My First Day of Training!

Today was day one of week one of my training for the 3-Day. My plan for today was easy walking for three miles- and I did it!

I began planning for the walk by driving my car around the neighborhood the evening before the walk. I used the odometer in the car to measure a three mile walk. I'm lucky because I live in an area that has a loop that measured exactly 1.5 miles. I decided to walk it twice to complete my route. I know that driving my car didn't exactly measure the same distance as I walked, but for me I consider it close enough. I am lucky to have access to a treadmill but I trained for and jogged a 5K last year and only trained on the treadmill. On the day of the run my body was in for a jolt when I started to run on the pavement. I developed bad shin splints and knew I would do my very best to train for this event outside as much as the weather permits.

I read on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure website that during the event the pace is about 3 miles per hour. I decided to shoot for just over that time.

I knew tonight would be a tough night to fit in over an hour of walking because my schedule was packed so I laid out my walking pants, tee shirt, socks and shoes the night before. When I got home from work I was ready to go! I put the leash on my walking partner, Miss Ruby (my dog in the picture above) and headed out the door. I asked my husband John to take a quick picture of the two of us before our official journey began. I stretched a bit (focusing on my calves and thighs) and I was off!

I was surprised at how long three miles felt to me, but I finished all three miles in about 50 minutes- under my target!

Tomorrow, I will be cross training for 30 minutes focusing on leg strength. My plan is to walk on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes and to do one cycle of the weight machines with leg exercises. I'll let you know how it goes. Here's hoping I'm not too sore tomorrow!

How is your training going? I'd love to hear about your schedule and if you have any tips!

Sign Up for the Cardiff Training Kick-Off Event

I just signed up for the Training Kick-Off Event taking place this Saturday, June 12th at the New Balance store in Cardiff, California between 6:45 a.m - 10:00 a.m.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure website describes this Training Kick-Off Event as "a beautiful and exhilarating flat coastal 3-mile walk led by our wonderful volunteer training walk leaders." Sounds gorgeous, right? Plus, since I'm beginning my training this week, this is perfectly timed.

The Trainig Kick-Off will be at the New Balance store at 2009 Newcastle Avenue in Cardif, California. Click here for directions from Google Maps. The schedule for the event is:

6:45 a.m. Training walk sign-in begins

7:10 a.m. Clinic begins

7:30 a.m. First 3-mile training walk departs

8:15 a.m. Training walk sign-in begins

8:40 a.m. Clinic begins

9:00 a.m. Second 3-mile training walk departs

The schedule repeats so you can attend either walk or clinic.

The clinic will be hosted by New Balance and will focus on apparel and shoes for the 3-Day. I've been to the New Balance store myself and have found the staff to be overwhelmingly well-trained and knowledgable about shoes and how to match the proper shoe to your activity and foot shape and size.

The Training Kick-Off Event should also be a great way to meet other walkers. Since I still haven't met any other walkers in person yet I am really looking forward to talking to people as excited about the 3-Day as I am!

The Training Kick-Off Event page on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure site mentions you should arrive 30 to 45 minutes early for either walk and they also suggest bringing a jacket (since the coast can get chilly and windy) as well as a water bottle. Parking for the event will be on the streets surrounding the store.

As an added benefit the Cardiff New Balance store also offers shoe recycling. They will be accepting old shoes to "pass them on to someone who needs them". Pretty great, right?

If you'd like to attend the Cardiff Training Kick-Off Event you must R.S.V.P. Click here to read more about the event and to sign up.

I hope to see you all there!