Last post before VACATION!!!

So I figured I should post one more time before I go on vacation for three reasons...

1. I am walking 15 miles for the next three days (it rained today and I was being a wuss and didn't want to get wet) and I have some school work to do before I leave, so in conclusion my next three days will not involve anything besides walking, napping, school work, and sleeping (yes napping and sleeping are two different categories) I re-introduced myself into naps a few weeks ago after hating them since I was a kid... although I have been told by Shea that "4 hour naps" are not naps, that is actually sleeping.

2. I got a backpack finally!!! I went to the store with my friend Chris this weekend, and after we tried on every backpack in the store I finally was able to choose one. Under Armor was the winning brand mainly because I love anything that is made by under armor (especially their hoodies)... anyways, it had to be able to carry two water bottles, have interior zippers for things I'm afraid to have left in my tent during the day, and two big pockets to seperate my shoes from my clothes and snacks. We had narrowed it down to an all pink one with black running through it (my personal favorite it looked more 3day'ish) or a black and pink one. Chris ended up selling me on the second one when he realized there were side pockets and placed the bookbag on his front and used them as "hand warmers" in the event my hands (and arms) got cold while I was walking. I can't really describe it, but he looked ridiculous (and funny) enough that I chose to purchase that one. I also discovered that there was another bag inside the bag so I could place my shoes in there and keep them from getting anything else dirty. YAY!!!

3. Just because I wanted to brag I was going on vacation :D That's all!

haha, jk....


I have 53 days until the 3day so if you have not yet donated by either money donations, bake/food sale, or yard sale, please do so!!! :) Time is running out quickly and I have to meet the $2,300 goal!!


Have a safe & happy Labor Day!!!

I will post backpack pictures sometime this week! :D

Time to Post?

I'm not really sure the last time I posted, so I thought it was time... Actually that's a lie, I needed a break! :) For one of my grad school classes (Alcohol & Drug Abuse) I have to do a Scavenger Hunt by Monday. For me, especially since I just created a scavenger hunt last weekend for my friends... I was semi looking forward to the assignment. I assumed it meant a lot of looking around the Internet/textbooks to hunt for the information etc... Clearly, I was wrong. It's just a fancy way of my professor to say, here is 12 pages of questions asking you what you read in 100 million different articles and then write half page papers on what you learned. So here I am, 3 hours later, approx. 2 pages done (if you think that sounds fast, I have a hidden talent of whipping out a 10 page paper in under 2 hours) anyways, I'm sick of learning about how many people were arrested for different drugs in 2005. --At least for now.

Yes, this blog may turn more personal as I spend more and more time alone in my recliner studying... but hey who doesn't like some personal information ;) I promise it won't get too bad. I do like to keep some things to myself :D

As far as walking goes, M-W this week were up to 14 miles each day. Which Monday was actually not bad at all. I did 9 and then 5, and the 5 felt like nothing. Never thought I would see the day where I said that :) Tuesday the feet were starting to hurt and the heat was kind of bad... but we pulled through and same for Wednesday...

Thursday I took off completely because I was just not in the mood to look at the same ground I walk on everyday (I desperately need to find a new route, I just do not find the point in driving somewhere to go walk when there are sidewalks right outside the front door.) And today, I did between 5-6 miles through the inside of the neighborhood. I honestly had to push myself just to do those miles as I think the bottoms of my feet get sore at the beginning of the week and then stay that way until they get a break over the weekend :) However, to be honest the best drive I have had (besides my mom being there every mile of the way, and keeping conversation while I train myself not to use my headphones!--yes, I just read they are not allowed!) Is how much my body has been changing from all the walking and everything that I have cut out of my diet to keep myself from being dehydrated or tired in the mornings. (Which again, I thank Dr. Adam for that!)

I still have yet to start carrying my backpack (I know go ahead and yell at me), but I think I'm going to go look for one this weekend and start on Monday. Someone told me last week that carrying a PB&J would help because I am sick of carrying crackers, but currently I have no place to carry one, so I guess that should force me to invest in something soon.

