WE DID IT!

We DID it! We crossed the finish line of the AVON 2 day walk for Breast Cancer. 39 miles over 2 days....lots of sweat, tears and laughter!


Sam's Mom , Sam and Zenful Mommy at the finish line ! WOO HOO!!! (and ouch...we have blisters!) ...and look at his little t-shirt, isn't that adorable♥

Below is the beginning of Day 1, TEAM BREAST INTENTIONS at Soldier Field!

What an AMAZING weekend! See everyone next year!!!

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

WOW!!! just 12 hours away (according to our little timer on the side of the page) until the walk!

Do I feel ready? Not really, I did tons of little walks between 1 and 5 miles and one long walk of 10 miles. I wish that I could've done at least one longer walk....just to prepare. Mentally, I am ready because I know that once I meet up with my team "Breast Intentions", the adrenaline will start flowing. I know that I can complete the walk, 26 1/2 miles on day 1 and 13 miles on day 2, because I have done it before. I know that if it rains, I will keep going, if I feel tired, I will keep going, if I want to QUIT, I WILL KEEP GOING!

I look at our team Captain, Barb, and see what an AMAZING survivor she is! TRULY TRULY amazing woman! She is an inspiration to us all and I walk WITH her and FOR HER.

I walk for my family and friends who have been touched by Breast Cancer...I walk for my Beautiful daughters, so that they will not have to endure what so many women have had to.

Thank you everyone for your love, kind words and endless support.......

Paying Attention

Today I set out to walk 20 miles.  The AWBC is only 2 weeks away, and you need to rest the last week, so this was my opportunity to really push myself.

I had breakfast, got dressed in my favorite wicking yoga pants and socks, put on my AWBC tee and stretched.  I got my water and my fanny pack (yup, I said it...) and had Sam & Gregg drop me off at the forest preserve at 8 am.

It was HOT.  Already 80 degrees at 8 am with high humidity.  But I was committed.  The first 10 were no problem.  Piece of cake.  I stopped for lunch (Gregg brought a picnic) and some Sam lovin'.  1/2 hour later, I was ready  to go again.

Okay, a bit more difficult this time.  It had climbed up to 90 degrees and this portion of the trail didn't have as much shade.  I was trying to stay hydrated but after a while (mile 15) realized I had stopped sweating and it was getting difficult to breath.  Then I started getting dizzy.  I sat down on a log and realized I was getting dehydrated and showing early signs of heat exhaustion.
In the past, I've had ice-baths, IVs and ER visits for heat exhaustion and dehydration.  So I KNOW it's a slippery slope.  I called Gregg and with big sobs asked him to pick me up.  Problem was, I was in the middle of the forest and it wasn't vehicle accessible, so I had to walk out.  About 2 miles later I met Gregg (literally) on the side of the road.  I had only walked 17 miles.
It took a couple hours of rest, 1/2 gallon of watered-down apple juice, a couple of handfuls of pretzels and a 45 minute cool shower, but I'm better now.  I'm very disappointed that I didn't finish the full 20.  But I'm glad I paid attention and didn't end up collapsed on the trail or in the hospital.
This was unusual weather.  We don't see heat and humidity like this until July/August.  In fact, last week it was 58 degrees when I started my training walk.  I seriously doubt it'll be 90 degrees with high humidity walk weekend.  I really think I can do the full marathon on Saturday and 1/2 marathon on Sunday.  Of course,I'm going to pay attention, and won't see it as defeat if I need a sweep (van takes you 2 miles to the next rest station) or the medical tent.  But I REALLY hope I can keep hydrated and healthy and finish the walk.

Where in the World is Sam's Mom?

Things have been incredibly busy over here.  I've missed blogging and missed all of your supportive comments.  I've missed seeing Zenful Mommy as regularly as I would have liked.  (WAY TO GO! on the 5k!!)

What's kept me away from all of you?

** working on my marriage: communication is really good and we've taken some "date time" for ourselves recently

** working on my parenting skills: giving Sam more boundaries, working on language, working on not hitting!

** working on ME!  physically & emotionally

** AWBC training.  Up to 15 miles on the weekend

** Bilateral knee cortisone injections (today!) which should help me with AWBC and general health through easier exercise

** working on WORK.  So busy, but aiming for good time management skills

** fitting in more family time ... really getting the most out of each hour of the day

** home improvement projects: we're doing the kitchen, basement & backyard.  80% of the work we're doing ourselves

WHEW!  That's a lot.  I do have details and will be sharing those soon, hopefully.  Obviously to get the above in, I'm cutting back on blogging (and reading the blogs of you lovely ladies...sorry.)

I'm hoping to get in some training walks with Zenful Mommy before Walk Weekend.  It's so exciting to be walking with such dear friends as Zenful Mommy, her DH and SIL.  I cannot wait!

What "self improvement" projects have you been working on lately?

Local walker buddy

We've all been told how important it is to have an exercise buddy: someone to challenge you, keep you on track, and someone you feel responsible to (ie: you don't skip workouts.)  

