who is thankful?

i am thankful. have you checked your boobs, lately?

DO IT!! do it, now before the holidays get here and you don't know if you are coming or going.

love,
bestie elf

Chestie Besties Survive!

I apologize for not blogging sooner. Honestly, i was in the 'fog of fatigue'. Have you ever been there? In the fog, you are unable to make decisions, eat properly, or move easily. What caused this? Oh, just walking 60 miles in 3 Days!!! It is all good though...it is a happy fog! It is a fog that I hope to feel again.

The Breast Cancer 3 Day was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It wasn't just the physical challenges but it was also the emotional challenges. Along the route, we were greeted by family, friends, and strangers touched by Breast Cancer. Some of the cheerleaders were walkers from previous years. I think my eyes filled with tears before we even made it to a cheering station. A child held a sign that said, 'thank you for saving my mom.' A woman held a sign that said, 'my right breast thanks you.' When I saw my daughter Emma at a cheering station on Saturday, I was overwhelmed and overjoyed to hold her!


I met incredible men & women throughout the weekend. We met survivors and the family of survivors and the families of those that had lost their loved ones. One survivor was walking with her teenage son. How cool is that that he would walk 60 miles with his mom?! One man walked all 12 Breast Cancer 3 Days last year and was walking them all this year! He was also over 60!

So, what gets you through 60 miles? Music and candy. I would have thought that I would not have gained weight on the 3 Day but the cheering crowds hand you candy & the dinners are like fine cuisine after walking all day! We spent most of our time singing or dancing along the route - especially towards the end of the days. We know a lot of lyrics...just not entire songs!

I enjoyed camp despite the cold on Friday night. It is unreal that we would spend 5 months training in 90 and 100 degree temps and then actually participate in the walk with lows in the 40s & highs in the 70s! It was 36 degrees at opening ceremonies on Friday morning! We were out there for almost 2 hours!
Our team of 12 was amazing! It is hard to keep up with everyone while walking & even at camp but we were all together a few times. Everyone has such different paces. We had a few injuries. Most everyone was wrapped, iced, or lanced at one point. We did have a dehydration situation and our Bestie Trish was sent to the hospital. She has recovered and is safely in Cali back at work! We had a great team that together raised $30,000! The Dallas/Ft. Worth Breast Cancer 3 Day raised $6.5 million!!

So before the actual event, I thought that I would not participate again because training requires a lot of time and that is hard with my job, the kids, a traveling husband, etc. However, today, I am seriously considering walking next year! I do know that one day I will walk again even if it isn't next year. Emma told me that she doesn't want me to walk again till she is old enough to walk too.













Thank you to everyone that donated to the Chestie Besties. Thank you for not only donating your money but for your support. This was a huge accomplishment for each of us and we needed the support of each other and the support of our friends and family to cross that finish line. For me the finish line meant seeing my husband who I hadn't seen in over 3 weeks! It also meant sharing an incredible endeavor with my Bestie E, my mom, and the most fun group of girls!

Thank you, E, for recruiting me! Thank you for all the time you put into training and organizing. You are always living life to the fullest and I am so glad that you take me along with you!

I apologize for this blog. It is all over the place and I blame the 'fog of fatigue'. (I wonder how long that excuse will last!) I can't fully explain what the Breast Cancer 3 Day experience is or what it means because it means so much. 'From the outside looking in you can't understand it...from the inside looking out, you can't explain it.' That quote applies here. So, I guess that means you all have to walk!

cheers - m

Pink feathers and rhinestones

Thirty-some-odd hours from now we will begin our trek across north Texas to create awareness and stand together against an all-too-common disease – Breast Cancer.

I joined the Chestie Besties and the 3-day journey about 5 months ago, preparing for an interesting endurance challenge and new adventure for a cause I believed needed the attention. I did not expect that the hours spent walking, training, crying and contemplating not just breast cancer, but LIFE, sisterhood, family, love, and laughter would lead me to where I am today. The choices and decisions I have made in the past 5 months have all largely been steered by this empowering and phenomenal event. Training allowed me to spend several uninterrupted hours learning about my neighborhood and communities, facing new challenges, appreciating a hot Texas summer and learning about myself. Since those first steps I have taken a completely new direction in life both emotionally and mentally, I have decided to rise to the challenge of taking a chance, be part of an adventure and push myself farther with a greater purpose.

I am so thankful I decided to stop by the C.B. fundraiser on my way home from work, early this summer, I never expected a quick pop into the local pub would result in a new career/life path, a happier self and a new outlook on life. I have yet to walk the 3 day and I am already blessed with new friends in the C.B.’s (Steph G. I plan to stalk you LONG after this is over) and tons of encouragement from family, friends and even strangers who have shown every step is worth it.

Thank you ladies for letting me share this with you – and congratulations on already coming so far.

Go Besties!

Nikki

when i say chestie, you say bestie!

and this is why mo is my bestie. we decide to blog at the same time. yes, i should be in bed but this is the last chance i will have before the walk and there are a couple of shout-outs i need to give.

first, thanks to everyone who has supported us. this included our families, friends, co-workers and people who honked at us on walks. (yes, the honks and hollers are encouraging). it would crazy to think that this adventure hasn't affected you. when we say, we are going walking, most people don't expect to wait 3 hours. thanks for your ongoing support encouragement and love.

second, to my chestie besties. your commitment, dedication and friendship is something i will hold in my heart forever! when i first signed up for this, i NEVER would have imagined that 1) so many amazing women could be one team and 2)we could do so much to help the fight. we have raised over $25,000 to help end breast cancer. not bad, ladies. you should be very proud. i thanks you from the bottom of my heart and feet:)

finally, to my bestie, mo. there is no one in the world i could have walked all those miles with and not run out of conversation. do we ever shut up? we should have a radio show. look out oprah and gail. you have been an amzing co-captain who has done so much for the team. thanks for doing this with me. thanks for crying when i cry and thanks for making me laugh when maybe i didn't want to. you knew how important it was to me and never thought twice about camping, fundraising and walking 60 miles. that is a true friend. no, that is soul sister. what are we going to do on fridays? we can talk about it in the tent. or on the road between southfolk and smu. do you still have your rollerblades?

oh, i forgot. thank you body, for carrying me all these miles. namaste

this has been an amazing experience that i wish more people could share. i hope to see everyone at closing ceremonies on sunday of the walk-weekend. 4:30 pm. smu. check the 3 day site for more details.

i celebrate my sisters walking with me and i honor my sister who can no longer walk with us. we will carry you across the finish-line. you will be with us.

see at the finish line. and bring kleenex.

much love,
e

The Final Countdown

So a week from tonight, the Chestie Bestie will be sharing their pre-walk dinner together. I cannot believe it is this close! The final countdown is on! (i love that song!) So where are the Chestie Besties? Let us here from you!

