Officially Registered!

I am officially registered for the 2008 3-Day walk for breast cancer! I went to an informational meeting on Wednesday but I think I'd pretty much already made up my mind to register. I felt some initial doubt when I walked in and one of the first things they asked me to do was pick a color-coded sticker to identify who in my life had been touched by breast cancer. I am fortunate enough to say that I do not personally know anyone who has had to deal with this disease, and when I told this to the girl at the desk, she looked a little startled, but quickly covered it up and said they were happy to have me anyways. So I moved through the room, looking at picture albums of past walks until the meeting started, and I couldn't help but notice that most people at the meeting, and in the pictures, were there with someone else. As of now, I'll be walking "alone"...or at least, not on a team of friends. I admit to a little trepidation at that thought - training alone, walking alone, camping alone...didn't sound like a lot of fun.

Then I gave myself a little mental shake. I'm not doing this for myself, I'm doing this to further a good cause. I'm doing this to help raise money to help find a cure for a disease that affects 1 in 8 women, and I see no reason to wait until that woman is me or someone close to me. If I go at it alone, so what? Besides, I have a feeling I'll meet lots of really great people anyway, even if I don't start out on a team. So, newly resolved, I filled out a registration form and wrote a check, and here I am.

This walk is going to be a big challenge - this I don't doubt. I have to raise a minimum of $2200 in order to participate, and walking 60 miles in 3 days is no easy task. I've been told by everyone that no matter what kind of shape I'm in, to take the training seriously. Plus it's just common sense that this isn't something a person can just get up and do, no matter what kind of other exercise I normally get! So I'll be walking lots and lots (and lots), to build up endurance for the 3-day - which, by the way, is September 19-21.

I can't wait to get started!