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After an almost-reasonable night’s sleep – initially delayed by my prolonged enjoyment of the conversation in the tent behind me, where three lovely women were performing surgical procedures on each other’s blisters while trying to avoid poking holes in their air mattress – I awoke to the beep-beep-beep of digital watches and cell phones awaking people at 4:00AM…then 4:30…then 5:00.
It was still dark as most campers dressed, ate breakfast, and took down their tents. Thanks to the volunteers from…???...who came out to take down and pack up tents for those that needed help. I said goodbye to my neighbors and we wished each other well on this final day.
We were out on the trail shortly after 7:00AM, just as the sun rose above the trees. We walked past St. John’s hospital, Maplewood Mall, restaurants, and businesses – all quiet on a Sunday morning. At our first pit stop at Casey Lake Park in North St. Paul, where I played baseball as a teenager, I saw Krista, my new friend who had come to the 3-Day by herself from her home in northern Wisconsin and had walked the entire weekend blister-free in her mother’s shoes. She left the pit stop and I never saw her again the rest of the day. I hope she completed her walk and went home with dozens of 3-Day memories and new friends.
Our morning route took us through the North St. Paul neighborhoods where my high school friends’ families still lived and south through Maplewood into Beaver Lake Park, where the motorcycle guys in gray camo t-shirts greeted walkers and took plenty of photos. Thanks to the two guys on the south end of the park who recognized me for walking in five 3-Days and gave me big high-fives. I didn’t get your names, but I remember your cheerful faces.
After lunch in Conway Park, we followed the trail into St. Paul and into Battle Creek Park, wonderfully scenic and seemingly a world away from the city outside its borders. The path wound through a canyon of pines and oaks and elms, following a creek almost overgrown by tall grass. On any other day such a place would have been quiet and peaceful, but today the air was filled with sounds of laughter and song.
We left Battle Creek Park and rejoined the path that once again followed the Mississippi River, along Highway 61. The trail passed through another part of Battle Creek Park, where the trees were decorated with bras in all shapes, sizes and colors, which brought new meaning to the landscape of autumn in Minnesota. We again walked up the long hill to Indian Mounds Park, as we had on Friday, and were greeted by another gathering enthusiastic supporters at the final cheering station of the weekend. One man offered ice cold Diet Coke to thirsty walkers, at least one of whom rushed up to his cooler with her arms raised in worship and praise to the almight caffeine goddess. The scene was a reprise of Saturday morning, where the well-known 3-Day walker stalker, “Cowboy Mike”, purportedly distributed fifteen cases worth of Diet Coke in 30 minutes.
The final two miles brought us into the Lowertown area of St. Paul, then through downtown, before our arrival at the State Capitol grounds, where we were met by fellow thousands of walkers and crew. The end of the long road – more than sixty miles worth – had come. My feet wore sore, but I was smiling and cheering with everyone else, perhaps delaying the inevitable end to another glorious weekend of the way the world ought to be. We relaxed in the shade with family and friends, and then reassembled for our Victory March to the Closing Ceremony. Spectators cheered and welcomed the walkers; walkers cheered and welcomed the crew; all of us cheered (and cried) as the group of breast cancer survivors arrived to plant the flags of hope and courage – and to raise the flag bearing the 3-Day motto, “A World Without Breast Cancer.”
For three days, I walked with more than 3,000 close personal friends, supported by an amazing crew of nearly 400 volunteers who catered to our every need – the road crew who marked the route; the safety crew who guided us across busy intersections; the pit stop and lunch crews who kept us fed and hydrated (and entertained); the medical crew who took care of everything from blisters to dehydration; the crews who kept our home away from home in camp clean and comfortable and provided food, showers, porta-potties, information, and a dozen other things I can’t remember; and countless other crew members and 3-Day staff who did so much work behind the scenes and away from the spotlights – none of us could have taken a single step without you.
Thank you for allowing me to share my road to the 3-Day with you. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. As in the past, I now return to my regular life, such as it is. But as is the case after each 3-Day is over, I know that life won’t be quite the same. It’s better…and a little brighter.
Walk on…
I rarely get much sleep on the first night of the 3-Day and this year was no exception. I don’t know the exact reason – sleeping on a thin air mat on the hard ground, in a tent with walls so thin you can hear the person snoring two tents away, the lack of a climate-controlled bedroom…it’s still a mystery to me. Maybe I’m just not tired enough after walking 21.5 miles.