Last Friday, Elise, Mom (you know her as Kay, Nana, or Jenny) and I walked 16 miles around Denton. It was a good walk - mainly because the weather was so nice! I am not used to walking in any temperature under 95! We had the traditional pimento & cheese lunch which was delicious! We stopped by Stephanie's work & dropped off our small box of Cheezits that we bought at Kroger. We also picked up some Frappuccinos at Starbuck's. Now, I'm not a fan to drink or eat such foods but that frapp was the best damn pick me up ever!!!! It was a funny walk too. At lunch, my mom said, 'i bet your boss will be glad when this walk is over.' About 4 miles later she said, 'i bet your boss will be glad when this walk is over. Did I say that already? Well, I still mean it!' Elise sounded drunk when she slurred, 'Dude, that guy can suck it, dude.' Delirium seems to set in around mile 12 or 13. At mile 15, a fire truck honked at us! Elise was very excited - she get's crunchy when no one waves or honks. It was a good day. One of the things I love about walking is that you just fall into bed at night. Of course that night I day I had to take care of my kids so I was exhausted!

I think I am done for the long walks before the 3Day. We may do 10 on Sunday if it doesn't rain. I know we should train in the rain but I've done that once so I think I am good. So far it looks like we'll have rain on the 3Day. Keep your fingers crossed that that doesn't happen! Pray to whomever you choose for good weather next week! PLEASE! Oh, by the way, one of our besties - Linda - is somewhere up North watching polar bears. I'm serious! I just had to let y'all know.

I have just 6 miles tomorrow....'just'! I'm going to spray down with BioFreeze and call it a night!

The Official Chestie Besties Mascot

I almost forgot about one of the highlights of my day on Sunday at the fair! I saw an Alpaca up close & personal! For some reason, it was shaved like a poodle. It was sort have sad & took the excitement away but I figure it still had the capabilities of carrying our goods so I had to look past the poor hair cut! They are a little dirty but you get the picture! I like the black ones better than the beige ones.

Captain E, this one's for you!

We Survived...We Thrived!

However, we were obviously tired if it took over a week to blog about it!! Last week's training walk was a success! Seven Besties walked 18 miles on Friday the 21st around White Rock Lake and 15 miles on the 22nd in Highland Village. 32 miles!!!!

Friday was good but challenging. It was terribly hot and White Rock does not provide a lot of shade or breeze or cold drinks. The first 9 miles flew by but after lunch it heated up and we all began to feel it. We learned a lot about the things that the 3 Day experts tell you. We decided to move our Saturday walk to the hills of Highland Village where cold beverages would be more readily available. It was a smart move for our hydration but not so much for our calves! The hills in this place are brutal after walking so far!

So, what did we learn? Oh, the list is long.....
1. Speak up if you have any issue going on! If you feel faint or have a blister starting, say something right away! Bestie Kay said she thought she might have a blister so we stopped on the curb and as soon as she took her shoe off she had all of us over her with a product in hand! Everyone had something in their packs for blisters! We all became so excited & sprung into action. I was frankly a little disappointed! While I know it hurt, it was not as sensational as I was led to believe! (I might have just sent some bad karma my way! I am going to body glide my feet before bed!)

2. Electrolytes are important! After a near dehydration scene on Friday, we have learned the importance of electrolytes! Of course, some of us don't like Gatorade so we are looking for alternative sources, of which there are many so we should be good. I have to learn to eat Sun Chips since that is the snack of the 3 Day - it provides the salt that we will need.

3. We can do it!! The most important thing I learned was that we are fully capable of walking 60 miles! It is so motivating to be with the team. We missed the rest of the Besties though!

Some of us hadn't met till this weekend so it was great to learn about each other. I even learned new things about the Besties that I have known for years. Here is a just a little insight into the Chestie Besties:

Lori - Lori numbers her socks so that she always has a matching pair - of white socks. She had the number '27' on her heels on Saturday. She is by far the most organized! She learned that she likes homemade pimento & cheese!

Tami - Tami tells it likes it is. Towards the end on Saturday she said that she hurt all over and she was cranky. She also said she doesn't like chit chat. Love it! I totally agree! Something funny is always coming from Tami!

Stephanie - Before this weekend, Stephanie had never done a long walk. She did amazing! Also, she wore cropped pants the two days! Impressive in this heat! Oh, her kids include a college student, a high school junior and a son that just started kindergarten!

Nikki - Nikki is the youngest Bestie on the team. She wasn't very physical before signing up for the 3 Day so for her to do so much walking is amazing! She is doing great too! She even walks to the pet store with her dogs and to run errands. It is funny how errands used to seem so far away but now walking to a grocery store is nothing!

Kay - Kay has trained very hard and even had foot surgery in June! On Friday, when she felt so faint, she said she was so happy because her feet were doing so good! She was going to start hallucinating but it didn't bother her because her feet felt good! A certain kind of gum makes her sneeze - weird! Also, she is the best pimento & cheese maker ever! That was the lunch of choice for both days - with extra pickles!

Elise - After a car wreck on Thursday, Elise opted out (after our encouragement) of walking on Friday. I was so happy that she joined us on Saturday. She is the training brains behind the Chestie Besties. We were on the phone with her a lot on Friday during our trials. She is also the greatest cheerleader! She did get a little testy about the lack of cheering from the cars that would pass us by. She thought that there should be more honking and cat calls. We did get a big honk & thumbs up from a woman who had a 3 Day sticker on the back of her car. That lifted us for our last few miles!

After the walk on Saturday, we all met at my house with our families and friends for a cook out. I have to thank my husband, Jaret and Elise's husband Erik for putting our lunches together for the two days, cooking us an amazing dinner on Saturday and just being such great supporters! Jaret and my daughter, Emma brought our lunch to us on Saturday. We had an amazing crew for our training walk!













I am so ready for the 3 Day! I'm already packed and ready to go for the real deal. I have to admit that I wasn't so eager to walk this past Friday and only went 9 miles. Once you walk with the team, it is hard to walk any other way.

Thank you all for your support! Thank you, Chestie Besties for being such an entertaining group of girls!

Gearing up for the big 18/15!

