Training is easier than asking people for money.

Week... what? 3? Yeah, I think week 3. ;) So far, so good. I haven't missed any of the training walks and when you consider how crazy busy my life is in general, that is a serious accomplishment. I know that there will be times when I have to modify or miss some of the training but I'm trying to put that off for as long as possible. Right now, when the walks are shorter, it's easier for me to adjust my schedule around them. That will become progressively more difficult.

Last weekend, in order to stay on track, I dragged myself out of bed at 6:45 on Saturday morning (I repeat: ON SATURDAY MORNING!) and was out walking by 7:00. I dragged John out for those 4 miles and while he may not have been the most enthusiastic participant, he plodded along without much complaint. As we were making our way up the last hill, he said "I'm only doing this so I can scuba-dive when I'm 70." I love him for comments like that - makes me think 70 won't feel so old after all.

I will say that walking with John can be an exercise in frustration for me. I huff and puff and am all kinds of noisy when we're hoofing along. John is silent, no wheezing or gasping or heaving for breath as we draw near the top of the GI-NORMOUS hill in our neighborhood. I work out waaaaayyyyy more often than John, on the treadmill, on the elliptical, running, jogging, walking, stair-stepping... you name it. That man might grace the gym 2x week if he's lucky. He maintains that he's an "efficient oxygen machine." *roll eyes*

It's worse when I walk with Jenn. At least John has the good grace to remain silent while we trudge up the hill. Jenn can chatter all the way up that damn hill, never sounding the least bit winded, while I'm walking along side her sounding like I haven't gotten off the couch in the last decade. I am not, it appears, an efficient oxygen machine.

So fundraising... yeah. Last week I drafted my letter, printed out copies and then left them sitting on my desk. There they are, sitting right next to me - hard to miss since they're PINK! Well, actually the letters are white, only the donation form is pink. Nonetheless, they are still in my house, which isn't going to raise me any sort of money. Training is way easier than asking people for money. Any yet, today I received another donation, kind of out of the blue. The feeling of excitement and gratitude haven't worn off. I still feel both when I get that email announcing another generous gift.