National Walk at Lunch Day

I found out from my Twitter friends today that it was National Walk at Lunch Day. So, at lunch I walked all around Third Street and really enjoyed it. In total, I walked half a mile, which for me equaled 1,696 steps. Luckily the weather held out for me so I didn't get rained on, even though it rained off and on all day.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to point out something pretty cool. In that first paragraph, note that I said I walked all around Third Street and really enjoyed it. If you have known me even for the last five years, you will know that I used to hate walking. I looked at it as a chore that was frustrating and uncomfortable (yes, that's an unfortunate affect of my CMS). But now, I look for ways to walk to the places I need to go, rather than how I can avoid it. It's great and I don't feel ruled by my CMS anymore!

April 28 Summary:
Miles walked: 1/2 of a mile at lunch, plus some more throughout the day
Rests: Once during lunch walk
Where: Around Third Street
Weather: A little cold, sunny, with big rain clouds threatening
Walking partner: John Mayer (iPod)

Pedometer!

I finally bought myself a pedometer today! So now I can actually go walking somewhere other than a track and know how far I walked! I bought it at a perfect time too because I was extremely skeptical that the 1 Mile Walk with Leslie Sanone was actually one mile. So, I set it to track distance, and guess what. It was most definitely NOT a mile! I had to sit out for a few minutes (just 2) but my pedometer still read .36 of a mile. Not that the pedometer is 100% accurate (it did cost only $14) but I highly doubt that sitting out for two minutes really affected it that much. So, sorry Leslie, I don't believe you!















But, it was still a good workout. Janna joined me today and even she admitted it 13 minutes into it that it was harder than she thought. Still, not my choice of workout.

I wish it would stop raining so I can go back outside!

April 27 Summary:
Miles walked: .36 of a mile
Rests: one, with 6 minutes to go, and rested 2 minutes
Where: Inside my apartment
Weather: Outside, rainy and cold. Inside, dry.
Walking partner: Leslie Sanone (Exercise TV) and Janna

A New Walking Buddy!

I did my daily walk with a new partner today. Her name is Leslie Santone and she is the "creator" of the Walk at Home program. And the good news? We apparently walked a mile!

So if that first paragraph sounds made up, it partially is. It was really rainy and not such great outdoor walking weather. I was going to walk around the Community Center track, but it's closed on Mondays, so that was out. So, after dinner I browsed the workouts on Exercise TV and found the 1 Mile Walk and the 2 Mile Walk, both lead by Leslie Santone.

I laughed that there was a workout for exactly what I'm trying to accomplish, and laughed some more when she said we'd be walking to music and adding little moves in to add to our "workout." Then, I laughed some more as she added leg kicks and side steps. But, then it was actually a good workout! The video was about 20 minutes and I walked for most of it. We started off walking slowly and it gained intensity as the music's tempo increased. I felt ridiculous but it really worked.

With about 3 minutes to go, she told me she had a really big surprise for "me": I walked a mile! I definitely don't think that's true, but still had fun doing it and found a good replacement for an outside walk.

This gross weather:















Caused me to check this out:




April 26 Summary:
Miles walked: 1 mile (?)
Rests: Just paused the video a few times.
Where: Inside my apartment
Weather: Outside, rainy and cold. Inside, dry.
Walking partner: Leslie Santone (Exercise TV)

WOOHOO!

WOOHOO is the best way for me to describe how my walk went today. I walked 2 1/2 laps today without resting! I walked the track at WVMC again and it was a great day for a walk. Nice and sunny, not too warm, not too cold. There was also a really cute older couple walking on the track. He had his cane and held her hand and it was just so sweet. I hope Josh and I are still walking like that when we are old and wrinkly!

I think I just might meet my goal! How about three laps without resting next?

April 25 Summary:

Miles walked: 1
Rests: ONLY 1 time, after 2 1/2 laps!
When: 2:33 pm to 3:06 pm
Where: Willamette Valley Medical Center public track
Weather: Sunny, mid 60s, slight breeze
Walking partner: This American Life podcast on iPod (listened to this fascinating program about automakers like GM and how corrupt some of the unions used to be and how that affects the production of cars. It's called NUMMI and aired on March 28 if you want to find it on their website).

Yoga does the body good!

