This Mother's Day, please support me in the fight against breast cancer.

Dear Friends and Family,

This year on Mother’s Day I am making a donation to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in honor and celebration of my mother and grandmother. As many of you know, I am walking in my third 3-Day this November. I participate in this amazing event each year because I know that together, we are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Which is why I am again, asking for your help and support.

It has been eight years ago this May since my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, much like her mother thirty years before. Although her treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation challenged her body like nothing she had experienced before, her spirit to survive shined brilliantly. It is women like my mother, and the other millions of breast cancer survivors across the world, that inspire me to do everything in my power to help fight this disease.

As a part of my dedication to this cause, I was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central Valley Affiliate, an honor which allows me to work alongside some amazing volunteers and survivors, all dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. These men and women, who volunteer and work for Komen, inspire me to continue dedicating myself to the Komen mission.

Since its inception in 2003, the Komen 3-Day for the Cure has raised nearly $600 million to fund breast cancer research and vital community breast health programs across the United States. Each year, as a walker I commit to raising a minimum of $2,300 and walking 60 miles over the course of three days. Despite the challenges of fundraising, the blistered feet, and legs that feel as though they cannot possibly take another step, I cannot imagine a year without this event in my life until we find a cure. I do all of this because I know first hand the incredible impact supporters like you have made over the years in breast cancer research and treatment. 1.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year. With the advances in science and medicine many of these women, like my mother, have access to state of the art healthcare, and receive personalized treatment options to save their lives.

Please support me with a donation to the Komen 3-Day for the Cure in honor of the mothers and women in your life who inspire you.

Thank you for supporting a cause that is so important to me and my family. Without you, none of this would be possible.

Take a walk with me to help eradicate breast cancer.

Love,

Lyndsey

Wordless Wednesday - This is what the final mile looks like!

I'm not really sure I could hunch over any more! Whatever it takes to make it the full 60! What's your favorite end of the 3-Day photo?

Wordless Wednesday - A 3-Day Rainbow

After a very rain soaked Day 2 in 2010, a rainbow formed near camp, inspiring us on our last mile of the day!

Training Tuesday - When in doubt, just charge up that hill, 3-Day style

This weekend we did another big hike up at Yosemite. With the warmer weather much of the snow had melted in the lower elevations so we were able to cover ground fairly quickly - perhaps too quickly. Charging up the hill, with that "get it done" 3-Day mentality that you have by your third day of walking, quickly proved too fast a pace for an elevation gain of 1,000+ feet! Regardless, after a quick break for a photo of me sporting my Susan G. Komen gear, we learned to pace ourselves and made it to the snow covered portion of our trail. Finally got to use our shoe spike things (what are these called? I'm told they are not the same thing as cramp-ons.) And we got to follow fellow hikers straight up a snowy mountain when the trail was no longer visible. Quite the adventure! And a great training day for the 3-Day and for our goal of hiking Half Dome later this year.

Wordless Wednesday - 3-Day Cocktails? Don't mind if I do!

One of the greatest things about the 3-Day in San Diego are the wonderful supporters. And, after a day of walking in the pouring rain in soaking wet shoes, I think we all enjoyed a little pre-pit stop wine, handed out by individuals along the route. It was the perfect birthday toast to celebrate my 29th!

Training Tuesday - Snow Hikes make 3-Day hills seem easy

We recently took our second trip up to Yosemite for the day and decided to do some hiking in the snow. I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but hiking in the snow can be quite the workout! Our hiking boots didn't offer enough traction on the icy hills so we often found ourselves sliding downhill while trying to climb up. A couple more trips like this and I know I'll have absolutely no trouble with any of the hills that the 3-Day throws at us this year. :-)

Wordless Wednesday - Supporters come in all sizes

Jackson sporting a fashionable Susan G. Komen bandana in support of the 3-Day.

P.S. After a couple wordless weeks full of moving to a new city, I am finally back to blogging!

Wordless Wednesday - Post 3-Day Food

Recently had what is probably my last slice of Basic Pizza until next year's 3-Day when I will follow a favorite tradition of celebrating at Basic after 60 miles. Nothing tastes so good as that first non-camp meal after 60 miles.

What's your favorite post-3-Day food?

Training Tuesday at the San Diego Zoo

Tomorrow I will do my last training walk at the San Diego Zoo, which makes me realize how much I am going to miss that place. Walking around the zoo in the morning, watching the animals get fed, and realizing that I'm fortunate enough (at least for two more weeks) to live in a city where I can do training walks at a world class zoo, all make training for the 3-Day a bit easier.

While looking ahead to tomorrow's walk with one of my favorite walking buddies I'm tasked with the need to find new training walk locations in my future city. So I throw the question out to fellow 3-Day walkers, how did you come to find your favorite training walk places? What are some of your favorite training walk locations and some best practices that help pass the time on those long walks?

