The past two weeks have been filled with major stress and unexpected challenges around every corner. My training schedule has fallen apart and (as you know if you've been following along) my blogging has gotten behind.
Since regular exercise has not been a part of my life since high school, I hadn't really thought how much discipline it requires. We are all busy and have 1 million more things to do than we have time for so what's the different between people who exercise and those who don't? Those who exercise don't HAVE time to do it, they MAKE time to do it.
Making time to exercise is something I have to do. I am in the process of coming up with a schedule that works and I'm determined to stick to it. I've got to train if I'm going to walk 60 miles in 3 days and beyond this short-term goal, I want to take care of my self. We're only given one body and exercise is key to keeping it healthy and looking good.
For the Lenten season, I have given up soda and people who only bring negativity to my life - I am now including regular exercise as something I'm adding to my life for Lent and hopefully beyond (better late than never, right?)
Update:
Total Training Miles: 11
Total Miles Sponsored: 22 out of 60
Friday, February 26, 2010
HOKIES for the cure
Dave and I spent the afternoon of Valentine’s Day cheering on the Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball Team in their challenge with Duke. What does this have to do with finding a cure for breast cancer and what was I doing at a sporting event? Two very good questions with one simple answer! It was the Breast Cancer Awareness Game! The Lady Hokies wore pink ribbon warm up shirts, the referees had pink whistles and even the Hokie Bird was wearing a pink shirt and bandana. Each fan got a pink ribbon Virginia Tech t-shirt and I was thrilled that they actually had different sizes available rather than the ole “one size fits no one” approach.
It was a close game but in the end Duke had the win. Regardless of the outcome, we had a wonderful time surrounded by fans in all shades of pink, cheering for our Hokies. We also enjoyed our romantic Valentine’s Day meal of hot dogs, pizza and soda as we sat balancing our food and drinks carefully in our laps. Not your typical way to celebrate Valentine’s but we made it work.
It was a close game but in the end Duke had the win. Regardless of the outcome, we had a wonderful time surrounded by fans in all shades of pink, cheering for our Hokies. We also enjoyed our romantic Valentine’s Day meal of hot dogs, pizza and soda as we sat balancing our food and drinks carefully in our laps. Not your typical way to celebrate Valentine’s but we made it work.
Will the football team step up to the challenge and wear pink uniforms this fall in a game? I can only hope and wait to see!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
DOUBLE DIGITS for the cure
I am very excited my training mile total just hit DOUBLE DIGITS!!! With record snow fall in Blacksburg, this weather has made training very challenging but I've managed to stick to my training schedule for over a week. Which going from a yearly workout schedule (meaning, I exercised approximately once a year) I think sticking to 8 days in a row is, well... a miracle.
I did manage to slip and slide my way over to the rec center this evening before the administrative office closed to finally sign up for membership. Hopefully I can start training there on Friday. I am truly counting down the days until Spring is here, the snow is melted and the air is warm. Sassy may be wishing for more snow since we both know as soon as it's warm out - she gets to join me in my walks. She has to start training for her "Paws for the Cure" event afterall!
Update:
Total Training Miles: 11
Total Miles Sponsored: 17 out of 60
I did manage to slip and slide my way over to the rec center this evening before the administrative office closed to finally sign up for membership. Hopefully I can start training there on Friday. I am truly counting down the days until Spring is here, the snow is melted and the air is warm. Sassy may be wishing for more snow since we both know as soon as it's warm out - she gets to join me in my walks. She has to start training for her "Paws for the Cure" event afterall!
Update:
Total Training Miles: 11
Total Miles Sponsored: 17 out of 60
Sunday, February 7, 2010
MILES for the cure
Total Training Miles: 8
Total Miles Sponsored: 16 out of 60
Please consider sponsoring a mile or two of my 60 mile journey
Total Miles Sponsored: 16 out of 60
Please consider sponsoring a mile or two of my 60 mile journey
Friday, February 5, 2010
SASSY for the cure
Although Sassy is refusing to train outdoors with me until the weather improves, she is doing her part to help find a cure for cancer. Today we joined 2 Million Dogs and pledged for Sassy to walk two miles (which is a long distance when you have the world’s shortest legs!!!)
2 Million Dogs has been created from the 2 Dogs, 2000 Miles project a man and his two dogs embarked on (pun intended) after losing a beloved dog to cancer. Although this project is focused on canine cancer, finding a cure for cancer in any species would be a major success and greatly help find cures in other species, including humans.
The goal for 2 Million Dogs is since 2 dogs walked 2,000 miles they figured it would be easy to get 2 million dogs to walk 2 miles each. Currently they are not asking for anything except your pledge for your dog to walk 2 miles in support of this cause.
PLEDGE HERE
Sassy is challenging all her doggie friends to take the pledge!
2 Million Dogs has been created from the 2 Dogs, 2000 Miles project a man and his two dogs embarked on (pun intended) after losing a beloved dog to cancer. Although this project is focused on canine cancer, finding a cure for cancer in any species would be a major success and greatly help find cures in other species, including humans.
The goal for 2 Million Dogs is since 2 dogs walked 2,000 miles they figured it would be easy to get 2 million dogs to walk 2 miles each. Currently they are not asking for anything except your pledge for your dog to walk 2 miles in support of this cause.
PLEDGE HERE
Sassy is challenging all her doggie friends to take the pledge!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
SPONSORS for the cure
I am so thrilled to share that 15 miles of my 60 mile journey have now been sponsored! The generosity found inside people’s heart never fails to humble and amaze me. Thank you more than I can ever sufficiently express.
