39 Days Til the Avon 39!

I sent the following out to friends and family who have been supporting me in this effort, but I've also gotten a lot of support from my FB friends at large, many of whom I don't have email addresses for so I wanted to post it here as well.

Thanks so much for the support and encouragement!

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Dear Family & Friends -

Today marks 39 days until I will begin the Avon 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer, walking 39 miles in two days, and I wanted to provide an update on my training and fundraising to those who have supported me in this effort. 

First, since announcing I was taking on this challenge back in December I quickly saw that support comes in so many forms! From encouragement and checking in on my progress to going on training walks with me to contributing financially to my fundraising, I've been overwhelmed by the outpouring and I truly appreciate it all. I knew I had a great group of friends, family, neighbors and coworkers but this certainly solidified that. 

Training

I've had my ups and downs with the training program over the past 10 weeks. I've been following the 16 week "advanced" training program, which is geared towards people who have completed (walking or running) at least a 10K. It has me walking set distances 4 days a week with short "recovery walks" or cross training in between. I've been able to stick to the designated schedule for the most part, making a few adjustments and tweaks as my own schedule dictates. Time and weather have been the biggest challenges. My pace for outdoor walking tends to average right around 3 miles per hour. I'm faster at the start of a long walk and when I'm on a trail that eliminates dealing with traffic and street crossing. I'm slower (but more entertained) when walking through the city and in those final few miles of a really long walk. Last weekend I did 17 miles on Saturday and 8 miles on Sunday and was feeling pretty good and only a little sore come Monday morning! I was pretty surprised by that because a few weeks before 14 miles left me hobbly (my word of choice) for days! I'm hoping last week's results continue with my longest two training walks -20 miles this Saturday and 22 miles in mid-April. For the actual event I'll walk 26 miles the first day and 13 miles the second. 

Fundraising

I'm so happy to report I met the minimum fundraising requirement last week! I was fully expecting to still have a ways to go by this 39 day update so reaching the $1800 when I did was a pleasant surprise. However, I decided I'd up my goal and keep going. If I can raise more money to help end breast cancer then that is absolutely what I want to do. My new goal is $2500 and I'm 75% of the way there. 

My friend Mary, who is walking with me, is 85% of the way to her fundraising requirement with more donations coming in daily. We are still welcoming donations to the team, to be split between the two of us, until April 3 and individual donations until May 2. 

When I signed up for the Avon Walk I had two purposes in mind - to challenge myself physically and help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Since starting my training I've grown even more dedicated to those two goals. In recent months I've learned of two additional women in my life fighting breast cancer - a former colleague and a family friend, both not much older than I am. They join the more than a dozen other women I know who have also fought this disease. I am happy to be doing something to take action and again, truly appreciate all of your support in helping me with this goal. 

Thanks again, 

Stacy

www.ped-a-cures.blogspot.org

Stacy's Donation page

Still moving!

I am pleased to say I'm still a walking, functioning person with only a little bit of soreness after yesterday's 17 mile walk.

My training schedule called for 9 miles today and I ended up doing 7. Not because I didn't feel up to 9, but more because I couldn't spend the extra time on it. I'm heading out of town this afternoon to visit friends tonight and then head to Philadelphia for work in the morning. So, I'm ok with not getting the full amount in.

A few weeks back, after doing my 14ish miles I was feeling pretty terrified about walking 26 miles. I'm still a little scared of it, but definitely feeling more confident that the training plan is getting me ready!

17 Miles!

Today's training walk was 17 miles.

I was pretty apprehensive going into it, and am honestly quite surprised to still be a moving, functioning person after it. But it appears I am. :)

But before I get to the after, I should tell you about the during...

I left my apartment at 10 this morning and headed through my neighborhood to mail a package and return library books before shifting north, towards DC. I hadn't walked the Mount Vernon Trail in months because it had been snow covered every time I wanted to. It was in the mid-40s when I set out and I believe the low 60s when I finished, so snow was not an issue today!

It was quite handy that I set out at 10 exactly, because then I ended up taking photos every hour on the hour throughout the walk.

Top row: 11 am on the Mt. Vernon Trail; 12 pm crossing into DC, 1 pm lunch break
at my office. Bottom Row: 2 pm walking down 23rd St to the Lincoln Memorial,
3 pm back on the Mount Vernon Trail crossing under the 14th Street Bridge, 4 pm:
the final mile and a half of my 17 miles, with a yummy milkshake for motivation. 

(I wanted to put the photos next to the descriptions, but Blogger is being uncooperative, so if you care about more detail of the day, read on...) 

11 am:
I was walking past the airport, along the Mount Vernon trail. The trail was packed with joggers, walkers and cyclists today so it's kinda amazing none showed up in the photo. 

At this point I was walking at a good pace, enjoying the fact that I didn't have to stop for lights and traffic as I do in the city. But... being on the trail can get a bit boring!

I followed the trail to the 14th Street Bridge and then crossed the Potomac, ending up right by the Tidal Basin and behind the Jefferson Memorial. From there I crossed under the highway and headed to East Potomac Park. 