Motivational Monday - Fortune Cookie Inspirations

On the second night of the 2010 3-Day, to celebrate my 29th birthday, my boyfriend picked up some P.F. Chang's take-out and we had a dinner at home (sorry to everyone who enjoyed camp food in the rain) with walking partner Julie and my parents. The dinner ended with the perfect fortune cookie which said, "Tomorrow will be your day to lead others. Be inspirational." We carried this fortune with us for the last day of the 3-Day, inspired during the hardest moments, remembering that we walk not just for survivors, and not just to raise money for breast cancer research, but we also walk to help inspire others to join the 3-Day movement.

Who have you inspired and encouraged to participate in the 3-Day?

Wordless Wednesday - A symbol of why we walk

One of my favorite moments of the 3-Day closing ceremony - survivors walking the final mile.

Training Tuesday - Let's kick off the 2011 season!

Matt and I stretched our legs a bit, taking advantage of the gorgeous weather San Diego has been having, and had our first training walk of the 2011 season. I have to admit, I still have one large blister from last year’s walk but fortunately it’s no longer painful so it doesn’t hinder me from walking any.

We walked around San Diego bay and the sun was so bright and the water so sparkling that I really realized how much I am going to miss the outdoor culture of San Diego. It’s such a wonderful city to do training walks in and I love being able to train on the actual hills that we walk on the 3-Day. I would love advice from others who train in cities other than the one they walk in. What are some good tips for staying motivated if you are training elsewhere?

Motivational Monday - Highlights of the 2010 3-Day

As many of you know 2010 ended in a very busy and at times rather dramatic fashion, (cough, Matt's Thanksgiving day appendectomy, cough) but now that things have calmed down I am finally sitting down to write and reflect on the highlights of the 2010 3-Day.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned is the pouring rain that sunny San Diego experienced throughout the 3-Day. The rain definitely presented a new challenge for walkers but in the end both Julie and I agreed that it made the experience that much more special. Honestly it brought tears to your eyes to see the line of pink walkers with their shoes wrapped in anything waterproof they could find. Such dedication. I'm honored to have been a part of this!

Another highlight was Matt surprising us on my birthday (day 2) by meeting us at lunch, wearing a kilt, lots of pink, with his face painted (pink of course). After we ate lunch in his truck to escape the pouring rain, he walked the last 6 miles of the day with us. Julie and I realized that we got A LOT more attention walking with a man in a kilt. Good news is that we think we have him convinced to participate in future years. :-)

Day 3 was my favorite day by far. Although we experienced more rain, this time Julie and I were prepared after having wrapped our shoes in saran wrap and duck tape. We also decided to hustle throughout the day, push past lunch and meet Matt and my mom and dad at the finish line to share some Basic Pizza and beer before closing ceremony. Best idea ever. And best tasting pizza ever!

As always the people who support the San Diego 3-Day made the experience. It's amazing to me how many people in our community spend three days of their lives outside (this year in the pouring rain) cheering on walkers. Smile Guy and lil Grin, Hookers for Hooters, the dancing hula girls, ALL of them truly make the walk so much easier. As we completed the final mile to closing ceremony, and you walk past all the supporters, I think it would be impossible to not start crying. That's the moment when I realized that I cannot consider walking in another city if it means I would miss out on the support in this wonderful 3-Day city.

So next year I will celebrate my 30th birthday at closing ceremonies. Who wants to walk with me? Julie and I have already signed up and formed our Breast Coast Walkers team. Join us!

P.S. to see more pictures of our 3-Day experience check out my album on Facebook

Wordless Wednesday - Some of the cuter 3-Day fans

You see some pretty strange, yet adorable things while walking the 3-Day. Such as little boys wearing pink bras...What strange things have you grabbed pictures of during an event?

Training Tuesday - Wussy and Whiney and Weather challenges

There are now 46 days until the San Diego 3-Day for the Cure. Time to really get my butt in gear so that I am fully prepared to walk the full 60 miles.

This past week has had some crazy weather. We've had highs in the 100s in San Diego, with heavy humidity (remember that us Souther Californians are big wusses when it comes to weather). Then we had thunder storms, which turned back into sticky, icky heat. Now we are back to rain. So, needless to say, training outside has been a challenge. I know, I know, most of you deal with this all the time, but again, Southern California = wussy and whiney about weather.

On Saturday afternoon, my boyfriend and I decided to do a walk in our neighborhood. Despite the heat and humidity we were feeling adventurous and took this trail that we had never been on. Feeling more adventurous, when the trail ended we decided to climb our way out of the canyon rather than back track. Enter the phase of Lyndsey being a whiney walker, complaining about my legs getting scratched and itchy. Sigh...at least we did make it though.

I'm excited because we also scheduled a trip to Zion National Park roughly one month before the 3-Day. I think it will be the perfect opportunity to get a 15 mile hike in as part of my training.

Motivational Monday

According to my 3-Day participant site, there are 47 days until the San Diego 3-Day. As it gets down to crunch time, where I realize that I need to up my fundraising efforts and really commit to my training walks, I am constantly looking for new ways to stay motivated.

