Let the Training Begin!!

Saturday, March 30, 2013 was "Walk in the Park Day" - and Michelle, team captain and a Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Training Walk Leader, decided it would be a good idea to lead a training walk in Stone Mountain Park  -- around the mountain. For those of you who don't know, the loop around the base of Stone Mountain is 5 miles - that's right, FIVE miles!!! I can't believe that right out of the gate, I was going to tackle a 5 mile walk, but I showed up!

Since I trained with Michelle 3 years ago, I knew what I was getting into, sorta. I'd walked the mountain before, knew I could walk at whatever pace was comfortable, and understood where the bathrooms were (which is absolutely key when staying hydrated!!). There was only one thing I didn't count on... Having a baby changed me in ways I never thought of: I don't walk the same as I did 3 years ago; I don't have the same stride or the same core. Muscles that were there working fine the last time I walked the mountain, well, they weren't there anymore, or they were there stretched out from the birth and/or limp from lack of use.

Needless to say, the walk didn't go as well as I remember it going, way back when. Hmmm... Now that I think about it the thing I had going for me last time was that chose to walk at the slowest pace possible. This time I was walking at full speed, "catching up" with friends (family really) I hadn't seen in a few years. I didn't even realize how fast I was walking until mile 3.5 - and by noticing it I should say I stopped myself from puking like Jackson on The Biggest Loser. But, like him, I persevered and finished out to mile 5. Also like him, when we finished, there was a cameraman there waiting to talk to us about the walk and put us on TV!!

Michelle was interviewed for Fox 5 News Atlanta in order to drum up support for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day For the Cure, an interview that aired at 6 PM as well as 10 PM Saturday evening!!! Go Team!!

What a way to start training: a 5 mile walk uphill and downhill (both ways?) followed by an on-camera experience.... WITH THE BEST GIRLS EVER!!!! Thank you ladies!! We did it!!!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at Humana Fit

My Welcome Back!!!

So the same day I received the notice to get my first ever mammogram, I also received my Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Welcome Kit!!

So apropos, right? I mean, here I am walking 60 miles to end breast cancer WHILE I am doing my best to prevent it!

Go me!
Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna

I AM BACK!!

Boy how my life has changed since I walked The 3 Day in 2010!!!

A month after the 2010 event, I found out I was pregnant. Nine months later, I gave birth to a baby girl, Nikki. Needless to say, the 2011 3 Day event was out of the question - I was still enjoying maternity leave when the Atlanta event happened. When the 2012 3 Day event came around, my husband, Nikki and I were still learning the ropes of being a new family and ironing out work schedules. We just couldn't figure out a way for me to train for 8 hours a day with an infant/toddler - especially with a "No Strollers Allowed" training walk rule. Nikki is as cute as a button, especially all decked out cheering on 3 Day walkers, but after about an hour in the stroller she is a raving maniac. Who could blame her?? Not me. And who can blame anyone for making a "no stroller" rule - I sure don't like walking with a screaming baby in a stroller!! So, I took some time off from walking  - 3 years seems like such a long time - but now I am ready to take on this amazing journey yet again....

With the BEST team EVER: Treasured Chests (Atlanta) - such good friends and co-conspirators are hard to come by so I AM NOT LETTING GO!!! This year, we have set our sights high!! Our team has a fundraising goal of $60,000. My personal fundraising goal is $2,300, until I reach it.....

I am praying I achieve my goals, especially with all the controversy I have already come across....Pray with me. Or even better yet, JOIN ME. Then again,  you could always DONATE!

Thanks for reading! ~ Deanna