No walking again today but I did go to Vinyasa at Yogis this morning. I really love yoga because it relaxes me and give me a good workout. We did another sun salute flow and while I was really tired when I got there, I still completed about a quarter of the salutes without modifications or resting, and when I got tired Joan showed me how to modify the poses and I did the rest of them without much resting at all! It was great because there was no way I could have done them all without modifications (I just did them on my knees when the position allowed) but it was still a good workout. It also helped my pride too :).

I was proud of myself for asking Joan for modifications in front of the class because I am still getting over that 'ego' thing, where I feel a bit self conscious when I have to ask for help. It's hard because I don't look like I have "anything wrong with me," so I feel weird when someone hears me say how I get tired or sees me sit down after just a few salutes. I almost feel like they think I am lazy, or wimpy, when that is definitely not the case. I hate that I am not over that yet and I am 24 years old! I suppose that's a lifelong battle I'll just have to work on. I think though, that no matter what or how much anyone tells you, it's hard to not care what other people think.

So now that you know my insecurity, I am curious what other people are insecure about when it comes to workouts. Also, do you have any tricks or advice for getting over it and not letting it bother you?

Benefits of Walking

I stumbled upon this great article about the benefits of walking. Sometimes I think that walking just a mile per day isn't a lot, but when I read this, I realized that in my quest to complete this challenge, not only am I strengthening my legs, but I am also benefiting my whole body.

Walking and health

Published by Bupa's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, April 2008

This article looks at the benefits of walking, outlining the practical as well as health advantages.

Walking can help you to reach the recommended minimum of at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five days a week. Regular walking protects you against a range of illnesses and can also be an efficient way to travel. You can easily build walks into a busy lifestyle without having to set aside time for exercise.

A great way to travel

Walking is a good means of transport because it's:

• convenient - it's handy for getting you from one place to another
• free - walk to your destination and you can stop worrying about the price of petrol, parking and fares
• predictable - you know how fast you can walk so you are in control of your journey times
• stress-free - if you can walk some or all of the way to work, you can forget about late buses and trains, and other unwelcome journey interruptions
• good for the environment - getting out of your car and onto your feet will reduce pollution and road congestion
• sociable - you can stop and chat to your friends and neighbours, which you can't do when you are in your car
• safe - as long as you don't walk alone at night and take care crossing roads

A good form of exercise

Walking is a great way to meet the recommended target of at least 30 minutes moderate exercise, five times a week. Get into the habit of walking and you will reap the health rewards now and in the future.

Boost your fitness

Exercise that raises your heart rate is aerobic exercise and helps you to get fitter. This means your body gets better at using oxygen so you can be more active without getting tired. Brisk walking that raises your heart rate and makes you warm and a bit breathless is a great example of aerobic exercise.

Stay in shape

If you want to lose excess weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. You need to lose about 3,500 calories in order to lose 0.5kg of fat. In the average 60kg person, brisk walking - this is about 6.4km per hour (4 miles per hour) - for half an hour uses up around 150 calories.

For most people, a healthy aim is to achieve a calorie deficit of 500 per day (3,500 a week) for a weight loss of around 0.5kg a week, by reducing food intake and exercising. But even without changing your diet, if you start walking just over 3km (2 miles) a day, you will achieve a calorie deficit of 150 a day and could lose around 0.5kg every three weeks.

Feel happier

Getting enough exercise improves your mood, reduces stress and anxiety and builds self-esteem. So walking to work could help you start the day feeling calmer and happier.

Improve your brain power

As you get older, the risk of developing confusion, dementia and Alzheimer's disease increases. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of this.

It's not just older people whose brains are boosted - walking to school might also improve academic performance in children.

Feel full of energy

You might worry that walking every day will leave you exhausted. Although you may feel a bit more tired in the first week or two, people who exercise regularly generally feel they have more energy than inactive people.

Sleep well

Regular physical activity promotes better sleep. An after-dinner stroll might help you wind down for bed. However, try to avoid strenuous exercise within four hours of going to bed if you suffer from insomnia, because this could actually make you more alert.

Experience better back health

Walking can help prevent back pain and alleviate it if it's already a problem for you.