Well, we are doing the 18/15m walk this weekend! We'll walk 18 miles on Friday & 15m on Saturday! Two Besties from H-town are coming in for the big weekend! So wish us luck! I'm sure we'll have pictures & stories afterwards!

ps - I haven't done a long walk in 3 weeks. I was on strike after I did too much relaxing in Mexico. I wonder if there will be an Alpaca along our route to pick me up if I can't make it. Like the Sweeps Van that we will have during the actual walk...a Sweeps Alpaca.

cheers - mo

check your calendar

have you done your monthly self-breast exam? DO IT!!

also, check out this cool site that is getting mammograms for women.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

the big fourteen

Today Stephanie and I walked 14 miles, although I think if you calculate our winding trail correctly, it was probably closer to sixteen or seventeen. I am not sure why but I had an incredibly difficult time on this walk. I was exhausted, in pain and walking on future blister "hot spots". I don't think it was quite as hot outside as some of our past walks and although we were going a longer distance I was aching very badly by the time we got back to our cars. Steph was a champ (as per usual) but I was grateful that she indulged in extra stretching with me and continued to talk to me to keep our energy up. It has been a full week since my last walk due to being ill, but I am still really surprised. I guess we all hit our highs and lows. Although my legs ache I still plan on walking tomorrow, though not as early in the morning. I'm hoping tomorrow evening to take a nice stroll to a local starbucks and back to rack up about 6 miles, nothing too extreme, just enough to keep my body moving. I hope that if I pick back up a more agressive training schedule I will not experience so much pain next time.

I hope everyone else's training is going well, is anyone using insoles? any words of advice when you are feeling extreme exhaustion?

Nikki

Quack is Whack

At 5:30am my alarm buzzed on Saturday morning. I quickly dashed to turn off the alarm as I woke both my husband, three dogs and our house guests slumbering in the neighboring room. I quickly dressed, rapidly applied body glide to my feet and ankles and got in my car amped for my 12 mile walk with my C.B. partner Stephanie.

I never imagined I would look forward to waking up before dawn on a Saturday morning. Instead I rushed along to the trail Stephanie planned for us, got turned around once or twice (as per normal) and arrived at our set location only a few minutes late. I am sure the suggested pre-walk nutrition team of the 3-day would be horrified at my pre-walk meal of an iced latte, banana bread and stick of gum. I should have taken better efforts to eat a balanced, hearty meal as I wasn’t feeling very well and had taken over the counter medicine to suppress what felt like an oncoming cold. I brought snacks to enjoy on breaks but this is a big 3-day no no, walkers continuously learn how important eating and drinking are. It would have been worth getting up an extra 20 minutes early.

Steph and I set out about 6:45am and began a lovely walk that included trails blocked by flooding, attack ducks (I did run like a girl, but hey, I AM a girl), the blaring Texas sun (and heat), far too many spider webs, many a scantily clad male jogger and a sight of some sort of crane or large bird that scared me at first (hello! Still a girl!). A small re-route due to the flooded trail added a couple miles to our original journey and four hours later we returned to our vehicles and I was sporting some pretty intense tan lines that have now prohibited me from wearing about ¾ of my wardrobe. Oops. At least my SPF 55 kept me from a sun burn. Hopefully my early morning ramblings kept Stephanie mildly entertained as I kept her from finishing her audio book.

This twelve mile walk did not physically affect me as much as I thought it would. I was tired but I didn’t feel pain in my legs or body a few hours later. In fact I felt the walking helped me to feel refreshed!

Then came Sunday morning. I now have a sinus infection, a fever, a healthy dose of antibiotics and my lovely mother on the way to bring me her marvelous chicken soup when I got home from school. I do not feel that the walk was my downfall, more so not taking the proper steps to prevent a cold. A key ingredient to success in this walk and as I’ve learned now, and in most any outdoor activity, is preventing the problem before it happens. Thanks to the body glide and band aid blister aids I’ve prevented plenty of ailments, and I’m going to make it a point to be more conscious of these things ahead of time.

I am taking most of the week off to recover and plan a grand return this weekend with another long walk with Steph. I also completed online check in! Now it’s just a major shopping trip to REI and WALMART to get packed and ready.
Until then, here are so great “action” shots as I tried to save my extra pair of socks from the Ducks of Fury (thanks to Stephanie’s Camera Phone).









Until next time,

Nikki

Hello fellow walkers!

My awesome walking partner, Nikki, inspired me to do something this morning that I have been trying to do for years.

Get up early and workout!

I am not a morning person and very much enjoy my sleep, so it was tough to do! I always workout in the evenings but have always tried to talk myself into becoming a "morning workout" person. Nikki has been getting up early to walk a bit in the morning, so I finally did the same today. Hopefully I will continue doing it, even after our walk is over! This event has already led to some great experiences so far...I can't wait for the 3-Day to start! I am very much looking forward to walking as a team!

We've got our big 12 miles on Saturday! This will be the farthest distance for me to walk for this event and I hope the weather cooperates with us! I ended up walking in the rain again on Saturday, without the bags on my feet this time. It's much easier to walk without the bags...I am not sure that they did much good anyway. My feet are going to sweat in the bags (and get wet) anyway, so I figure I might as well not wear them to avoid sliding around in my shoes. It was nice actually, but whenever I was stationary my feet would itch like crazy from the moisture! So let's hope for dry feet and no rain during our 3-Day!!

I hope everyone has some great walks this weekend! Oh, and I have some 30% off coupons for Lady Footlocker, Champs Sports, and FootAction if anyone still needs to buy any shoes, clothes, etc. There is a printable coupon to use in-store and a coupon code if you want to shop online...expires Sunday, 8/26! Just email me and I will give you the info!

~Stephanie G.

God loves us!

Elise & I walked 13 miles on Friday! We started a little before 8am & it took about 4.5 hours. We walked from my house to my gym which feels like more than 6.5 miles when I drive it! It wasn't too bad though because we had 3 rest stops with water and it was so cool out. Okay, maybe 'not as hot' should be the words I use. When I realized that the sun was hiding behind the clouds, I also realized that God loves us! When we did 12 miles the week before, it was horribly hot & sunny! The back of our legs felt burned! This time it was gorgeous!

My mom & dad stopped by to see us so that was a nice little break. Also, we have made friends with the Highland Village landscaper so he honked & waved to us. We met him the week before when he caught us running through the city sprinklers & told us that it was bad water & we should shower off immediately. Our legs didn't turn green so we ignored the warning. Anyway, he is now our friend! E, we should give him a name. We also stopped by my mailstore to say hi to my girl there. It was such a social journey!

We also passed the time by playing the Alphabet game with Bowling For Soup songs. So for each letter of the alphabet, you have to come up with a song that begins with that letter. I won't list them here...but I will let you know that there are only 3 letters that don't have songs. Jaret told me he would work on this & would keep it in mind when writing the next album!

I am now taking the next two weeks off - at least for long walks due to my kids' schedule & my vacation (if Hurricane Dean doesn't change those plans!)! So it will be short walks till we do 15 miles on the 7th of September!

