The Last Day

Yesterday I crossed the finish line. I will have to process the event a little longer before I describe it. The emotional roller coaster has yet to come to a full stop. All I can choke out right now is thanks for your support.

Well last night was proof that after walking 23 miles you can even sleep on concrete which we did. Oh and did you know that the lights of a parking garage cannot be turned off at night?

I noticed that everyone seems to be walking differently in the breakfast area than they did yesterday morning at opening day. Looks like a well controlled stagger. Well except for me of course :-)

Today was another great day. It was bit overcast and cooler so that was nice. And we only did 20, another plus. I have noticed a few things:

The safety guys on bicycles all wear helmets. The motorcycle guys don't.

We universally bitch about the food but no one is going hungry.

Flip flops make an esecially loud and annoying sound on concete at 3 in the morning.

Girl Scouts who pitch your tent are little angels from Heaven. However when greeted by "Welcome home. Now grab yourself a Girl Scout" well that doesn't sound appropriate.

Then men's shower is the shortest line in town.

Handicap Accessable port-a-potties (I didn't know they existed) are the Lexus of port-a-potties.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day. I have already talked to people who dragged in on their last legs talk excitedly about it.

I for one can't wait.

My first day started early (4:30) getting up to drive to the site.  It didn't really matter cause I had been waking up off and on all night to make sure I didn't oversleep.  Anyway, we got to the site, I dropped my gear and got ready to go.
The tears started0 at 7:30.  Right before the official opening ceremonies begain a rainbow appeared in a clear blue sky.  WOW.  As part of the ceremony we were told not to have a moment of silence but to say aloud of a survivor or someone we lost.  I should have picked a one syllable name cause that is all I could choke out.
Finally the walk started.  We wandered through some really nice neighborhoods and small business districts.  It did rain on us but our spirits were not dampened.  The only problem was that while we signed up for 20 miles per day they hit us with 23.  Doesn't sound like much but.....
Did I mention rain?  Well it is back.  The forcast is so bad that we have been relocated.  SO instead of sleeping on the ground in a tent with a stranger, we have occupied the seventh deck of a parking garage.
This is gonna be good.

My 3 Day experience started early this morning.  I was sitting waiting to fly out when a young lady approached me.  I was wearing my 3 Day shirt and she came over to see if I was walking in Tampa.  Yep I am are you? Yes she was.  This is her first walk and she had tons of questions.  We were later joined by someone from Komen For the Cure and she and I had a good time pumping up the Rookie.  Anyway whene we landed and were picking up our bags I asked how she was getting to her hotel.  Long story short (too late) it turned out she was going to be waiting for 6 hours before a friend was to pick her up.  Oh Heck No You Are Not!!
So I made my first friend and took her to her hotel.  This walk is starting out great!!  I haven't even started and I have had gooseflesh several times.
Can't wait!!
Just met the SOB's and Thanks For the Mammories for the first time.  We are all now BFF and a few tears have been shed already.
More tomorrow.......

YAY

An oldie but goodie:
"I'm leaving on a jet plane..............."
Delta is definitely NOT ready when I am cause if they were, I would be in the air on my way to Tampa Bay.
I have checked my list, packed, checked my list, repacked, checked my list, and decided I would shop for the allegedly missing items as a way to kill time tomorrow after I arrive.
Guys, I really appreciate all of the support both the $$ (we have raised over $2600 to FIGHT BREAST CANCER) and the moral support. Without friends like you this would not be possible. I would especially like to mention Chelle as my first and longest follower of this journal. Chelle, thanks for being there. WHEN you do this next year you can count on me.
If I tried to list all of the names I would surely miss one but I have to mention Bobby, Vic, Sharon, Roger, my wife, Chris, Gail, and my inspirations both past and present (Maybelle, H & SG, P & S, and Carol). You guys are the best.
Look for posts from the walk. I think I may be able to find a hotspot (other than those on my feet) somewhere.
I can't feakin wait............................

(do you think I am excited?)

