DONE!!!!!

Well, I'm a little late getting this post out, but the walk is over and it was a success!! Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. It was quite an experience. I managed to finish 1st the 1st day, out of 3,000, 3rd the 2nd day, and 2nd the 3rd day. Many dropped out along the way, but together, we raised over 6.5 million dollars for The Susan G. Komen For A Cure. Day 1 and 2 were a lot of trail-walking along the Mississippi and through small subarban towns of the Twin Cities. Day 3 ended with the capital of MN, through St. Paul (some really cool districts-- Summit Ave., St. Anthony's), through the campus of the Un. of MN, and finishing in Minn. at Boom Island. It was a really neat journey that I'm glad to say "I DID THAT!" -em

Packing, getting ready

....... It's time! Today I officially began packing for the trip. I have two pages of things they told me to take, so I'm getting there. As it nears, I'm sorta starting to get nervous and excited, all rolled into one. I know I can do the walk, but I'm of course feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing. Anyhow, the plan. Barbara will pick me up around 6:30-7:00 a.m. Wednesday and we will drive up to MN. Thursday she will attend Crew Day and I will find a way to entertain myself. Friday, bright and early, I will catch the shuttle from the hotel (sometime in the 5:00 hour, I believe, need to re-read my emails). Open Ceremonies and then I'm off!! Walk, walk, walk, eat, walk, walk, walk, sleep (camping--- trying to get excited about that one)... get up and do it again, two more times. Sunday, go back to the hotel and Monday we'll drive home. Tuesday-- taking off work to re-group and get back to reality. I know those 3 days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, will be full of fun, emotions, great conversations, good new friends, and good food and entertainment. I look forward to sharing the highlights will you when I return. Thanks, for encouraging me along and believing in me, and all of us, as we walk with the hope of finding a cure to breast cancer. -em

FIFTY MILES, BABY!!!

WHOOOAAAA, YEAH!!! I am ready! This past weekend I hit the hot, hot streets and pounded out fifty miles. The breakdown: Friday- After I finished teaching yoga at the YMCA, I headed out for 10 miles. The walk took from about 6:40-9:10 p.m. The walk was nice and gave me GOOD experience walking in the rain; it poured down on me! Luckily, I had another pair of shoes for Saturday. Part of the walk was in the dark, but it wasn't bad. And my book-on-tap-downloaded-to-ipod entertained me along the way. Saturday- After teaching yoga at the park, I headed out for 20 miles. This was from 9:00 until about 3:00. The first leg I did on my own, walking home from Loose Park (4 miles). Then Ja hooked up with me and we walked to Planet Sub for lunch (4 miles); then home (another 4 miles). Ja- I am soooo proud of you and really, really appreciate you joining me. I know your toe was bothersome and that you were already sore from your ropes course and yoga. I love you!! After this first 12 miles, I picked up the neighbor's dog and she and I headed out for the last 8. Man, was is steamy hot by then! We stopped to drink every mile/15 minutes. She helped me finish up, though, so thanks, Scott and Joy, for letting me borrow her. Sunday- Mom showed up at the house bright and early, 7:00 a.m. We headed to my parent's house (8 miles). She stopped there and I continued through their neighborhood for another hour (4 miles). Then, with 12 behind me, I ate with them (yummy BLT's, my favorite chips, and a great fruit cup--- Thanks, Mom!!). After that I was anxious to go knock out the remaining 8. I was done with the fifty miles by 12:40 and got to break until teaching yoga 3:30-5:30, which felt great!! Thanks to everyone for the encouragement along the way. It really wasn't that bad; I only suffered from a few heat rashes and today my shins are sore. So... I will continue with shorter walks every day and will work on strengthening my shins some more. It's almost time to go and have the time of my life. I truly feel ready and what a joy it has been to get to this point!! -em

Barb and I featured in the John Knox Village Voice

Since we both work at JKV, it was nice of the communications staff to feature us in the August edition of the Village Voice. The first article explained to the residents of John Knox the importance of exercising while battling cancer. The second article shared my intentions to walk in the Breast Cancer 3Day. As a result, many residents have been expressing their support and enthusiasm to both of us. What a great way to stay motivated with the walk less than a month away!! Thanks, Emily Banyas, for writing the articles. -em

New way to train

So, last weekend we were dog-sitting for our friends/neighbors and I decided to take Natty out on the walk with me. I knew I was going to do 12 miles/3 hours, but thought maybe she could accompany me for the first hour. We went out during the heat (2:15 pm), but she was doing great. Her owners are runners, so we had to learn quickly that this was a walk, and we would not be running! Needless to say, I did not receive a proper warm-up, but we got the hang of each other. She prefers to walk on the left side of the street; I do not have a preference. She, at first, prefered to walk around the puddles left over from the morning rain, but later decided, vigoriously dancing through them was a much better plan! At 1/2 an hour, which would be the time to turn around and go back home, she was still pulling me along, so I decided to stretch out our time to 1.5 hours (1/2 my walk). The funny thing was, at an hour, ja called to check on me, and immediately when the phone rang, she sat down in a shaded yard. Smart!! But, I knew I could not carry her home and feared for a moment I had pushed her too hard. But she did get up and trot along home with me. I eventually wore her out (or the heat did) and she was anxious to be back in her a/c. After we enjoyed some water, I told her how lucky she was, b/c I was on my way out to do it all over again!! Now, a few days later, my shins are still pretty tender, so I think taking her along was a good idea. She pushed me to work harder in the beginning and I encouraged her in the end to make it home. -em

The Countdown Begins

Hello!! We are to the 6-week mark. I cannot believe it!! That means it's time to go buy another pair of shoes (hopefully without wrecking my car this time) and I also need to purchase more of my fancy socks. But let me tell you, there is nothing like a good pair of shoes and socks when you're out there walking for hours. I also have discovered the importance of a good top. Several tops have begun to rub me in the armpit region (chaffing) and this is rather uncomfortable, so what I've found works best for me is to walk in a tube top. This also works well for tan lines!! :)

One foot after the other!! -Em

40 miles in 2 days

Okay, so let me be honest. With a chance of rain in this past weekend's forecast, I was sorta rooting for it. I did not want to go out and do my 40 miles. But.... the weekend was beautiful and I spent the majority of it pounding the pavement. And it was great and I'm so glad I did it... and that it's behind me. :)

Saturday morning after my outdoor yoga group (BYOM) met at Loose Park, I walked home (4 miles). There, my mom met me and we walked to her house (8 miles). After a delicious lunch, I headed back home (8 miles). Total= 20 miles

Sunday morning I got up and headed back to my parent's house (8 miles). My mom then walked with me around their neighborhood (4 miles). After yet another scrumptious lunch, I headed back home (8 miles). Total= 20 miles (Then I went and taught yoga for 2 hours.... slept great, let me tell you!!!!!) -em