

We held signs.........

AND We screamed "We have boobies, yes we do, we want to keep them, how about you?" back and forth, across the lot as well as across the store. We gained a lot of attention, pillaged a bunch of cash, and went home exhausted but fulfilled. Hearing the stories of survivors, relatives who have lost, and former walkers, I am now so much more committed to this cause! I even walked 5 miles by myself on Sunday - without any prompting by teammates or my husband. (And I did it before 9:30 AM!!) So, I guess it was about motivating ourselves as well. I can't wait for the next one!!!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

Switching Teams.....

Finding a 3-Day team is like picking a church once you have moved away from home: you have to look at all of the pieces that make up the team (the celebration, the support system, the fundraising, and the communication) in order to pick the right one for you, even when the choices look the same from the outside. Sometimes, you have to go in and experience it before you can really tell if the fit is right or not. (Sort of like walking in 7 different pair of shoes....) And sometimes that experience may point you out the door, even if you don't know why.

Out the door was where I was headed, and I didn't know why. But, I didn't want to give up on the cause, just like I didn't want to give up on God when I stopped liking the church I atteneded in Dallas, GA. And, like church (I now attend in Douglasville, GA) I just found a new team instead of giving up completely.

It wasn't just one thing or another that brought on my switch from the Sisterhood of The Pink Sneakers to Treasured Chests, but rather a different way of doing the same thing. Treasured Chests has a way that fits my personality, my needs, and my life a little better. That's it and nothing more.

Granted, I may not have gone about making the switch in the right way, because I called the 3-Day without calling the Sisterhood, and I am posting here rather than communicating directly with them, but it took me almost a month to figure out what I was going to do, and I still haven't figured out why I am doing it. I just know that I have an overall feeling that this is the right thing to do for me, and it wasn't brought on by anything other than my own feelings of incompatibility. I also feel that others can learn from my experience, as picking a 3-Day team seems to be the 3rd most important decision of this adventure - the first being the shoes and the second being the socks.

The 3-Day handbook rallies for the importance of finding and becoming a member of a team, but doesn't tell you how to handle issues regarding teamwork breakdowns, emotional differences, and other things that happen when working together as a team. They talk about how great it can be, and it can, but it doesn't talk about how bad it can get. From my experience, I have learned that teamwork is the part that can save you from complete and utter failure - and it is something that needs to be part of this adventure. However, when the team thing goes bad, what do you do?

I didn't think of this option until I after I called the 3-Day number ((800) 996-3day) to switch teams - but we have a WONDERFUL resource to turn to when we have issues or questions - COACHES!!! When I called to switch, they talked to me regarding my experience, listened to my problems, discussed my options, and asked if there was anything they could do to make my 3-Day experience better, and offered their support should I run into anything like that again!

So, for all of you out there who are not having the BEST time ever - struggling with fundraisers, missing out on a positive team experience, fighting a shoe/sock/foot issue, or training debacles - CONTACT A COACH!!! That is what they are there for - to help us to walk the greatest distance we can to put an end to breast cancer!!!

Coaches are available via email: coaches@the3day.org; via phone: (800) 996-3day; or via message boards in the participant center at the3day.org. Do not be afraid to approach them, they are the nicest, sweetest people who want to help!

Remember - you are not in this alone, and together we can overcome anything, even breast cancer!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

Big Peach Running Co Event! Winner!!

I went to the Big Peach Running Co. in Kennesaw, GA for the 3 Day Clinic on July 13th to get intel on socks, and I walk away with a FREE pair of Saucony shoes!!! How cool is that!?!? Way cool!

Well, I also walked away with two pairs of the BEST socks I have ever worn, a full stomach (the clinic was catered by Sweet Tomato), a light heart, and a new found love for my 3-Day journey!