Dedication

This year I am honored to dedicate my walk to the Memory of Carol Lynn Marchbanks. This remarkable woman and her fight represent every reason that I am walking.
Carol was a pioneer of sorts in her day. As a single Mom in a small town in South Georgia she carved out a very successful career in public relations and advertising. She even continued this path after she married and had her second son. In fact she attained the status of partner in a public relations firm which in her day was unheard of. As time moved on, she found herself single again and in a different small rural Georgia town. Here she became the first ever female President of the local Chamber of Commerce. Facing the attitude that “Women got no place in politics”, “I know she had to sleep with someone to get that job”, and other misguided sentiments of the day, Carol patiently won the community over with her calm smiles, optimistic attitude, and success. Carol did what a good Chamber President must do and brought business into this small rural area and even expanded her influence into National Chamber events. After succeeding in public relations and as the Chamber President, Carol (now remarried) made a drastic career field change and began working as one of the few females in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. This is just another instance of her pioneering nature.
Carol was an artist, poet, and musician. She taught her children the value of the fine arts and instilled into them a love of music, poetry, and art. So strong was the connection with her children that she would call them at night to point out a PBS show that she thought would be interesting to them. Nine times out of ten, they were already watching the show.
Carol was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and faced the treatment regime at the time. A mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and all of the radical treatments of the day. She fought for five years. Unfortunately Carol fell into the category of the patient where they were able to cure the cancer but the cure killed the patient. This is why we walk. We have made a difference by raising money for outreach, education, and research. Would Carol face a different process if diagnosed today? Absolutely! The advances that have been made just might have made the difference. Would the outcome be different? I regret to say that I do not know. I only know that her path would not have been so hard and her chances better.
I never had the pleasure of meeting this remarkable woman. I only know her through her son. If the quality of a person is the legacy they leave behind in their children, I can honestly state that Carol was one of the finest people to ever walk the face of the Earth. In difficult circumstances she raised children who are the epitome of kind caring human beings. She is very proud of her offspring.
To Carol Lynn Marchbanks – This one’s for you! Thanks for the inspiration.

THE BIG DAY

Day 3 is probably more exciting than Day 1 (if you can imagine that). This is what you have walked, sweated, fixed blisters, spent time away from home, etc, etc, for the last few months. I do not care how sore you are. I do not care if it was cold and rainy last night when you slept on the ground with someone who if they were a stranger Friday is now a close friend. You are going to be pumped and primed for this day. You can feel the excitement in the air at breakfast (high calorie but very good). Tales of the previous two days are being exchanged. Lots of laughs and lots of hugs. It is going to be a great day.
As you stroll through your last 20 miles you will have lots of time to reflect on your entire journey. You will remember the day that you first heard of the 3 Day and decided to sign up. You will remember good training walks and bad training walks (don’t lie guys there were some bad ones). Most of all, you will continue to be carried by the Spirit of the 3 Day. Over the past two days and 40 miles you have met some incredible people and shared stories of strength and courage. If you haven’t cried once, you have cried a hundred times (be sure to hydrate after a weep session). Finally you see it – the Finish Line. You will pause, reflect, take a deep breath, and with your shoulders back, your head held high you will take those final steps. The reception you will receive from those who have already finished will be enthusiastic and genuine. Just try to wipe the smile off of your face. You made it!!!!! Now go get your shirt.
Later that afternoon you will gather for the closing ceremonies. If you thought the opening ceremony was moving you aint seen nothing yet!! Walkers almost run to circle a runway. Crew, those wonderful angels who take care of us parade in. Our motorcycle crew roars in. And then, we all get very quiet and our Survivors enter the area. This has got to be one of the most moving ceremonies you will ever experience. A two Kleenex box event at least.
It’s over. Hugs to your new friends. Long looks at the memories you have made. Grab your gear bag and find your family. You will have lots to tell them. And who knows, you just might do this again.

Atlanta 3 Day

Today is the first leg of the Atlanta 3 Day. It was 40 degrees around opening ceremony time. It is supposed to be in the mid to low 40's for the next couple of nights. Yall think warm thoughts and send them here for these guys. Sleeping in a tent in 40 degrees is no fun at all.
Just another reason I am walking in Tampa!!!