Thus far, I've been training for the AWBC (click on the icon to check my fundraising progress) w/ Sam in the stroller.  Now, don't get me wrong, Sammy is an awesome stroller baby and great training partner.  But he will only last about 5 miles, requires snacks, and isn't the best conversationalist.

Several weeks ago I posted on the AWBC board that I needed a training partner in my area...and got a response.  So today I trained with my new buddy, Christine.  It was amazing!  I felt energized by our conversation and we kept a great pace.  We even walker further than we had anticipated (8 miles) and it seemed like an easy 8.  We have a schedule worked out and will finish 2 weeks before the walk at 20 miles Saturday and 10 miles Sunday.  The next week (Memorial Day weekend) we'll do some easy 4s or 6s in our neighborhoods and then we'll be all set for Walk Weekend 2010: June 5 &6.

Zenful Mommy and her hubby are walking too .. we have a team of about 15 amazing individuals (Team Breast Intentions.)  But Zenful Mommy lives about 45 minutes away so it's great to have a buddy close by (10 minutes.)

I'm very excited ... we have less than 3 months of training left but I KNOW I can do this.  My buddy Christine and I have committed to each other to keep pace and stick together (ie: if one is injured or has to slow down we both do.)  We'll cross that finish line together (hopefully with Zenful Mommy, her super-hubby and other members of the team as well.)

So today I'm feeling confident in my workout abilities, strong and well, GO ME!!

Feel your boobies!

As you know by now Zenful Mommy & me are walker/participants in this years Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  We are walking on June 5-6 in Chicago.  It's 26 miles the first day and 13 miles the second day and we are already training and fundraising.  (and might I say, already looking and feeling better!) 

The AWBC is about awareness, it's about hope, it's about funding mammograms and research and A CURE.  It's about survivors and fighters.  It's walked in memory and honor of the women we love and the women we have lost.

But it's also about US.  The young women who don't have cancer now, and are too young for annual mammograms.  It's about SELF-EXAMINATION.  It's about FEELING YOUR BOOBIES. 

This is so important ladies and something each and everyone of us should be doing every single month.  Religiously.

If you don't know how, go here.  There are also several videos on YouTube.

If you do know how and aren't doing it DO IT NOW.  Seriously, stop reading this post and go get in the shower and raise your left arm and feel your boob with your right hand.  NOW.

Why you ask?  Because cancer in younger women is on the rise.  Because younger women tend NOT to complete monthly self-examinations and we don't catch it quick enough.  And because, I love each and everyone of you too much to see that happen.  Hence this PSA. 

Oh, and I'm going to be posting this every single month until the Walk.  So next time, I want to see comments that you are ALL doing it.

Roasted corn, pepper & egg scramble

We have 12 inches of snow and are in hibernation mode over here in Sam Land.  Literally, it's 12 noon and we're still in jammies.  I wanted to make something FAST for breakfast, but in light of my new-found dedication to health in the new year (hello! the AWBC is only 6 months away!) I wanted to make something good for me and Sam (since he always eats what I do.)  I rummaged around in the fridge and freezer and came up with this in about 5 minutes.

Roasted corn, pepper & egg scramble **

For 1 large serving (to be split w/ a toddler) or 2 small servings with toast:

2 large eggs (broken and scrambled in a bowl w/ a little salt)

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 c corn (frozen is fine)

1 t garlic, chopped

handfull of shreaded cheese

PAM or other non-stick spray

Coat skillet w/ Pam, then put on medium-high heat.  If your corn is frozen, put it in the pan first w/ 1 T of water and let it thaw.  Then add the garlic & pepper w/ some S&P to taste.  Cook long enough to get some color on the pepper and corn (I like them carmelized!), then add your egg.  Stir around and just before the egg is set, sprinkle on some cheese.  We used moz because that's what we had in the house and it was delicious!

** if you had more time than I did, you could remove the veggies when cooked, and make the egg into a formal omlette, then add the veggies & cheese and fold over.

Per serving: approx 200 cal (depending upon your egg size), 13 g carb, 18 g protein, 12 g fat, and 2 g fiber.

Oh, and did you spy my fabulous Breast Cancer mug in the picture?  Just another reminder of the upcoming AWBC in June.

AWBC 2010: In it to END It

In 2010, once again, we are participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  If you don't know about this amazing 2 day journey, please check it out here.  We each have been touched by this disease personally, with friends and family members courageously fighting, and winning.  These loved ones are beautiful, strong, and feisty women with children and husbands and careers.  They fight for themselves and those around them.  They garner strength from other survivors, and we are humbled and awed by the grace and courage they have shown to us over the years. 

Although we cannot take away the physical pain or emotional hardships this disease causes, we CAN WALK.  And we can raise money to fund mammograms for underinsured women, and research for a cure.
If you'd like to donate to our team, BREAST INTENTIONS, drop us an email and we'll tell you how.  But this isn't about US, so donate to other walkers/teams, or become a walker yourself, form your own team, be a volunteer to pass out water, do whatever you can.  Because together, WE CAN FUND A CURE!