Reduce joint pain

For your joints to work at their best, you need to use them regularly. Regular walking gives your knee joints a good work-out and prevents your thigh muscles from becoming weak. This can also help to keep your bones strong. Leading a generally active lifestyle, including walking, can help protect against osteoarthritis - painful inflammation of joints.

Walking is an excellent choice of exercise if you already suffer from arthritis problems or if you have osteoporosis (weak bones), because it doesn't put a lot of impact on your joints.

Walking and your future health

As well as keeping you fit and in good shape, staying active will help you prevent a whole range of health problems in the future. Meeting recommended physical activity targets by walking reduces your risk of:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• coronary heart disease (which can lead to angina, heart attack or stroke)
• type 2 diabetes
• certain types of cancer, especially colon, breast and lung cancer
• osteoporosis (weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, strengthens bones)

Key points

• Walking can be a free, easy and practical way to travel.
• Almost anyone can walk.
• Regular walking can improve your current health.
• Regular walking can help safeguard your health in the future.

ALSO, I know it's been a few days since I have posted, but I promise I haven't forgotten about the challenge. The last five days or so have been busy, so I haven't had time to do much walking. On Sunday I did run around with 16 middle school students at youth group, so I feel like that can take place of a good walk. On Monday I took a break because I had a massage after work and just felt like being a bum afterward. Yesterday, however, I decided to take advantage of my parents' elliptical and avoid the cold weather, and today I had some church stuff going on so I didn't have a chance. And the rest of the week is just as bad. Tomorrow I am going to a Blazer playoff game and Friday we are going to hang out with some friends. So, it looks like it will be Saturday before I can get back to my normal routine.

Keep reading though, I'll be back soon!

Crop Walk 2010

Just a few weeks into my challenge, I am going to put my walking to another good use - the 2010 Crop Walk for my church (First Presbyterian Church, McMinnville). It is Sunday, May 2 and is a fundraiser for Church World Service, a cooperative ministry that provides disaster relief and help to many poor communities all over the globe to help them become self-sustaining. It addresses the root cause of poverty and powerlessness in ways such as helping women in Guatemala grow and maintain gardens that they can grow many fruits and vegetables in to help feed their families and to sell at markets. Instead of just giving them food, the ministry gives them a way to grow it themselves so they can continue to eat.

Our church participates every year and it's organized mostly by a really sweet man at our church, Chuck. When he asked if I would participate, I said I wouldn't be able to do it because I can't walk very far. But, he suggested I walk with him, and said if he can do it, I can do it. So, I said yes (Chuck broke his hip I think, and I think walking long distances is hard - so, it just goes to show me that even though walking is really hard for me, it is also a struggle for many other people).

Anyway, the Crop Walk is a fundraising walk, and while you don't pledge money per mile or anything like that, I do need to get sponsors to help me meet my goal. I have decided I'd like to raise $250, which in the organization will help provide 25 mosquito nets that can be hung over childrens' beds to keep away malaria and dengue fever-carrying insects.

So, I'd like your help! Any amount matters, and to get it kicked off, I donated $25 to my own cause. The walk is Sunday, May 2, so I have two weeks to raise $250. I really mean it when I say any amount matters, because if just 10 of you donate $10, then we already have $100, and with my $25 donation, we'd already be halfway there!

For anyone who donates by then, I'll wear a t-shirt with all of your names on it. And of course I'll post pictures on my blog as well.

To make it easy to donate, you can do it through the website. Just click here and fill in my name (Kelly Copeland) in the blank spot. It will show my name and you can donate whatever amount you want. There's even a cool thermometer goal graph that updates after each donation.

I think the site will e-mail me to let me know you've donated, but just in case, I'd love it if you commented on this post so I know to add your name to my shirt.

I am really excited about this, and proud that I have enough confidence from my challenge to get out and do this! I think I might even put the challenge name on my shirt so it would list you all as my supporters of this too. What do you all think?

Vinyasa at Yogis!

Today instead of walking I went to Yogis for Vinyasa yoga with Joan. For about a year and a half I was attending classes regularly, but the last few months I got too busy, then I was trying to save money for the wedding, and then I discovered the world of Exercise TV. Nevertheless, a 10 minute workout with Nicole Stewart or Stephanie Vitorino just doesn't replace an actual yoga class, especially because Joan Sterling, who I love, doesn't teach exercise tv yoga. The Vinyasa class is incredibly difficult, as we do sun salutes for about the first 45 minutes to an hour of class. I figured if I am trying to strengthen my legs, what better than a continuous flow of warrior 2, triangle, plank, side plank, runner's lunge, down dog and forward fold? All of those are intense poses, and to do one after the other for an extended period of time is REALLY hard. But, I can get through the class with some rest periods and I'm fine.

