Day 3 - Coming Home

Sunday morning...refreshing 50-degree air waiting for me as I crawled out of my tent. Did I mention that I had a tent to myself the whole weekend? My assigned tentmate, a young man named Michael with dark hair (except for the pink stripe on top), moved to an empty tent in another part of camp on Friday afternoon, near his other teammates. I enjoyed the chance to keep my gear inside and to have room to get my act together in the morning and at night. The tents seem spacious when you're the only one in there, but they turn into the size of a broom closet when the second person arrives. I don't know about the snuggling and spooning habits of my fellow walkers - perhaps women are less self-conscious about such things when they share a tiny tent on a chilly night - but even when I've had a [male] tentmate, we've chosen to respect each other's space. Maybe that's more than you all needed to know...

After taking down tents and packing up our gear and saying goodbye to our home away from home, Day 3 took us out onto the streets of Maplewood and North St. Paul, where I lived with my family for more than ten years. We walked through neighborhoods I knew well and past the park where I played baseball. Another huge throng greeted us at 8:00 AM at the morning cheering station. (whoever came up with this cheering station idea deserves a medal) My feet felt good, I had a smile on my face, and after another hour, my hands and arms were no longer freezing.

It's hard to describe what it's like walking on the 3-Day. You have to experience it yourself and even then, I'm not sure it's something that can be fully understood. How do you explain being in an endless line of humanity, walking on a sidewalk or through a park, passing by people who are there to clap and cheer for you? Cars drive by, honking their horns, with passengers hanging out the windows, screaming and waving. Every few miles, there is a pit stop with a row of green port-a-potties - on any other day a curious, if not nauseating, sight, but on the 3-Day they are the doorway to heaven. (Or not, I guess that's a little much!)

I enjoy seeing all the familiar faces of walkers and crew from my participation in past events, some whose names I can never remember (although they remember mine) and some whose names I'll never know. Every year, I tell myself that I'm going to take pictures of these people and perhaps have them sign my little notebook, so I can remember them. But every year, I lose myself in the event. We exchange greetings and a few pleasantries about the weather or the route or someone's blisters. And then we continue on. I wonder if they know how much it means to me to be able to know them, even for only a few minutes at a time over the course of three days.

Our final day of walking took us past 3M World Headquarters and into Battle Creek Regional Park, a hidden gem in the city of St. Paul. We walked along Highway 61, waving to the cars honking as they passed. Crew members filled up our water bottles at the base of a loooooonnnnggg uphill climb (at mile 55!!!), which led up to a endless cheering station that started half a mile before Indian Mounds Park and continued on sporadically for another mile to our final pit stop of the day. Awesome...totally awesome!!!

Finally, we made our way into downtown St. Paul, escorted by more crew members and walker stalkers. Some of us stopped at The Bulldog for an "unofficial" pit stop before walking the last few blocks to the State Capitol, where we were welcomed home by what seemed like thousands of walkers, crew, family, and friends. And then...it was party time! 60 miles...WE DID IT!!!

I enjoyed another hour or so with my Angel Wings teammates - Selina, Lori, Katy, Teresa, Connie, Anne, and Ashley - relaxing on the grass in the shade and welcoming hundreds more walkers. We walked together with everyone else in one final victory march to the closing ceremonies. We cheered our crew, our supporters, the survivors among us...and ourselves. We vowed to continue the fight until we can live in a world without breast cancer. And we said goodbye...until next year.

Day 2 - Walking in sunshine

It was still dark when the beeping of alarms and the unzipping of tents marked the start of Day 2. I wasn't eager to get out of my warm sleeping bag and step out into the 50-degree morning. Yes, I know the cooler weather makes for comfortable sleeping (it really did), but come on, it's August for crying out loud!

I met my teammates for breakfast and we got ready for another day out on the paths and sidewalks and streets of the Twin Cities. This time I didn't lose them! Even though the sun was barely above the horizon when we started walking, the Safety crew members at each intersection were already full of energy, talking, laughing, and making jokes. You guys (and ladies) are the best!

After the first pit stop of the day, we came to the first cheering station of the day in Vadnais Heights. WOW!!! There were so many people that they lined both sides of the sidewalk for at least three blocks. I don't know how many times I heard the words, "Thank you for walking," and saw men and women (and children) clapping and just shaking their heads in awe. Even after six years, I am in awe of it myself.

But we still had a long way to go on this day. After spending a few minutes with our families and friends who had come out to the cheering station, we continued on through still-quiet neighborhoods and park trails. Edina high school cheerleaders greeted us at pit stop #2. We walked along the shore of Lake Vadnais, the waters of which were nearly as smooth as glass. The sun rose higher, warming the air (and my fingers). Our lunch stop at Island Lake School was a welcome respite, after nearly 11 miles - not even the halfway point of our day!