By the way, Elise is already packed. That cracks me up!

cheers - mo

okay, well it wasn't the next day

here are the results from our walk. i tripped twice and we hit hands 3xs.

i went on the the 3-day and took:
advil
bedroll
camera
deo
elise
foot powder
gatorade
hat
igloo (wishful thinking)
jenny
kleenex
latern
mo
nikes
ob
pillow
quote "something motivational by ralph waldo emerson"
rest
shower shoes
tent
utility belt
visor
white ass
xcitement!! (with a dance)
yard sign
z...i can't remember z!! z...hmmm... okay mo, what was z?!!

we have 13 on friday! hopefully, it won't be as hot.

bye-elise

let the games begin

so, i know this may come as a big surprise but i am damn tired of walking. i mean tired and bored of walking. my ipod might have to start coming out with me to help pass the time. (this is the point in our training where everyone starts leaving encouraging messages for us. you don't have to know us, i am sure there are plenty of strangers reading this blog. we would be happy to hear from you!)

tomorrow mo and i are going on a big walk. 12 miles. i don't know that i have ever walked 12 miles. but we will tomorrow and it will be great. i decided we could play "i went on a picnic and took a..." to pass the time. i already started with, "i went on the 3 day and took, advil." so tomorrow's blog will contain the list of thing we would take and maybe some fun pics.

i am starting to get all my gear together. bought a fun sleeping bag and some tent accessories. so far, so good.

until tomorrow...

elise

Re-Fueling

Do we have updates on our injured Besties? I know some of our members had surgery or were in casts within the last few months - how is everyone doing?

All hopes I had of a kick-butt training week inspired by my fuel from the Expo crumbled as I fell ill on Sunday and spent the entire week resting (when not at work) and trying to heal. I know it is more important to stay healthy than attempt to go six miles while feeling feverish. I did feel I had fallen into a slump and have been very frustrated about this. Yesterday I started to feel better and managed a brief 1.5-2 miles with my husband and our dogs. I was shocked that I felt a bit sore afterwards and I barely used the muscles I have been exercising!

I will be back on track tomorrow morning and plan on making an 8 mile trek (to follow the 16-week training program), followed by a 6 mile on Sunday. I purchased my second pair of walking shoes from New Balance yesterday to switch of for the walk. *Don't forget the 15% discount at New Balance everyone!!!* The blog Melissa posted all the more ignited my desire to push farther and walk faster. And my goodness - brave Steph in the rain! I guess we do need to prepare for all elements and I need to stop wimping towards the treadmill when there is a little rain.

I have a question for all that read this and the Besties - is anyone using an actual pedometer on their walks? I normally map my routes using Google's GMaps Pedometer but I plan on doing some training walks in new areas and could use some guidance on what pedometers are worthwhile and how well they work.

Have a great weekend Besties! Let's all meet our walking goals!

Nikki

my friend has breast cancer

For the past few years, I have worked out most mornings with my two friends, Robin & Diane. In fact, whenever I train for the walk by using the treadmills at the gym, Robin & Diane have been with me - just like this morning. You might know them - Robin Roberts & Diane Sawyer.

This week Robin announced that she is having surgery tomorrow & undergoing treatment for breast cancer after finding a lump in early July during a self-exam. She wrote the book 'From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By,' and this week she added an eighth rule - EARLY DETECTION! Did you know that 80% of those that are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history? I was surprised by this!

So tomorrow, Elise & I are walking 11 miles (thank you to my husband for being home to get the kids to school!) and I will remember how blessed I am that I'm able to walk in the 3 Day and the meaning of this endeavor. I will also remember, as I do everyday, that I am blessed to have a bestie like Elise. Robin has Diane to walk along side her as she travels the Breast Cancer Survivor road. Elise & I are going to send her a Chestie Bestie shirt too.

Happy Trails - mo

Got boobs? Get checked - no matter what your family's medical history says!

How to look like a crazy person

Well, of course it had to rain yesterday during my training walk. Of course! I really wanted to wimp out and lay on the couch, but I had already made plans to walk to Hobby Lobby to get some supplies to decorate training gear. I am decorating shirts, hats, etc. so that when people see me walking, they see WHY I am walking. One of the important things to me about this cause is support and awareness...so that's what I'm aiming for, even in my training. I was already excited about my shopping plans, plus I thought this would be a good time to test all of the walking-in-the-rain tips.

So I packed up a backpack (so I could carry the supplies home), got the bags on my feet to keep them dry...pretty much just covered myself from head to toe.

So here I am, ready to head out looking like a weirdo!

Ahh, yes....and I had my mace! My boyfriend went out and got me mace :)

The first thing I realized was that I do not enjoy walking with grocery bags on my feet. Makes your feet slide around in your shoes. ALOT. So that was pretty darn annoying. And rainwear is not exactly breathable, so although I kept out of the rain, I think I drenched myself in my own sweat...yum!

People were staring quite a bit in Hobby Lobby and I got all kinds of strange looks!! I can't really blame them though, I would probably do the same thing :) I was in one aisle and this guy kept sneaking glances at me over and over and over, like he was trying to figure me out. It was so funny, it even made me giggle a little bit even though I was trying to pretend I didn't notice. I realized that my feet were really starting to itch as I was walking around in there, so I knew my feet had somehow gotten wet. When I got home, my foot was halfway through the bag. Next time I think I will try ziplock freezer bags! I made it out with tons of ideas and tons of cool supplies.

Oh, and I stopped to refuel on the way home...


Hey, I was really hungry and there aren't many choices when you're on foot! Besides, McDonalds hamburgers are kind of a good protein/carb balance. I guess :) Oh, and my hands are not usually that swollen!!

Saw bunnies on the way home again...


I made it there and back in good time. I am trying to get my pace up to 3 miles an hour..I think that is what they have recommended... I am resting Friday night and going for another 6 miler Sat and an 8 on Sunday. Hopefully :)

Oh, and my wonderful boyfriend gave me a great calf and foot massage right before I passed out in bed...how awesome is that!?! I kinda think it might have something to do with the fact that he walked with me Monday night and got to experience how long and tiring it is, so he can appreciate the soreness...but whatever the reason, I'll take it!!! I think I might try to go for a foot/leg massage every week if I complete all of my walks, just to treat myself and keep myself inspired.

I hope everyone else is doing great in their training and staying safe!

~Stephanie G.

My first 3-Day blog!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to post a quick blog about some stuff I just posted in my MySpace blog ;)

I love to blog, first of all, so I hope that I am able to keep everyone updated on here often! I am really looking forward to this event, as this has been something I have wanted to do for years!
I did my first actual 3-Day training walk Saturday morning. I did not get much sleep Friday night, mostly thanks to my crazy cats, but I am so glad I forced myself up at 5:30am and went to the walk. I really thought I was physically prepared for a 6.5 mile walk. I just registered for this event less than a week ago, so I hadn't done any training so far, but I thought 6.5 miles would be no problem. I mean, I go rock climbing 2-3 times a week regularly and weight train. I was jogging almost 2 miles on a 10.0 incline just a while ago! I never have problems on climbing trips when we're hiking around with 35+ pound packs on. So, I thought 6.5 miles would be no problem.