Pictured in this post is the table of all the beautiful socks I had to choose from. Manning the table was Thorlos representative, Mike. He gave an awesome presentation during the event on the importance of wearing socks that are not cotton. First, cotton holds water and wet socks will rub your feet raw. So, as your feet sweat, the cotton socks will get wet, and eventually they rub your feet raw. (Go figure! Wasn't that my complaint a few days ago? Wet socks? Hmmm...) Thorlos socks are built for distance walking: they have thick padding, are made of fibers that wick water AWAY from your feet, and have a band around the arch area that keeps them from slipping and sliding. I tried a pair on and let me tell you - my feet LOVED them! They had one slight downside: they made my shoe size go from 7.5 to 8.5 - so it is a good thing I got a pair of new kicks, otherwise I would have been up a river w/o a paddle! I am a convert, even though the price tag is hefty....one pair will cost $110.00 ($15 for the socks & $95.oo for the shoes!) but the benefits outweigh the costs BY FAR!!!

I bought two pairs of socks - using the best deal! The 3 Day arranged a 15% discount to 3 Day participants during the clinic. On top of that, the store put Thorlos socks on sale with a buy one, get one at 50% off! Then, Thorlos has an additional deal (click HERE to get it for yourself): if you buy a pair of Distance Walking Thorlos socks, they will donate a dollar to cancer reasearch, education, and awareness! So, I got two pairs of socks for a fraction of the price AND got to donate $2.00 to the 3-Day! Yey!

As for the shoes, I have to admit, after attending the clinic, I would have bought another pair, even if I didn't win a pair or need a pair. You see, they not only fitted me to my proper size (that included the socks), but they watched the way I walked in the shoes to fit me to the right pair for me. They had me put on the Thorlos socks and stand in this machine that measured the pressure points on my feet, my center of gravity, and my shoe size. They put me in a pair of shoes and had me walk on a treadmill to show my pronation - the natural twist of my ankle during my stride (everyone has one, even you) - to see if I needed special support for my ankle, knees, hips, or back...because your stride affects your entire body! Armed with all this knowledge, they hooked me up with the best shoes I have ever worn. Of course, this was AFTER they had me try on 7 different pairs of shoes, and made me walk through the store and the parking lot for each pair (I think I got all 3 of my miles in! LOL). It was sort of overwhelming (as I have never had anyone ever pay that much attention to my purchase of shoes at Payless Shoe Source), but I got over it once I got into the rhythm of trying shoes on and taking them off. Reports from the girls sitting next to me were 9 pairs and 5 pairs, so I know I wasn't getting attention by myself!


MY BIG RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Get the right socks. 2. Get properly fitted for shoes @ Big Peach (located all around Atlanta) or any nearby shoe store that will fit you properly!!! Your feet will thank you, your knees will praise you, and your back will love you!


Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

Dressing for the 3-Day for the Cure: Head to Toe - Kennesaw, GA

Ladies (and gentlemen!) - A friend of mine called yesterday and asked if I knew about the clinic at the Big Peach Running Co in Kennesaw, GA and asked if I'd like to go with her. Since I knew nothing about it until her call, I thought I'd pass the information along so others can join the fun! Here is the information as copied from the3day.org Clinics Calendar:


Big Peach Running Co. - Kennesaw, 1625 Ridenour Boulevard, Suite 304, Kennesaw, GA 30152

The right shoes are key, but comfort on the 3-Day for the Cure extends to more than the shoes you’ll be wearing. For your additional footwear needs, the staff will discuss the importance of socks and, if needed, inserts for your shoes. They’ll also discuss their Bra Fit process, and the importance of having sports bras for maximum comfort and support. They can also show you clothing styles that keep you cool and dry, as well as accessory essentials to make your walk a most enjoyable experience! Plus, enjoy a special “clinic-day” discount of 15% for all 3-Day for the Cure.

Click for directions.
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

My friend's call came just in time, as I need all the "sock support" I can get! Plus I need a new pair of shoes since my sneakers didn't survive that thunderstorm as well as I did. I will definitely be there! Will you?

Don't worry if you can't make it, I will report back all that I find out!! Knowlege is Power! And believe me the sock thing is WAY important!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

Getting Over My Crap by Breaking the Rules...