I also plan to walk Nicole's dog China today, so that will add maybe an extra half mile to my day. Not so bad for a Saturday!

Saturday, April 17 Summary

Yoga Class: 90 minute Vinyasa yoga class at Yogis Studio

Also, I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, but I did work out! I tried Bootylicious Buns again in the morning and was able to get through all of it! And this might be gross, but I can't believe how sweaty I got! It was an INTENSE 10 minutes and a really good way to start the day.

I also walked around the hospital track after work, but rain forced me to stop after 2 laps. It was probably a good thing though, because I was exhausted from the week and didn't really want to anyway. But, I got a half mile in. Not bad!

Friday, April 16 Summary

Miles walked: 1/2 (with maybe a 1/4 mile worth of walking at work)
Rests: 1, after 1 1/2 laps
When: 4:30-4:45, 15 minutes
Where: Willamette Valley Medical Center public track
Weather: Cloud, windy, drizzly
Walking partner: iPod and This American Life Podcast

Other: 10 minute Bootylicious Buns on Exercise TV

Walkin' with my Fubby

No, that headline is not a typo. :) In anticipation for Josh and I's wedding, which is now about 64 days away, I like calling him Fusband and Fubby (future husband, future hubby. Get it?) Anyway, to the challenge.

Today I started off my April 15 efforts to complete my challenge with some good heart racing, thigh burning, sweaty, Bootylicious Buns 2! Janna and I joined Stephanie Viterino to sculpt our booties. I must say, while the goal of the 12 minute workout is to shape our booties, I certainly feel it way more in my legs than I do in my booty. Maybe I'm doing it wrong? Nevertheless, it's a good workout! I really recommend Exercise TV to anyone who wants to workout but who is either broke, nervous to go to a gym, or busy. It has great 10, 20 and 30 minute (and longer) work outs and is super fun. I do one just about every morning.

Now, on to the walk. Fubby (Josh) joined me on my walk around the WVMC track today, and it was great. We held hands and talked the whole time. It was nice because I think in the last 4 days we have only seen each other for a few hours. I am proud to say that today I walked two laps again before resting, and while we had to leave before I could do a fourth, I didn't have to rest long before we were up and walking a third! It felt good to have him with me and I appreciated his support. He really is the best. :)

p.s. I have pictures because it was such a beautiful day, but blogger is being temperamental and won't let me upload any...so, check back and I'll update with pics later.

SUMMARY:

Miles walked: 3/4 (approximately)
Rests: 1, after the second lap
When: 6-6:25 pm, 25 minutes
Where: Willamette Valley Medical Center public track
Weather: Sunny, mid 60s, slight breeze
Walking partner: Fubby Josh

April 13: Solo Walk

Today I walked another mile! I returned to the Willamette Valley Medical Center track by myself and really enjoyed it. It was another beautiful day (although quite windy) and there really was no excuse NOT to go walking!

So while I walked a mile again today, I had to rest more than yesterday. This time, I only made it 1 1/2 laps before I had to sit, and then I had to sit after every consecutive lap. So, it wasn't as good as it was yesterday, but I still did it.

One thing I need to keep in mind is that while I couldn't do what I did yesterday, it was still beneficial and I still walked a mile. I have found that to be the biggest mental obstacle I have. I get discouraged when I can't walk the same distance as I did the day before, but really I need to get past that. There are so many factors throughout the day that affect how I feel and how far I can walk, and I can never control them so it's the same every day. Things like what I ate and when, how much I slept the night before, how stressful the day was, what workout I did in the morning, how much did I rest before I started walking, and on and on. So really, I need to stop being discouraged when I can't walk the exact same distance without resting two days in a row. The fact that I walked another mile is still great and it means my goal isn't too far away!