Boy was I wrong! I am still sore all over! I realized that I am really going to have to train for this event. Regularly train. This is going to be a big physical challenge, especially just getting my joints and feet capable of walking an avg. of 20 miles a day, 3 days in a row, without pain. I don't want to be miserable during the walk - I want to enjoy it! I was thinking before that the majority of my physical sacrifice for this cause would be the actual event. But now, I think that the months of training leading up to the event are more my physical sacrifice!

I was going to go for a 5 mile walk tonight, but I took a 2 hour nap instead...hahaha. I will start my training tomorrow night ;)

The training walk and Expo were awesome and really inspiring. I walked with Nikki, one of my Chestie Bestie teammates. I am so excited to walk and get to know everyone! I am just so excited to be in this environment, to be an inspiration to people, and to be inspired. I think this will be so far beyond the other charity events I've done, just because we are all enduring such a great physical challenge. I am so thankful to be a part of something that brings not only awareness, but also inspiration to others. I'm sure we will get to meet so many other amazing people including survivors. I am so pumped now, I can't wait!

For anyone reading this, I would LOVE if you all would write me letters for me to read at camp!! Anything you want to send - words of encouragement, things to make me laugh or cry...I would appreciate any kind words or things I can share with my teammates. You can address the letters to the address below and I will get them delivered to me while we are on the walk! I am not sure if you have to put my name and info on the envelope or not, but I'm putting it anyway just in case.

3Day Camp Post Office
PMB 319
Stephanie Gagne, 183598794
5100 Eldorado Pkwy, Ste 102
McKinney, TX 75070-9172

Hopefully I will be posting another blog soon of my training experiences....hopefully! And a huge thanks to anyone that has donated!

~Stephanie G.

What is your name? Nickname? Cheryl
Where do you live? Houston, tX
When is your birthday? December 11
Cup size? Shoe size? 34D --- 7 1/2
Favorite brand of walking shoe? Mizuno
Favorite place for body glide? Haven't had a body glide experience yet
What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? Meeting new people
What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? Showering in front of strangers
Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? Nope
What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training? I'm an '80s music freak!
Most importantly, why are you walking? In honor and remembrance of family and friends.

The Expo!

I attended my first official training walk with a 3-Day group today as part of the Expo. Stephanie G. was there when I arrived (although I was running late she promised to wait for me - talk about a great teammate!). I arrived just in time for us to begin our 6.5 mile walk. The first half always seems to take longer (especially when you indulge in as many fluids as I do) and our rest stop was a much needed break. We sped along on the last half but as the day wore on the heat increased and the sun was pretty intense, this was only at 9am! I realized I am not protecting my face well enough with sunscreen, I lather it on but I need to find a stronger SPF chapstick - any suggestions?

After the walk we refreshed with bagels and gatorade and relaxed before hitting the main floor of the Expo to view vendor tables. I purchased some shirts from new balance and wrist band as I newly discovered would be necessary for the longer walks. Besides little extras like car decals and some fun flair to wear with our 3-Day credentials we then walked through the process of packing, viewed the tent set up and received packing lists. We then attended a seminar on the basics of staying healthy and taking care of yourself physically through training and the event itself, I found this info incredibly helpful! We went through a series of blister-prevention aids that I am eager to start using in hopes of avoiding the pain I endured a few weeks ago.

I am very excited to walk again tomorrow, the Expo was a great spirit-booster and I'm ready to push forward. Today was the longest walk I have been on and next Saturday I look forward to going further. I have begun collecting names of survivors and friends/family that have been affected by breast cancer. Each name gives me another spring in my step, it is inspiring and heartbreaking to see the list of loved ones grow, my heart and prayers go out to all of the the men and women we met and saw today and those I hear about daily, I know we can make a difference by doing this.

Nikki

Audio Books

My pups Buffy (on left) and Pirate (on right) are camera hogs - here they are with my new 'New Balance' walking shoes. The shoes have seen about ten miles so far, tonight I will add another five. Buffy and Pirate have been with me on about 4 miles of training but Buffy's 8lb body tires quickly and I end up carrying her back to the house. New Balance offers 15% off to all 3-Day participants, they also carry body glide!

Melissa gave me the wonderful suggestion of Audio Books! Now I can listen to my Harry Potter favorites while walking. I already finished the last book but it never hurts to read them again ;-). If you see anyone walking around Frisco armed with an iPod and a ridiculous witch hat - please stop and say hi... it's me.

This weekend I am attending the 3-Day Expo and I'm really looking forward to it. I will also be participating in the short training walk before the event - 6.5 miles. I will have to wake up at 5am in Frisco to make it to Arlington in time but I am sure it will be worth the expereince. On my own, I am still building up to longer walks. So far my longest has been five miles - which is the same distance I am walking tonight. I am alternating between my neighborhood and the gym to accomplish these long walks, most of them are in the evening and the gym seems to be the best option.

I am getting a little nervous regarding time management with my new semester coming up, longer hours at work and the time it takes to walk several miles. I am hoping this experience will turn me into an early riser and I'll be able to wake up earlier to accomplish my walking goals rather than squeeze them in during the evening.

Until next time - keep moving forward!

Nikki

Walking with a Purpose...

I am writing today to update my progress with the 3 day experience and share with you all some of my adventures so far – I am so thankful to be welcome among a great group of women to make a difference.

I began walking towards my 3 day goals on June 15th – day 134 in my countdown. This was a brief two-mile walk but the reward of my surroundings was overwhelming. I noticed the subtleness of the sounds around me. Items such as ropes clanking against a flagpole, sights of bunnies and squirrels playing, children walking with their families and caterpillars’ slowly slinking along the ground. I recently moved to Frisco and this walk was a welcome introduction to my community, neighbors and the future challenge of working up to twenty miles per day.

Since that time I have yet to push over 5 miles following the sixteen week training program but have already developed a new found love for checking out the town on foot! I recently spent several days in Toronto and was thrilled to wake early and explore the city with an early morning walk. My dogs can no longer keep up with my spirited pace and as the humid Dallas weather is finally welcoming some time outdoors I have begun researching training walks (thanks Melissa!) with fellow 3-day participants. I am hoping to attend my first group walk sometime this weekend – amidst traveling - for the longer walks.

I did purchase a new pair of sneakers and enjoyed a 15% discount from New Balance as an official sponsor of the 3 Day. I also picked up – BODY GLIDE! I wasn’t sure how I would be using this item but it works on ankles/feet/heels! I’m all for an extra barrier of protection!
Tonight I have another 5-mile trek and Saturday marks the advancement to six miles. I just have to figure out how to read the new Harry Potter book while walking…

Photos will soon follow!

