Training Walks: New Balance 5 Mile and Stone Mountain 10 Mile

Training...it's just walking, right? We'll that's what I thought. It should be easy...I walk everyday. After walking in the 5 Mile and 10 Mile training walks, I realized just how important training is.

When you sign up of the 3-Day you are given a suggested 16 week or 24 week training schedule to follow to prepare yourself for the event. I started the 24 week schedule (not consistently) a while back, walking here and there as time allowed. After my 10 mile experience, I realized I need to follow the training schedule as closely as I can!

My first blister...it's a small one right under my big toe.  I got it after walking 5 miles the day before the
New Balance 5 Mile Training Walk.

New Balance - Buckhead

On June 18, I attend the New Balance 5 Mile Training Walk in Buckhead. As you can see above, I'm walking with sore feet. I used mole skin as suggested at the Gearing Up - REI event. It worked wonderfully!! I finished my 5 miles and continued the rest of the day at 6 Flags with no additional blisters. My feet felt great on Sunday too. The kids were out of town at Camp Grandparents, so my husband Scott walked the event as my guest. I am so glad that he came. The walk was a bit difficult for us since we had worked with our personal trainer the day before. We both did a leg workout with him and decided that we would not ever do leg workouts before training walks ever again! Before the training walk we were welcomed by the Komen rep and introduced to the New Balance rep. We stretched with our walking guide and then we were dismissed for the walk.

Getting ready for 5 Miles

 
It was hard to stay with the leaders for this walk.  Not because we were slow walking, but we were walking through downtown Buckhead and there were many traffic lights.  Due to the many people at the event not everyone could cross the street at the same time, so we were very spread out.

Trail of Walkers.....

Me and my Fanny Pack

I wore my new 3-Day fanny pack that I ordered from the 3-Day store.  It was suggested at previous events that you wear your gear on the training walks to prepare you for the actual event.  I am not use to wearing a fanny pack.  I had it loaded down with water and other stuff that I might need.  I felt like it was falling off the whole time and heavy when the water was full.  I kept asking Scott to adjust it, which was not good because he will not be with me at the 3-Day.  Once the water was gone, it was more manageable.  I have decided that I want to try a backpack instead.  However, most things I have read, the fanny pack was highly recommended for the 3-Day.  At the Gearing Up Meeting at REI, the camel back backpack was recommended by the rep who has participated in 8 3-Day events.  I really enjoyed the scenery along the way.  We traveled through an area with beautiful huge homes that I will never be able to afford, downtown - past The Cheesecake Factory (yum) and Scott's favorite - Fogo de chao, and past many big buildings.  The day was overcast and though humid, it was still a comfortable walk.  I wore my New Balance Lace Up for the Cure (New Balance gives back to Komen from purchases made on Lace Up products) attire - Empower shirt, Susan Komen shorts, and my tennis shoes picked out specifically for my feet.  I will defiantly wear this out fit during the 3-Day, it was comfortable and kept me cool.

  

After the walk, Scott and I were meeting his brother and soon to be wife at 6 Flags.  We were going to have to find a bank to get out some cash...luckily there was one along the way, ha ha!  We did stop for 5 minutes to do a little banking.

So convenient!

Finishing up at the bank.

Sweat in our eyes.

At the end of training walks that are hosted by companies, they give door prizes.  Everyone gets a gift for attending too.  At this walk we all received New Balance Lace Up for the Cure shoe strings.  I am usually not a lucky person, but it was my day!  At this event they gave 12 NB Komen towels and, no, I didn't win one, but I did win one of only 2 New Balance Gift Cards the manager gave away!!!

Thanks New Balance!

I didn't get to spend it yet...we had to get to 6 Flags!

We also enjoyed a Chick-fil-A breakfast with nuggets, fruit, water, and granola bars.  I'll let you know what I buy with my gift card.  I did thank the manager before I left and told him that I would be back to spend my card!  Now, I gotta decide what to buy...another pair of shoes, attire, body guard, inserts for my second pair of shoes...too many decisions!

soooo admire her!  Scott and I called her Granny and she was passing everyone left and right at the 5 mile.  Well, about a mile into the walk, Granny's group had totally left me.  I felt their pace was a little fast, especially with the terrain.   By the end of  mile 5, I passed them. 

Ending mile 5, I had a big decision to make...stop at my car or continue one more time around the mountain.  If I continued, I had to commit and finish to get back to my car.  There was no one who could pick me up if I quit during the last 5 miles.  However, if I needed it, the policeman that circles the mountain all day probably would have picked me up.  I decided to continue!  I was tired at the end of mile 5, but during mile 6 I found my second wind and seemed to be fine.  I wore my fanny pack again and we managed a little better this time.  The guide gave us a laminated pink card that we could put feet stickers on to represent our training walks.  I learned the hard way that I need to wear the card on my back.  As I walked, the card bounced and hit my arm and neck and made cuts and as I sweat...the cuts burned.  Lesson learned!

As I said, there were many people walking/jogging/biking around the mountain.  I got to talk to many...some of course were 3-Day walkers, some were training for the Peach Tree Road Race, some were just there own their own, and some were there with bootcamp groups.  I loved when I was near the bootcamp groups.  They were so energetic, well the trainers were!  I walked with a trainer and his trainee, along my last 3 miles.  It so reminded me of me and my personal trainer.  The PT had on a shirt that said "Personal Trainer" and he was happy and singing along the way as the trainee was struggling to keep up.  (Yep, just like me and Ryan.)  The PT was trying to get the trainee to jog short distances.  They would jog ahead of me and I would catch up when they would walk.  I loved watching them!  It kept me focused and entertained and before I knew it I was at my car!  I was so proud of myself for finishing 10 miles without stopping!!

So sorry, I don't have any pictures!  I was by myself and when I pulled my phone out, my battery was almost dead so I turned it off.  I figured I better save it in case I needed it! 

"An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day." ~Henry David Thoreau

It was truly beautiful walking around Stone Mountain.  I really got to enjoy the beauty of the God's earth and spend some time reflecting and talking to Him.

 "If you pick 'em up, O Lord, I'll put 'em down." ~Prayer of the Tired Walker

I ended my 10 miles with no blisters, a little sore, and very tired.  This training walk showed me that I really need to follow my 24 week walking plan.  That way my body will be conditioned to handle 3 days in a row!  Since then I have followed it closely and have now logged over 100 training miles!  I will be doing the Stone Mountain 10 Mile again in July and I'm looking forward to it!