Day 2

Well you’ve made it through the first night. The people in the tent next to you whispered and giggled for about an hour before a hush fell over the entire field of tents. You have discovered that two grown adults and all of their gear just almost fit in a small tent. The toughest thing you had to do was find your tent after you had to get up and pee (hopefully at least twice or you are not hydrating enough). “Things that go bump in the night” consists of port-a-potty doors slamming. Slowly but surely the camp comes to life. The giggling and whispering start all over again.
It is tough to leave the comfort of lying on the ground and you are going to be pretty stiff from the night life you just had. In fact here is a point where all of the stretching techniques you have learned will come in handy. Probably the most daunting task you have today is taking down your tent and fitting all of your stuff back into your pack. It seems to have grown or something from the time you last packed up in the hotel or at home. Breakfast will be healthy and the hot coffee definitely hits the spot. Be extra sure to stretch every chance you get while in camp.
Finally they will let you out on the trail. This morning’s start will not be as crazy as the first day’s but you will still be charged with the enthusiasm which washes over the entire camp. So there you go. By now you are an old pro at grab and go’s and pit stops. In fact your body will probably tell you when to expect them. Unslinging your butt pack to hit the port-a-potty and what to do with it while you are in there is second nature to you now (remember the advice about the purse holder now). Lunch will probably be a wrap and it will probably be healthy. Right about now is when I find it hard to walk past a McDonalds (these places are handy if you want a real bathroom but it is polite to buy something of course).
For me, the afternoon of Day 2 has always been the hardest part. About an hour after lunch I get the “poor me’s”. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, the straps on my pack are rubbing me the wrong way, etc, etc, etc. Fortunately for me every year at this time I run into an inspiration. Once it was a walker who had stopped in a cul-de-sac and was hitting her asthma inhaler hard. Once it was a walker whom when I walked up behind her was walking like she had pulled a muscle, nope she was actually disabled and that was the way she normally walked. I guess the best one was when I was actually considering stopping the sweep van I was passed by a walker with an artificial leg. My point guys, is that yes you are going to hurt no matter how hard you have trained. Yes you are going to be tired. You have to go deep into yourself and remember why you are doing what you are doing. We are walking for life. Every dollar and every step means hope. And trust me no matter how you feel on the trail you can always look around and see a survivor, a widower, a daughter who lost her Mom and be inspired to keep on keeping on. This is what it is all about.
Finally you reach camp. God bless the Girl and Boy Scouts who have come over to set up your tent. It is really the little things now. You are a camp veteran and know how to find the shortest shower line (it’s at the men’s shower J). There will be a healthy meal (I have always taken an MRE (Meals, Ready to Eat) for the second night. High calorie and a bit nostalgic for me. The announcements will be made, there will be some entertainment. Some folks actually have the energy to dance.
For me, the second night has always been the best. Two down and one to go. Didn’t have to pitch my own tent. And the best part is that tomorrow is the greatest day of the journey. You will cross the finish line! You have done it! Awesome!!!!

The First Day

If you have never done the 3 Day before, prepare yourself for one of the most exhilarating, exciting, emotional times of you life. This year will be my 4^th and I can hardly wait to get to Tampa and get going just to feel the positive energy that is the 3 Day.
On the first day, you will wake up (if you have been able to sleep at all) around 4:30/5:00 and get ready. You will have packed and repacked your gear bag the night before just to make sure. It will be dark and a bit cool when you get to the start point but you will warm up very quickly walking around and meeting all of your incredible new friends. Three is no such thing as a stranger at the 3 Day.
After a bit the “organized” part will start. People with more energy than should be allowable at that time of the morning will pump you up with a group stretch. There will be welcome speeches and then the most incredibly moving ceremony as the circle of survivors is presented. If you haven’t cried by now, you will my friend. Then the moment you have been waiting and training for arrives: you start the walk. There will be much craziness from the teams. There will be chants, songs, costumes all moving forward in a great wave of enthusiasm. All of us are headed for the same thing, a journey that will help combat Breast Cancer.
As the day moves on you will experience pit stops, grab and go’s, and a gourmet lunch (probably a chicken sandwich). You will know the joy that is a very clean port-a-potty and become adept at finding the shortest line. (Just a note here ladies, the thing on the side of the wall is NOT a purse holder). Your legs will tire and your feet may start feeling the miles but your spirit will never sink. Just as you start to feel sorry for yourself, you will find yourself in a conversation with one of your new best friends sharing a story about courage and inspiration. This is the 3 Day spirit.
At the end of the day you will reach camp. Here you will struggle to find your bag, curse yourself for bringing that thing that weighs a ton cause now you have to drag it to find your tent. And oh by the way you have to figure out how to (1) put the tent up and (2) how is all of your stuff and your tent mate’s stuff going to fit in there and you still have room to lay down? Oh the luxury of a hot shower (and here it really pays to be “one of the guys” since the line at the men’s shower is way shorter than the ladies’).
Dinner will be spaghetti but it will be the best spaghetti you have ever had. There will be entertainment (well what passes for it), announcements and finally lights out. You will find that the ground it not THAT hard and will eventually drift off. And of course you will learn to recognize the sound of the wild port-a-potty door slamming in the night.

What a day.

And you get to do this two more times………………

The Song In My Head

Right now the only song running through my head is an oldie but a goodie from the Pointer Sisters. Any guesses? Well since this really isn't interactive chat here I will suggest that you know it is "I'm So Excited".
I cannot wait to get to Tampa, meet my new best friends, and start my walk. This makes me remember what it was like to be a kid at Christmas.
More to come.

Oh by the way, look over on the sidebar, click on Donate Now!

Cancer Is A Family Disease

I am proud to be an SOB (Sons Others and Brothers). We are walking to find a cure for Breast Cancer. Please join us by clicking on my DONATE HERE link.
And oh by the way don't I just look toooooo cute in my pink hat?