Tips for 3-Day First Timers from 3-Day Past Participants

Whether it’s your first 3-Day or your thirtieth, there’s a bunch of small ways that you can greatly enhance experience on the 3-Day. We polled our Facebook community to find out their top tips before our Philadelphia 3-Day this weekend, and we think new 3-Dayers will find these especially helpful. Let’s hear what they have to say!

“Change socks at lunch every day! Enjoy the walk and meet new people while listening to their inspiring stories.” – Laura Miehls

“Walk at the same pace you train. If you are on the route all day – awesome! And if you are back to camp by 1:00, awesome! You do you!” – Melissa Polma Loder (*Note below*)

“Take the leap and meet three people every day. The stories will be humbling and some friendships life-long.” – Chris Lynn Reed

“Moleskin is your friend! And don’t be afraid to visit the Medical Tent. There are amazing people working there!” – Micki Mathiesen

“It’s not a race, it’s a walk… enjoy the time with your fellow walkers, everyone has a story. Remember, even if you are a solo walker, you are never alone in the pink bubble.” -Tiffany Thomas

“Have a blast! Journal. It will be fun to look back. Be ready for amazing memories to be made and your heart to grow!” -Tara Anne Hart

“Listen to your body and do what’s best for you. There is no right or wrong (well, within reason and as long as you are observing the three Rs); so don’t hesitate to make the event everything you’d like it to be.” -Anne Moss

“Your Route Safety crew loves to dance while we wait with you for traffic lights to change! Oh and we love hugs and high-fives too!

“But, listen to them as well. We know where the bad intersections are and are there to keep you safe. We step out into the streets before you do. Help us keep safe as well.

“And above all have a good time. Laugh, cry, hug, dance, reflect, remember.” – Kristian Kauker

“Talk to strangers and take candy from strangers. Do what your mother told you NOT to do!” -Joanne Gregory

“Don’t be in rush. Go slow and enjoy all the love and support.” – Pam Ater

NOW – if you’re a 3-Day veteran what would you add? 3-Day first timers; any questions for us? We can’t wait to see you in Dallas/Fort Worth or San Diego this year, or next year!

Note: All pit stops have designated opening and closing hours, timed to keep you moving along the route at a safe pace and to ensure that you complete your walking while it is still light out. If you reach a pit stop before it opens, you will be asked to stop and wait. If you reach a pit stop after it closes, you will be transported to the lunch stop (or camp, if you have already passed the lunch stop). A “caboose” will be following the last walker on the route. If you are falling behind schedule, you will be given the option to take a sweep van to the next pit stop if you cannot increase your pace. Read more about cabooses, sweeps and route hours on our blog.

Planning the Perfect 3-Day Training Walk

Summer is a great time to kick your training into high gear, and with our 2018 3-Day season just around the corner, your training walks are likely getting longer and longer. Whether you’re walking on your own, using our 3-Day training apps, or joining an official training walk leader to train, now is the time!

To help you make the most of your next training walk, we asked Coach Liz – an experienced training walk leader – to give us her tips and tricks for planning the best training walk possible. Honed from years of experience, here’s how she gets it done…

When planning a route, I always have two web browser windows open: the Miler Meter pedometer to map our the miles and Google Maps to look for shade and places to stop and take a break.

I usually find a place to start on Google Maps that is open early and has sufficient parking, which you can see on Google. For example, Safeway at McQueen and Ray Road (Point A on the map below). Then I look for a grocery store, fast food restaurant, convenience store or coffee shop that is somewhere close for an end spot (Point B).

Then I start mapping on pedometer to plan about 3-4 miles through the city streets and housing areas to get from point A to point B. This route is an out and back (3 miles out and turn around and reverse back to start). I make sure the route has some shade and sidewalks. And, whenever I can I try not to have us facing the sun as the day or route gets later and longer. That’s a pro tip for you!

I put it all together with turn by turn directions that I hand out, so everyone knows the route. We don’t want anyone getting lost!

As the training walks get longer, I plan longer walks with stops every 3-4 miles. I will also plan some walks with loops so if someone needs to bow out or needs to stop they can.

We always make sure to take time to stretch before and at our “pit stops” on the training walks!