So, in summary:
Miles walked: 1 (approximately)
Rests: 3 (once after 1 1/2 laps, second after 2 1/2 laps, third after 3 1/2 laps)
When: 40 minutes (4:40 to 5:30)
Where: Willamette Valley Medical Center public track
Weather: Sunny, mid 60s, wind
Walking partner: iPod (This American Life podcast)

*Note: Even though Scott says it is, and so does the hospital web site, for some reason it just doesn't seem long enough to be a 1/4 mile track! So I walked the very perimeter. :)

Back At It!

Well, today I felt better and decided I had to take advantage of the unexpected beautiful weather we had. I think I may have kicked my ear infection so I called my mom and we went for a walk on the walking track behind the Willamette Valley Medical Center. They have a nice cushion-y track behind the facility for staff (and the public) to use, and we took advantage of it. It was gorgeous! Not only was it warm, but there was just enough of a breeze, and we got to take in all of the incredible clouds around us. Half of the sky was full of beautiful white fluffy clouds, and the the other half was shrouded in HUGE dark, ominous looking gray clouds. The contrast was incredible, and because the rain never came, it made for a beautiful walk.

The track is really cool and is a great place for me to walk because there are benches at either side of the path, which is in a regular track shape, but is only 1/8 of a mile. Today I walked 4 laps, which equals about half a mile. It was a bit difficult though because not only am I getting over my ear infection and virus, but I also worked through lunch, ran to the bank and then home for only a second to change before I picked mom up. So, I didn't get to really rest at all. So I walked two laps (1/4 mile) before we had to rest. Then we rested on a bench, talked wedding, walked another lap, rested and continued the wedding talk and then walked a final lap. I know that if I had rested a bit before starting that I could have walked much further. Nevertheless, it was a good workout!

I am definitely going to go back to take advantage of the trail. It is the perfect set up, and if I am ever walking alone I can just bring my ipod and know that I am walking in a safe, open area. I definitely recommend it.

Happy walking! Hopefully the weather will stay nice this week so I can make up for the three days I missed.

NOTE: Scott Schieber brought to my attention that it's a quarter mile track, not the 1/8 of a mile like I thought! It even says it on the hospital's web site, and I'm not sure how I missed that. So, I walked a mile today! I rested twice, but I still did it!

Speed Bump!

Well, just a few days into my challenge, and I've already hit a speed bump. I have an ear infection! Not only do I feel tired and run down, but my balance is off, and I feel dizzy. So I already had to abandon my goal of going to Vinyasa yoga this morning.

Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow so I can work out on the elliptical or go for a walk. It's so early in my challenge, not to mention we are having such nice weather that I feel bad having to put off exercising.

So, hopefully this infection will go away soon and I can get to walking!

Day One

And we're out of the gate! Today I started the challenge with my mom Leslie, fusband (future husband) Josh and roommate Janna at the track by Duniway and Newby. We were pleasantly surprised by the sun, and although it was windy and quite chilly, we were lucky to have no rain!

I wasn't feeling that great because of a likely ear infection, but the lack of precipitation really motivated me to start, as did my blog and you, my followers! So I stuffed my ears with cotton to keep the cold wind out, tied my new Nikes and we drove over to the track.

There were other walkers there when we got there, but other than that we had the track to ourselves. I had absolutely no idea how far I could walk, but I am pleased to say that on my first day I could walk 1 3/4 laps (4 laps is a mile)! We kept our pace pretty steady, not too fast, and by the time I got to that last quarter of the track, I was getting pretty tired. But, overall I am pleased to know that on a cold, windy April evening, after a long day at work and even being slightly sick, that I can walk almost half a mile!

I have to admit, this is not scientific in any way. We started at a random place on the track and when we stopped, we estimated we were 3/4 of the way around the track. So while I don't know EXACTLY how far I walked, I know it was a little less than half way to my goal. And that's good enough for me! I'm not really concerned about inches and a few feet.

Today was really just an experimental day anyway.

I also think I am going to post what I plan to do in the next few days, that way I can't back out of it just because I want to sleep in, or finish watching a marathon of America's Next Top Model. :)

UP NEXT:
Saturday: 10 am Vinyasa at Yogis
Sunday: Long walk, weather permitting (if not, mom and dad's elliptical)

Here are some pictures:

Before our walk. Not sure why Josh is scowling.

Super excited to get started!

Resting after I got tired...

