Meet the Michigan 3-Day Coaches

Each Susan G. Komen 3-Day® event has a core team of three coaches, each of whom plays a different role in helping our walkers and crew members prepare for the Komen 3-Day. For months, these dedicated staffers have been having personal conversations with walkers to help them with their training and fundraising, have hosted dozens of local events to bring participants together and build a community of encouragement, and have organized and inspired the amazing team of crew captains and crew members.

Let’s meet the coaches for the Michigan 3-Day® event!

Jennifer Hanskat – Michigan Participant Coach

susan g. komen 3-day breast cancer walk blog meet the coaches michigan jennifer

Jennifer (left) with a fuzzy friend

Describe what you do in ten words or fewer. – “Answering all things 3-Day-related on a daily basis.”

The Michigan 3-Day is coming up soon. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “We are less than one month out from the start of the Michigan 3-Day and my days are most definitely interesting. I answer a lot of phone calls and emails about preparing for the event and donations, especially matching gifts. I am also the designated 3-Day coach for our Series walkers [participants walking in all seven 3-Day events] so it is not unusual to hear from these folks as well, mostly with logistics questions.”

What are three things we didn’t know about you? “1) I was incredibly shy in high school, a total wallflower; 2) I have been up in a hot air balloon twice; 3) My grandfather had a special nickname for me: Sally Weird. And that just about sums it up!”

Ann Love – Michigan Local Events Coach

susan g. komen 3-day breast cancer walk blog meet the coaches michigan ann

Ann sharing a silly moment with her family

Describe your job in 10 words or fewer. – “I recruit walkers, supporters and businesses to paint the route pink! (Oops, that’s 11 words…I lose…)”

The Michigan 3-Day is coming up soon. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “My typical day, at this point, is spent talking to friends and family who want to support their participants, contacting businesses to solicit in-kind donations for our walkers and crew, talking to participants who are interested in taking on a larger role within our ceremonies and camp show, and approaching neighborhoods and businesses along the route to encourage them to show their support as we walk by.”

What are 3 things that we didn’t know about you? – “1) I’m a science nerd. I have a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and a master’s in environmental science; 2) I’m also a huge geek. Talk Star Wars or Star Trek to me and I will be your new best friend; 3) In “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”, I am a 4.”

Gina Guerreso – Michigan Crew & Volunteer Coordinator

susan g. komen 3-day breast cancer walk blog meet the coaches michigan gina

Gina and her sweet little man

Describe your job in 10 words or fewer. – “Honored to work with amazing Michigan Crew Captains and Crew. OR Spreading joy and being supportive to the amazing Michigan Crew. (I couldn’t decide!)”

The Michigan 3-Day is coming up soon. What’s a typical day like for you these days? – “My days are jam packed as we get closer and closer to kicking off the 3-Day season in Michigan. On a typical day I have a growing pre-event ‘to do’ list and lots of communication with Crew Captains and Crew. I am also working to finalize certain parts of the All-Crew Kick-Off. I am also your girl for all questions related to host hotels and tenting (for all events, all participants) so it’s a big juggling act, but I am blessed to have a supportive network of co-workers and friends.”

What are 3 things that we didn’t know about you? – “1) I am a reality television junkie (Real Housewives of New Jersey anyone?); 2) I have worked on 3 different 3-Day events in past years: Arizona, Chicago and now Michigan; 3) I secretly love to dance and think it would be fun to be on Dancing with the Stars. Too bad I am not a professional dancer or a celebrity!”

The Michigan coaches are looking forward to seeing and meeting the fabulous walkers and crew members in just a few weeks. Seek them out and say hello!

Next week, we’ll introduce the Twin Cities coaches, so stay tuned!

Movin’ and Groovin’ With Dr. Sheri

The 3-Day blog is happy to welcome back Dr. Sheri Prentiss, National Spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. Training for the Komen 3-Day is well underway for most walkers, and Dr. Sheri joins us this week to share some of her go-to tunes for staying motivated and moving.

