Stone Mountain 10 Mile

Yesterday, I held a training walk at Stone Mountain Park.  There were four of us from team, Angels of Hope and four other girls who signed up to walk with us.  All of the girls did great!!  I am so proud of them.  We are going to have a wonderful time this October.  I am so honored to walk with them.  They all walk for various reasons, but we all have one common goal!  60 Miles, 3-Days, and to see the end of Breast Cancer!

Jillian, Me, Emily, and Krystle after completing 10 miles around Stone Mountain Park!

I will say that this year, training is easier for me.  I guess that I'm in better shape and a bit wiser since I experienced it last year.  My new shoes held up great!  Last year when I would walk I would get a blister around 5 miles.  I completed the 10 miles yesterday without a blister or hot spot.  I told Scott over and over that I completed 10 miles without a blister!!

It was so nice to meet the other girls too.  I love being a training walk leader and helping new walkers prepare for the 3-Day.  I love hearing their stories and why they are walking.  Year 2 for me is just as amazing and emotional as the first year.  I am so blessed to have a bigger role this year and to be able to help others.  I look forward to meeting the other people who will join our team and our training walks.

Our team is working hard to train and meet our goals in fundraising!  If you would like to contribute to me or one of my team-mates, click here.  Click a name and give a donation.  No amount is too big or too small.  Special thanks to all my donors so far this year!!  I couldn't be doing this again without you!!  Your love, prayers, donations, and support keep me going!!  Every penny helps get us one step closer to seeing the end.  Until then, I'll keep walking.  No one deserves to go through what Momma and so many others have.  Join me as we continue to fight for the cure!

I Love My NEW Shoes! I Love My NEW Shoes!

Being an elementary music teacher, I love adding children's literature to my music lessons.  One of my new favorites is the Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin.  Pete the Cat steps into all kinds of things, but he doesn't let it bother him.

"Did Pete cry?  Goodness no!  He just kept walking along and singing his song.  I love my white shoes!  I love my white shoes!"

Two tired, sore, blistered feet after completing 60 miles in 2011!

Shoes are a very important part of the 3-Day!  You must have a least two pair during during the actual walk and rotate them.  Last year, I went through 3 pairs preparing for the walk.  Since New Balance was a sponsor I went fully with them last year.  Despite my training and learning about blister prevention, I still ended up with some pretty big blisters on my feet.  I fully believe it was my socks.

In preparation for my 5ks that I did this spring, I ended up at a store called Road Runner Sports.  It was the packet pick up location for the Color Run.  Scott and I picked up our packets and proceeded to shop at the store.  The store not only fit you for shoes, they video taped you running/walking on a treadmill to pick the best shoe for you.  They also offered custom insoles for the shoes.  After testing my feet out and molding my new insoles.  They brought out 5 different brands of shoes that would work well for my feet.  I tried on all the shoes with my new insoles and of course, I went with the New Balance pair.  Not because I had to pick them, but because they were truly the best fit!  The salesman that fit me for my shoes was from the store out in Chicago.  He was there helping the Atlanta store for a few days.  I told him that I walked the 3-Day and he told me that he had fit many people for shoes for the 3-Day in Chicago.  He also recommended some socks to try.  He asked me if I experienced any pain last year during the 3-Day.  I told him about my shin splints and my knee pain.  He assured me that he could take care of that with my new shoes.  Now, Road Runner Sports is hosting clinics, training walks, and discounts for 3-Day participants.

My new shoes and socks!

So far, I am 95 miles into my training walks and I am blister and pain free with my new shoes and socks.  I ran the Race for the Cure in them too!  This weekend I'll be wearing them on a 10 mile training walk.  I am so excited to see how they will do!!

As of now, I'm like my friend, Pete the Cat...I'm just walking along and singing my song!  I love my NEW Shoes!  I love my NEW Shoes!  I probably should include socks in the song too!! =)

Catching You Up...

Wow!  Life has been so busy, but I am loving every minute of it!  Our God is so good and I have seen him workout so many situations lately.  My faith is in Him!  He is in full control.  My youngest son Graham's surgery went well.  He has had some pain off and on, but has managed so well.  He is a very brave boy and I am so proud of him.  Wesley and I had a wonderful time at our church Vacation Bible School and now, it's time to enjoy the rest of summer and start to focus more on the 3-Day!

I am so excited about walking in October.  I have been to several training events and held some of my own.  I am currently working on the 24 week training plan provided by SGK 3-Day staff.  As of today, I have walked 95 training miles!!  I have walked alone and with friends...at the gym, at my church, my subdivision, my treadmill in the garage, and at Stone Mountain Park.

I am also excited about my team, Angels of Hope.  I decided on this name due to my Mother's love for angels.  She collects all kinds of angel figurines.  I just felt that this name was perfect.  I actually decided on it back during last years walk.  =)  I had a lot of thinking and reflecting time during those 3 days.  My team has grown from 1 to 8 members as of today!  I think it's neat because my team is spread out...Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Indiana.  My team members include...Marie, Natalie, Emily, Krystle, Jillian, Kristie, and Brenda.  There's still time to join us!!  Let me know if you are interested.

I am stopping here to ask for prayers for Marie and her Mother.  Marie's mom is battling breast cancer again.  Emily and Krystle both work for Premier Designs Jewelry and they have a fellow jeweler than is fighting too.  Everyone knows someone that has been touched by breast cancer.  This is just two more reasons to keep on walking and fighting.  I am praying for God's peace and comfort for them.  I pray for strength to fight the cancer and for the doctors to make the best decisions for each woman.  God is in control and He is bigger than cancer!  I pray that in His time, He will lead us to the cure!