Good luck to everyone training and big thanks to all that continue to support our efforts!!!

Nikki

About the Chestie Besties-Melissa A.

Name/Nick name - Melissa Alvarez / Missy / Mel
Live - Houston
Birthday - December 29th
Cup / Shoe - D / 8.5
Walking shoe - My running shoes (Adidas)
Body Glide - Haven't tried the Glide yet, not real sure about the glide.
Looking forward to the most - the camaraderie! Passing through the finish line with some great friends! Over coming this HUGE Challenge!
Looking forward to the least - Blisters and shin splints!
18 wheeler shower - Can honestly say I have never been in a BIG RIG, much less one with 2000+ ladies!
5 top running songs
Hung Up
Wind it up
Glamorous
Shake your moneymaker
Crash

it's that time...

have you done your monthly self-breat examine? don't forget.

-elise

About the Chestie Besties-Linda

My name is Linda

I live in Santa Fe, NM.

Bra Size is 36B, Shoe size 10 (Big Foot, Big Broken Foot)

Favorite Singers: High energy music.. You Better Be Good To Me, Tina Turner,

Born in the USA, Bruce Springstein, Bon Jovi, Sting, Cheryl Crow.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with my best friend, Kay and all the other girls on our team.

I'm not looking forward to being sore all over.

I'm walking because we can make a difference. With enough money for research a cure can be found.

and then there were 10!!

ATTENTION, PLEASE!!!!

we have 10, count them, 10 chestie besties!! that means we will raise a minimum of $22,000 for breast cancer research!! not bad, ladies, not bad at all. we'll get more details about the newbies and pics up soon.

so of course, the bar has been raised. now, we want 15 chestie besties! so if you have been debating about joining, do it today! the 16 week training program start tomorrow. we will make sure you are in shape and ready to go by the walk in october.

About the Chestie Besties-Kay

My name is Kay but I will answer to Nana, Mom, or Ginney (don't ask).

I live in McKinney.

My B-day is August 9th.

I am proud to say my cup size is down to a C! Shoe size 7 & 1/2.

Haven't decided on walking shoe yet, wearing New Balance now.

Body glide? I have some but so far have not had to use it "anywhere"!

I am looking forward to the camaraderie of the Chesties!

I am not looking forward to drinking luke warm water. (and they say I am
high maintenance)

Thank goodness I have never had to shower in an 18-wheeler much less
standing in line to do so.

I listen to Aerosmith, Fergie, and Dixie Chicks.

I am walking to honor all survivors but first and foremost to honor Gail, my
friend. She was so very brave while dealing with breast cancer and taking
care of two great sons. Helping her through chemo was a very humbling
experience for me. It really made me realize that life is too short for
even one negative thought or action. And so, I will push myself as hard as
I can to help fight this disease and celebrate Gail as a seven year
survivor!

Another Bestie Down...but for only 6 weeks!

Well, we have another Chestie Bestie down. Our NM Bestie, Linda has fractured her ankle walking! She has to wear a boot for 6 weeks! Hang in there Linda!

About theChestie Besties-Nikki (the newest Chestie Bestie)

1. What is your name? Nickname? Nicole Kirkwood, Nikki

2. Where do you live? Frisco, TX (hellllooooo suburbia traffic hell)

3. When is your birthday? May 11, 1983

4. Cup size? Shoe size? C, 7… sounds like a move one would make in a chess game

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? New Balance

6. Favorite place for body glide? I have not used this yet, but I know it will be going straight to my thighs!

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? Sharing a new experience and conversation with new friends!

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? I have never really camped in my entire life, even my Girl Scouts ‘camping’ experiences were somehow indoors.

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? I have not – but I’m up for a challenge.

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
I Love Your Blood– The Vanished
Mercy Me – Alkaline Trio
A Praise Chorus – Jimmy Eat World
Changes – David Bowie
Colorful – Rocco Deluca and the Burden

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? To support a cause I believe in and to challenge myself, physically and mentally. This process has already given me a great appreciation for ‘the little things’ and nothing compares to feeling selfless and giving.

About the Chestie Besties-Trish

1. What is your name? Nickname? Trish / T-rocks (cuz I love iced tea on the rocks!!)

2. Where do you live? In the concrete jungle...Los Angeles!!!

3. When is your birthday? 1/27/75

4. Cup size? Shoe size? b & 10

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? I guess new balance cuz that's all i have!

6. Favorite place for body glide? well, i don't have any body glide yet, so i'll tell you where i feel i'm going to need it -- inner thighs & under my armpits

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? hanging with my girls and LAUGHING!!

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? being sore - i hope my feet don't feel like they did during dance marathon!!!

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? not yet

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
Glamorous - Fergie
Last night - Diddy
Upgrade - Beyonce & JayZ
Can you work wit dat - DJ Quick
Lean like a cholo - Down aka kilo

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? I'm walking cuz my besties are. i don't know anyone affected by breast cancer, but i'm sure one day i will, and i want to do what i can to help while i'm able.

we cannot thank you enough!!

last night was a huge success!! we'll have plenty of pics and more info later. we wanted to say thank you for everyone's support. we especially want to thank the following...

• wayne neil and everyone at the down under pub and grub.
• jaret and erik and all the bowling for soup family.
• tom devenport
• kenny lewis
• g.i , swin and bandwear
• lex, terry and jessie from 102.2
• billy the kid from 106.1
• pugs and kelly from 105.3
• bbq's galore
• olive garden
• applebee's
• aaron brothers
• julianna's skin care and salon por vous
• the improv
• bankston ford
• sysco
• staples
• best buy
• 24 hour fitness
• miller lite
• coors lite

About the Chestie Besties-Elise

1. What is your name? Nickname? elise or e

2. Where do you live? lovely denton, tx

3. When is your birthday? 07/29/1975

4. Cup size? Shoe size? b or c(on a good day). 8.5

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? nike

6. Favorite place for body glide? the thighs of course!-i agree with mo. humidity + thigh friction=no fun!

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? watching the survivors cross the finish-line with the chestie besties!

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? port-a-potties

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? not since college. okay, well it wasn't an 18-wheeler and it was only a floor of girls in the dorm. i hope they have doors on the showers. (that's for you, kay!)

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
Walking Home Alone- BFS
Move Along-All American Rejects
Like Glue-Sean Paul
Where is the Love-Black Eyed Peas
Download this Song-MC Lars

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? i with skinny on this, i do it because i can. and enough is enough with breast-cancer! maybe we should try saving the world one pair at a time!

About the Chestie Besties-Melissa

1. What is your name? Nickname? Melissa or Mo

2. Where do you live? suburbia - Highland Village, TX

3. When is your birthday? 11/12/1974

4. Cup size? Shoe size? D! 8.5

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? Asics

6. Favorite place for body glide? the thighs of course!

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? hanging with the besties!