“Music for me is a good distraction and ups my effort. It also puts me ‘in the zone’ and makes me want to move. Here are some of my favorites when I’m training for the 3-Day:

‘Survivor’ (of course!) (Destiny’s Child)

‘Good Feeling’ (Flo-Rida)

‘I’m Every Woman’ (Whitney Houston)

‘Let’s Go’ (Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo)

‘Right Now’ (Van Halen)

‘Turn Up the Music’ (Chris Brown)

‘Run the World’ (Beyoncé)

Whatever your favorite tune might be, your body automatically feels the beat of the music you listen to. You instinctively adjust your walking pace and heart rate to the tempo of the music. Listening to music while exercising can create an increased sense of motivation, as well as the ability to distract the mind while increasing heart rate. Training for my 3-Day experience is a wonderful distraction from everyday life, and my music takes it to a whole new level. So, get out there and get training!”

Thanks, Dr. Sheri! We can’t wait to boogie down with you on the 3-Day events this year!

3-Day Walking Hacks

We’ve learned some tricks and shortcuts over the years, which we’re passing along to you to help make your Susan G. Komen 3-Day walking experience even better.

1. Put your phone in airplane mode when walking.

You can still use the camera or music player, but your battery will last much longer if it’s not constantly searching for a cell/internet signal. (Also, when you go to charge your phone back at camp, keep it off or in airplane mode and it will charge much faster.)

2. If you expect rain, put your phone in a Ziploc bag. The touchscreen will still work through the plastic, but it will stay dry.

3. Put a spare pair of socks in a snack size Ziploc and carry it in your fanny pack. Change your socks at lunch, then put the dirty ones into the Ziploc to keep them separate from everything else in your pack.

4. Cold morning? Use your spare socks as mittens until you warm up. Then just stick them back in your pack so you can change into them at lunch.

5. Newspaper stuffed into wet shoes will dry them out by morning.
6. Small instant ice packs will provide a few minutes of refreshing coolness without the drippiness of a bag of ice. (Though sometimes the drippiness is nice too…)

7. In rain, a binder clip will secure your poncho hood to the bill of your hat to keep it from flying off your head.
8. A 1-inch binder clip also makes a terrific make-shift lip balm holder.

You can secure a tube of your favorite SPF lip cover right to your lanyard, so it’s never far when you need it. susan g. komen 3-Day breast cancer walks walking hacks lip balm binder clip

9. Did you know that there are sunscreen towelettes? If you have limited space in your walking pack, these may be a good alternative to a bulky bottle of SPF. Or, see if you can score some samples of sunblock (usually packaged in flat pouches) from a local dermatologist or spa.

10. If you plan to use duct tape for anything (believe or not, this is the go-to blister care method for many walkers), wrap a few feet of it around your water bottle and tear it off as you need it, rather trying to carry a whole roll around with you.

Got any good 3-Day walking hacks? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for 3-Day Camping Hacks, too? Click here!

(Thank you to first time San Diego walker Kenzie D. for modeling these hacks!)

The 3-Day Blog

Tag Archives: breast cancer

Meet the Michigan 3-Day Coaches

Movin’ and Groovin’ With Dr. Sheri

3-Day Walking Hacks

1. Put your phone in airplane mode when walking.

7. In rain, a binder clip will secure your poncho hood to the bill of your hat to keep it from flying off your head.
8. A 1-inch binder clip also makes a terrific make-shift lip balm holder.

9. Did you know that there are sunscreen towelettes? If you have limited space in your walking pack, these may be a good alternative to a bulky bottle of SPF. Or, see if you can score some samples of sunblock (usually packaged in flat pouches) from a local dermatologist or spa.

10. If you plan to use duct tape for anything (believe or not, this is the go-to blister care method for many walkers), wrap a few feet of it around your water bottle and tear it off as you need it, rather trying to carry a whole roll around with you.

1. Put your phone in airplane mode when walking.

7. In rain, a binder clip will secure your poncho hood to the bill of your hat to keep it from flying off your head. 8. A 1-inch binder clip also makes a terrific make-shift lip balm holder.

9. Did you know that there are sunscreen towelettes? If you have limited space in your walking pack, these may be a good alternative to a bulky bottle of SPF. Or, see if you can score some samples of sunblock (usually packaged in flat pouches) from a local dermatologist or spa.

10. If you plan to use duct tape for anything (believe or not, this is the go-to blister care method for many walkers), wrap a few feet of it around your water bottle and tear it off as you need it, rather trying to carry a whole roll around with you.

7. In rain, a binder clip will secure your poncho hood to the bill of your hat to keep it from flying off your head.
8. A 1-inch binder clip also makes a terrific make-shift lip balm holder.