Meet Your Michigan 3-Day Coaches

Hey Michigan—are you ready? With just one week to go until our first 3-Day of 2019, we’re preparing to give you the best 3-Day experience, which will be led by your amazing Michigan 3-Day coaching team. Get to know these rock star women who will be guiding your sixty miles of greatness!

First, meet your newest Michigan guide, Coach Jen! Fellow Coach Gina describes her as kind, patient and says that “her passion for the 3-Day shines as she works with the participants.”

Coach Heather echoes that sentiment and “can’t wait for Jen to see how amazing the Michigan 3-Day community is!”

Coaches Heather and Gina know the fantastic Midwestern community well, and you might remember them from last year ?. Gina says that Heather is the “heart of this 3-Day. She gives 1000% to make sure our walkers are supported, loved and successful in their 3-Day journey.”

But we can’t forget Coach Gina herself! Coach Jen says Gina has been a wonderful guide for her first Michigan 3-Day.

“With so much experience on the Michigan 3-Day, Gina fills our crew members with knowledge, embodies the kindness that she asks of them and just puts a smile on everyone’s face.”

These are your coaches for the 3-Day weekend in Michigan, and they can’t wait to welcome you with the same love and support they have been sharing with each other (and all of you) for the last year.

But what can you expect from the Michigan 3-Day?

Lots of fun new updates, including a hotel campsite.

Coach Gina is especially excited for the hotel camp, saying, “Change can be exciting, and I look forward to seeing how our new ‘campsite’ adds to the already amazing spirit of the Michigan 3-Day!”

The hotel camp has LOTS to look forward to, including:

A comfy bed with fluffy pillows
Air conditioning (key with the Michigan summer heat!)
A LONG hot shower
A bit of night-time TV viewing (recommended by Coach Jen for relaxation!)

But those aren’t the only things that Michigan walkers will love. There are a few spots that Coach Jen wants everyone to keep an eye out for on the route too…

On Day 1, I look forward to walking by the Novi Senior Center where all the residents came out last year to cheer on our walkers. Everyone had so much fun! We’re expecting the same this year.
On Day 2, my favorite spot has got to be the Plymouth Town Square, where there will be a little extra pink in honor of our 3-Day walkers. All of the Saturday morning hustle bustle around Kellogg Park always makes Coach Heather smile, too.
Coach Heather also loves the awesome residents who come on out to North York Street on Day 3, and really “bring it!”
On the last day, Coach Jen looks forward to walking into Closing Ceremony at Ford World Headquarters. It will be pretty special this year because we will celebrate not only our accomplishments on the 2019 Michigan 3-Day, but all the success we’ve had over the years fundraising and generating awareness in the fight to end breast cancer!

These coaches know better than anyone how much work all our 3-Day participants put into the Michigan weekend, and they can’t wait to celebrate all your achievements.

Coach Gina says it perfectly.

“After 15 years and countless events, my 3-Day ‘why’ became much more personal over the past couple years and has renewed my energy in this fight. My own breast cancer battle brought surgeries, chemo, radiation, and my life is forever changed.

I am blessed because I had my 3-Day community by my side, and they lifted me up when I needed it most and got me to THIS moment. The 3-Day to me is a family; a family bound together by their passion, enthusiasm and drive to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.”

Your Michigan coaches count each other, and all of you, as part of their 3-Day family. And they are so hopeful that you will enjoy and make the most of this weekend.

If you need some last minute 3-Day tips, they have you covered there too.

Coach Heather says to drink LOTS of water…but also make sure to appreciate every moment with your friends and 3-Day family throughout the weekend.
Coach Jen says that if you haven’t yet met Michigan 3-Day walker George Nummer, this weekend is your perfect chance! She encourages participants to introduce themselves and spend a few minutes talking with him on event! He is such an inspiration and will participate in all seven 3-Day events this year.
Coach Gina brings it home again, reminding everyone to “Savor the moments. Every step, each interaction. As the saying goes, ‘It’s the little moments that make life big.’”

Here’s to a BIG weekend in Michigan with our 3-Day family! The coaches can’t wait for you…Let’s go

Meet Your New Coach for the New England 3-Day, Coach Sharyn

It all started on a big birthday. In 2006, Sharyn was turning 60, and her daughter-in-law invited her to join her 3-Day team. And Sharyn thought, “Why not?”

Now, more than a decade later, she has walked in Boston and other 3-Day cities and joined the 3-Day team as your New England Coach for 2019! As soon she heard that the 3-Day would be returning to Boston, she knew she had to get more involved.

“Boston is my home walk and when it came back this year, I reached out to the powers to be and applied to be a coach. The 3-Day really needed ‘boots on the ground’ and I was contacted to see if I was interested in the coaching position…. Yes, I am! And here we are. ?”

She is so excited to be returning to her 3-Day family in a new way. Though she has walked in many cities over the years, she is ready to welcome 3-Dayers back to Boston.

