Tag Archives: breast cancer walk

Common First-Time Walker Worries … Debunked!

 

Two women showing their "This is my first 3-day" button in 2024.

Whether you’re already registered or are thinking about joining your very first Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, welcome to the Pink Bubble!  

Signing up is a big commitment, and we’re sure that you have a lot of questions, worries and maybe even second thoughts. Regardless of what’s going through your head, we’re here to support you from the day you register to the memorable moment you step across that finish line. We like to say that the support we offer matches the commitment you’re making!

Remember, everyone who’s ever walked the 3-Day started exactly where you are right now—full of questions and anticipating an event that is unlike anything else you’ve experienced. There’s a reason why so many walkers come back year after year, and we’re excited for you to be a part of it.  

To help manage your expectations and quell any lingering anxieties, we’ve debunked some common first-time walker concerns so that you can strut into the Pink Bubble with confidence! 

“60 miles is way too far for me to walk.”

We get it, 60 miles is a lot, and it is hard … but, as you’ll hear a lot on the 3-Day, it’s not as hard as breast cancer.  

You’ll be surprised by how far you can push yourself when you set your mind to it and are surrounded by like-minded people who encourage you every step of the way. It’s a big challenge, and because of that, it will inspire your donors to give big when they support you.  

Participants of all ages and fitness backgrounds have been able to train for and successfully complete all 60 miles. But if you can’t walk all 60 miles, that’s OK, too! There are support vehicles (we call them sweep vans) along the route that will take you to the next stop if you need a break. How ever many miles you complete at the end of the day, you’ve raised the money and are helping end breast cancer!

If you’re still unsure, we offer 1, 2 and 3-Day walker options, allowing you some peace of mind if you want to dip your toe into the Pink Bubble before fully diving in. 

A woman walking her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day in 2023.

“I don’t think I can meet the fundraising requirements.”

Fundraising for the first time may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to help! Your 3-Day coaches are your main point of contact for anything fundraising related and will help you every step of the way.  

From goal-setting techniques to tips on reaching out to donors, we have plenty of resources to help you get where you need to be. All coaches have been (or currently are!) 3-Day walkers and can give you first-hand advice from what they’ve heard from the thousands of walkers we’ve supported.  

Additionally, our city-specific Facebook groups are another great tool to connect with other walkers for fundraising advice. Get creative, ask everyone and never give up. You’ll hit your goals before you know it! 

“I don’t even know how to get started with training.”

Much like fundraising, training may seem daunting at first. Our recommendation? Use our 24 or 16-week training plans and take it one step at a time.  

Remember, the 3-Day is not a race, so your training shouldn’t be either. Start slow and follow the plan and you’ll slowly build up until you’re racking up miles you never thought were possible. For more tips on training, reach out to your coach, find a training walk near you and go at your own pace. 

“I’m not very athletic.”

That’s OK! You’ll be in great company; at the 3-Day, everyone is welcome and encouraged to join. From avid walkers to those with physical limitations, every participant is given what they need to succeed. Simply show up exactly as you are, and we will do this together.

“Nobody will sign up with me.”

The 3-Day happily welcomes solo walkers, and we promise you’ll never feel alone. The Pink Bubble is a community of people who are all on the same team, walking together to find the cures.  

Though you may arrive alone, you’ll leave part of something greater than you ever thought imaginable. Furthermore, your coach can help you find a team to join.  

A button that says "This is my First 3-Day"

“I’ve never been affected by breast cancer.”

You certainly don’t need to have been directly affected by breast cancer to help find the cures. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all affected by this disease in some way, and the funds we raise at the 3-Day help to advance all forms of cancer research. Everyone is welcome at the 3-Day, and the Pink Bubble is waiting for you with open arms.

Do you have any other questions or concerns? Reach out to your 3-Day coach via Facebook or email and ask away. We look forward to helping you in any way we can.

We hope to see you at the 3-Day soon!  Visit the 3-Day to register and learn more.

