3-Day Original Blog

I want to link people to my original blog from just after last year's 3-day....but its over on myspace and I know people can't access that as well. So I'm re-posting here. WELCOME 3-DAY READERS! Here's what the 3-Day did to me....

Oct 1, 2007
So I have successfully completed the first of what I hope are many 3-Day walks in my lifetime. (60 miles over 3 days, raising money for Breast Cancer Research...www.the3day.org)

This weekend was full of hope, inspiration, sore muscles, courage, blisters, and overall pure fun. I will not give you a rundown chronologically of what transpired, just some random observations, since that's how my brain works:

1)NEED WALKERS! Next year, I'll definitely need a partner to walk. At least one – it would be great to be one of those posses with a whole bunch of folks around. While one of my bestest buddies drove one of the sweep vans, and it was very awesome to at least have someone at camp to hang out with and tent with, I could've used someone *on* the route with me, to help me think about something other than how sore my feet were!

I did meet a bunch of cool people and for several long stretches, I had company and that's what I was excited about this year. I'm glad I had that. One lady was PUSHING HER MOTHER IN A WHEELCHAIR becasue her mother had been diagnosed after they registered last year, but had chemo and had another bout of Cancer show up just before this year.....60 miles of pushing a wheelchair! She had lots of volunteers, but she did the majority of it! WOW!

But for such LONG periods I was by myself. I started thinking up things randomly JUST to have something else to think about. I went through all 50 states and their capitals (and no, I don't know any of those cutesy songs that help you remember, so I just went alphabetically by state – what IS the capital of South Carolina anyway? I never could get that one), then I thought up movie titles for every letter of the alphabet, then Harry Potter characters from A-Z, song titles from A-Z, etc….I got a good couple of hours walked that way!

2)ORGANIZATION I'm *blown away* by the organization of this event. Everything went so smoothly, and I can only imagine the logistical coordination that must have been behind this event. We had a different route each day that comprised of walking along very busy streets as well as residential sub-divisions in Farmington, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Livonia, and Dearborn. The police were out when they needed to be, directing traffic, but we also had this mass of volunteers, at least 1 at each intersection, overseeing the hoardes of women in need of crossing. Yes, there are "walk/don't walk" signs and traffic lights, but it went so much more smoother with someone there directing.

They had "Sweep Vans" – about 7 big-honkin' Conversion vans whose sole job it was to "Sweep" you up if you got tired. They would take you to the next Pit Stop where you could rest and start again. The gals driving these vans were extraordinary, driving along the route non-stop, honking and yelling support throughout the entire trip. Kudos to my favorite van, The "Udderly Fantastic" Cow-van, driven by my friend Jill (YAY!) – they had cows and cow-spots decorated all over, and the words 'Saving your Udders'….but I think the best play on words all weekend was the "Saving Second Base" Van….there was a team of walkers with this on their shirt, as well, and if you think about it….it's pretty funny, huh? Second Base? Breast Cancer? Get it?

These people had the BEST spirit and good-humor about them…I mean, seriously if you can't laugh about this, then it will break you – so laugh in spite of it. Laugh in its face because we *will* beat it.

3)COMMUNITY SUPPORT Incredible. Fantastic. Uplifting. Amazing. Unbelievable. That's what kind of community support we had. I can't even describe how many folks came out to cheer us on. Yes, they had some "Cheering Stations" designated for such, but just along the route we would pass a house that had a mom and her 2 kids sitting on their lawn, in lawn chairs, clapping and cheering as we went by. Sometimes it was an older couple, or sometimes it was the local fire station who pulled out their truck and put one guy WAY up high on their ladder, waving down at us, clapping.....They had made signs, some were passing out candy or water, some had their cars on and their radios playing so we had some music to listen to…..it was in-fucking-credible.

As for how I did – I think I did pretty awesome, actually. Especically cuz I really fell off the bandwagon at the end of my training. The last 6-8 weeks, I really lazy-d off and didn't do much, when in fact I should have been hitting my stride and doing long back-to-back walks! I know if I had done that, I would have succeeded in not needing a Sweep Van. But alas, I did. The first day, the route was 19 miles and I walked the whole thing. Day 2 was 20 and I walked about 17. Day 3 was 15.5 (woo hoo! A short day!) and I walked 13.5, and by the end really could have walked more – but I had a heckuva time starting off for some reason….

Ok, for now, that's about it – I feel I have *so* much more to say but I'll save it for my next blog…Remind me about the awesome musical ambulances, the food, the medics, the tents (!) and the mailbox crushing (*ahem* Jill)....



WOW
Current mood: accomplished

The 3-Day is complete and I am one changed individual. My brain is kinda mush now (let's not even start on what my body feels like) but it was SO worth it and I am *SO* doing this every year. You guys who wanted to walk this year but couldn't - start planning now! As soon as I know the dates of the 2008 walk, I'm signing up and I MUST Have someone to walk with next time. I know I could have done better had I someone to talk to throughout the walk....

I promise to give a thoroughly interesting blog later this week - I'm off to stretch and rest. Oh yeah, and EAT! Later, gators! Thanks for your support and stay tuned...

http://08.the3day.org/goto/kelly.thompson