 
This post is about catching you up as to what I've been doing to prepare for the 3-Day.  My fundraising is going well.  I am at 51% of my goal, that's just a little over halfway there!  Thanks to all my early donors!!  I love an appreciate each and every one of you.  Some gave last year and some are new.  I'll be remembering you all as I walk.  You are the ones who make it all possible!  You funds are what saves lives.  I would love to get my fundraising done as soon as possible so that I can help my teammates reach their goal.  Remember, if you would like to donate to me or a teammate click the donation box at the top left of this blog or you can go to my fundraising web page here.  If you would like to go to my team's fundraising page you can click here.  On my team's page you will see a list of their names and can click a name to donate to one of them.  You can read their personal stories of why they walk too.  I am so excited about sharing this experience with my friends.

As for training, I attended the 24 Week Training Kick Off at New Balance in Alpharetta, GA.  On May 5, we walked 3 Miles.  I met a few ladies that I really enjoyed walking and talking with.  These ladies were first time walkers and had many questions.  I love being a veteran walker this year and sharing my experiences and helping to answer questions.

Newbie and I!  Just finished shopping and ready for 3 miles!

 

I love New Balance because they give back to SGK and off us walkers a discount too!

The following weekend (May 12), Scott and I ran the Race for the Cure at Atlantic Station.  It was a great morning to run and it was misting on us a little at the end.  I was so proud of myself.  Last year, I was not prepared for the run at all.  I didn't realize how many hills were in Atlanta either.  Last year, it took me a little over 47 minutes to run the 5k.  I was happy that I finished it but disappointed in my time, because I had ran faster than that in other 5ks.  This year, I finished in 37 minutes!!  I was so proud of myself.  Scott was great support and encouraged me the whole way, even when I wanted to give up.

Running for my Momma!

Ready to run!

 

Me and Scott

I briefly mentioned in another post that I was selected to be a Training Walk Leader this year!  I was so excited about this and also nervous.  I have been doing training walks mostly with my team members at church, Turner Lake, and Stone Mountain.  I know the closer that we get to October that more people will be joining us to train, especially at Stone Mountain.  I love helping people and encouraging them!  I want everyone to know that finishing the entire 60 miles is possible and that you are not alone, we walk together.  I believe that each step we take is one step closer to the cure!

Jillian and I

Me and Emily

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."  Helen Keller



Why walk 60 miles in 3 days...

Dear Friends and Family,

Once again, I have taken on an incredible challenge.  On October 19, 2012, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days and camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

I had such an incredible experience doing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the cure last year that I'm going back for more.  I'm so excited about this event, even though this year I really know what I've gotten myself into.  Not only am I walking this year, but I decided to take on a leadership role.  I have formed a team, Angels of Hope and currently have 8 others on my team.  I am also a training walk leader.  I get the opportunity to help others train to be able to walk the 60 miles in 3 days.  Just in case you missed my account of last year's event, follow the link below to visit my personal webpage, where I tell my story or visit my blog at www.amys3dayjourney.blogspot.com.  This event isn't easy, but I promise you, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't believe 100% that it was worth every muscle ache, weary night, and training walk!  Net proceeds from the 3-Day for the Cure fund innovative global breast cancer research and local community programs supporting education, screening and treatment. Komen for the Cure® works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal.

Please consider making a donation. There is no donation too big or too small. If you can't give all at once, you can spread it out over four months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at The3Day.org.  Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.  Remember that your donation is tax deductible.  Whether you donate $5 or $100 your gift is appreciated and a step closer to finding the cure!  If you are not able at this time to donate your prayers and support are enough!  You can also help by sharing my journey through email or letter!

I decided to be a part of this bold event, last year, to honor the life of my Mother, Debbie Sauls, who celebrated her 25th year of being breast cancer free in 2011! I also walk in honor of my Grandmother, Betty Sauls, and the women past & present of the Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Support Group founded by my Mother. You can see the growing list of names of people I walk for on my fundraising page or my blog.  Each one is special to me or a friend of mine who asked me to walk on their behalf.  Though we are closer to a cure, one has not been found.  Walking this event is my little part in helping to find the cure. 

My Mother has worked for the last 25 years promoting awareness and helping other survivors and their families.  Her main message is to spread the word on breast cancer awareness and to tell others "that there is still life after breast cancer."  In 1989, she along with a fellow survivor organized the Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Support Organization.  This began as a resource center to educate women on breast cancer and grew into a support group that continues today.

Help me honor the life of my Mother and others who have fought and are fighting breast cancer!  Working together we can make a difference for future generations!

Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 69 seconds. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure.  Because everyone deserves a lifetime.

Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage (www.the3day.org/goto/rains) and make a donation. If you don't want to donate online, fill out the attached donation form or download and print a donation form from my webpage and mail it to the address on the form.  Or you can call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone.

I would like to reach my fundraising goal ASAP, so don't delay!

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and thank you for your support. Special thanks to those who have already donated last year and this year!  Don’t forget to share this email or letter with your friends and family!  Thank you for sharing my story!

Sincerely,

Amy Sauls Rains

You may follow my 3-Day journey at...www.amys3dayjourney.blogspot.com

You may donate to my cause at…www.the3day.org/goto/rains

P.S. Don't wait - donate today!

2011 - Day 3, Closing Ceremony