Saturday morning brought cool, clear skies and the prospect of warm sunshine all day long. We began Day 2 shortly after 7:00AM, heading north out of Harvest Park through Maplewood and White Bear Lake, and into Vadnais Heights, where we passed the first of three cheering stations for the day. Hundreds of spectators – family, friends…and perhaps a few curious onlookers – were ready and waiting before 8:00AM, a most pleasant surprise and a great way to start would prove to be a very long day. My parents were there to greet me and my walking partners Maria, Selina, and Lori with smiles and hugs, waving little 3-Day flags handed out at the cheering station – a nice touch and a great idea by the amazing 3-Day organizers.
Our morning route took us through several wooded parks, along the shores of lakes with water smooth as glass, and past two fire stations, where female walkers returned the cheers of firefighters with their own cheers. At the first fire station, there was more than one request for a particular firefighter to remove his shirt as he stood on the extended ladder of a truck. He refused, most likely aware that doing so could incite a riot and bring the entire 3-Day to an immediate halt.
After lunch, we continued through the residential neighborhoods of Roseville, before turning onto Lexington Ave. Within a few blocks, I could make out a large gathering of people ahead of me on the sidewalk. Initially, it simply looked like a stream of walkers, bunched together, perhaps slowed by a stoplight. But I soon realized it was far more than that. We were coming up on the second cheering station of the day at Lake Josephine Park and the crowd of spectators started at least two blocks in advance. They sat on a grassy hillside and stood between the sidewalk and the street, filling nearly every square foot of ground. The crowd grew as we reached the main park entrance; my walking partner Maria was greeted by her friend Michelle and out of the massive throng I saw the familiar faces of Claudia and Tanya, unrelated to each other, but both of whom I remembered from the 2007 3-Day.
The Lake Josephine cheering station seemed to be without end; it was three or four people deep in places and extended more than a block past the park. It was the largest cheering station I could recall in my five years on the Twin Cities 3-Day and, as I heard later in the day from 3-Day staff and crew, it was possibly the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of spectators at any cheering station seen on any 3-Day event in any city. Obviously, we’re going to be a little biased here in our hometown, but it was without a doubt an awesome display of emotion and support that lifted my feet off the ground and truly a sight to behold. THANK YOU!!!
In the afterglow of the cheers, we made our way into St. Paul and through more park trails which provided intermittent shade from the brilliant sunshine as the midsummer-like temperature soared into the 80s. The final stretch of the 22.7-mile day followed the Gateway Trail from St. Paul into Maplewood under a canopy of trees, during which the urge to…um…er…find a “pit stop” overtook every other thought. The heck with the lovely scenery, I gotta pee!!! Fortunately, the familiar sight of a bank of green porta-potties appeared before the need to make an emergency stop in the woods! And all was well in the world...
We arrived in camp to the welcoming cheers of walkers, crew, and volunteers at 4:45PM – more than 9 ½ hours after starting the day. I went to my tent, took off my shoes and sighed audibly, drawing laughter from my neighbors. They knew the feeling.
After dinner, the evening program included heartwarming, tear-jerking stories from walkers and survivors, including a woman named Becky – 38 years old and mother of two young children, who spoke of having fought off a diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer, only to have her doctor report the results of a scan earlier this past year, in which he said that she would die from stage 4 breast cancer. Becky walked the 2008 3-Day and fully expects to walk next year and the year after that and spend the years to come watching her children grow and celebrating decades worth of anniversaries with her husband.
The tears turned to cheers, as the 3-Day Rock Star karaoke finalists performed one more time. Chris, a young man walking in memory of his girlfriend Jolene who passed away earlier this year, rocked the house with his rendition of Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’ Girl” and, in an unprecedented occurrence, was called back to the stage for an encore – “Only in Minnesota could you see a curtain call in a karaoke contest,” he said – of Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me”.
