Welcome to My 360 or "The World As I See It"

I'm taking the name for my blog from the very reason I'm blogging in the first place, my 3 day/60 mile walk (my 360). I'm participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk this August. I'm trying, sporadically, to keep track of my experiences so I'll have more than a passing memory of what it was like to train for, fundraise for, and actually walk 60 miles in 3 days.

Last week was the 1st week of training. We were scheduled to walk 12 miles for the week and I managed to do just that. Not necessarily on the days they recommend, but 12 miles nonetheless. I also downloaded the coolest app for my phone: Runmeter. It uses the GPS on my phone to track my mileage, mark my route and then kicks out some handy graphs detailing my elevation, my average speed, the splits, etc. I can save routes and it has a ghost feature so I can race my best times. Handy-dandy. Props to Jenn for already having one on her phone, which prompted me to search for my own. She's only had her phone for like a week... how did I not know about this app before?

I also crafted my initial fundraising letter today (I may or may not have spent some time at work writing said letter). I fine tuned it tonight and sent off my first batch. I kind of feel like Elle Woods - I bought pink paper and fought the urge to spritz the envelopes with perfume. I'm not going to lie - it is uncomfortable sending a letter asking for money to every person you know. I'm hopeful that I'll grow accustomed to the feeling. I've got months to go. Yes, I fundraise at work but I'm not asking for money for me. At work I'm asking corporations and faceless strangers. It's another matter altogether when you're hitting up people you went to college or high school with.

I also downloaded and added (thanks to Kevin) a 3-day for the Cure widget to my email signature. Again, I felt a moment of hesitation before hitting the send button a few times today because that icon was attached. Again, hoping that gets easier. But the more people who know that I'm doing this, the more likely it will be that I make it the $2300 goal.

I attended a Getting Started meeting on Saturday and, while the speaker sounded rehearsed in general and painfully trite at times, she did show a video that moved me to tears and reminded me again that I'm not just walking. I'm walking for a cause. Wish me luck on Week 2!