I've shared a lot about how inspiring I have found Nancy G. Brinker's book Promise Me to be. Part of what inspires me to be involved in the movement to fight breast cancer is the history of the disease and the fact that we have come so far in such a short amount of time. When my grandmother was diagnosed in the 1070s survival rates were not as high. Today the five-year survival rate of women diagnosed with breast cancer is 89%. For those diagnosed early, before the cancer spreads, it is as high as 98% for five or more years.

The ever-improving rates of survival inspire me to get involved, stay involved, and do everything that I can help find a cure for cancer so that the women in my family and in my life will not go through what my grandmother and mother experienced.

Training and Motivation

The physical act of training, of putting one foot in front of the other for mile after mile is an incredibly important aspect of 3-Day preparation. But another important element is staying motivated to keep all of the 3-Day prep pieces moving. We’re all experiencing it, the stress of trying to balance your non-3-Day life such as work, school, kids, friends, community obligations, etc. with the 3-Day life which entails long walks, cross-training, fundraising, fundraising, fundraising.

How do you stay motivated? One thing that has really helped motivate me lately is the book Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I’ll admit, the book makes me cry, a lot. And sometimes the stories of the treatment of breast cancer in earlier years horrify me. But those stories also motivate me because I know how far we have come in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

This particular quote stood out to me as I was reading a chapter about the 2009 San Diego 3-Day for the Cure. It sums up the experience and brought back hundreds of wonderful memories from that walk.

“We can’t overstate the importance of the millions of dollars generated for cancer research, but the impact of the SGK 3-Day for the Cure is in the lives it changes as well as the lives it saves. It speaks to the tandem goals of survival and survivorship. You fight for your life. Then you live your life, regardless of what others think of your particular mode of self-expression.” Pg 100-101

That quote really sums up the experience of the 3-Day and the reason why we continue to be involved year after year. This quote helps motivate me. What motivates you to keep walking, training, or doing whatever it is in your life that you sometimes feel challenged by?

* I wrote this on Tuesday but fell asleep on my couch before posting. So another day-late Tuesday Training blog.

Motivational Monday - One person really can make a difference

Once again I'm a day late with my post for Motivational Monday but honestly it coincides perfectly with the fact that today Nancy Brinker's (founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure) book Promise Me hits bookstore shelves.

Most of you reading this blog know that Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen that she would do something to help the fight against breast cancer. What I think is so motivational about the story of Nancy and Susan is that one woman was able to make such an enormous impact. In 2009 Nancy was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, who remarked "Nancy lay awake at night wondering if one person can really make a difference. Nancy's life is the answer."

This is why so many of us walk in the 3-Day each year - we know that we truly can make a difference.

I want to close with some words from the book where Nancy remembers how she first realized the power of fundraising and change. "It was my earliest inking of what goes into the chemistry of change: moment meets messenger, information becomes action. Hearts and minds shift to a new paradigm, money happens, and it all comes together." Look at how far her movement has come. I'm proud to be a part of this organization.

The publisher allows you to post a link to an excerpt from the first chapter of Promise Me. Be sure to check out the link if you're interested in reading this story.

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Wordless Wednesday - Something Pink

One of my favorite photos of the 2009 San Diego 3-Day! Me, Julie and Danna posing with some of our favorite San Jose policemen! The guy in the helmet later pumped us up when he played "Living on a Prayer" for us while hoofing it along the Mission Beach boardwalk after having already walked close to 20 miles on day two!

Training Tuesday with a Tourism Twist

I've struggled for the past several weeks to manage my time effectively. I've complained to anyone that would listen that I did not have enough time to work full-time, continue to research and write my master's thesis, work out, clean my house (it desperately needs it), run errands and of course, train for the 3 Day. So this weekend, when my boyfriend's sister was in town, there was of course that part of me that thought "one more thing to do." Sigh.

But then, thanks to the boyfriend's brilliant idea, our weekend full of playing tour guide inspired some wonderful new training walks. After walking around much of San Diego on Saturday, we dropped off his sister at the airport on Sunday morning, parked our car down at Harbor Island, and walked from Harbor Island, past Lindbergh field, along the San Diego bay, past the Festival of Sail, Star of India and the Maritime Museum, past the Midway, through Seaport Village, weaved around the Gaslamp, through Little Italy and Banker's Hill, across the Laurel Street bridge, into Balboa Park, down Park Blvd and up into Golden Hill, finishing with the steep stretch of B. Street. All of this totaled just shy of 12 miles. It also reminded us of how lucky we are to live in such a gorgeous city. A city that tourists flock to annually to enjoy any number of the sites that we walked past in one visit.

We topped off this great day of walking, by walking to the Padres game the following night, ending a great training weekend at the very site where the San Diego 3 Day concludes its 60 mile meander.

Here are some photos that we snapped along the way!