The Breast Cancer 3-Day
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I did it, I did the entire 60 miles without setting foot in that sweep van! I'm not sure I can possibly recall everything I wanted to but I'll try and remember the highlights!
Craig dropped off my friend and I at a hotel on Thursday night- we had a good dinner (pasta as suggested) and stayed up too late! We went to the opening ceremonies via shuttle after getting up at 4:30 am. It was amazing, so powerful. We left the "corral" last. I was so disappointed because even though it wasn't a race, I desperately didn't want to be "last". Well by one of the pit-stops we were #1600 out of 1950 walkers so we had passed about 350 people- woo hoo. Day one was really tough because we got rain VERY early on in the walk. We ended up walking a good part of the day in wet feet so there were MAJOR blister problems. I had several but one on my baby toe was hurting the most. The middle of the day was pretty sunny but by the time afternoon came they closed the route after the last pit stop (3 miles out) and told us we were the last group of walkers allowed to continue and that they were pulling everyone off the route who was behind us. We had over a mile to go and had to "hurry" ahead of the thunder and lightening. Mind you- we had already walked almost 20 miles so "hurrying" isn't the thing you want to hear! We hustled into a school located at "camp" in the pouring rain. We all sat on the floor of the school for what they thought would be about 45 minutes while a storm cell passed over. It ended up being about 2 hours. Normally folks trickle in and eat, shower, set up tents etc. The first day everyone was released at once in the rain and we were told to go set up our tents, put our gear bags in the tent and meet at the dining tent. We went for dinner then hit the shower and then were told camp was being evacuated due to more severe thunderstorms headed in our direction. We were only allowed to bring our sleeping bags and mats into the school (wearing our pjs). We had VERY little sleep on the hallway floor of an elementary school. We got back up at 5 am and hit the trails again! I have to tell you I had huge "satisfaction" about not being pulled from the route and knowing that we would indeed do the ENTIRE walk!
DAY 2!!!!!!
Early on in the day my small toe was VERY sore. I ended up in the medical tent where I swore I would NOT have to go. They popped my blister which was completely covering most of my baby toe and my toenail was barely hanging on. I walked the whole day with it tho darn it!!!!! Day 2 was beautiful, no rain- yippeeee. By the end of the day every muscle from my waist down was sore, but I did it. We had dinner and showers and hit the hay by 9 pm. We found out that out of all the walkers our team won for "best slogan" it was called "no breast left behind" since we are both educators. That was pretty cool! We met and hung out with people in the next tent who lived pretty close to us. It was a mom and her 2 grown sons walking with her. She was a survivor.
Day 3!!!!!!
My toe hurt pretty badly and by the time we finished I thought if someone poked me in the arm I woud tip over and never stand up again. Thank goodness I did all the training because I NEVER would have made it. I completely understand sports massages now and sure do wish I had scheduled one. The 3rd day is filled with lots of stretching out of pure necessity. Every muscle in your legs is just so tight and screaming out at you to stop the walking! There is just something deep down inside that helps you find the strength to keep going. I had family at cheer stations on day 2 and day 3 and then my family came to the closing ceremonies so they were there when I crossed the finish line. We all got pink roses and victory t-shirts so that was cool. There is so much cheering you really feel like a rock star! Seeing all the survivors is VERY moving and really reminds you why we are all there. I could tell a million little stories but I think I'll end here and hope I have shared enough with the curious but haven't bored you to tears!
Thank you to all my friends for your endless support!