On the fundraising side of things: I am only $959 dollars short of the amount I have to raise!! I know that sounds like a lot but it's really not after raising over $1,300 already!! :) We are having a huge yard sale (and our last) on September 12th... my awesome cousins volunteered to let us have it at their house (Thanks Jessie & Brian!) and everyone I have talked to has either volunteered more stuff or offered to put their time into creating something so that we could have a bake sale as well!!! We are going to be purchasing bottled water and coke/diet coke cans to sell along with everything that is donated. --- Which btw, everyone who is baking/cooking anything for the sale, I need it by the night of the 10th. I also have no problem picking it up from any of your homes and you are welcome to use my house on the 10th to bake if you would like! :)

I think that's all for now... thanks for all your supportive comments on here and privately!! :0)


Here are a couple pictures from the Michigan 3day that was a few weeks ago.... (The tents are where we will be sleeping-- the big joke is trying to find YOUR tent after visiting the bathroom in the middle of the night).

1/2 way through the 3 days....

I completed-- well we, my wonderful mother walked with me yesterday... 13 miles yesterday and actually woke up this morning not feeling that sore. But def. not ready for another 13 miles. We were able to complete 7 miles today before it become 250 degrees (yes, it gets really hot here in the south) and I could only feel my legs when they stopped moving... plus on about the 6th mile, I thought I was actually crying from realizing how much more I had to go (It wasn't tears, it was sweat. I momentarily forgot I am unable to cry tears)...

Since I haven't really updated lately on our walks, here are some things that have been going on....

So far, I have been stung by two bees, luckily they both were sweat bees so apparently they aren't supposed to hurt "as much"

A mother deer looked like she was going to murder us because we were looking at her baby for a little too long while walking by

And I finally saw my first snake of the season last night a few miles from my house... it was one of the little ones that my dad likes to stomp on their head for me (brutal yes, but this is what dad's were put on this earth for... to kill whatever hurts their daughters) :D

We also travel almost daily to the grocery store, mainly b/c it's halfway in the route, and they have 3 liter waters for cheap to refill our water bottles... we have now done it so much that we no longer get weird looks... even when mom has started purchasing 1 banana everyday. (the highlight of our trip: grocery store a/c and guessing how much the banana will cost everyday) Today I discovered this chocolate milk type stuff called refuel... it was amazing, minus the fact there was milk and it was again 250 degrees outside... yuck... but if you are into weight lifting and stuff... it's really good!

Combination of mine & mom's snacks for the 13 miles (I'm not so sure if I can eat anymore crackers... ever.)


So I haven't started carrying my backpack with me yet... so all those snacks have to go somewhere...


Can you find them??

Walking Schedule until 3day!

60 miles a week---

August 13- 9
August 14- 9
August 15- off
August 16- 3
August 17- 13
August 18- 13
August 19- 13

August 20- 5
August 21- 8
August 22- off
August 23- 5
August 24- 14
August 25- 14
August 26- 14

August 27- 4
August 28- 8
August 29- off
August 30- 3
August 31- 15
Septem 1- 15
Septem 2- 15

(Next two week combined due to vacation)

Septem 3- 7
Septem 4- off (vacation)
Septem 5- off (vacation)
Septem 6- off (vacation)
Septem 7- off (vacation)
Septem 8- 16
Septem 9- 16

Septem 10- 16
Septem 11- 7
Septem 12- off
Septem 13- 7
Septem 14- 17
Septem 15- 17
Septem 16- 17

Septem 17- off
Septem 18- 3
Septem 19- off
Septem 20- 3
Septem 21- 18
Septem 22- 18
Septem 23- 18

Septem 24- off
Septem 25- 2
Septem 26- off
Septem 27- 1
Septem 28- 19
Septem 29- 19
Septem 30- 19

Octobe 1- off
Octobe 2- off
Octobe 3- 3
Octobe 4- off
Octobe 5- 20
Octobe 6- 20
Octobe 7- 20


Octobe 8- off
Octobe 9- 3
Octobe 10- off
Octobe 11- off
Octobe 12- 10
Octobe 13- 3
Octobe 14- 7

Octobe 15- 3
Octobe 16- 10
Octobe 17- off
Octobe 18- 6
Octobe 19- 4
Octobe 20- 3
Octobe 21- off

ATLANTA!!!!

10 weeks left!

