Week 11 Review

It was an exciting week. The first 3-Day of the season took place in Boston this past weekend. Participants from this walk are posting pictures and stories. I'm starting to get excited for my walk.

Fundraising

It was a fantastic fundraising week. This past Saturday we held a charity dog wash. I say we because most of my co-workers helped by either rolling up their sleeves and washing dogs, getting the word out, receiving dogs, signing their own dogs up for baths, etc. It was a howling success. We washed 20 dogs and raised a little over $500. I'm getting close to my fundraising minimum of $2,300. When you add the $790 which has yet to be posted to the $1,308 already posted to my account my total is already almost $2,100. I anticipate meeting the fundraising minimum by the end of August.

Training

It was another weekend of long training walks. On Sunday I met up with a friend and her dog for a 13 mile walk. Up until Sunday I had done all of my training walks in my neighborhood. It has been fun to explore more of my neighborhood and really convenient to just head out the door and start walking. Plus you always have a rest stop handy. But on Sunday I wanted a change of scenery. So we started at San Gabriel park up in Georgetown and walked over to Lake Georgetown and back. We were very lucky to have cool morning temperatures, shade on much of the trail, restrooms every couple of miles and a few friendly fellow walkers, runners and bikers. We started at 6:30 and finished up just after 11:00. This was my first chance to try my new camelbak. My camelbak was loaded with 100 ounces of water. When you add this to the 24 ounce bottle of Gatorade clipped to my camelbak, I was carrying over 8 pounds of fluid. Which by the way was all gone by the end of the walk. My back and my armpit area was a little sore the next day from the weight. I expect that will pass as I get use to carrying it. Overall it was awesome and I expect I may end up using the camelbak for the actual walk. On Monday I walked another 9 miles in my neighborhood. I continue to battle the blisters. The worst being on the insides of my heels. Although I got a good tip for lacing my sneakers to avoid heel slippage which I will try this week. I hope this helps with the heel blisters.

Other preparations

During the actual walk there is a location where all the walkers camp overnight. Tents and food are provided but we have to bring everything else needed. So I went on a shopping trip to pick up a bag to carry all of my overnight stuff, a sleeping bag and a camp pillow. The overnight bag has to hold our sleeping bag, air mattress, pillow and clothes. Thankfully this bag is transported for us. We just pick it up when we arrive at camp each evening and drop it back off with transport each morning. The bag loaded with all our stuff must weigh under 35 pounds. I got a tip on a reasonably priced duffel bag with wheels and a handle. A must for the walk because no one wants to carry a 35 pound bag on their shoulder after walking 20 miles. I also found a reasonably priced sleeping bag rated for temperatures between 30-50 degrees. And finally a camp pillow which is big enough for me but yet small enough to fit nicely in my bag with everything else.

Up next week

I get a little break from fundraising. Although I need to start planning/organizing the Paws for a Cause Trick & Games event scheduled for Friday, August 13th. Should be fun with 8 awesome dogs already signed up. Only 2 spots left. The recommended training for this coming weekend is 14 and 10 miles. I'll be looking for a new area trail for the Sunday walk.

Week 12 Review

Hard to believe there is now less than 12 weeks until the walk. Here is a summary of what I've been up to.

Training

I've been busy the last couple of weeks with training kicking into high gear. I've walked over 20 miles each of the last 3 weeks. This past weekend I completed a 7 mile walk on Saturday and 12 miles on Sunday. Wow it was tough. I got a few blisters, some sunburn on my shoulders, chafing under my arm where my shirt seam was rubbing and it was unbelievably hot. While training is important and necessary to prepare your body for the rigors of the walk, it also gives you an opportunity to work out your game plan for making the walk as enjoyable as possible -- that way you have a plan for preventing and caring for blisters, sun protection and chafing. While for me none of these issues would prevent me from walking, they can make it a little less enjoyable. And my goal is to not only raise the $2,300 and walk the 60 miles, but to also have fun and enjoy myself. I'm on schedule to do my 13 mile and 9 mile walks this weekend. I'm excited to try out my new Camelbak this weekend. I used a waist pack for the 2002 walk and have been training with it, but I can't carry as much water as I would like and need to for training in the intense summer heat plus it's just not as convenient to have to pull out the water bottle continually. My goal for this weekend is to start walking earlier. I slept in a little too long this past weekend and my 12 mile walk went into the lunch hour. Just too hot for walking in the middle of the day like that.

Fundraising

I've been slowly getting donations in the mail from the letters I mailed out a couple of weeks ago. So far 4 of the 20 request have come back with donations. Awesome and I'm still expecting more to trickle in. I also got a donation from an old high school friend online. Very exciting to get support from my hometown community. Coming up later this month is a dog wash scheduled for Saturday, July 24th and handmade jewelry donated by a co-worker which can be purchased for a donation. Contact me if you are interested in more information about either the dog wash or jewelry. I already have $1,283 posted to my account. When you add the $290 from memory stones and another $95 from my 4 mail donations which still need to be posted, my grand total is $1,668 so far.

Woohoo, I'm on my way.

Summer Update

It has been an exciting start to the summer. The event is just 3 months away. I'm starting to get excited. I can't wait to return and walk with the beautiful backdrop of DC.

I just completed my first weekend of big training mileage. I did 10 miles on Sunday and 7 miles today. It was exhausting but felt great at the same time. My legs and feet are sore tonight. When I trained and walked the event 8 years ago, I had one blister that was my constant companion. Well it's back in the same spot on the same foot. It's a persistent little booger. I'll consider myself lucky if it's the only significant blister problem I have. Up this next weekend is 11 miles and 5 miles on back to back days.

I'm excited to have already raised over half of the required $2300. I just finished making another 20 dog memory stones over the July 4th weekend. This added to the spring break week and memorial day weekend totals equals a whopping 82 stones made so far. My goal at the start was to make 100 stones. This goal is looking very possible with the labor day weekend offering still coming up. Around 50 letters went out by e-mail or snail mail to friends and family members asking for contributions late last week. I'm excited to see what comes back. Up later this month is a dog wash. Awesome pricing for baths and nail trims and all proceeds go to charity.

Thank you to everyone who has so generously supported me and the cause by making a donation or buying a memory stone, jewelry or candle. I wouldn't be able to do this without your support.