T-48 Hours

The countdown is on!  Okay, the countdown has been on since we registered in January.  But it's THE countdown, the official less than 48 hours until Opening Ceremony!

So what happens in the hours before the 3-Day?  That's the easy part!  Tomorrow afternoon, we're staying in a hotel in Natick, which is an offical 3-Day "Host Hotel".  After a hopefully restful & early to bed evening, we're rise and shine at the lovely hour of somewhere around 4:30-5am.  We'll take a shuttle to the Opening Ceremony, check our bags at our Tent Assigned truck, then head to pre-start festivities.  There's the opportunity for us to put the names of those we've lost to breast cancer on white strips of paper and they'll be included in the ceremony.  Then it'll be stretching, hydrating and waiting for the show to start (oh, and shaking off those jitters!)

Almost everything is packed up and ready to go...is it Friday yet?! :)

We're There

You know that feeling you get somewhere between oh-my-gosh-I'm-so-excited-I-can't-wait-anymore and oh-my-gosh-what-the-heck-am-I-doing-I'm-going-to-puke?  We're there.

Less than 3 days until Opening Ceremony!  I can't wait for Thursday night though....we have plans for an awesome dinner and then even bigger plans to hit the hay by 9pm.  Brace yourself for the excitement, I know :)  Then before the crack of dawn, it'll be showtime!

Please send a message to the Weather Gods for NO rain!  The heat is a whole other issue.  Boston's weather forecast is looking hot, hot and hotter.  95-ish temps, heat index of 100-105 and humidity!  Trifecta!  Keeping an eye on it though.  As we New Englanders know, don't like the weather?  Wait 5 minutes it'll change!

Stay cool out there!
~A

In Memory

The friend of a friend who was recently diagnosed lost her mom last week.  She survived breast cancer, awhile back when it wasn't as favorable.  My thoughts go out to the daughter, who is fighting breast cancer as we speak.

For her, and the million others, we walk.

<3

14 Days!

I apologize for the lag in our updates.  We have had a busy few weeks!  Last week, the 2 of us were able to walk every day!  We were lucky enough to walk in Roger Williams Park, Providence.  It really was a dream for walking!  If I lived near there, I'd walk a lot more that's for sure.  Over 5 days, we logged almost 40 miles and walked about 3 hours a day.  Woohoo!  It was great to get some back to back days in.  It also gave us a chance to try out our gear, which we found works awesome.  Tweaking things here and there helped and I really think we are in good shape for the 3-Day.

Which is (drum roll please!)....14 DAYS from today!  Actually, 14 days from now, we'll be passed out in our gorgeous pink tent, I'm sure.  Time is literally flying by!

We are now entering what I call the Logistics part of the journey.  Lists, lists and more lists!  For us 2 non-campers, take staying overnight (in said pink tent) plus everything we need to walk in heat, cold & rain plus everything we need to carry with us while doing said walk...and voila!  Checklists galore.  All in all, we're doing pretty good and have, I'd venture to say almost everything.  A few small things but overall I think we're doing pretty well.

On the flip side, we should be since we're only 2 weeks out!  And counting!

~A

4+ Weeks and Counting

4 weeks and 2 days.  That's IT until we start walking!  Excitement and a little bit of panic is setting in.  We are well on our way to getting everything together for the walk (and remember, you have 2 non-campers in the house!).  We both are breaking in our 2nd pair of shoes.  And who knew things like socks were so important?!  Actually we did, since we've done this before but seriously, those $12 socks really are worth it.

Next week will be filled with lots of walks!  The plan is to get a long walk or two in, hopefully, as well.  Last Sunday we set out on a 12 mile training walk.  Annnnd, now cue in the rain.  It started out a great walk, cloudy but cool and overcast.  A few miles in, the drizzle started.  Not so bad!  We kept walking and kept our 20 min/mile average pace.  It really wasn't awful until we started getting sprayed with water from cars going 50mph.  Yikes.  So we headed back and got in 6 miles.  Not a bad day but not a 'long' walk either.

Walking we will go!

"The greatest step is out the door."  ~German Proverb

9 Miles...Check & a Reality Check

The weather in Boston is perfect for training!  Sunday we got in a 9-mile training walk.  It was a great chance to try out our gear and learn what works/what doesn't.   It was a sunny but not overly hot day, so that helped make the walk pretty nice.  It was also great to get out on the roads and walk; walking at the park on the track works, but it's much easier to make the time & the miles pass when you're actually walking somewhere.

We were averaging 20 minutes miles and it felt like a nice, relaxed pace.  We stopped 4 times and at the end, we were tired but felt pretty good, considering.  I thought I'd be sore today being the day after, but I have to say that I'm happily surprised that I wasn't.  Kathey got a little of that 'road rash' as they call it on her ankle and I got a hot spot on my foot (but no blister yet, thankfully!) so we in pretty good shape all in all.

It's going to be a really hot week later in the Northeast (someone said almost 100 on Wednesday?!) and little K is out of school as of Tuesday, so training is going to be a bit of a challenge in the coming weeks.  We do have plans for some walks while she's in summer camp, but it's going to take much more effort when I don't get those school hours to train.  One way or another, it'll get done.