So, failing to stay on track with training, fundraising, and various other things had me down in the dump. I needed something besides team support to get me out of it - as part of my problem was not being able to connect with my team. In my favorite way to get things going, I turned to rulebreaking. My rule breaking overtook me sometime around 6:30 or 7 PM on Friday, and here's how it went:


Rule #1: Do not walk on the Silver Comet Trail by yourself, people have been murdered there.


I don't know what urged me to break this rule, but I had debating the validity of this rule for a long time. My debate included questions such as: There have also been murders at the shopping malls I shop at, so what makes the Silver Comet Trail different from shopping by myself? If I can walk down Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles at 2 am, why can't I walk the Silver Comet Trail in broad daylight? I could never find answers to these questions that would keep me away - especially since I know enough self defense to injure someone trying to hurt me and have watched enough CSI to know to eat hair and scratch skin....

On this particular Friday, I noticed that there were plenty of people cycling along the trail, lots of cars parked in the lot, and the day wasn't oppressively hot - conditions perfect for a 5 walk along my portion of the 60 mile trail. I started walking along, having a great time - the longer I walked, the more confident I felt. Until about 1.78 miles from my car, when I broke Rule #2.


Rule #2: Do not stay outside in a thunderstorm.


At the 1.78 mile marker (I love the Silver Comet Trail for that - it keeps track of the miles for you!), I felt the first drops of rain. I immediately started cursing my husband for reporting the rain for Saturday, even though I should have been cursing whatever weather person (probably Dagmar) he heard it from. I then started cursing myself for thinking they'd be right instead of figuring out the rain myself. Hello - cloud in the sky!!!


At this point, I had no choice but to start back to my car, with hopes of beating the rain. Ha! I was about 1.68 miles away from my car when the sky completely opened up: wind started blowing strong enough to move trees - I'm talking relocation, not bending branches here, lightening started striking, thunder started rolling (like a train....), and little itty bits of hail started hitting me. I KEPT WALKING towards my car - mostly thinking that if I can survive this, I can survive anything October will throw at me. I thought about how little this was to survive in the grand scheme of things, and how trival things got me so tied up in myself that I couldn't get into the spirit of anything. About half an hour of thinking later, I arrived at my car, soaking wet, grateful for surviving, and ready to get home.


When I started driving home, one of the roads was blocked by a fire truck picking up a tree laying on top of a downed power line. When I got to my neighborhood, there was so much debris (and two more downed trees) that I had to drive on the other side of the road. I was looking around in awe thinking "I can't believe I was out in this, I really can't!" When I got inside (after the hot shower and the change of clothes), I turned on the news to see massive lightening counts (443!?!?), severe storm warnings, and lots and lots of red on the Doppler Radar. Again, a sense of awe overcame me - I just couldn't believe I walked over 1.5 miles in that. When I spoke to my neighbor, she indicated a mild tornado had hit.....I don't believe that, but then I do. Crazy!


But, crazier still is that I broke Rule #3, even after I have been warned, warned, and warned about the consequences of this one....


Rule #3: Do not walk in cotton socks.


Granted, I've been breaking this rule for a while now, mostly because I've always worn cotton socks and I haven't needed any new ones. But know that I have been planning to buy them....I really have, I just haven't been walking the big miles yet, and hadn't paid any consequences for breaking this rule.

Picture a drowned rat, and what you have is a slightly smaller version of me after my almost two mile walk in a storm dumping up to two inches an hour. My shoes were holding water, but everytime I walked, water would slosh out of them through the air vents. I could get most of the water out, except no matter how hard I tried, the cotton socks held water.

So, here it is 3 days later, and my cotton socks are wet inside my shoes, which due to all the foam have not completely dried out. This is the last day I am wearing cotton socks. I'm going tonight to get the good ones - because now I have paid the consequence for cotton socks.....my feet hurt, and I haven't walked at all today!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna