Inspire Yourself! Raise that money!

Ladies,

We are close to the big event. I know you are all working hard to train and raise funds. Your efforts are an inspiration! Allow me to inspire you with some words of wisdom that I hope you find encouraging and motivating to get you to your final fundraising goal.

Words of Wisdom

We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
Helen Keller

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
Jim Ryun

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.
Samuel Johnson

It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again.
Vince Lombardi

Now get out there and raise some money!

Volume 7 - Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Training Tips

Welcome to Volume 7 of my training tips! We are only 5 posts away from the big weekend.

I hope you have all started the Prevention Training Program - remember, no one is perfect and you can't always follow the program, but at least give it a try!

One thing that happens to me during long training walks and during the big weekend is that my hands start to hurt because all of the blood is flowing down to them. I end up holding my hands above my head off and on to help prevent this.

Below are some tips from "walking.about.com" to deal with this:

• Remove your rings prior to a walk.
• Loosen your wristwatch strap and elastic sleeves.
• Carry a small object to grip lightly from time to time as you walk: a small foam pad, rubber ball, map, or flashlight.
• Do an occasional arm circle.
• Don't clench your hands, keep them relaxed and slightly open.
• Every so often, stretch all of your fingers out for a few seconds and then make a fist. Repeat this several times.
• Racewalking coach Bonnie Stein of Acewalker.com recommends using correct arm motion with your arm bent at almost a 90 degree angle and swinging back and forth from a relaxed shoulder, rather than opening and closing the arm at the elbow.
• Play stick-em-up: rest your hands on top of your head for a few seconds to get them above the level of your heart.
• Whenever you are sweating, take care in balancing your water and salt intake.

You can read more are: http://walking.about.com/cs/med/a/swollenhands.htm

Please read through my earlier postings for more tips if you have not already.

Until my next posting,
Jen

More Fundraising Ideas

Hello ladies! We are quickly approaching the Avon Walk so I thought I'd send out some new fundraising ideas. After taking a quick look at our Team Progress page it looks like everyone is working hard to get donations! Here are some ideas for those of us running out of people to harass on email!

• Go to a bar on St. Patrick's Day and hand out green beads for a dollar each. (You may need to get permission from the bar owner first) You can buy the beads in bulk at stores like Target or craft stores for about $.25 each. Try to sell 200 in 2 hours and you will make $150 and have fun at a bar!
  
• Sell lollipops with a pink ribbon tied around them. Just put the lollipops in a basket with a sign on them that says "Please take one. Donations welcome for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer." You can either buy lollipops, or try to make your own. Here's a link for pink ribbon lollipop molds: http://www.artbeatgifts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=bca0030
  
• Plan a card party (Spades is a good card party game). Ask each person to contribute $10. At the end of the night give the winning team a gift basket make up of donated items or a bottle of wine and some nice chocolates.
  
• If you work in an office, place a donation jar on your desk. Put up a sign that says "Donate your change to make a change!"
  

I'd love to hear from you guys as to how you are raising your money! Keep up the good work!

Volume 6 - Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Training Tips

Welcome to Volume 6 of my training tips! We are only 6 posts away from the big weekend. I just booked my flight!

By now you should have all received the Prevention Training Program from me via email - the program is 12 weeks long and we are less than 12 weeks out so I hope you have at least started!

Some tips for adhering to the Training Program:

1. For my cross training, I have been bike riding - I will try to post the picture online - Kaya has been bike riding with me in the basket on my bike. She loves it! If you have a bike and it is not too cold and icy outside, try it - it really is fun. Swimming indoors at the gym or doing yoga or exercise videos at home would also be great cross training activities.

2. The Training Program requires that you get some long walks in. This is very important, but not that practical - who has 8 hours in a day to walk? Try breaking it up by running errands by walking. The other day I walked to the dentist, then to get my nails done and then to CVS - in total I walked almost 6 miles without even thinking about it.

3. Don't get down on yourself. It is practically impossible to follow the Training Program so congratulate yourself for the walks that you do get in - you will feel better and look forward to the walks, I promise!

Until next time,
Jen