My recently diagnosed friend of a friend had her mastectomy last week.  She's recovering & getting ready to learn the rest of her treatment plan.  Stay strong & fight hard.  You're not alone; your fight is our fight.  We're all in this together to find a cure.  

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.  ~Winston Churchill

~A

Training...We're Back at It

Long holiday weekend behind us...today we're back at the training!  A very awesome 8 mile walk for KL (woohoo!) in hot, sunny weather.  Great job!  I got 4.5 miles in this morning.  Boy it gets hot fast!!  We are both a little afraid of what the weather will be like in July.  Usually in the Boston area, it's hot, somewhat humid and often rainy in July.  Fingers crossed that Mother Nature won't be too hard on us (come on, lady!)

Gear update - we have started the massive collection of things we'll need for the actual 3 day.  Shoes (3 pairs check, 3 more pairs to go), clothing (said weather will warrant wicking shirts fo-sho) and a smorgasbord of blister, bandaid and first aid products.  The list is pretty decent as to what a 3 day walker must bring so we're putting together our 'stuff' and trying everything out beforehand (no new things/products/gear during the walk itself!)  We're both opting for a different Camelbak product.  Kathey's going with the pink fancy pack style & I scored a lightweight backpack which is pretty rockin'.  Check, check.  We have one extra obstacle to tackle since I am gluten free  & wheat free, so I'll be bringing my own food (meals & snacks!) to supplement what I can eat from the food that is provided.  Kathey's amazing with this type of thing (wouldn't be able to do it without her - in more ways than one!) and we scored a perfectly sized pink & white cooler so it'll be just a matter of logistics for meals.  We have a plan though, so in a few weeks it'll be a mock food trial-run.

Moving right along!
~A

Happy Memorial Day

Today we thank those who fight for our country - past, present and future.  Honoring those who are no longer with us and remembering the ones who are spending this holiday away from their families.

Thank you to our Armed Forces for protecting us, keeping us safe, defending our country & our freedom.

Land of the free, home of the brave.

~A

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot

We have been walking up a storm this week!  Well, maybe not a storm since it's finally sunny in the Boston area - woohoo!  After several weeks of rain, rain and more rain, there is sun (and a LOT of it!) in our future.  With the sun comes the heat, of course.  Today was the first day it felt really hot while we were walking.  WHEW.  It's not exactly fun to walk in but we can say that it'll be good training for the weather in July, right?  Right.

Thanks to WHDH.com, lots of sunshine and warm temps are in the forecast for Boston.

Next week, more walking and trying out our new walking clothes.
We're getting there.  In more ways than one!

Have a safe, fun Memorial Day weekend.
~A

Today's Lucky # is 6!

60 days.  SIXTY days!  That's all we have left until we walk 60 miles!  Is it time to start a freak out yet?? :)

Finally after many rainy days, we had sunshine in the Northeast and we were able to get a 6 mile training walk in outside.  It was wonderful to be outside!  Treadmills are great and all, but it's b-o-r-i-n-g!  It's nice to get in the sunshine and fresh air (and to take on the hills and the wind!)  Planning for a longer walk on Friday so come on sunshine!

I should also add that we're just over $6,000 together for fundraising this year for the 3-Day for the Cure.

Brought to you by the number 6.

~A

Can't say Thank You enough!

We made the local newspaper again!  Last week, Kathey got a call from a teacher at the local high school who told us that an amazing group of students had done a fundraiser and they wanted donate a large part of the proceeds to the Komen 3-Day for the Cure on behalf of Kathey!  We were thrilled.  We got the chance to meet the Juniors who participated.  What a great group!  They presented Kathey with a check, which was such a generous donation.  It was nice to get a chance to spend a few minutes with them and to thank them.  Good day all around  :)

~A

Why We Do What We Do

Last night I found out a friend of someone close to be was just diagnosed with breast cancer.  It seems as though almost everyone has a connection to this terrible disease!  Just think of this:  1 in 8.  One is eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.  Think about the important women in your lives...mother, aunt, neighbor, sister, wife, friend, cousin.  One in EIGHT.

This is why we do what we do.  This is why we walk to raise money, so that all of these funds can be put towards educating, towards awareness & prevention programs and, most importantly, towards research that can one day find the CURE.

Every dollar helps.  How?  That dollar gets put with other people's dollars and together they add up to an amazing amount of money.  Money that goes to prevent, treat and will one day help end breast cancer.

We are making a difference.  When you donate, you are making a difference too.  To everyone who has made a donation, thank you.  One day, we'll live in a world without breast cancer.  And we all will have pulled together to make that happen.  I believe it will happen and you should too.

~A

Amanda's 3-Day Page
Kathey's 3-Day Page

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Say that fast 3 times!  :)  Today was a rainy day in Boston and it's looking like nothing but rain for most of the next, oh, week.  BOO.  Hopefully it'll clear up so we can get some miles outside.  In the meantime, we're hitting the treadmills.  Exciting? No.  But necessary, so off to the gym - until the rain clears up, that is.  Can't wait to get back out in the sunshine.