I left the dining tent as the Saturday night dance party kicked into high gear and retired to my own personal palatial estate. I fell into my sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep to the sounds of chirping crickets, buzzing cicadas…and the voices of women in the tent behind me performing blister-related surgical procedures on each other. Day 2 was over; one more day and 17 miles to go."Man is here [on Earth] for the sake of other men; above all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends." - Albert Einstein
Morning came early on Friday, September 19. I was up at 4:30AM after my usual pre-walk night of fitful sleep. I met my friend and training companion Maria at her house shortly before 5:30 and her husband Dave drove us to the State Fairgrounds, where we joined hundreds of other walkers in the cool pre-dawn darkness to wait for the start of the 2008 Twin Cities 3-Day. Finally, with more than 3,000 of us assembled in front of a stage decked out in giant pink banners, we had our opening ceremony as the sun rose above the horizon.
Walkers carried flags bearing the words that define the spirit and purpose of the 3-Day: Celebrations, Discoveries, Strength, Challenges, Joy, Victories, and many more. A group of women formed the Survivor’s Circle, joining hands after raising their own flags – Belief, Patience, Courage, Healing, Commitment, and Optimism.
Then, as the strains of U2’s “Beautiful Day” blasted across the fairgrounds, it was “go” time and we marched out onto the streets of St. Paul, cheered on by a gauntlet of hundreds of crew members and volunteers.
The morning of Day 1 took us through the neighborhoods of St. Paul – Como Park, Crocus Hill, and down historic Summit Ave. At an intersection on Summit, I stopped behind a woman who looked at me and said, “Excuse me, do you know Sharon (last name withheld)?” I paused and replied, “Ummm…yes, I do.” The woman introduced herself as Jennifer, a co-worker of Sharon’s, and said she was told to look for me during the weekend. And in one of those little miracles we’ve come to expect on the 3-Day, she found me less than three hours after we left the opening ceremonies! Interestingly, I never saw Jennifer again...maybe it was something I said. ;-)
We walked down to the riverfront and followed the Mississippi River past the downtown St. Paul skyline. After leaving the second pit stop of the day, I walked up next to a woman, somewhat beyond middle-age (to put it politely), who wore a makeshift cape bearing buttons and messages commemorating past breast cancer walks. She introduced herself as Barbara Jo from California, a veteran of 95 – yes, 95!!! – breast cancer long-distance walks dating back to 1998. All that I – or anyone else within listening range – could say was, “Wow!” She also added that her husband, who joins her occasionally during the course of every walk, is part of a group we know as Team California, who posts pink flyers bearing funny and inspirational messages all along the route, as a way of cheering on every walker. Once I knew the source of these signs, I looked forward to them even more.
After lunch at Indian Mounds Park on the bluffs overlooking the river, my walking partners Maria, Selina and Lori came upon a woman walking alone. I was a couple of steps past her when I remembered my manners and pulled back to say hello and introduce myself. Her name was Krista (sp?) and she had come to the 3-Day by herself from her home in northern Wisconsin. She said she was walking in memory of her mom, who passed away from breast cancer last September, but who was with her every step of the way, as Krista was literally walking in her mother’s very own shoes. Those shoes cared for her and kept her feet blister-free throughout the weekend. By Sunday, Krista had been walking with her tentmate and another woman for two full days, proof that some may come to the 3-Day alone, but will always leave with friends.
The afternoon took us past an energizing cheering station with hundreds of spectators and around Lake Phalen, before the final section of the 21.5-mile Day 1 trail that lead into camp at Maplewood's Harvest Park, the tent city that would be our home away from home for the next two nights. As I arrived, I saw my friends Dawn and Mary – crew members working near the camp entrance – and Becky, a survivor with whom I’ve walked in every Twin Cities 3-Day. I met my tentmate, Ryan, who was part of another team, the 2nd Base Defenders. Later that evening, two of his female teammates decided to leave camp and stay at a hotel, allowing Ryan to move into their vacated tent and leaving me in my own tent. Ah…the simple pleasures found on the 3-Day!
