Tag Archives: meet the coaches

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.

Meet Your Philadelphia 3-Day Coach

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In 2004, one of Carol’s family friends passed away from inflammatory breast cancer, only 6 months after she was diagnosed. That was a moment that changed Carol’s life, because it prompted her to sign up for the 3-Day the minute she saw a commercial for the walk. Though she wasn’t able to participate until a few years later due to pregnancy (and the awesome kids that followed), she has had the 3-Day in her life ever since that year.

Over the years she has formed lasting friendships with 3-Day participants and continued to be exposed to more people in her own life who were directly affected by breast cancer. She’s learned the importance of the event, and the work that Susan G. Komen does year-round, which led her to want to be more involved in the 3-Day. And this year, she achieved that goal when she became our new Philadelphia 3-Day coach! She is already jazzed for the fall, and to engage with all our participants in a new way.

If you haven’t met her on the 3-Day yet, get to know her now, before she helps you tackle those 60 miles in Philly.

Carol 5

What are some of your favorite 3-Day memories?

Favorite memories are so hard to choose from 12 years of events, but here goes!

  • First, the Closing Ceremony when I received a gift of earrings from a walker I did not even know. The song “Suddenly I See” became my inspiration after that, thanks to that happy memory.
  • An interaction with a very dear woman who taught me the importance of being your own best advocate. Her family continues to remind me of the goodness that exists in the world, when you shut out all the other noise.
  • Strangers becoming friends and pulling together to support one another in difficult times.

How did you find your way to the coaching job this past fall?

I found my way to the coaching job through not only my passion for the event, but my outgoing personality and can-do attitude. I was blessed with the opportunity. I have walked, I have crewed, I have volunteered, I have made myself available to the 3-Day as I will make myself available to its participants.

Carol 6

What are you most excited for the 2019 event?

The thing that I am looking forward to the most is to the opportunity to share my passion with others.  I also look forward to making new connections and hearing new stories and helping others make new lasting connections.

What do you love most about the 3-Day Crew?

They give selflessly of themselves day after day, and whether it is their first event or their 20th event, they continue to give of themselves without asking for anything in return.

What are you top training tips for walkers?

  • Training is KEY and it’s also important to find the correct shoe/sock combination. Be sure to train in all types of weather and elevation if you can.
  • It is a walk not a race, so take your time and do not forget to stretch at every opportunity.
  • Hydration is SO important. Drink a lot and encourage others to do the same.

Carol 3

If someone is nervous about doing the 3-Day for the first time, what would you say to them?

I would share with them that not only are they not alone in that emotion, but that they will never be alone on the event. On the 3-Day we are one community that unites together for a common goal. No one walks alone and no one gets left behind. You will always be supported. Do not ever be afraid to ask for help because there will always be someone there for you.

In 2019, we are asking people to #COMMIT3DAYS …What does commitment mean to you?

To commit 3 days means that you are committing to the cause. I am committing myself to do what I can so that others are successful in their goals. We can all do this together!

What are some things your 3-Dayers should know about you?

I never shy away from a challenge! And I put my all into everything I do. ? Plus, I hear I look great in pink! ?

Carol 2

Meet Your New Seattle 3-Day Coach

Now coming to the stage, your new Seattle 3-Day Coach… Aubrey Zoli!

If you haven’t yet met our new Seattle 3-Day coach, we are honored to introduce you to Aubrey. She first worked for the 3-Day as a coach in Michigan all the way back in 2004, and we are so excited to have her back on our team!

As she currently makes Seattle her home, our West Coast 3-Dayers are going to be seeing a lot more of Aubrey as she ignites new passion, enthusiasm and maybe even some song into the Seattle walk this year. She still remembers experiencing Seattle’s Closing Ceremony in Memorial Stadium back in 2007 and can’t wait to see all of you salute the end of your 60-mile journey this year as well. She will be with you every step of the way.

But before you begin walking, let’s get to know Aubrey a little better…

What made you want to be so involved in the 3-Day?

I have always been passionate about working with non-profits and was excited at the chance to be a part of something that was so life changing. That first season, inspired by the hundreds of walkers I was personally supporting, I signed up to walk in San Diego. I trained and fundraised right alongside each of them. It was so hard! But I was so glad I was able to experience the event from that perspective. It gave me a greater level of understanding and appreciation for the participants and I felt I was able to better serve them as a coach. My own mother is a breast cancer survivor and it felt great to be able to do something to honor her. Fast forward 10 years and my aunt would also be diagnosed. I am now the daughter and niece of two incredible survivors, so I have a very personal connection to the cause.

How did you find your way to the job as a 3-Day coach this fall?

After taking several years away to focus on being a musician and exploring a job in early childhood education, a friend and long-time 3-Day participant told me that they were looking for a Seattle 3-Day coach. It was perfect timing as I had been looking to get back into the world of events but always had such high expectations of what I wanted. I was excited to come back and work for this event again and reconnect with the community. I love working for the 3-Day!

What are you most excited for this year?

I am looking forward to re-engaging our community and working hard to get the 3-Day out there to as many new people as possible. I know this event means so much to so many people and I’m excited to get out into the community and talk to more people about how incredible this the 3-Day is. I’m also happy to reconnect with some of the long-time participants I haven’t seen since I left back in 2010. So much has changed, but it so many ways, it feels like picking up right where I left off.

What are some of your top training tips?

Break in your shoes! Don’t get a new pair of shoes and wear them the first time on the event. Ouch! Also, bring an extra pair of shoes (broken in as well). If it rains or your feet swell, it’s good to have a second pair. I bought one set that were my regular size and a second pair that was a wide. On day two I couldn’t get my swollen feet into my regular shoes, so I was happy to have the second pair.

Don’t wear cotton! Invest in good socks. I love the double layer kind.

Body glide is your friend. Use it. Love it.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN! If you don’t walk every step of the 60 miles, it’s totally OK! I didn’t! I trained super hard and still my knee swelled up on the second day and I took a sweep van at mile 17 (it was a 22-mile day). I got to shower first, with no line, and cheer in the other walkers. There is no shame in the sweep!

What are some fundraising resources 3-Dayers have?

You have so many resources at your disposal! I have never, and I mean never, had a walker tell me they couldn’t reach their fundraising minimum when they tried. The ones who didn’t reach their minimum told me they didn’t do anything to fundraise. Money won’t magically appear in your account. You have to ask!

Your biggest resource is ME (Check me out on Facebook Live!) Use me! Ask questions. Also, use your team! Being a part of a team is a great way to brainstorm ideas. The fundraising section of the website has a slew of resources including “How to raise $2,300 in 1 Month,” “101 Fundraising Ideas” and “A Step by Step Check List.”

And now that you can set up a Facebook Fundraiser to raise money for the 3-Day, it’s made fundraising even easier. I recently had a walker reach her minimum in under a WEEK just using a Facebook Fundraiser.

In 2019, we are asking people to #COMMIT3DAYS …What does commitment mean to you?

Committing to something is to not give up – even when it’s difficult. When I commit to something, I do it fully. Sure, there may be bumps along the way, but continuing to reach that goal despite the complications is what makes the reward at the end so sweet.

What is something 3-Dayers might not know about you?

I’m in a band! I am a singer/songwriter and have been writing songs since I was 6 years old. For the past 8 years I have been a member of the soulful-American duo The Local Strangers. In 2019 we are releasing our third full length studio album and I can’t wait! Back in 2012 my band-mate and I had the privilege of coming to the 3-Day and we performed in camp. That was a fun way to blend my two worlds. ?