It's impossible to walk 20+ miles in a day without a whole lot of help. Our 400-member crew directs us on the route, fills our water bottles and serves snacks at the pit stops, feeds us lunch, picks us up if we can't walk another step, and takes care of our every need in camp. Spectators write messages on the sidewalk, urging us on. And then there are the "walker stalkers" - dozens of people in cars or on motorcycles (you guys in the gray camoflage t-shirts are awesome!), following the stream of walkers, honking horns and waving and yelling (and bending one or two or ten traffic safety laws).

The walker stalkers were everywhere on Day 2 - at least until our path left the streets of St. Paul at mile 19 and moved onto the Gateway Trail. The trail is really quite beautiful, considering its in such an urban setting. Trees border the path and form a canopy overhead. It's quiet and peaceful and perfect for a biking with the family on a summer afternoon...or for taking a leisurely stroll with a couple thousand of your closest personal friends, who by now have exhausted nearly every possible topic of conversation. Still, walkers continued to be polite and courteous and helpful and friendly. At this point in the day, they're just not as vocal. :)

Finally, after being cheered on by people who cannot possibly still have voices left, we arrived in camp after almost 23 miles and more than nine hours on the road. I couldn't wait to sit down, take off my shoes, relax, and enjoy a nice hot shower.

Now, about that shower thing...We have these converted trucks, which each have several shower stalls. It's a great setup, but there never seem to be enough showers for the ladies. They always have to patiently wait longer than they should. The men, on the other hand, have one shower truck, which is more than enough. We're in and out of there in no time. On occasion, the men's showers are empty, which allows the crew to open them for women. It's always funny to see the last man come out of the shower, greeted by cheers from the women waiting to enter. At least it was funny until that last man was...me! (Okay, I admit it - I enjoyed it.) I just hope I didn't take too long...

I didn't watch much of the evening program after dinner. I hung out at my tent, chatting with my teammates. The sun dipped below the trees - it was going to be another cool night. I was tired, but thankful to be in this place, with these people. I listened to the sounds of the dance party going on in the dining tent (it always amazes me how people who have walked 40+ miles find that kind of energy). Then the lights went out and I listened to the gentle snoring of a lovely unknown woman in a neighboring tent, before I eventually fell asleep, too.

Day 1 - A little rain, then the fun begins!

I woke up at 5:00 AM to the news that it was raining in the Twin Cities. What? It's NOT supposed to rain on the Twin Cities 3-Day! Every year, I tell new and returning walkers not to worry about walking in the rain, because it doesn't rain (except for a brief shower last year on Friday evening and a thunderstorm that delayed opening ceremonies in 2005). So, my wonderful Angel Wings teammates met me at Southdale in Edina and offered their constructive criticism of my meteorological expertise - or lack thereof.

Yes, it was a little wet and a little chilly, but really not all that bad. After rousing send-off from the Breast Cancer 3-Day national spokesperson, Jenne' Fromm, we took our first steps to U2's "Beautiful Day". And before I was even out of our fenced-in area, I had lost my teammates! Fortunately, I came upon friends Bobbie and Laura from previous 3-Days and joined them to begin Day 1.


We walked through the (almost) quiet Edina neighborhoods and in less than an hour, the rain stopped. And it would not return. Our route led us past businesses, whose employees were already out with donuts, cookies, coffee, and lots of well wishes. The sun started to peek through the clouds as we reached Lake Harriet and came to the first official cheering station of the weekend. It was great to see so many people out to cheer for us early on a Friday morning.

We continued around portions of Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, familiar places to my teammates (who I still hadn't seen) and I from our many training walks. It felt so much more exciting to be walking those same trails with 2,500 other people. I imagine that my smile looked permanently fixed on my face.

After a quick stop in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (where I'd never been before), we arrived at Loring Park for lunch. And while I sat with my "foster teammates", watching an ominous cloud pass overhead without dropping any more rain, my actual teammates showed up. We would walk together the rest of the way.

The sun came out for good in the afternoon, as we strolled down Nicollet Mall through downtown Minneapolis, then walked along the river past the Guthrie Theater and through another cheering station at Gold Medal Park. Our route took us onto the campus of the University of Minnesota, where we passed the new TCF Bank football stadium. I'm told other walkers elected to make an unofficial pit stop for a refreshment at one of the many establishments on Washington Avenue. I cannot confirm or deny this report. (well, I can, but I'm not going to!)

We left the U of M and once again found the river, following it into St. Paul, cheered on by spectators all along the route. I can't believe some of those people stayed out there for hours to cheer for as many walkers as possible.