 

Inside the Role of a 3-Day Coach

Staci and her daughter walking hand-in-hand at the Susan. G Komen 3-Day in Seattle.

Staci and Coach Alex at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.

Many of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® coaches have a personal connection to breast cancer, which drives their unwavering commitment to supporting participants. Having walked in the events and fundraised themselves, 3-Day coaches understand the challenges participants face and are passionate about helping them power through.  

Their dedication as coaches is far-reaching. They are mentors, who guide walkers in training, fundraising and everything in between. 

Coach Staci, the San Diego 3-Day coach since 2004, explained, “Most of us as 3-Day coaches have a connection to breast cancer. We care deeply about our participants and their journey because we have experienced it in our own ways.”  

Coach Staci’s experience with breast cancer is personal, stemming from her mother-in-law’s journey.  

“She was diagnosed in 2002 with breast cancer and passed away in 2007,” she recalled. “That was six weeks before my older daughter and I walked in Seattle at my second 3-Day, and it was also my oldest daughter’s 16th birthday.”  

But Staci’s role as a coach is centered on supporting others. As the primary point of contact for San Diego 3-Dayers, she has mentored hundreds of walkers and steps in to support her counterparts who coach events in Denver, New England and Dallas/Fort Worth. 

Staci and her daughter at the 3-Day in Seattle.

The role of a 3-Day coach is multifaceted. Coaches are there to answer all types of questions from logistical concerns like what type of food will be served at the event to offering practical advice on fundraising strategies, adjusting training plans for medical challenges and simply encouraging walkers to stay the course and enjoy the journey. 

“I tell the walkers that I coach that the event is their reward. It’s their time to celebrate what they’ve accomplished,” Staci said. “It’s the ice cream on top of the cake.” 

The relationships between coaches and participants are unique and meaningful. Staci has dedicated over 20 years to coaching participants of the 3-Day. Both of her daughters have walked twice, her husband is a five-time 3-Day walker and Coach Staci herself has walked four times and raised over $10,000.  

“Because of my mother-in-law’s journey, I worry for my daughters,” Coach Staci said. “But being a coach, I also get to hear the great stories of people who are 20-year survivors, and that gives you that hope to offset the fear.” 

Through dedication and guidance, the 3-Day coaches have a longstanding history of playing a crucial role in helping participants achieve their goals while facilitating a sense of community along the way. 

The 2025 Komen 3-Day events will be held in Denver (Aug. 1-3), New England (Aug. 15-17), Dallas/Fort Worth (Oct.24-26) and San Diego (Nov. 14-16).

To register for one of our 3-Day events, visit the 3-Day.  

A First-Timer’s Journey with the Komen 3-Day

Every year, new participants join the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, and for many, it becomes more than just a breast cancer walk – it’s an unforgettable experience. Some spend months fundraising and training, while others join at the 11th hour. Regardless of when they begin, each participant quickly realizes the 3-Day is about much more than walking, it’s about being a part of a community dedicated to ending breast cancer. 

Kimian Benitez is one of those new participants. She took part in her first 3-Day last fall in San Diego and walked the event solo.  

“I was the team captain of myself,” she joked. “I always wanted to do it and I am so glad I did.” 

The night before the event, Kimian and her husband drove to San Diego, and the next morning she began her 3-Day journey. After six miles, Kimian, who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, found herself needing to take a break. 

Kimian Benitez at the 2024 San Diego 3-Day

“I was disappointed when I got on the sweep van that took me back to the hotel, but everyone made me feel like I did great,” she recalled. “The Pink Bubble they talk about is such a positive and embracing atmosphere.” 

The 3-Day’s unique and supportive environment is what keeps people like Kimian coming back. She already has plans on walking in this year’s San Diego 3-Day and is determined to walk farther than she did the first time.  

“I don’t know anyone or have anyone close to me who has gone through breast cancer, but how I think about it is the money I raised and the effort I put in could go toward finding the cure, whether for me, tomorrow, or for someone I know and love,” Kimian said. 

To learn more about the 3-Day or to register for an event, visit the3day.org. 

Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.