I Survived the Avon Walk!!

Finish line Day1 (me on the left)

I made it!! I did it!! And I FEEL GREAT!!! It is probably one of the greatest accomplishments of my life and I am so proud of myself and so glad I did it!! I completed the 39.3 miles of the Avon 2-day walk for breast cancer. Granted today I can barely walk and have never been so sore in my life but I would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat!

Always Smiling!!!

I was so full of energy and peppy on Day 1, I was trying to keep everyone around me motivated. I was dubbed the "cheerleader" of the walk. What amazed me the most was the amount of support from people. All along the route people were cheering us on, holding signs, handing out drinks and candy, beeping horns, and even thanking us for walking. It was such an incredible feeling and I absorbed all of it. To be part of something of this magnitude and have people care so much about this cause was just amazing. My favorite part were the bikers who come from all over and puts bra's all over their Harley's, and stop traffic for us. They were awesome! I can't stress enough about the amount of support from everyone, it was overwhelming and an experience that I am so grateful to have been a part of.

I was so happy to see the Mile 26 marker Day 6!! (i'm in the bandana)

I felt great all throughout Day 1. I started to get a cramp in my leg at about mile 16 but some motrin took care of, thankfully. By the end of the 26.2 miles on Day 1 I was so ready to sleep. I only had a few small blisters on my feet, nothing bad. We slept in a tent at the Reebok Headquarters, which was such a shitty peaceful slumber. Day 2, I woke up stiff and not feeling too great. It probably didn't help that I didn't sleep well. By mile 2, my knee had started to hurt so I stopped and got it wrapped up. By mile 7, I was in tears with every step I took. Every person that walked by gave me some encouraging words. And reluctantly I got picked up in one of the Sweeper vans and they took me to the next rest stop which was only a mile away. The medics there told me that my knee was swollen and full of fluid and that my patella was grinding on my femur and they recommended that I don't continue. I sat there in tears. I was only at mile 8 on Day 2...only 5 miles to go, and I was so determined to finish and was so disappointed in myself if I couldn't. But I sat there eating lunch, crying with my friends and I had strangers come up to me and tell me to be proud of what I had already accomplished and to listen to my body. One woman even recognized me as the "cheerleader" from the day before and told me she would forever remember me because I was the best motivator! That made me feel so good, so I decided to stop and get on the bus to take me to the last rest stop. At the last rest stop, I decided to walk the last mile with my team...okay so I limped it.

My Team: BBFF (Best Boobie Friends Forever)

So I may not have walked the entire 39.3 miles but I did walk 35.3 miles. Yes, I only had to get bused 4 miles. And I am very proud of what I accomplished and even more proud that I crossed the finish line with my team and with a smile on my face. My knee is wrapped up and swollen and both my legs are stiff, and my blisters are bigger than the end of Day 1 but ya know what? I can't wait to do it again next year!!

This cow was everywhere along the route! He was Udderly fantastic!!

.....and one more pic I forgot to add. This is for DiPaola Momma for fundraising for me on her blog, Thank you!!!

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Me and My Bright Ideas

Seriously, what the hell was I thinking when I signed up for Avon's 2-Day walk for breast cancer?!! Its 40 freakin miles! Apparently I thought I was Super Mom and that it would be a walk in the park. HA! Well, yesterday I went for a walk in the park and walked 6 miles as part of my training. Today, I can barely friggin move! Every muscle on my body aches. No lie! I didn't even know I had muscles in certain spots that could ache! How in the hell am I going to walk 26.2 miles in one day and get up to do 14 the next? And sure it's for a great cause and I'm all for doing things for good causes but man! My walk is almost a month away and this is how I feel after only doing 6 miles...I can't wait to see how I feel after 40!

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Big Boobie Friends Forever

Cute title, huh?

That just so happens to be the name of the team i joined for the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston. Our team captain is my brothers girlfriend and asked me if i would participate this year. Now, i haven't lost anybody close to breast cancer but i do surgery on a lot of these patients and it is very sad. I'm going to walk just to support the cause and to do "something" with myself. I feel the need to do something to make me feel accomplished. And besides, anyone can be diagnosed with breast cancer.

So over the course of two-days i will be walking 39.9 miles! Yikes! I bought new sneakers yesterday that i will break in and begin my training. I just started my fundraising yesterday and sent out emails and posted letters all around work. I have to raise $1800 before the event.

Its the biggest challenge i've ever taken on, but I'm very excited about doing it because i know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer. I've also decided that for people who donate, if they know someone who has/had breast cancer, i will wear their name on me in their honor.

If you would like to help support our efforts and the breast cancer cause you can make a donation online at http://www.avonwalk.org/, click Make A Donation, and type my name, Nicole McCabe. Every little bit is welcomed and greatly appreciated.

And remember, one woman in the US is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes.

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