Summer Training Woes

DC's heat wave meant my 12 week training plan got off to a slow start this Sunday. And by slow, I mean non-existent. :(

I started the day with paddleboarding at the beach instead of the 3 mile walk I was supposed to do and the temperatures never dropped enough for me to make an outdoor walk feasible once I got back to town.

But, I'm not letting the rocky start be a precursor of things to come! Paddleboarding counts as cross training and that's good for me too, right? :)

My plan for this week's Tuesday and Thursday training walks is most definitely going to be on the treadmill before work!

I'm hoping Saturday and Sunday's 4 mile walks can be done outdoors, perhaps early in the morning both days.

I'm also looking at my travel plans over the next few months and figuring out how I'm going to bend the training plan to work for me. Heading out of town on a Saturday that's supposed to have a 12 mile walk means I guess I'll be spending that Friday evening strolling through DC. I'm also scheming times when I'll end up leaving super early and walking to meet friends when we have plans, or taking a long stroll back to the house from the beach late this summer as well.

This time of year it seems harder to get the training in - between the heat and a busier schedule - but I know how important it is, and that following the plan last time led to success so I'm committed to making it work!

Wish me luck! And please, support my fundraising efforts if you can!

Playing Tourist = Lots of Steps!

Training officially kicks off this Sunday (7/24), but I got a head start getting back into lots of walking last weekend when I went to New England.

Between wandering downtown Boston and exploring small towns along the southern coast of Maine, my FitBit tracked me at 12,000 - 16,000 steps each day of my 4 day trip. Those are daily numbers I haven't seen in ages. Numbers I'm sure to start seeing more frequently pretty soon!

In fundraising news, I am a lucky girl with generous friends! My first fundraising goal was to be at 12% of my needed total by the time my 12 week training program begins. As of today I'm at 20%.

Thanks so much to everyone who has donated so far!

Of course I'd walk a lot more if these could always be my views!

Both shots are from the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, ME

Gearing Up for the 2016 Avon 39

Gearing up to take on this challenge again in 2016!

With the Avon 39 just over 3 months away it's time to kick things into high gear and get my fundraising going!

This time I'll be doing the event in New York City, October 15 & 16. I was in NYC last week and it was hard to imagine that in just a few short months I'll be returning and seeing so much more of the city and in a very different way than I ever have before!

Last year to prepare for my inaugural Avon 39 in DC I diligently followed a 16 week training program. Since I have some experience under my belt, and it's completely gross hot out of these days, I'm going with a 12 week plan.

Just like last year I'll have training walks on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with the Saturday and Sunday distances gradually ramping up to get me ready to walk 26.2 miles on day 1 and 13.1 on day 2 of the big event.

My training plan kicks off in 15 days, which is 12 weeks out from the event and I'd love to have 12% of my required funds ($216) raised by then. 

Donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated and can be made on my personal fundraising page.

Like last year I'll be tracking my progress during training and fundraising with this blog and hope you'll follow along as I prepare for this huge challenge a second time!