My First Organized Training Walk for the 3-Day for the Cure

I attended my first organized training walk for the 3 Day For The Cure. I was excited because Energizer selected me as their Keep Going Blogger for Cleveland. They are providing the participation fee and I’m sharing my experiences preparing for, training for, and walking on the 3 Day.

As time winds down to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure® in Cleveland, I was finally able to work an organized training walk into my schedule.

It was so much fun!

I really wish I had tried harder to attend more of these walks in the earlier weeks. At first, I loved having the training time to myself. It’s wonderful being able to stay at home with Kora & Logan, but two preschoolers can get loud! So the training walks were wonderful escapes for me.

However, as time went on and the walks got longer, being alone for that amount of time really started lost it’s glamor. I knew about the organized training walks offered through the3day.org Participation Center, but never made it a priority to sign-up for one, until Saturday.

I’m so glad I finally did.

It was a wonderful experience, being surrounded by other walkers. There was lots of time to chat as we stretched and walked. I was able to meet a number of really great people and the 11 mile walk flew by in no time.

Usually, my goal in walking is to get it done as quick as possible, so I allow myself very little time for breaks and walk as fast as I can (which I know isn’t the point of the 3-Day for the Cure® but it’s the best way I knew how to squeeze in my training). This walk was at a good pace and we did three loops returning to Target each time for bathroom and stretching breaks. It showed me that stopping for 5 minutes to refill my water or to stop into a restroom isn’t going to add that much to my time in the end and it makes the walk that much easier.

After walking so much alone, I was getting a little burnt out on the training and was starting to worry if I could make it through 20 miles a day for 3-days. After joining the training walk, I know I can. Attending the training walk as a single walker allowed me the opportunity to meet other walkers. I immediately connected with other single walkers and we chatted through the entire walk. I believe the 3-Day for the Cure will be similar and it will be easy to talk to others near me throughout the walk. While I imagine I will connect with the single walkers, I’m also excited to meet those who are parts of teams as well.

I found the organized training walk  so motivational. One of the walkers in our group is 72 years-old and another is walking in three 3-Day for the Cure events this year. Our training walk leader was very nice and I was amazed that he’s leading the walks and isn’t walking himself this year. He has chosen to Crew. On top of that, he brought an insulated grocery tote bag full of snacks and frozen drinks for us at no charge. What spirit this group has!

I loved the walk so much I fully intended on participating in Sunday’s walk, but due to a stomach bug (which I hope didn’t hit the other walkers too) I was bed/couch-ridden all day and was terribly disappointed to call-in sick.  The good news is there are many more walks scheduled and I will be signing up for them, excited to meet more area walkers.

I highly encourage anyone who is walking to participate in at least one organized training walk. If you’re nervous, don’t be (I know easy to say) the 3-Day spirit and community is present even on these training walks and everyone is unbelievably kind and caring.

To sign-up for a training walk in your area, visit www.the3day.org and go to the Participation Center. You can enter your zip code to find walks nearby, view walk details, and see how many others have signed up.