When we get to the longer walks, particularly on the 15+ miles back to back, we get our local crew or our families to come out and provide “mock pit stops.” It really helps the new first time walkers start to get a feel for the 3-Day, and it makes the walks so much more fun! Plus, it helps our families and communities get more involved in the 3-Day.

Also, on any walk that is more than 13 miles we also build in a lunch stop. I remind all our walkers to be sure to bring a change of socks and money for lunch.

And of course, we train on all terrains, to make sure the walkers are prepared for the whole route. In the photo below, we added some hill training by walking to the top of Hayden Butte (it is only a 0.7 mile walk but the elevation gain is 278 feet!)

We hope these tips help you and your fellow 3-Day participants plan some amazing training walks! See you all soon!

Making the Most of the 3-Day Training Apps

Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen 3day walk in Novi, Michigan on August 4, 2017.

Walking 60 miles is no small feat, and it certainly takes training! Everyone prepares in different ways, but one easy way to start and track your training is with our 3-Day training apps. With training plans for both 24 and 16 weeks out from each of our 2018 3-Days, the apps make it simple to get 60-mile ready!

The features of the 3-Day App include:

Weekly training tips
Daily mileage goals
Track your distance and pace with each workout, with built-in GPS*
See your walk on a map
Select your own music and skip tracks without leaving the app
And more!

3Day_2017_MI_MD-610

If you haven’t started using it yet, now is the time! All you have to do is open the Apple App Store to buy and download apps. Search for “Susan G. Komen 3-Day” and choose the 24-week or 16-week version of the app. Follow on-screen instructions, and for just $2.99 the app will be all yours to explore and use!

Have any more questions? We have answers!

How do I see my mileage goal for the day?

Tap the “Walk” icon, then scroll left or right to select the day (i.e., Week 22, Day 5) to view the mileage goal for the day.

To mark your walk complete, all you have to do is tap the “Walk” icon again, then scroll left or right to select the day (i.e., Week 22, Day 5). Double tap the day to mark the mileage goal for the day as complete. Great job!

How do I see my weekly training tips?

Tap the “Walk” icon, then scroll left or right to select the day (EX: Week 22, Day 5) and tap the “Tips” button to see the walking tip for that day. They’re a great way to stay motivated and excited as your training kicks into high gear!

Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen 3day walk in Novi, Michigan on August 4, 2017.

How do I track the distance and pace of my walk?

Tap the “Walk” icon, then scroll left or right to select the day (EX: Week 22, Day 5). Once you’ve selected the day and mileage you’d like to walk, tap “GO!” A countdown will begin. If you’ve selected a specific playlist, music will also start playing then to get you in the walking mood. As you walk, your distance and pace will be calculated. This will help you make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard, and to see how your pace changes throughout your walk.

How do I share my workouts on social media?

To share workout information on Facebook and/or Twitter, tap the “Settings” icon from the main page, then tap “Sharing.” You’ll get to choose options for what platform you want to share on! If you’re part of our 3-Day Social Stars community, don’t forget to use #3daysocialstars and #sponsored when you share to earn points for the month!

How do I select which music to play while I’m walking with the app?

Great tunes help a walk go by quicker and easier! Just tap the “Settings” icon, then “Music.” You can choose from playlists, shuffle songs and other options to be the soundtrack to your training. Then, tap “Music” on the main screen, and choose which playlist you’d like to hear during your walk.

What do I do if I start using the app after the training program has already begun for my 3-Day?

Don’t worry! You can advance to the current weekly training schedule by tapping “Choose Event” from the home screen and then “Walk.” A question will pop up, asking you if you want to catch up. Just choose that, and get walking!

How do I see stretching tips?

Yes, we even have these on the app too! From the Home screen, tap “Walk.” Next to the “Go” button, tap “Stretch.” You should know that the stretching program is a supplementary program available in the app store for a $1.99 additional fee. But, it’s worth it to keep your muscles fresh and loose!

Download the app in the Apple App Store now! Then, share your progress with us on social media. Good luck!

Note: Please keep in mind that the app is only available in the Apple App Store, not available for Android phones. If you don’t have an iPhone, or don’t want to purchase the app, you can find your 24-week or 16-week suggested training program at The3Day.org/Training.

The 3-Day Blog

Tag Archives: training walks

Planning the Perfect 3-Day Training Walk

Making the Most of the 3-Day Training Apps