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great."

  ~ Orison S. Marden

So true, so true.  Have a great Wednesday!
~A

Just How Far is 60 Miles?

60 miles is a long way!  Here's an idea of how far 60 miles really is.
It's the distance from:

Bridgeport, CT to New York City, NY (61 mi)
Brockton, MA to Gloucester, MA (62 mi)
Hampton, NH to Portland, ME (66 mi)
Newport, RI to Worcester, MA (67 mi)
Fall River, MA to Willimantic, CT (64 mi)
Lawrence, MA to Woonsocket, RI (65 mi)
New Haven, CT to Springfield, MA (66 mi)
Keene, NH to Hooksett, NH (59 mi)
Hartford, CT to Worcester, MA (67 mi)

We're walking THAT far!

3-Day: Everything YOU Need to Know

Boston 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure

Friday July 22 * Saturday July 23 * Sunday July 24

The Walk:

60 miles over 3 days.  The walk starts Friday 7/22 at Farm Pond, Framingham, MA at 6:30am.  Day 1 goes from Framingham, through Wellesley & Newton to Camp in Waltham.  Day 2 is the longest of the 3 days, at approx. 22 miles.  It starts in Waltham and goes through Belmont, Woburn & Lexington and ends back at Camp in Waltham.  Day 3 goes from Waltham by Harvard, through Cambridge, by MIT, through Boston Commons & Boston Common and ends at UMass in Dorchester.

There are pit stops every 3 miles and there's a lunch stop.  We figure we'll be walking between 6-8 hours (maybe more?) every day.

The Camp:

We'll sleep in 2-person tents!  There's a whole city of them, all the walkers & crew tent together.  Camp is like a mobile city!  There's a Main Street complete with shopping, massages, medical and even a Post Office!!  (Send us letters before hand and we'll get them on the walk - see the PO information!)  Yes, we get to shower.  Yes, it's in giant tractor trailer trucks with showers, like a gym and it's heavenly.  Yes, we will forgo blow dryers for all 3 days.  Yes, I am actually sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground.  :)  The food is great, hot meals for breakfast & lunch.  There's entertainment, karaoke one night & a dance party the other.  Camp is pretty awesome!

The Fundraising:

Our 3-day Komen websites:

www.the3day.com/goto/amandalawrence

www.the3day.com/goto/katheylawrence

Our 2002 Lawrence3Day website( it's vintage!):  lawrence3day.tripod.com

Email us lawrence3day@gmail.com

Each walker has to raise a minimum of $2,300 to be able to walk!  We're very happy to announce that to date, Kathey & I have raised almost $5,600!  That's a LOT of money to help find a cure.  THANK YOU to everyone who has donated money for us!

The Fans - Cheer Us On!
We love encouragement & we'd love for you to be involved!  Here's how you can cheer us on.

*Send us 3-Day mail!  We'll get it while we're in Camp during the walk.

Write a letter expressing your love and support to your walker, which we’ll deliver to her/him on the event.
Send letters to:
3-Day for the Cure
ATTN: INSERT NAME OF PARTICIPANT
P.O. Box 181270
Boston, MA 02118
Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than July 12th in order to ensure delivery at the 3-Day Camp Post Office.

*Cheering Stations
Designated cheering locations will be posted 2 weeks prior to the event.  If you are around Boston that weekend, please come by!

For more info visit http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BO_Spectator

*Are you, someone in your family or someone close to you a Survivor?  Have you lost someone to this terrible disease??  If so, PLEASE email us.  We'd love to add your Survivor's name to our list of those we walk for.  Or if you've lost someone, we can add a In Memory white ribbon to the flag they raise during the Opening Ceremonies.  Please let us know, we'd love to honor your loved one.  lawrence3day@gmail.com

Welcome! Relax, Kick Back & Stay Awhile

So here we are, 66 days until the Boston 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  Training walks are under way and we've begun the collection of random walk-related necessary items such as sleeping bags & mattresses (we sleep in tents!), a half dozen New Balance sneakers and anything adorable with a pink ribbon.

That brings us here, to lawrence3day.com (thanks to JL for the domain!).  We absolutely love people who support us!  Our sponsors & generous donors, friends, family & friends that are family, strangers - we love you all.  With your support and kindness, we have raised an amazing $5595 this year alone!!  We can't thank you enough and we're so proud to be raising money to help bring awareness, fund research programs & most importantly, to help find a cure to END breast cancer.  Every dollar is a step closer to ending this terrible disease and your donations are helping us do just that.

Here you can get the latest on our 2011 3-day journey.  Our training, fundraising & all the info about the walk itself!  If you are local to the area, come cheer us on this July - you can find all the details here.  This is where its at!  :)

So welcome!  Bookmark us, write down the website somewhere (www.lawrence3day.com), put it in your iPhone, Crackberry, old fashion notebook...do whatever you need to do so that you can keep checking it out.  We're thrilled you're here and welcome to this crazy, amazing, somewhat scary, exciting, did I mention CRAZY adventure.  It's going to be a great ride!

~A