Throughout my life, I have participated in a variety of different fundraising efforts for many worthy causes but this one is truly different. This is not a school thing, a club project or business – this is as personal as it gets. Each personal experience you hear about breast cancer is so different, yet the same and this will be the unavoidable fate of so very many women and men until we can find a cure.
I am grateful to be one quarter of the way to reaching my goal but we are not at the finish line yet. Please consider supporting this effort and let’s find a cure NOW.
Ashley's Donation Page
Throughout my life, I have participated in a variety of different fundraising efforts for many worthy causes but this one is truly different. This is not a school thing, a club project or business – this is as personal as it gets. Each personal experience you hear about breast cancer is so different, yet the same and this will be the unavoidable fate of so very many women and men until we can find a cure.
I am grateful to be one quarter of the way to reaching my goal but we are not at the finish line yet. Please consider supporting this effort and let’s find a cure NOW.
Ashley's Donation Page
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
CASH for the cure
Walking 60 miles is only part of the challenge involved in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day; raising money for breast cancer research and community programs is the other part. Komen for the Cure works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $3,000 to help bring us closer to that goal.
Please consider becoming a “mile sponsor” during my 3 Day journey. Sponsorship of each mile is $50. Please donate what you can and help me get further down the road – whether you choose to sponsor one mile, five miles or twenty five miles, know that every step and every dollar is making a huge difference in our battle against breast cancer.
To donate, simply click this link to be directed to my personal donation page. DONATION PAGE http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=3997127&pg=personal&fr_id=1474&et=kLyJt6FY1iz9fZV_lBt2tg..&s_tafId=237856
If you would prefer to mail in your donation, print the donation form and include it with your donation.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.
Please consider becoming a “mile sponsor” during my 3 Day journey. Sponsorship of each mile is $50. Please donate what you can and help me get further down the road – whether you choose to sponsor one mile, five miles or twenty five miles, know that every step and every dollar is making a huge difference in our battle against breast cancer.
To donate, simply click this link to be directed to my personal donation page. DONATION PAGE http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/WashingtonDCEvent2010?px=3997127&pg=personal&fr_id=1474&et=kLyJt6FY1iz9fZV_lBt2tg..&s_tafId=237856
If you would prefer to mail in your donation, print the donation form and include it with your donation.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
TRAINING for the cure
Today was the start of my “official” training for the Komen 3 Day this October. Apparently, the Blacksburg weather was not aware of the fact I need to be outside walking because we’ve had another 12+ inches of snow in the past 4 days. I had to take my walking indoors today so with Denise Austin’s Indoor Walking Workout video (which could be a comedy rather than workout video because Denise is one crazy lady) and Sassy zooming around my feet, I added two miles to my mileage total. This approach worked for today but can’t be my sole training approach.
I did discover today that the Christiansburg Recreation Center has an indoor walking track that does not involve Denise Austin or Sassafras Raines. The Rec Center is free to Christiansburg residents and only $20 a month for all of those people, including myself, who do not live in Christiansburg but are close by.
On this note: if anyone would like to train with me, I WOULD LOVE THE COMPANY. We can walk inside or outside, get together once or make it an ongoing thing, hills or flats – bottom line… I just need to walk. So, let me know when and where… and I’ll be there!
I did discover today that the Christiansburg Recreation Center has an indoor walking track that does not involve Denise Austin or Sassafras Raines. The Rec Center is free to Christiansburg residents and only $20 a month for all of those people, including myself, who do not live in Christiansburg but are close by.
On this note: if anyone would like to train with me, I WOULD LOVE THE COMPANY. We can walk inside or outside, get together once or make it an ongoing thing, hills or flats – bottom line… I just need to walk. So, let me know when and where… and I’ll be there!
Monday, February 1, 2010
CRAZY for the cure
Anyone that knows me probably knows how I feel about exercise – I opt out. When asked if I run, I answer with “only when chased.” I enjoy the idea of exercise but I just can’t seem to make it move from an idea to reality. Just like Mom having breast cancer sent my life in a different direction, I am finding myself making decisions I would not have made before her diagnosis. I seem to have gone crazy – gone crazy for the cure.
I have just signed up for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. What is this 3 day event you ask? I have agreed to walk 60 miles over the course of three days, camping at night with thousands of other women and men who are equally crazy to take on this challenge. Crazy? Oh yes. Will this endeavor be filled with one million crazy hurdles to get through? Without a doubt. But rather than fear or anxiety, I am beginning this journey with excitement still knowing I cannot do this alone. I need support – a network of people giving me encouragement and motivation. Without this support, this journey will not be possible. So here I begin this journey, with support from those who have been by my side for years and other pillars of strength whom I have yet to met, still waiting somewhere down the road.
I have just signed up for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. What is this 3 day event you ask? I have agreed to walk 60 miles over the course of three days, camping at night with thousands of other women and men who are equally crazy to take on this challenge. Crazy? Oh yes. Will this endeavor be filled with one million crazy hurdles to get through? Without a doubt. But rather than fear or anxiety, I am beginning this journey with excitement still knowing I cannot do this alone. I need support – a network of people giving me encouragement and motivation. Without this support, this journey will not be possible. So here I begin this journey, with support from those who have been by my side for years and other pillars of strength whom I have yet to met, still waiting somewhere down the road.
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