2013 will be the final year for the Tampa Bay 60-mile walk. It will be my fifth walk, and the final Tampa Bay event.

With a recent health scare – I’m fine, it just shook me up, and a friend unable to join me for this one as a crew member, I have decided to walk it “alone”. 

At first, I didn’t want to walk it alone, then I realized something.  I’ve trained alone for 4 other walks.  Hours on the sidewalks of my community and surrounding neighborhoods, through parking garages, through University buildings (looking for a potty – LOL), over bridges, and through shopping centers.  So, alone can be good.  Time to reflect and create… and text and update FB statuses…thank you Smart phones.

My next thought was the 2008 Tampa Bay event, where I met a fabulous bunch of ladies and they walked with me for the entire event.

Then, I begin thinking of the John Steigenberger’s, the Dylan Bouterse’s, and all the others who are there year after year that I have become friends with by walking along side, talking with, and communicating with them on Facebook and such.

 

(The smiley faces on these packs are a sign that we are part of a Facebook community. A way to show we are NOT alone.)

Oh, don’t forget all the friends and family who pray me through the event.  And all the friends who support me by donating to the cause to allow me to be eligible to walk this event.

My goal this year, is to “Power Through” each day’s mileage. Get to Home base camp as soon as possible and cheer all the others on as they cross that daily finish line.  To talk to people, hear their stories, and learn what I can. And let them know they too are NOT ALONE.

When I had my scare a couple of weeks ago, I realized, even though I am still a huge proponent of Attention to Prevention, even though we can prevent 50+% of the top 4 degenerative diseases… there will still be a need for a cure.  And I want to protect future generations from the trauma my mother endured, and the fear I felt two weeks ago.

Now to focus on 70 days of training and to increase the discipline in my nutrition to allow me to recover, mostly, pain free.

If you would like to donate toward my event, you can do so here: http://the3day.org/goto/TessBrennan

This disease does not discriminate, neither does Susan G Komen.  Their efforts have been of great assistance to my mother and my sister.  Thank you, Susan G Komen.