My 2010, 3-Day Story

Day 1, Friday
My good friend Shannon picked us up at my house and we were off the Collin Creek Mall at 6 am. We arrived by 6:30 am. We were dropped off and loaded our bags on the trucks they had set up. I have to say with all the cars coming and going this was the most well organized function I had ever seen and everything ran very smoothly. We walked into the holding area and I signed a memorial ribbon with one of my “In Memory” peoples name on it. Just before opening ceremony I proceeded to drop my camera and break the LCD crystal so I had to take pictures of the entire weekend through the view finder. Luckily God heard my prayers and all my photos came out quite nice. Opening ceremony started promptly at 7:30 am. And Patti was asked to carry one of the ceremony flags. Once the ceremony was over the survivors who were walking led us out onto the course. It took about 30 minutes for us all to get onto the course because there were 2800 walkers in all, along with 425 crew members.
At the 1st pit stop I had my ankles wrapped and I never had any problems with my ankles or my feet the entire weekend. However I did have problems with my hips. This was not something I was expecting. The pit stops consisted of port-a-potties, food (bananas, cookies, chips, string cheese, peaches, granola bars), water and medical personnel to assist in wrappings, stretching’s, or blisters. There were also stops called “Grab & Go’s along the way which consisted of food and water only.
Every 5 miles or so there were cheering stations set up. These were totally awesome. People would cheer us on and hand us things like candy, Kleenexes, Mardi Gras beads and fun bracelets. Some even handed out flowers. They would high 5 us as we walked by and cars coming down the streets would honk… It was a real party. When we would pass by elementary schools that were out on the play grounds the teachers would line the children up along the sidewalks and they would cheer for us and give us high 5’s. When we would pass fire stations the fire fighters would come out and cheer us on.
Lunches both days consisted of sandwiches, chips, cookies, apples, and carrots, and a live DJ with fun music.
If someone couldn’t make it from one pit stop to the next a “sweeper van” would pick them up and take them to the next pit stop. They couldn’t take you from pit stop to pit stop so you would have to get out on the course and walk a little bit and then they could pick you up if needed. I am sorry to say that I needed to get “swept” up several times during the weekend. Also if you were at lunch and just couldn’t make the rest of the journey there was a shuttle bus that you could board and it would take you directly to camp.
Camp was awesome. They had semi trucks that were rigged with 6 showers in each. I think there were about 6-8 of these semis at our disposal. Also on the outside of the semis were sinks and mirrors for us to use. A sea of pink tents went as far as the eye could see so we had to decorate out tent to distinguish it from the others. We put balloons on ours but many people got extremely creative with theirs. Port-a-potties lined the front and backs of the camp site, and they were always kept well stocked with toilet paper. They had a “Main Street” set up that consisted of The 3-Day Shop, AT&T with free phone charging, Energizer with free back massages, New Balance that hosted Bingo games, and a post office. There was also the medical tent that was always crowded with daily wounds and pulled something, or another.
Dinner both days consisted of Chicken Parmesan, Top Sirloin Steak, baked potatoes, rice, bread, salads, mixed vegetables, green beans, brownies and apple pie. They also had coffee, hot cocoa, and sodas for us to drink.
Entertainment was provided each night; Karaoke on Friday and Candy Coburn (Country singer & National songwriter for Susan G. Komen) on Saturday night.
Lights out was 9pm. Sharp each night. The weather was in the high30’s- low 40’s and even though we had been given a Mylar blanket to use we still froze.. Brrrr. Saturday night however was better because someone explained we had used the blankets improperly and showed us the correct way to use them so we stayed pretty toasty all night until one f us…. Um ME…. Forgot to close the second flap to the tent when I got up to use the restroom and our feet were very cold when we woke up at 4:30 am Sunday morning. I’m going to tell on my stupidity right now by telling you that I didn’t take a sleeping bag because I couldn’t fit it into my bag. We had a weight limit of 35 pounds and we could only take one bag and even though my bag only weighed about 24 pounds I had run out of room with the pillow, air mattress, and all my clothes so I took only 2 small blankets with me to stay warm. This is a lesson I will never repeat in my lifetime. What was I thinking? I wasn’t and that’s the sad truth.
I waited in line for 30 minutes Saturday night to get my phone recharged and I only got to talk to David (my brother) who encouraged me greatly. I was feeling blue and crying because I hadn’t walked as far as I had intended over the past 2 days and he explained to me that I had done so much fundraising not only for myself but for Patti as well and that if I hadn’t gotten Patti there that Cassie wouldn’t have finished her fundraising either so that they were there because of me and that I had worked very hard to make sure it happened. Also that I even showed up the 3-day walk and was spending several nights in a tent which everyone knows I really hate to do. He told me he was proud of me and it made me feel better. Tony texted me to see how things were going and then we went to sleep. At some point after 2:30 am I rolled over on my phone turning it on or pocket calling someone and by the time I woke up at 4:30 am my phone was dead… GGrrr. I was not a happy camper.. hahahaha! Also that night before bed I stood in line and got my picture taken with Candy Coburn. She was very nice even though I didn’t buy one of her CD’s.
Day 3, Sunday
We all woke up at 4:30 am because of the time change we had to be out on the course at an earlier time this morning.
Breakfast both days consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal, mixed fruit, Danishes, coffee, and hot cocoa. They fed us very well for all the meals.
Everyone had to be out on the course by 7:15 am at the latest. 10 miles until lunch and then a little more to get to Fair Park where the walk would end. Once you got to Fair Park it was a ¼ mile walk to the holding area where we all got nice, long sleeved t-shirts and roses. I cried and cried and the medical team came running over thinking I was in pain but I told them that I didn’t feel worthy of the cheers that I had just received upon entering because I hadn’t walked that much and they all hugged me and told me that it’s not about the 60 miles; It’s about the fundraising and the awareness. I told them I was embarrassed but they assured me that I had nothing to be embarrassed about. When the last walked made it everyone cheered so loud for them. We all waited together for about 45 minutes and then we all walked arm in arm up to the front of the Cotton Bowl; another ¼ mile walk. Family and friends lined the walkway and cheered and hollered. It was awesome. They had signs and were giving high 5’s. Closing ceremony was lovely and it finished with Candy Coburn singing “Pink Warrior”. Then there was another ¼ mile walk to the parking area where the trucks and laid out luggage out and my friend Shane and Trisha met us to take us home to a warm bed and a flushing toilet.
Please make sure you watch the 30 minute video that I’ve attached to the e-mail because, it’s of the opening and closing ceremonies and you need to see the huge sea of people that participated. Also check out the photos that we took time to take so that you could see as much as possible and feel even more a part of this journey you sent us on.
Patti walked the entire 60 miles, Cassie walked about 55 and I was only able to do less that 10 each day.
The DFW area raised 7 million dollars alone for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
On a closing note I will be doing this again next year!!!!!!!
Thank you all so much for your support in sending me to have this amazing experience this past weekend. I couldn’t have done it without you and I know that.
Love you all
Teresa

My 3-Day Photo Compilation; 11 Minutes

31 Minute video of opening & closing ceremonies

Channel 11 news spot; 2 1/2 minutes