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? blisters! i'm going to do everything possible to prevent them!

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? nope...there is a first time for everything! it will be like camp! we'll sing shower songs!

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
All Figured Out - BFS
Umbrella - Rhianna
that song by Say Anything
Cupid's Chokehold - Gym Class Heroes
Friends Like You - BFS

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? so many people affected by this & we can't find a cure? what can i do to help? i can walk! so i will. i don't feel like myself if i am not involved in something that gives to others. i want my kids to feel this way - i have to lead them by example.

About the Besties-Lori

1. What is your name? Nickname? Lori Reilly - Skinny, Linda

2. Where do you live? Houston

3. When is your birthday? January 23rd

4. Cup size? Shoe size? 34C, 10

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? Nike Air Structure Triax X

6. Favorite place for body glide? Haven't tried out the Glide yet - but looking forward to it. Would guess on my upper arms.

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? Being inspired by thousands of women!!!! Watching myself and my body overcome challenges unlike any I've known.

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? Blisters........

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? No - but I welcome it......surrounded by beautiful NAKED women, all going the distance. Sure beats NOT showering during the event!

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
I Run For Life
Walk It Out
Cupid Shuffle
You Can Do It
Wind It Up

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? I'm walking because I can - so why shouldn't I? So many others would LOVE to have the ability and strength to do it...so I walk for them. And - because I focussed 9 months on my, my life and my marriage...and now I want to focus on others!

About the Besties-Tami

1. What is your name? Nickname? Tam, T, Momma, Jolene

2. Where do you live? Houston

3. When is your birthday? Jan. 20

4. Cup size? Shoe size? cup size depends on if i'm working out or not. the boobs is where i gain/lose weight. so, i'll go with 34C or 34D.

5. Favorite brand of walking shoe? mizuno

6. Favorite place for body glide? i've never used it - but i bet i could come up with lots of favorite places

7. What are you most looking forward to on the 3-Day? meeting new people, taking pictures, making memories, laughing with the girls. too many things to pick one

8. What are you least looking forward to on the 3-Day? getting up at the crack of dawn. i'm not a morning person

9. Have you ever showered in an 18-wheeler with 2,000 other women? i have never showered in an 18-wheeler, but i did sneak in the back of one and do a little kissing with a guy at the cook off. that was fun. and i have showered with other women, but i was like 10 at church camp - and there was nowhere near 2,000 of us.

10. What are your top 5 songs to listen to while training?
Libby I'm Listening or X Amount of Words - Blue October
Hung Up - Madonna
I'm Alive - Celine Dion (cheesy i know, but i love it!)
Crazy in Love - Beyonce and JayZ
too busy to think of another right now….

11. Most importantly, why are you walking? i am walking to raise money, awareness and hope for a cure - and to spend time having fun and making memories with my girls.

H-town Update....

The Houston branch of the Chestie Besties is PLEASED to announce that we are officially getting serious about both our fundraising as well as our training.
I did 2-4 mile walks this week...and then did an 8.5 mile walk on Saturday morning. The Houston humidity can't stop me now...or EVER! (ask me again in August and I'll see if I still feel that strong!!!) I'm planning to get a 12-miler in this Saturday....assuming the weather cooperates!

On another positive note - all members of the Houston branch will be purchasing tickets to fly in for the long walk weekend Sept 21st-22nd with the Dallas branch. We can't wait!

Seriously, I finally customized my web page...and Tami and I are drafting the email in the morning and sending it out to friends, family and anyone else that we think might have an extra dollar to spare. Keep your fingers crossed that everyone is feeling GENEROUS.

I'm an idiot and don't know how to upload images or do other fancy things to our blog, my site, etc.....but I'm doing all I can to chat up Team Chestie Bestie.....and get support for our amazing team.

Just keep walking, just keep walking, just keep walking......
Lori

Chestie Bestie down...but not for long!

We have a bestie down! Kay, my mom, had foot surgery on Thursday. She is recovering well & still in the 3Day. She is raring to go actually! She has been walking with pain so now she'll be able to train pain free!

She is planning to be at the benefit show on Tuesday. Speaking of...we have some awesome raffle prizes! I am still trying to figure out a way to win some of them.... Also, Jaret & Erik are going to be on the Lex & Terry morning show on Tuesday morning to promote the benefit! It is going to be a fun night!

In other Chestie Bestie news, the H-Town Besties are kicking some training butt. Way to go girls! Our NM Bestie, Linda is walking through the desert to train. Take plenty of water & leave some bread crumbs! Where are you Cali Bestie? Oh, probably packing for Italy. Don't forget your walkin' shoes! E & I only had time for a short walk on Friday which we did in the pouring rain. Let's hope it doesn't rain during the 3Day.

I've heard a few rumors that some others maybe be joining the Chestie Besties! Too fun! Happy trails!

cheers - m

LOVES BOOBIES!!!

time for an update from headquarters!

• we did a 5 mile walk today! lots of hills. our legs are a little sore. we did good. only hit hands 3 times. the best was watching mo fight off (and i mean literally, fight off) the bug that zoomed passed her. i could not stop laughing. the first of many laughs, i am sure.
  
• we are trying to get things ready for the chestie besties acoustic show. it should be a great time, hope you can make it out!
• donations are starting to come it. we are so thankful. you still have time, if you haven't donated. a big gracias to you!
• funny story. today mo was on the phone working on arrangements for the fundraiser. i have no idea the context of the conversation she was having but she starts yelling into the cell phone, "LIKES BOOBIES!" now, she and i have been friends for almost 15 years and i don't think i have ever heard her yell those words. at least with that kind of conviction. it was pretty funny. all the name of breast cancer research!

p.s. jim, melissa did work today. just thought you should know. what did the knee dr. say? looking forward to walking with you.

oh, one more thing, here's a pic of kay, mo and i a few weekends ago showing off our utility belts. do you think it makes my butt look big?


we'll keep walking, you keep donating:)

until our next post. love-e

Acoustic Show Fundraiser

What great guys!!! Jaret & Erik are performing along with Kenny Lewis & Comic Tom Devenport at the Down Under Pub & Grub on June 12th to raise funds for the Chestie Besties! Thank you guys! Also, thank you Wayne for hosting the event & raising funds & raffle items for the evening! We will be raffling Improv tickets, gift cards to the Pub, Target, Best Buy, & Bennigans! We also have Ranger tickets provided by Miller Brewing Company!

Please join us for the fun!!! The first 100 donors receive a free tshirt provided by Bandwear!

Thank you to all of our sponsors! The Chestie Besties appreciate you!