A couple of brief rain showers passed during our evening meal while we enjoyed a performance by the Satin Dolls senior tap dance troupe, and after the 3-Day Rock Star karaoke contest (no, I didn't participate!), it was time to turn in for the night…and try to get a little sleep before Day 2."Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing...Strong and content I travel the open road." - Walt Whitman
I'm back home from another awesome Breast Cancer 3-Day experience...three days, 60 miles (or perhaps a little more), 3,000+ walkers, nearly 400 crew, more than $7.3 million raised, fabulous weather, beautiful crowds of spectators, and dozens of new memories.I'll be sharing my stories and pictures over the next couple of days, as well as sending out another huge "THANK YOU" to all of you who supported me.But for now, I'm a bit tired, so I'm heading off to bed. ;-)- Scott"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." - Joseph Campbell
After several months of training, fundraising, and preparation, the 2008 Twin Cities 3-Day is finally here. Tomorrow morning, I'll be gathering with more than 3,000 of my closest personal friends at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, MN by the dawn's early light (actually, it'll still be dark at 6:00AM!) for the Opening Ceremony. Then we'll be on our way.I wanted to just take a few moments to thank all of you who have supported me with donations and thoughts and prayers and well-wishes. It has been an absolute pleasure to have you join me on the road to the 3-Day. In fact, I couldn't have made it this far without you. Contrary to popular belief, just because I've walked in the 3-Day four previous times doesn't necessarily mean it's easy. All of you who have taken the time to read the ramblings on this web site have encouraged me in this endeavor and have reminded me of all the reasons for doing it.Most of you know that my connection to breast cancer is not nearly as personal as most 3-Day participants. My initial inspiration, a friend named Stacey, is healthy and cancer-free and will likely remain so for the rest of her life. But each year, I've found new inspirations - friends I've met on the 3-Day who are survivors or are still battling cancer; the women (and young girls) in my family who are healthy and hope to stay that way; an old high school classmate coming to the end of her ten-year fight. This year - 49 days ago, to be exact - a former co-worker, whom I've come to call my friend, passed away after a ferocious three and a half year battle with breast cancer. I was looking forward to seeing Jill along the 3-Day route and at the closing ceremony, cheering on the walkers. Maybe no one else will see her, but I'll know she'll be there every step of the way.So I thank you, all of you who are part of my 3-Day family. Over the next three glorious late summer days (and nights), I'll do my best to record each moment - good, bad, and ugly - and present them here upon my triumphant return. (That means I'll try to remember to take pictures and write stuff down, so I can post the highlights next week.)Until then...be well!"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." - Galileo GalileiScott's Official 3-Day Countdown: Less than 1 Day until Day 1!!! (as of 7:00PM CDT, only 12 hours until "GO" time)
For all of my well-meaning friends who think that I use the Breast Cancer 3-Day as a live-action search engine for meeting girls, rather than an expression of my dedication to a worthy cause...well, they're right. Considering my past performance, maybe the following will improve my "hit" rate:
SWM, 42, healthy, fit, nonsmkr, electrical engineer with charming personality, rugged good looks, and full head of hair...seeking healthy SWF for long romantic walks and camping under the stars with hundreds of close personal friends. Must be willing to enjoy frosty cold adult beverages on sun-splashed, tropical beaches at least one week out of the year. Turn-ons: Sense of humor, pink walking shoes, and the taste of Gatorade G2 sports drink in the morning. Turn-offs: Blisters larger than one's own toes, Minnesota winters, and Hillary Clinton. (Note: Green Bay Packers fans must pass personal interview, drug test, and psychological evaluation. Actually, so should Minnesota Vikings fans.)Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: 3 days until Day 1 (as of 10:00PM CDT, only 57 hours until "GO" time!)
Just like last year, the wonderful organizers of the Twin Cities 3-Day have posted a rough map of the route, along with some landmarks (for those poor souls without a sense of direction). Click here to see it and join us on our little expedition. Due to the need for security (yeah, I think that's a crock, too), the exact streets and paths on which we'll be walking aren't made public in advance. A few of us have already had the opportunity to see portions of the actual route, in order to tell residents and business owners that more than 3,000 people - mostly clad in various shades of pink (and all looking in need of professional help) - would be traipsing through their neighborhoods.But if you're going to be anywhere in the general vicinity, I'm sure we won't be hard to find!"First think and then act (unless you've registered for the Breast Cancer 3-Day)" - Wise saying from the OrientScott's Official 3-Day Countdown: Less than 4 days until Day 1 (as of 9:00PM CDT, only 82 hours until "GO" time!)
