Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a lovely Easter, if you celebrate it! (If not I hope you enjoyed an awesome weekend!) I wanted to take the chance in this diary for Fitness Monday to write a little bit about a cause close to my heart. It’s also about why my Mom and I choose to walk 50 miles over three days every summer.
Just over five years ago, my Mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It was a scary time for my family. During a regular visit to her doctor, she off-handedly mentioned that she felt like she was slipping on the stairs at work. She said it felt like there was a puddle or something, and that she would feel like she was going to lose her balance.
It didn’t even make her grab the railing.
She knew that nobody else would have noticed it, and that she never actually slipped.
It just felt weird.
So my Mom’s doctor sent her to the hospital for an MRI, just to be safe. When it came back there were spots on it. The doctor diagnosed her with MS, and started her on medicine- a shot that she would have to take every single day, until they came up with something better. More than five years later, she’s still giving herself a shot. She rotates between her arms, legs, lower abdomen, and lower back.
This is what makes me walk.
Three months after that first MRI, she was sent into Boston for another. It came back with no changes. From what I’m told, the doctors don’t know if it’s actually the medicine that’s keeping it that way, or she’s just lucky. Every six months she needs to go into Boston for tests. I’ve actually been to one of her appointments with her. They do all these neurological tests- touching her nose with her eyes closed, the doctor pinching different toes and she has to tell which, things like that.
This is why we walk.
Every year she needs to have another MRI, and wait for the call that nothing has changed. She’s been lucky every single year since she’s been diagnosed.
This is why my family and I walk.
We’ve come to find out that she could have been diagnosed with MS more than 10 years earlier. When I was a kid, I remember her going to the doctor for something to do with one of her eyes. The actual name of the problem escapes me at the moment, and my Mom is in bed, but come to find out that this is a telltale sign of MS. Of course ten years ago, we didn’t know what we know now.
This is why my family chooses to volunteer for the MS Challenge Walk.
My Mom is one of the lucky few. She is blessed to only have a very mild form of multiple sclerosis. Though she has to give herself that dreaded shot every single day, she’s blessed that she can walk. She’s lucky to be in great shape, have awesome balance, and be able to do basically anything she wants.
We got involved with the MS Challenge Walk almost four years ago. It was just my Mom and I the first year. Looking back, it was a pretty brave thing to do. We raised a little over $3,000 between the two of us, and headed down to Cape Cod for a three day adventure. We were absolutely floored by the experience. It’s really hard to put into words here, but we met a lot of great people, got a lot of blisters, and left with our hearts lifted and a huge drive to make it back there the next year.
Teams are a really cool part of the Walk. Groups get together walking for a sister, mom, friend, or co-worker. We came up with Sue’s Soldiers, and have been going with that ever since.
Now, since the days are getting longer and warmer, it’s about time to start training for the Walk. I’m not going to lie, the first year I totally did not train. We got through all 50 miles, but it was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve done. Come to find out, if you actually train, it makes things a lot easier! Here are a few things I’ve learned after these past couple years, and hopefully it can get you guys motivated to do charity walks, or even just a reason to get out of the house:
- Shoes! And socks! What’s on your feet makes a huge difference, trust me! If you’re going to be walking, get a good pair of walking shoes. I know I’ve seen in other Fitness Monday threads that there are stores with lovely staffs that watch you walk, and help you find the right shoe. This is more than worth it! (Also, if you’re doing a charity walk they’ll probably give you a discount!)
I also absolutely love thick cushy socks. I suggest that if you’re going to be walking more than ten miles, slather on some Vaseline before you put your socks on. It sounds disgusting, but blisters are caused by something rubbing against your skin, and that Vaseline can be a life-saver. You can also use Bodi-Glide or baby powder.
- Of course, comfortable clothing also helps. I usually wear some spandex under a pair of running shorts and a T shirt when I go for a long walk. (The Body-Glide or baby powder can also be a help here, too!) I’m a big fan of cotton so I don’t go for the more "breathable" fabrics, but if you think they would help, try them out!
- Take it easy, and work your way up in mileage. I think the first time I actually started training we did a 10-mile walk around the Charles River in Boston.
Another team we know (after seeing it on a TV show) decided to walk all of the streets in our city. Even just to take the dog for a walk is a great reason to get out of the house.
Find walking/running/bike trails that are somewhat in your area. Even walking with my Mom around our city we get to look at the designs of houses (Last years walk was how we decided what color to paint the house) or just enjoy different landscapes. Having a chance to walk on the Cape gives us a chance to realize how beautiful it is.
If you’re on your own, pick up an mp3 player, and get lost in your favorite music.
- This last one is for the ladies! Please, if you plan on walking more than ten miles, do not have your toenails painted! (I learned this the hard way last summer!) On Day 2, around the 30-something mile mark, my two big toes were killing me. Of course they were painted a lovely "haute chocolate" so I couldn’t see what was going on underneath. Two weeks after the walk, they still hurt. I finally took off the polish, and they were black. It’s been almost a year now and my poor little toes are still recovering...thank God they didn’t fall off! ;)
That’s all I have in me, and I hope enjoyed my somewhat long ramble of a diary. I’ll try to be around for the comments and any questions, and I’m sure I’ll think of other silly little tricks I’ve learned. Hopefully, this will motivate some of you to do some charity walks/runs/bike rides!
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