These 6 months are flying by, I can't believe there is only 10 weeks left until the walk! I reached 52% of my goal (well the "breast cancer you have to meet this in order to walk a billion miles goal")Yes, that is it's official name. :)

I want to thank my aunts and uncles again for helping so much with the yard sale, I couldn't ask for a better family, everyone helped more than I could even have asked for. (I know corny moment, but deal with it) :)

So what is the plan for the next 10 weeks??? To get my feet in shape for the walk is the most important, they do not tend to like me on day two of walks, so that is my ultimate goal so I am not whining to Jenna for 40 miles (which if any of you know Jenna, basically that means she would leave me and make new friends rather than listening to me whine... or yell at me, and we all know I'm afraid of Jenna) :D

2nd goal (which I feel they are both the same in importance) is to raise the remaining 48% I need to head to Atlanta. Right now on the list is two more yard sales, one in Raleigh (so if anyone has anything else left in their closets I am more than happy to take it off your hands, or if you want to come visit, we have a ridiculous amount of clothes and shoes especially if you are my age and wear a size 0 to 8) We are also kicking it up with a bake sale, a small one though, as we don't have as many people come to the Raleigh yard sale, we are doing it mostly to raise some money and make room for more donations in Burlington. --- which btw, Thank you Shea for volunteering to help me AGAIN, you are the best!!

The second yard sale, we are really excited about, my cousin Jessica has offered her place to have our last one, and we are planning a huge bake sale to go along with it in hopes that some of the amazing cooks I know (cough Kenny) will bake a few things to sell :D There will be more details on this later, as we start working out the dates, etc...

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for supporting me so much through this and constantly encouraging, I don't think I have yet hit a moment where I was discouraged or anything, I love you guys :D


PS... if anyone would like to leave comments at any point, you do not have to have a blogspot to do it, you simply write you name and your comment... :)

Kickoff

My mom has decided this is kickoff week to up the milage... she also decided this after 1 too many cups of coffee...(see how happy she looks so early in the morning in the picture) we got up at 7am this morning to beat the 100 degree weather (which didn't really work). We walked 8 miles before slowly dying in the heat :) but it is the beginning of what i feel will be a really long week with a lot of miles....

The before and after of today...

Success!

This weekend we had a yard sale near Burlington and made almost double what we made with the sale in Raleigh!! I could have never done it without all the help I received this weekend....

Aunt Sandra-- Thank you so much for letting me have the sale there, and letting us take over your garage all weekend (even letting your baby sleep next door and outside) ;-) haha.... Love you!

Aunt Cherry & Uncle Carver-- Thank you for everything!! For bringing the tables over from the church, donating so much, and for all of your help... Love you both!
(And of course Uncle Danny for letting me borrow the tables from your church) :)

Jessica- Thank you so much for coming over and entertaining us and getting me the most amazing breakfast!! And of course for ALL of your donations and for helping us clean everything up, including the tables :D hehe

Thank you also to.... everyone who donated (again!!!)

We were so busy during the sale we weren't able to get a picture, but we did take this one the night before (I was trying on donated clothes while pricing them) :D


And of course last but not least, Thanks to my mom who went to Burlington with me and collected everything, helped price it, talked people into buying things I'm sure they didn't need, and all the heart to hearts and bonding time inbetween :) I love you!







The story behind this picture: I was starving by the time we had lunch and wanted to get a sandwich and a side. I didn't have enough money so my genius idea was to take the lettuce and tomato and make a side salad. I ended up having to eat my lunch in the car so that was a no go. So we stopped at the grocery store on the way back to my Aunts. I was following Adam's 90%-10% so I was allowing myself to have my 10% and have chex mix that had the m&m's in it.... now because it was 550 degrees outside I put the bag in the fridge, I was working on the garage sale stuff, and finally got the chex mix out after a few hours. By this time I was so excited to finally have my chex mix it was pretty ridiculous. I had maybe had 2 handfuls when a bee started flying around my bag. My mom picked up a sponge bob stuffed animal and whacked the bee... and my chex mix. In the event you couldn't tell by the picture.... there was maybe a handful left in the bag...

Kicking it up...

Because walking and fundraising isn't enough, after spending some time talking to Kenny & Dr. Adam (thanks guys)... from their own experience and knowledge... I have decided to eliminate fried foods, chocolate (desserts), coffee, and soda from my diet until the walk. Or, I should say as Adam puts it 90% (I can have something on the weekend) :) Basically everything that would cause me to be sluggish training. I decided to do this after attempting to do a long walk Monday when I had not drank enough water the night before and didn't eat well either. I could barely break 5 miles which was not usual. I looked at the journal I keep to know how each walk goes, and realized there was a trend with the food/drinks. So until then, I'm cutting myself off. Which also means if you are reading this, DO NOT tempt me with these things (CHAD).

So, in honor of kicking off 16 miles tomorrow and my last chocolate, Kenny captured the last chocolate on film (and we realized after we took the picture it probably wasn't the smartest idea to do the night before 16 miles but oh well) :D