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.