Wow - only a week left until the 2008 Twin Cities 3-Day! As in past years, there will be designated cheering stations for friends and family to greet walkers along the route. Here are the locations and times, so come on out and say hello! I can't guarantee that I won't be dirty and sweaty and caked in about six layers of road grime, but you'll definitely see a smile on my face.Friday, September 19th:8:15 am - 10:15 am Syndicate St. at Summit Ave. 1280 Summit Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 (Park at Kowalskis Market, 1261 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 55105)
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Johnson Pkwy. at East Shore Dr. 1290 Johnson Pkwy. St. Paul, MN 55106 (Park where available)Saturday, September 20th:7:30 am - 9:15 am Holiday Inn Express 1100 County Rd. E Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
10:45 am - 2:45 pm Lake Josephine Park 3025 North Lexington Ave. Roseville, MN 55113
11:45 am - 4:45 pm St. Paul Regional Water Services 1900 Rice St. St. Paul, MN 55113
Sunday, September 21st:
7:30 am - 9:30 am North St. Paul Tap & Grill 2379 McKnight Rd. North St. Paul, MN 55109
11:00 am - 3:00 pm Indian Mounds Park 1113 Mounds Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55106
Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: 7 days until Day 1 (all right, let's go!!!)
In the past, I've written about the vital importance of having the right shoes for not only walking 60 miles over the course of three days, but also for walking the hundreds of training miles throughout the year. Even for those not afflicted with the mental instability of a 3-Day walker who wish to simply get their daily exercise, it's a pretty good idea to wear shoes that will keep your feet from threatening to secede from your body.So on the cusp of my fifth 3-Day, I thought I'd share my past - and present - choices for footwear. (Obviously, everyone's feet are different and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Consult your athletic shoe professional consultant before purchase.)
2003 Reebok 403 Walker (replica) - used on my first 3-Day, during which I learned why leather "walking" shoes are not recommended for long-distance walking. Blisters were not a significant problem, however, recurring foot and leg soreness requiring extensive rest after long training walks - and throughout the week following the 3-Day.
2005 Brooks Adrenaline GTS5 - Finally figured it out...go to an athletic shoe store and get fitted for the proper shoes. These lightweight running shoes were much better suited for distance walking, especially when I adjusted the laces to skip a set of eyelets, in order to keep pressure off the top of my foot. Had one minor blister spot, on the outside of my heel, but was more of a nuisance than a problem.
2006 Brooks Adrenaline GTS6 - The motto regarding equipment on the 3-Day should be, once you find something that works, you stick with it. I got as much mileage out the 2005 shoes as I could throughout 2006 training, but needed a new pair shortly before the 3-Day. The result: No pain, no blisters, no problems. They worked so well, I used them for 2007, as well. 
2008 Brooks Adrenaline GTS8 - Had to get some new shoes this year. I test-walked a couple of different styles, but came back to what felt right. So far, I've been blister-free all spring and summer.
Post-walk shoes - my favorite...any questions?Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: 12 days until Day 1
We were out on the trail shortly after 7:00AM, just as the sun rose above the trees. We walked past St. John’s hospital, Maplewood Mall, restaurants, and businesses – all quiet on a Sunday morning. At our first pit stop at Casey Lake Park in North St. Paul, where I played baseball as a teenager, I saw Krista, my new friend who had come to the 3-Day by herself from her home in northern Wisconsin and had walked the entire weekend blister-free in her mother’s shoes. She left the pit stop and I never saw her again the rest of the day. I hope she completed her walk and went home with dozens of 3-Day memories and new friends.
After lunch in Conway Park, we followed the trail into St. Paul and into Battle Creek Park, wonderfully scenic and seemingly a world away from the city outside its borders. The path wound through a canyon of pines and oaks and elms, following a creek almost overgrown by tall grass. On any other day such a place would have been quiet and peaceful, but today the air was filled with sounds of laughter and song.
The final two miles brought us into the Lowertown area of St. Paul, then through downtown, before our arrival at the State Capitol grounds, where we were met by fellow thousands of walkers and crew. The end of the long road – more than sixty miles worth – had come. My feet wore sore, but I was smiling and cheering with everyone else, perhaps delaying the inevitable end to another glorious weekend of the way the world ought to be. We relaxed in the shade with family and friends, and then reassembled for our Victory March to the Closing Ceremony. Spectators cheered and welcomed the walkers; walkers cheered and welcomed the crew; all of us cheered (and cried) as the group of breast cancer survivors arrived to plant the flags of hope and courage – and to raise the flag bearing the 3-Day motto, “A World Without Breast Cancer.”