“Some of my favorite memories are reconnecting with 3-Day friends you’ve met along the way; strangers who became friends and who’ve truly touched your heart. I’ve walked in many cities and crewed in others and it always excites me to see the beautiful faces and reconnect. I know that’s going to be a huge event in Boston!”

Aside from all the welcome friendship and love, Sharyn wants to get the rest of the walkers and crew excited about some other aspects of the weekend:

We will be staying in hotels and that’s become a huge attraction for a lot of walkers…especially some of the more seasoned veterans.
I also think the route, this year, will have our walkers and crew very excited…especially people who’ve never visited our city before.

With both of those in mind, it’s time to start getting ready and pumped for the New England 3-Day. As a veteran herself, Sharyn has tried and true advice for your training plans.

“I always tell people who start their training to start where they are most comfortable. It’s sort of like that old saying, ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!’ ? Start small, start now and build your distance each week. I think if you can easily do a 10-mile walk with no issues, you’ll be just fine. Do a few long walks each week and be sure to train on different inclines. Not every city is flat, so you need to be prepared for hills. Building your way up on a variety of terrains will have you more than ready!”

But always feel free to reach out for help! Sharyn is already helping walkers and crew out on her New England 3-Day Coaches Facebook Page, and encourages everyone to reach out with anything “from complicated issues to silly ones. Pick up the phone and call or drop us an email or Facebook message. Nothing is too small…especially if it concerns you.”

She understands all your concerns because she’s been there! She’s walked 25 events, crewed 6 times and raised approximately $85,000 over her time with the 3-Day. And she’s just getting started!

“Committing three days is a lot to ask when it involves walking 60 miles and raising $2,300…but it’s so much easier than a breast cancer diagnosis. The commitment is the easy part when it’s important to you. Make the commitment. And I’ll see you in New England in September!”

For tips about healthy living, click here for advice and support to keep you on track for the 3-Day and beyond. http://the3day.co/amgen2019. Thanks to the support of Amgen and in partnership with American Bone Health, the Healthy Living series was designed to prepare your mind, body and bones for the 3-Day.

Why to Love 3-Day Camp with Coach Gayla

The 3-Day camp is an experience like no other. Imagine a slumber party with hundreds of your favorite people, complete with dance party, delicious food, games and shopping…all under the stars. It’s a fun time to say the least! Our walkers in Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego will get to experience that magic first-hand this year. If you’re a first-time camper, Coach Gayla is here to get you excited for that experience. There is so much to love about the 3-Day camp, and she’s breaking it all down for you…

First and foremost, tent camping gives you the extra excuse to ask for a large donation as you are fundraising! You’re giving up your comfy bed for two nights. A big commitment deserves a big donation. Just remind potential donors that you’ll be showering in a semi-truck, and that should motivate them to support your goals ?
The camp environment gives you a chance to do something different than what we do at home every day. I mean, other than the 3-Day, when was the last time you went camping?!

At camp, you’ll have access to the dining hall, camp lounge, massages and Remembrance Tent, all within a short distance of your tent. It also makes it easy to be right on hand at the finish line to cheer other walkers in! I love this part, and it’s something my pals from Team STEPS (Hi Dana and Sheryl!) brought up when I talked with them about this, too.
You can easily meet new friends as you wander around camp. Sheryl and Dana summed it up perfectly, saying, “Even a trip to the port-o-potty or shower will often provide a smiling face on the way, a high five with a 3-Day legend, an opportunity to thank a volunteer, or a special random act of kindness.” We love making those connections!
Picture yourself sitting in the entry of your tent at the end of the day reading your camp mail, rehydrating, and waving and smiling as people come in from the walk route. There’s nothing like that feeling of accomplishment!
The joy and inspiration of the 3-Day is heightened by having just the sounds of nature and your 3-Day family around you. No sounds of TV, or doors creating barriers between you and all the fun!

In general, camaraderie is at an all-time high when hanging out with your friends in and around your tents. You can even personally check in on all your tentmates before you turn in for the night…just by giving them a holler!
Then, as the night goes on, and you’re all cozy in your sleeping bag, you really will appreciate the great outdoors where you can see the stars at night and breathe in the fresh air. You become one with nature.
It really helps you escape the daily grind of life and decompress – no phones, tv, radio. It will do your mind some good! As Sheryl and Dana said, “you get to unplug and be perfectly present in the moment.” It will give you time and space to truly appreciate the 3-Day in a whole new way.
And then, sitting in your tent as the sun comes up and a new day begins…it’s just so exciting and inspiring. Plus, Sheryl and Dana reminded me about “waking up to the smell of coffee and bacon,” which is never a bad thing.

Bonus! Remember, it’s GLAMPING, not really CAMPING after all ?

What else do you love about the 3-Day camp experience? Tell us in the comments!