Fundraising A-Go-Go

okay, i'm not sure what that title means but i just saw that our fundraising is really getting going! trish the dish - this has been a great day for you!!! hooray! congrats!

also, we are working on a fundraiser for June 12th at the Down Under Pub & Grub - featuring Jaret & Erik acoustic! thank you Jaret, Erik & Wayne from the Pub for everything!

we'll have details soon!!!

cheers - m

Another new bestie!!!

we have another new bestie! welcome, Linda St. Clair, bestie of Kay! Kay & Linda have been friends for almost 20 years or more! how long girls? i'll have a picture up soon of our red headed bestie! Linda lives in Sante Fe, NM so she'll be training on the hills & mountains! she's going to have buns of steel! i'm sure she'll be in touch with her trainer, Hot Rod (i'm so serious about that name) to help her prepare for the 60 miles. i can't wait to hear what Hot Rod has to say about your endeavor, Linda!

cheers - melissa

omg...

hello besties!!! oh my gosh, y'all are serious bloggers! i don't think i have that much to say! hee hee. i just got back from a GREAT walk! i still can't beleive i signed up for this! i'm scared! BUT, i just bought an ipod (i know i'm behind the times, but i had no reason for one before!!) and i'm ready to walk!! cuz, yes - walking by yourself is boring!!! ok, gotta go watch bros and hoes now! have a great week chesties!!!

jodies, c.b. the alpaca and a flag.

happy friday!

things are in full-swing! some of our fundraising emails went out today, which is probably why you are reading this. we had a great work-out. we did 4 miles of hills, by mo's house. while on our walk, we decided we need a couple of things for the big weekend in october:

1. jodies. or cheers. something we can do to pep-up the team. you know, like "when i say chestie, you say besties...chestie...besties...chestie...besties!" then we decided the jodies the military use when running would be an excellent way to keep spirits up. we are still working on those.
2. we have a new mascot. he's an alpaca, you know like a llama but with curly hair. anyway, we need an alpaca to carry our supplies on the trip. his name is c.b. aren't they cute?
3. and finally, we need a flag. we are going to take turns carrying our flag the last day so when we enter into the closing ceremonies, people will know the chestie besties are in the house!! or is it in the da house? whatever, you get the point.

so things are going great and i have heard several rumors about possible new chestie besties. it's not too late to join! in the next few weeks we'll be posting about ourselves on the blog. that way you can get to know each of the chestie besties. oh, come on, it's friday afternoon, you know reading this blog makes you look busy at work!

oh, on a personal note, i got my supply/tool belt today. it reminds me of batman's minus the grappling hook. i have worn it all day long. it's like a smaller version of my backpack. and if you ever have seen me out and about, you know how much i love my backpack. i think we'll get some pics up soon of our new waist/fuel/supply/tool belts. check back soon.

i think our houston besties are make some purchases this weekend. i am sure they will post an update soon!

have a good weekend and thanks for your support!
elise

i cannot wait!

well i cannot wait for the newest member to post about herself so i'll do it. we got our first mother-daughter team!! mo's mom, kay joined our team and is the newest member of the chestie besties.

welcome, kay!

-elise

Too many 'firsts' at once....

Yep, it's official. I am the newest member of the Chestie Besties and an official 'blogger'. Never agreed to something insane like walking 60 miles with friends in 3 days and never, ever blogged or wanted to.
However - I am doing both, all in the name of celebrating friendship and health!

So - the Houston chapter of the team is going to kick start our training with a shoe shopping adventure and training schedule this weekend. We welcome any and all new members ...and can't wait to find our own appreciation for yard art. What will I decide to put in my new front yard? Back yard?

Much love to my team - and thank again for selecting me to participate (or tempting me in my weak moments during my wedding!!!) I love you all.

Skinny

have you checked?

mo got me so excited about the official start of our training, so i had to do a little blogging. i thought about 10 things i wanted to post about but none of them seem to be coming to me, at the moment.

i am hoping this adventure will create a senses of personal awareness about breast cancer. the million dollar questions: have you done your monthly breast self- examination?

no?!! do it. more info can be found here.

i am lucky that my monthly reminder is printed on my pack of pills so it's easy to remember. do what you have to do. write it in your calendars, add it to your pda's. just make sure you check once a month to ensure everything is alright with the girls. even though people often talk to your chesties, i still haven't heard of any chesties responding. so it's up to you to make sure everything is okay!

i am off my soapbox now. carry on with your day and do your bse! i'll remind you next month.

-elise

Week 24!!!!

So today begins the 24 weeks of training (according to the 3 Day training schedule)! Only 24 weeks to go? Don't panic! Get going Chestie Besties!

So last week i bought some new shoes, body glide, & a waist pak! (waist pak makes me feel a little like i'm in the army since it has 4 small bottles - pic coming soon!) Jaret was with me & I think the shoe guy made him nervous when he was telling us how he admires the walkers because he couldn't walk for 3 days & how he is happy that i'm starting to train & that i have a team around me. Jaret was really quite as we walked out of the store! he is excited & proud of the Chestie Besties! hopefully the guys will be home from the UK to be at the finish line!

On another note...so i've been walking a few times over the last week. i go to the gym & that is an easy walk with all the action, etc. i walked outside on Thursday - alone. i realized that it is lonely with no radio & no bestie. (i gave in & put on my ipod!) i also realized that there is a lot of yard art in the world! basically if you are in to something, you can have yard art to commemorate it. if you like sports, get yourself a metal golf bag rain gauge. if you like animals, well you can have your pick of just about every animal God created in every sort have material! if you want to tell the world something, you can have a sign such as 'love grows here.' you can have metal, wood, a wind sock or a small church replica with a glass steeple. very interesting...

well, i'm off to find me a metal replica of a Chestie Bestie wearing a waist pak for my yard!

cheers - m

we have another bestie!

tami joined our team!! longtime friend and sister of skinny, another bestie. our team is growing everyday and i am so excited about this experience.

we'll get a picture up soon of the latest bestie.

welcome new bestie~

-elise

there's a new chestie bestie!

our friend, trish the dish, just signed up for team chestie besties!! that means, currently we will raise over $6000 for breast cancer research. no too bad for a bunch of girls who met in college and paid for our drinks with change.

here's a picture of mo and trish from back in the day. she's wearing her dance marathon t-shirt that we all participated in many many years ago.

so we went...

well, we walked almost 3 miles. we sort have wasted time on other things and ran out of time to walk before we had to get the kids. so, we smashed hands 3 times - neither one of us can walk straight. elise can't wear rings on the walk - she'll hurt someone!

seriously, it is going well....i do need new shoes. also, i have to get this stuff called body glide. do you know about this? it is like slick deodorant that you put between your thighs so they don't stick. very interesting...that elise has all sorts of tricks. apparently when we walk for a longer time, we get to pop pills.

love it...cheers - m