Under the insole of the left shoe is a chip that communicates wirelessly to a tiny plug that you insert into your iPod. Your workout data is automatically stored onto the iPod and when you connect to the iPod to the computer, the info is sent directly to the special nike.com website where you can manage what you’ve done.

N.B. I did not include a link to this site because it’s all flash and pointless to send you there. You could probably find more thorough results in Google than on their site!

The site was so mesmerizing that the longer I watched the fireflies, the lighter my foot grew on the gas pedal. It wasn’t until another car came in the opposite direction, twice as fast, that I was brought back to the 9 o’clock hour on Monday, June 23, 2008.

Then again, I slipped out of the moment and drove on auto pilot. The fireflies brought on a memory of the summer between high school graduation and beginning college. My summer fling had blindfolded me and escorted me to a similar field, this one only grass, anticipating a stunned reaction when I was finally allowed to look around at where I stood. Again, hundreds of fireflies. This was my last summer of innocence, because while I had already found the tumor a few months prior, a few months later I would have to face it.

What is it that teenagers are so afraid of? Why won’t they talk to their parents? Why was I so ashamed of having a breast tumor that it took me a year to say anything, and then only by the pressure of my boyfriend? What causes a teenager to hide such a thing?

In high school health class, I remember receiving a miniature, blue-rubber breast with three “pea-sized growths” inside. We learned how to do a self-exam on the little blue breast, but I now know what was missing from the curriculum: what to do when you find one inside of you.  

And the importance of going to a follow up exam. Where is the guidance there? Finding the tumor is the easy part. Getting yourself to the doctor is the hard part.

Reminding yourself that everything is going to be just fine because it was fine last time, and even though the doctors feel the need to biopsy, that everything will work out just fine–this is the exhausting part….

The iPod nano with armband. I have an iPod mini which has served me well, but I’ve run out of space and it weighs down my shorts/pants when I go walking! At first I thought I’d be very sad to give it up, and I will a little bit because my parents gave it to me and I love them and miss them dearly, but this new nano? I won’t even feel it!

I’m even tempted to get the Nike+ now…heh heh heh

If I opt for the ultrasound-guided biopsy, it’s quick with zero recovery time. They’re in they’re out, ya know?

If I opt for the surgical biopsy, I’ve got some recovery time and probably a lot more pain.

But here’s the magic: if I go for the trendy biopsy (trendy?!), the ultrasound-guided biopsy, then when the tumor comes back benign, insurance will probably not pay for it to be removed because it’s not a threat. If I go for the out of date biopsy, the excisional (surgical) biopsy, then it’s a more traumatic recovery but it’s out which is what I want.

Either way, a biopsy must be done because it’s a “solid, palpable mass.”

But recently the training schedule is growing more demanding, suggesting 5 miles on weekdays, which according to my calculations will take approx. 1 hr. 20 minutes. I don’t mind putting in the time–in fact, it’s a nice break to either talk on the phone (at the moment, I am training alone) or unwind after a long day and listen to new songs I’ve downloaded to my iPod.

The troubling thing is that about 2 weeks ago a 19 yr old girl was killed in my town which has me really freaked out to walk at night.

The man knew this girl, Tanisha Tull, but all the same I’m not used to living in a town with a murder and it’s very unsettling.

Despite my discomfort, I will keep on training and always let people know where I am walking and when I expect to be home.

These are the milestones I have reached so far:

• read my handbook
• set up my personal page
• wrote an email for donations
• received my first donation
• set up a team
• visited the 3 Day shop

None of these are all that amazing, but it was incredibly satisfying getting to apply these stickers to my card.

My team members are struggling to raise their $90 registration fees, so right now I am the only member of team Meet Me Halfway. I really believe it is up to them to come up with the $90 and to prioritize their spending if they really want to participate. However, when it comes time to fundraise I do believe we’re all in it together–that’s something that joining a sorority (ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA!!) certainly taught me during my college years. So although nobody is registered yet, saving $90 might take some time and time is not on our sides for much longer when it comes to training.

To get my potential teammates motivated, I have encouraged them to contact me for a training schedule that is provided to walkers when they officially register with the 3 Day. There are two schedules provided: a 24 week schedule and a 16 week schedule. I am doing the 24 week schedule not only because the walk is 23 weeks away, but because I also find that walking is a great way to be active and fit for bathing suit season! Whatever motivates ya, right?