Training for a 2022 3-Day

Over the past couple of years, we’ve brought you many different tips and tricks for your 3-Day training. In this blog, you’ll find links to previous blog posts that’ll help kickstart your training efforts for the 2022 Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® Series! This Saturday’s Virtual Training Walk is the perfect opportunity for you to get out there! Good luck and happy walking!

Wherever you may be training this winter, it’s bound to be cold at some point. Here are our blog posts that will give you motivation and tips to get walking!

Cold Weather Training Ideas – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

10 Ways to Update Your 3-Day Training as the Weather Cools – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Winter Training Tips from Training Walk Leaders – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Are you looking for a way to make your training walks more fun and engaging? Here are some ideas that can help get you and your teammates excited to put some miles in!

Themed 3-Day Training Walk Ideas – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Top Ways to Make the Most of Your Next 3-Day Training Walk – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Take a Walk in the Park, 3-Day Style – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Maybe you’re tired of your walking playlist and need some refreshed tunes. Here are some great updates to make to your music library — including some suggestions from your 3-Day coaches!

Upbeat Love Songs to Fuel Your Winter Walking – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Music Monday: Top 3-Day Training Songs – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

3-Day Coaches’ Favorite Training Tunes and 3-Day Prep – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

And when winter starts to wane, check out some ways to incorporate fundraising while you train!

5 Easy Ways to Get Outside this Spring – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

We all know walking is good for you, but if you need an inspirational story to get you out-and-about, check out Mark S.’s story on how training for the 3-Day changed his health:

Why I Walk: How Mark S.’s 3-Day Training Supported His Health Journey – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org)

Last but not least, we’ve featured 3-Day walkers and their training walk journeys over on our Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® Instagram page! Check out their features on this blog: Training Walk Tours on Instagram Stories – The 3-Day Blog (the3day.org) and head over to @komen3day on Instagram to watch them train on our highlight reels.

Do you have any training walk tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments so we can share them with the rest of the Pink Bubble!

Meet Brad and Debbie, The Fire Truck Walker Stalkers

You’ve seen them on the route, you’ve probably taken a picture on or with the classic fire truck, and maybe even worn the pink firefighter hats, but have you ever wondered who the nice couple is behind the fire truck? They have become well-known supporters, driving out from Palm Springs to San Diego every year to cheer walkers on. Meet Brad and Debbie!

When did you first get involved with the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®?

My wife battled breast cancer in 1999. We first got involved with the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in 2008. My wife Debbie saw an ad in a magazine and said she wanted to do the walk. I decided to do it with her, along with two of my brothers. We raised the money and did EVERY training walk according to the schedule that was put out, which got a little tricky with our 120-degree day summers. But the training allowed us to walk the entire 60 miles, which was really fun! My wife decided to walk again in 2011. We wanted to be 60 years old walking 60. What a way to celebrate your 60th birthday! I was always inspired by all the walker stalkers who encouraged us during our own experience. So, 2011 was the first year I brought my fire truck and my “3-Day Walkers Are Hot” sign to follow the walkers. I have done it every year since, with the exception of one year when I had a surgery and could not attend.

Why do you choose to come out and cheer on walkers?

Because it’s so FUN! The walkers are so positive and need the encouragement to keep going. Plus, when we walked, we saw how important the supporters were to us and we wanted to do something in return. Bringing out our fire truck, firefighter hats, and sign is the something we chose to do.

What keeps you motivated to keep coming out year after year to support the 3-Day?

The amazing walkers, crew and staff! It’s very well organized and such a fun event. We never hear a complaint from anyone. And we like the Melon Men!

What are some fun facts about you and your wife, Debbie?

Our claim to fame is that we were on the Newlywed Game in 1971, and we won! We have three children and six grandchildren who we love spending time with. I am a retired firefighter and my wife is a retired school teacher. I spend a lot of time working on my garden and home, while my wife likes to read and make quilts.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We appreciate all that Susan G. Komen does to provide such a wonderful event for men and women who are in one way or another connected to breast cancer. See you next year!

We love our walker stalkers, as well as learning why they come out year after year to support us all on our 3-Day journey. Do you have a favorite walker stalker? Shout them out in the comments!

Congratulations to the 2021 3-Day Nation Top Fundraisers!

Our incredible community came together for the first-ever ever Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Nation, connecting with one another online and at live Pop-Ups across the country. During the online festivities of 3-Day Nation, we celebrated our Top Fundraisers. Please join us in congratulating all of our 2021 3-Day Nation Top Fundraisers!

Our Top Crew Fundraiser is?Julia W., who raised nearly $3,200 for 3-Day Nation and has raised $9,575 in her lifetime. 3-Day Nation was Julia’s sixth time walking. Julia’s favorite pastime is photo coaching and journaling her photos.

Our Top Youth Corps Fundraiser is Grace R., who raised nearly $1,750 for 3-Day Nation. Grace has raised $3,183 in her lifetime across the three 3-Day events she has participated in. In her free time, Grace is currently learning how to knit from her grandmother!

Our Rookie of the Year is Debbie R., who raised nearly $10,800 as a new walker. 3-Day Nation was her first event as a part of the Pink Bubble. Debbie said, “We asked folks to join us on the last leg of our journey and held a cocktail and cookout celebration in our community. Seventy-five people came out!”

Our Top Individual Fundraiser is Peggy F., who raised nearly $35,000. She has raised $49,570 in her lifetime. 3-Day Nation was the second 3-Day event that Peggy has walked. Peggy can’t wait to get back onto the 3-Day so she can eat those addictive peanut butter and jelly graham cracker bars!

Our Small But Mighty Team (the team with 3-10 members that raised the most money) is Wild Women Walking for a Cure. They raised nearly $35,000 between their eight team members for 3-Day Nation and have participated in 3-Day events since 1998 across multiple cities. Wild Women Walking for a Cure have raised an amazing $1,110,456 as a team over their lifetime. They have had more than 150 women, men, and children ranging in age from 18 to 78 years old along with a service dog as part of the Wild Women Walking team over 20+ years. Their team captain Leslie C. said, “Every WWW has headgear we wear for every walk. Each of us make our own, have our own personal twist to them, and get together the Thursday night before Day 1 with all of our crafts and glue guns to add or give them facelifts.”

Our Top Fundraising Team for 2021 3-Day Nation is STEPS, who raised nearly $77,000. They have been a team for 13 years, walked in 27 3-Day events, and have raised a staggering total of $1,191,571. Their team captains Sheryl C. and Dana B. said, “We dedicate every training walk to someone who has been affected by breast cancer so that every step has a purpose and a name.” Team STEPS stands for Screening, Treatment, and Education Programs.

Thank you to these amazing fundraisers and all of the 2021 3-Day Nation walkers and crew members!