Training . . .

Training . . . it's hard, but the end results are worth it!  A year ago, I decided that I needed to be healthier, so I decided to make some changes in my life.  I have been working with a wonderful personal trainer for a year and have lost 45 pounds and have also been doing a little running too.  My weight loss story was recently featured on the HealthMPowers website.  Click here if you are interested in reading it.  At first, I thought 20 miles in a day / 60 in 3 days would be nothing.  Well, numbers in my head really mean nothing to me, I'm visual learner.  So my husband, Scott, then told me that walking 20 miles would be like walking from my house to my school and then 5 more miles.  Ohhhh, that's a little different now that I can visualize something.  My words back to Scott were "that's a long way!"  I have now started my training "walks" along with continuing my workouts at the gym.  Of course, also trying to eat healthier.  I think that's the hardest for me. 

Today, I got up early and took Wesley to sign up for 4-H Summer Camp.  Oh, by the way, we are so proud of him!  He recently competed and received excellent ratings at his piano competition and also won 1st place at the 4-H County Project Achievement for Instrumental Performing Arts.  Once we got him signed up for camp, I went to workout with my trainer at the gym.  Feeling good when I left the workout, I decided that I should do some walking.  I enlisted a walking partner...Graham.  He got the joy of riding while I walked/pushed.  I decided I wanted to try more than the usual 3 miles.  Today's goal ...6 miles.

The first mile was great!  Graham enjoyed the ride and played his own version of Dora/Diego.  We chose the correct paths to take to save the eagle flying above our head (really it was some other kind of bird, but I was fine with him thinking it was an eagle).  Mile 2 & 3, he was ready to play his Leapster.  Mile 4, he amazed me as he figured out the pattern of the address numbers on the mail boxes that we passed.  He said, "My house is 5 and 5, the next house is 6 and 5!"  He continued on to tell me what mail box number would be coming up next.  He also enjoyed his lemonade that we had packed.  Mile 5was the worst, he was ready to stop and told me to drop him off and the house.  I made him a promise that if he helped me keep going the last 2 miles that we would eat apples and peanut butter and we could blow bubbles later when we got home.  That little promise got us through mile 5.  During the final mile, he noticed some dandelions on the side of the road.  He calls them " yellow poofyheads" and "white poofyheads."  He told me that we needed to pick 4 of them and so we did.  Yes, we finished all 6 miles for Memaw in 1 hour and 30 minutes.  I was impressed with the time.  When I usually walk, I'm not pushing a stroller, so I thought I would be much slower.  So now, I'm feeling good, not too bad sore, and Graham did get the things that I promised him.  We were both really proud of our 6 miles.  Some things that I learned on my 6 mile walk . . .
  
1.  There is a reason they told us at the meeting to be sure to get walking shoes not running shoes!  Today, I wore my running shoes and have one blister on my big toe to show for it.  I will be investing in walking shoes!!

2.  No matter what the weather...wear sun screen!  It was a beautiful day today, not hot at all.  There was even a cool breeze during my walk.  Before we left the house, Graham insisted on wearing a hat (I am so glad he did).  Yes, I had on my hat too, I love hats!!  However, when Scott got home he asked me if I had been hang out at Red Lobster today.  I am a little sun burned, but not in pain from it.  Oh, and don't worry about Graham, he's not sun burned at all!

I would like to close by thanking my recent donors!  I have known Bugs and Donna Kilgore for several years now.  They are an amazing couple and have always been so supportive of me and my family!  Good friends to my parents and servants of God.  Thanks so much for your donation and your prayers!

Tanya Strege-Drain has done my hair for several years now.  She does a wonderful job!!  If you are in the Covington area and are in need of a cut, color, or just about anything else, just go see her at Brendale's off the square.  Tanya thanks so much for your support, encouragement, and donation!

If you are able to make a donation, please click the link at the top of the blog or here for my personal fundraising page.  I am pressing on toward my goal, so far I have raised $740!  I have walked 15 of my 585 miles that I will walk to train for the event.  Please note that the 585 does NOT include the 60 miles the day of the event.  I will keep on my current journey training and trying to become a healthier person.  Hoping one day to reach my goal weight and of course, to be able to walk the 60 miles in October.

"Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it."  ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Thank you Lord, for allowing me this opportunity to make a differnce in the world.  Thank you for giving my Mom the strength to battle and win the fight against cancer.  Give those who are facing it now strength and courage and bless those who have lost the battle.  I pray for a safe journey for all those who are training and will be walking to put an end to this disease.  Thank you for those who are putting together events like this, those who are studying and researching for the cure, and those who are donating to the cause.  I believe in hope and that there will be a cure one day and my Mom is living proof that "there is still life after breast cancer."  I love you, Mom!