I am training for Avon39 – The Walk to End Breast Cancer in
Santa Barbara this year. This is the seventh walk in as many cities. My first
walk was Houston in 2011. The Avon Foundation hosts seven walks in seven cities
across the U.S. So, in many ways this walk completes an item on my bucket list:
to walk in each host city.
In order to participate, each walker must commit to raising
a minimum of $1,800. I have managed to accomplish this, and more, each year due
to the generous donations of family, friends, classmates, co-workers, and even
complete strangers.
In addition to raising money, walkers are encouraged to
train. The walk is 39.3 miles over two days. The first day is 26.2 miles (a
marathon). The second day is the remaining 13.1 miles. Each year I have
committed to walking 13.1 miles each day for a total of 26.2 miles or a marathon.
Reebok® is an official sponsor of the Avon Walk. They
publish a training schedule for us to follow, should we so choose. It’s a
wonderful guide, but it is not something I have ever followed. Based on the
training options, I am considered an “intermediate” fitness level:
- You currently walk (or do other sustained activity) for 30 minutes or more
- You can run/walk a 5k distance
- You exercise regularly 3-4 times per week
The truth is that if I were to follow one of their training
schedules, I would have to select the “beginner” level. In looking at the
training schedule, it really is all about endurance. Each week you increase
your total mileage for the week. I’ve been walking one mile a day for a couple
of months now. Recently, I decided to try to increase my weekly total by adding
a mile to at least three days a week. I started with 9 training miles per week.
Two weeks ago I managed (almost) 11 training miles.
I’ll be honest. While I do try to walk a mile each day,
some weeks it just doesn’t happen. Due to obligations that take me away from my
daily routine I do not always try to find a way to walk that mile. Conferences
are a perfect example. While hotels do have a fitness room, I find that I never
pack my sneakers or a t-shirt. My excuse is lack of room in my suitcase. Other
times I’m busy with commitments and I don’t build in the time to take that
walk.
What I have found is that consistently walking, even a few
days a week, has built up my endurance. I find that if I sit too long at my
desk I want to get up and move; take a short walk around my building or home. I
also find that it is easier to walk that first mile, and the second one is kind
of fun. I have a teammate who does her training walks on the weekends. She has
been trying to increase her pace. Recently she shared that this week’s training
walk “didn’t even hurt.”
And that is the result I am striving for. To walk more each
week so that 13.1 miles per day is feasible.
If you would like to support my fundraising efforts,
consider a $49 tax-deductible donation ($7 x 7 years).
If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor. And on Twitter @relucsurvivor.