12 pm: 

I drive over this bridge every Monday- Friday, but it was the first time I had ever walked it. And the first time I ever noticed it is an memorial bridge. Once I crossed the water I was in L'Enfant Plaza, which I took to Independence Ave and then down across the Mall at 7th Street. From 7th I headed to F and to my office for a lunch & phone charging break. 

1 pm: Of course, before I got to my office I stopped in at my favorite - Taylor Gourmet, for the yummy, and soon to be departed fall/winter special salad, the Logan Square. I had lunch at my desk, charged my phone and mapped out the rest of my route as the morning ended up being a bit different than I had previously planned. Quite coincidentally, I discovered that my stopping point was exactly at 8.5 miles - my halfway point! Definitely not planned, but a welcome discovery no less!

2 pm: After crossing in front of the White House, (which, side note featured a varied assortment of protesters today. I guess it's much more enjoyable to protest in warm and sunny weather) I continued up Pennsylvania Ave to 23rd Street, where I then headed south, towards the Lincoln Memorial and the Memorial Bridge and back to the Mount Vernon Trail. Even after a 30 minute lunch break I was still feeling pretty tired as I trekked along the trail, so I did sit on a bench for 10 minutes enjoying the day, and an apple. 

3 pm: Still on the Mount Vernon Trail. Again, it's nice because I can walk faster without worrying about traffic signals, but it is long and boring! The only part of my route that I covered twice today was about 2 miles of the trail. I exited it as soon as I could in Crystal City and stopped for my favorite treat ever - a Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake from Good Stuff Eatery. 

4 pm: That milkshake made the last two miles home bearable. By the final mile I was walking so slow. I definitely think that there is something mental about it at that point. Physically I had been feeling fine, but I think just knowing there was only 20 minutes to go, I don't know. I think my brain told my feet we were almost done and my feet missed the "almost" part. 

4:30: I arrived home! 

In total it took me 6 1/2 hours, but right around 5 1/2 were actually spent walking and the other hour was eaten up by getting food, eating lunch and my one 10 minute break by the river. That puts me right at my target speed for the Avon Walk. 

While I was feeling pretty rough in that final minutes of walking, within 2 hours of coming home I was back out the door running errands and now I feel pretty good. My feet are a bit sore, and I'm definitely tired, but not nearly feeling as debilitated as I did a few weeks ago after my 15 mile walk. Tomorrow I have to do 9 miles, so we'll see how raring to go I am in the morning! 

101%!!

I met my fundraising minimum! With more than a month to go til the event!

I am blown away by the generosity of all those who have donated. Thank you all so much! I'm so happy to be able to continue focusing on training with no worry of not being able to participate in the event.

And, now that I've met the minimum, I think I will up my goal to continue raising funds for breast cancer.

But not quite yet.

I'm going to enjoy that 101% for a bit before I set my sights higher. :-)

Attempting 15 miles, touristing in Europe and fundraising update

Sorry I've been so remiss in updating the blog! I had two really good days of walking a few weeks back, followed by a cold that knocked me out and a trip to Europe.

But now I'm back and very focused on the last 6 weeks leading up to the Avon Walk!

Looking back...

February 28/March 1

My plan was do to 15 miles on the 28th and 7 on March 1 and I came close to succeeding.

On the 28th I did the first two miles in my neighborhood when I met some friends for brunch, and then I set out in the afternoon for downtown DC and a route I had mapped out which was 13 miles long. I started near Metro Center and headed for Georgetown, meaning miles 2-4 were entirely up hill. It was sloooow going and tough, but from there mostly downhill. I wound my way past the Cathedral, through Woodly Park, Adams Morgan and Logan Circle, back to Mass Ave. From there I headed east, towards Capitol Hill. My original plan had me walking to 8th SE, but I cut south when I hit 4th and started heading back. I walked along the Mall the whole way back, instead of my planned route down Pennsylvania, but still ended up a bit shy of my goal at 13.5 miles total.

March 1 brought sleet and general ickiness on the weather front, so I hit the treadmill. I managed to get 5 miles in there, by never doing more than 40 minutes at a time, so I didn't have to stare at the numbers and feel like I had been on the treadmill forever!

I felt pretty good after the two days of walking, and again didn't just collapse after the long walk, but went to the grocery store.

Europe

I had done some tweaking of the training schedule because as it was designed I was set to walk 13 miles the first Saturday I was in Europe and 15 the next. While I knew I'd get a good bit of walking in while being a tourist, I also knew my travel plans involved lots of time in the car and lots of time with a 3 year old. In the end I had two really good days back to back - hitting just over 10 miles both days. Later that week it was followed by two 6-7 mile days, so I feel pretty good about where I am.

Fundraising

I came back from my trip and was shocked to discover thanks to a few mailed in donations I am 96% of the way to my required $1800! Thank you all so much for the support! My teammate Mary is about 70% of the way there so we are both feeling good about our progress.

This weekend I'll be walking 17 miles on Saturday - my longest walk to date! Wish me luck!