My walking group (by the modular classrooms - pretty, I know!)

Pumped Up!

Despite the likely chance of rain, I am SO excited to start my challenge today. I have new shoes, walking buddies and I can't wait to see how my first day goes! I plan on walking later this evening, possibly after an early dinner. If you'd like to walk with me, just comment on this story or e-mail me. Otherwise, expect an update later tonight.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

I haven't even officially started my challenge and I am already dreading this. It is so rainy and gross outside that the idea of walking outside seems very unpleasant. I really hope it stops raining soon!

What IS Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome, Anyway?

I thought this might be a good time to explain what CMS is, so you have an idea of why this is a big challenge for me.

CMS is a form of muscular dystrophy, and while I don't have a severe form, it can be life-threatening for some people. It is also genetic, so there is some form of it passed down through generations. My parents don't have the symptoms, but they do both have the defective gene, causing it to manifest itself in me and my brother, Corey.

The symptoms of CMS manifest themselves in the form of muscle weakness. This includes all muscles, including legs, arms, hands, feet, eyes, mouth, throat, etc., but the most disruptive (at least for me) is the leg weakness and the mouth weakness. That might sound weird, the mouth part, but have you ever had to smile so much your face hurt? Well, that's what happens to me, only my face gets to the point where it's almost paralyzed, and that does NOT make for pretty pictures. Believe me.

CMS is caused by a genetic flaw at the neuromuscular junction, where the nerves and muscle cells communicate. So, basically, my muscles just don't get the message that they need to continue working. My symptoms are helped by periods of rest, and to tell you the truth, I actually don't know why the resting helps. CMS is a very rare disorder, affecting only 1 in one million people. Not a lot is known about it, as you will find if you ever decide to Google it, and by the fact that even though I've lived with it my whole life, I know very little about it.

Now that you know what it is, I feel I must say something about what it's like living with CMS. As an adult, it really isn't a big inconvenience for me. I have gotten used to it, and so have my friends and family, so I have been able to arrange my life around it. But when I was younger, it was really difficult. I walk really strangely when I get tired, so my legs looked funny, and the kids didn't understand what was wrong with me when I couldn't keep up. So, I got teased a lot for not being able to run. Plus, gym teachers never really understood it, so I just ended up looking lazy because I'd have to sit out a lot. That actually continued through college, so I found myself feeling sorry for myself at times.

That changed completely when I was an intern for the Muscular Dystrophy Association the summer after I graduated from Linfield. I got the chance to stay the night at the MDA Summer Camp, and WOW. Spending a day with kids who have such severe forms of MD was eye-opening and I really realized how fortunate I was. Many of the kids were wheelchair bound, and will never lead independent lives. Many of them will die before they are 20 years old. So, from that day on, I have never felt sorry for myself. It really put my struggles into perspective and made me realize that I am blessed to be able to walk, talk, speak and live on my own. I am an independent adult, and I am grateful for it all.

So, that's a little about me. I really think we all have some physical challenge we have to deal with, whether it's asthma, a bad knee, tendonitis, or something like what I have. CMS is just the challenge I have, and I have accepted it. But that doesn't mean I can't try to overcome it!

My One Mile Challenge

Welcome to my One Mile Challenge blog! This is the introduction of my 2010 goal to strengthen my legs so I can walk one mile without resting or assistance. One mile might not seem like a lot, but because I have Congenital Mysthenic Syndrome (CMS), a form of muscular dystrophy, it's actually a pretty big challenge.

The reason behind my interest in this is that Josh and I will be going on our honeymoon on January 8, 2011. We will be cruising through the Eastern Caribbean, stopping at several different ports. While a cruise probably seems very relaxing, I really anticipate there being a lot of walking, due to the large ship we will be on, and the excursions we will go on when we dock. So, I want to strengthen my legs so I can do all the walking I want!

I am hoping this challenge isn't completely out of reach. When I studied abroad in Oaxaca my junior year of college, I had to walk everywhere, and as a result, I increased my stamina. When I left, I could walk at least twice as far as I could when I arrived.

So, I hope you will follow my quest to walk one mile! I will be officially starting my challenge next Thursday, April 8. That will mark exactly 9 months from the date we leave for our cruise.

I anticipate I will need to be cheered on, so any words of encouragement you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!