Erin D. here. In addition to being the 3-Day’s head blogger, social media mover and shaker, and occasional event staffer, I’m also a 15-time veteran walker.
Alysssa, Jenn and me – the 3-Day social media team in action!
A year ago, we ran a series of posts on the 3-Day blog called the “Insider’s Guide to the 3-Day.” The posts were written by yours truly, as a way to share my experiences on the 3-Day, from Opening to Closing. The series was meant to serve as a way for people to get a look at various aspects of the event from the perspective of someone who has been there many times.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the Insider’s Guide series, particularly if you’re new to the 3-Day, we encourage you to click back through the posts.
I’m just one Insider, and I know that every single walker, crew member, volunteer and supporter experiences the 3-Day in a different way. We love hearing about your experiences and memories, so share them in comments or post them to the 3-Day’s Facebook page, tweet them @The3Day or tag #The3Day in your Instagrams!
For years, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® website has been the number one must-see resource where our Komen 3-Day walkers, crew members, donors and supporters can find information and inspiration for their 3-Day® journey. And while that important purpose hasn’t changed, the look of the website has. Yes, The3Day.org has gotten a snazzy makeover for 2015, making it even better than ever.
The best way to see all that the new website has to offer is to click over to it and explore! But to give you a quick glimpse, here are a few new features that we’re most excited to share with you:
Home Page –
From the moment you click onto the 3-Day home page, you’ll be inspired by what you see. Visitors are welcomed with a moving headline and photo, and scrolling down, will find eye-catching links to the most important parts of the site, including links to register, donate or learn more about the event.
Videos –
If you haven’t seen our poignant 2015 TV ad yet, take a minute to watch it here:
This video is also tucked directly under the graphic headline on the home page of the 3-Day website, so you can find it anytime and share it with friends. Just under that, you’ll also see three links to some brand new video segments for 2015 highlighting our “Huge Community,” “Huge Challenge” and “Huge Impact.”
Slideshows –
Are you inspired by visuals? Cruise through the 3-Day Experience with three interactive slideshows showing fun and inspiring images from the 3-Day events themselves. These include “How We Support You,” which shows the many ways we help you on the journey between registering and arriving at the event, and “Explore the Event,” where you’ll get a peek at what happens during the 3-Day event weekend itself.
3-Day Stories –
The third slideshow in the Experience section is the 3-Day Stories page, where real 3-Day participants tell us why they walk, and share some personal details about their own connections to breast cancer and to the 3-Day.
Find a Meet-Up –
Looking to connect with the 3-Day coaches and your fellow walkers for informative meetings, Walk & Talks or meet-ups? A quick visit to the Meet-Ups and More page will show you upcoming events in all of our 3-Day cities, as well as recorded meetings and a way to search for a training walk in your area.
#The3Day –
Looking to connect with the 3-Day on social media? Great, because we’re everywhere! Clicking on the pink Connect button right on the top of the screen will help you find the 3-Day on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Participant Center –
Registered participants have access to your own personal Participant Center, where you will find information that is specific to you and your 3-Day event, including your personal and team fundraising progress, event and travel information (coming later in the year!), exclusive fundraising tools and resources available only to registered participants, and tons more. Even with all the new bells and whistles on the 3-Day website, the user-friendly functionality of the Participant Center hasn’t changed at all for 2015, so you returning 3-Dayers who are familiar with it will know feel right at home (and you new folks won’t take long to get the hang of it either)!
And So Much More! – This brief “tour” only scratches the surface of what you can find on the exciting updated 3-Day website. There are also delicious details about our Young Women Walking program, Crew and Volunteer opportunities, our incredible 3-Day Sponsors, the work of Susan G. Komen®, and if we missed anything else, a handy FAQ page. So click on over and spend some time clicking around. Not sure where to find something? Our handy site map will get you pointed in the right direction.
BONUS! – Join us on Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PST for our very first Tweet Chat of the year. What’s a Tweet Chat? These virtual meet-ups on Twitter allow us all to connect with each other, ask and answer questions, and more! If you’re not too familiar with Twitter, don’t worry, getting set up is easy! Click here to learn how! For this first Chat, the topic of the night will be our new website, so come with your questions and comments ready!
January may still be a little bit early in the year to start your official 3-Day training, but if you’re eager to get started training your body to be able to walk 60 miles this summer, let’s chat about walking when the weather is not so pleasant. You may be wondering, “How can I get my 3-Day training walks in when it’s minus freezing degrees outside?”
Here are some tips for walking in a winter wonderland:
Dress for the occasion – Before stepping outside, you’ll probably be inclined to bundle up in your down parka, but if you’re taking a walk, it may be better to dress in lighter, thinner layers, and shed as you go if you need to. Moisture-wicking fabric is best for the layer closest to your skin. You may be cold, but if you’re moving, you’re sweating, and the only thing worse than being really cold is being really cold and wet. Also, don’t forget hats and gloves, and whenever possible, wear bright colors and/or reflective materials so you stand out against your white-grey environment.
Warm your digits – One 3-Day coach loves those chemical-activated hand and foot warmers (available in the camping section of any sporting goods store). They are a quick, inexpensive way to keep your fingers and toes toasty. They fit snugly inside your gloves and your shoes and will ease the shock of the freezing temps on your extremities.
Take care of your skin – Cold air and wind can really do a number on exposed skin, so don’t forget to put on moisturizer before heading out. Sunscreen, too, is a must have for training any day of the week, any time of the year.
Hydrate – Drinking water when it’s hot out is a no brainer. You crave the cool water to quench the heat. It can be harder to remember to hydrate in the cold, but it’s no less essential when you’re exercising. If you normally carry your water in a fanny pack while you walk, think about holding it in your hand while walking in the cold, as an ever-present reminder to sip as you step.
Cool it on the mileage – There are many reasons why the 3-Day events take place in the late summer and fall, and it’s not just about walking those 60 miles in nicer weather; it’s also because we know that many of you superstar walkers can’t even really start training until the ground beneath you thaws out. But if you’re the type of go-getter who just can’t wait until the mercury rises, you can at least be comforted knowing that it’s okay to keep your walks short and sweet at this point. Once spring comes around and mother nature is a more agreeable training partner, then you can start upping the distance of your training walks.
Choose your route carefully – Be certain that you’re walking someplace familiar, and be ready to pay close attention to the terrain with every step. If the sidewalks have not been cleared of ice and snow, walk in the street. (And on that note, make sure you’re wearing good shoes that have a little bit of traction on the sole.) Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. If you get lost in a snow drift, they’ll want to know where to start digging!
Stay indoors – Wait, you’re not off the hook for training! But if it’s just too nasty outside, find someplace indoors to get moving. While we don’t recommend that you do all of your 3-Day training on a treadmill, it’s a perfectly good alternative to outdoor walking if you need it. No treadmill? Throw on your shoes and walk on an indoor track, through a shopping mall, or up and down the stairs in your office building. One of our coaches also suggested college campuses as places that often have large and/or interconnected buildings, and lovely grounds you can walk through.
Twin Cities coach Stephanie’s selfie on an indoor track in her neighborhood