Our 20-mile walking day ended at Macalester College, where we boarded air-conditioned buses for a ride in comfort to our campsite at Harvest Park in Maplewood. The 3-Day crew did a fabulous job preparing the site, having to do so despite two solid days of rain. Thank you!

Pink tents, hot showers, spaghetti dinner, a little evening entertainment...and then it was time to put on all my clothes (ok, not really all of them) and prepare for a chilly night's sleep under a clear star-filled sky.

Another Fabulous 3-Day!!!

Just got home from the 2009 Twin Cities 3-Day - another totally awesome experience! 2500+ walkers, hundreds of crew and volunteers, zillions of spectators and supporters...and over $6 million raised - WOW!!! Thanks to all of you who have been checking in on me; I'll post more stories (and pictures) from the event this week.

But right now, there's a real bed with my name on it, so that's where I'm headed!

Three Days

A character in Ernest Hemingway's novel For Whom The Bell Tolls said, "I suppose it is possible to live as full a life in seventy hours as in seventy years."

I cannot think of a better example of how true this statement is than the Breast Cancer 3-Day. For three days, thousands of people create a world of strength, inspiration, resourcefulness, joy, and love. They overcome pain, fear, and worry. They build a small pink city on empty land, with a river of pink running through it. The "residents" of this temporary city set out on a daily crusade to spread their message to thousands of others, marking each mile with smiles, laughter and tears (and maybe a blister or two). And they return to their city at night to revel in the day completed and prepare for the next day's mission. They arrive at the end of their three-day sixty-mile journey, celebrating not just their physical accomplishment, but, more importantly, the statement they have made...and continue to make. It is three days of the way the real world ought to be. A world without breast cancer - where everyone deserves a lifetime.

We've come to the end of the road to the 3-Day. Thank you for being my traveling companion. I hope you've the trip as much as I have. (Okay, I admit that a few of those Saturday mornings came way too early!) But now the real fun begins. On Friday morning, less than 36 hours from now, I will be among those creating this special world. And I will share the miles and memories with all of you when I return after another glorious weekend.

Every year, people ask me where we'll be walking. Click here for a look at this year's Twin Cities 3-Day route.

Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: Less than 2 days until Day 1!!!

Reunions

Only ten days until we're all be together at Southdale in Edina, MN for the opening ceremonies. For many of us, it will be a reunion where we'll rekindle friendships and enjoy each other's company, while remembering our common bond - finding a cure for breast cancer.

This past weekend, I put in a solid 10 miles on Saturday and 8 miles on Sunday. I'm sure a lot of walkers got in their last "big" training walk of 18 miles (or thereabouts), followed by another 8 the next day. And even with one final "easy" weekend of training still left, I know you're all as ready as I am to be out on the streets of the Twin Cities, in an endless stream of pink.

By the way, speaking of reunions, I had my 25th high school class reunion this past Saturday. What a blast! Thankfully, the severe thunderstorms that swept through the Twin Cities didn't keep us from having a great time, talking and laughing and catching up with longtime friends. I suppose the open bar helped a little too! My only regret is not having been able to spend enough time with as many people as I wanted. Rumor has it that there may be some informal annual gatherings between now and our next big reunion in five years. Count me in!!! It may be almost as much fun as these annual reunions of 3,000 at the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who helped me surpass my fundraising goal of $2,300!!! And if you're still interested in donating, please feel free to do so!


Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: 10 days until Day 1 (wow - less than 240 hours from right now!)

Almost There!

Man, oh man...Time sure is flying by. We're less than three weeks away from the 2009 Twin Cities 3-Day. The events have already taken place in Boston and Cleveland. Word on the 3-Day message boards is that the walkers and crew in both cities had a fabulous time on spectatular routes. 1600+ walkers and 300+ crew in Boston raised over $4 million. 100+ walkers and 250+ crew in Cleveland raised over $2.3 million. Obviously, we will be hard-pressed to keep up our reputation here in the Twin Cities of putting the spirit of the 3-Day on display.

I'm nearly to my fundraising minimum of $2,300. Thanks so much to all who are supporting me...including those who are still planning to make a donation. Training is going well. After two back-to-back 20-mile training walks two weeks ago, I eased off the accelerator last week, but I put in another "long" walk this past Saturday - 17 miles - and some non-walking exercise on Sunday. I met a new 3-Day friend in the latter half of my Saturday walk - Marykris (or M.K., as she introduced herself). She's on the team Babes 4 Boobs and this is her first walk. She's been training hard and looks to be ready and rarin' to go. M.K., you are in for an amazing experience. Can't wait to see you on the event!

The Chicago 3-Day is this weekend, followed by Michigan, and then the 3-Day spotlight is turned on the Twin Cities. Stay with me, my friends - just a few more training miles (and a few more donations)...we're almost there!


Scott's Official 3-Day Countdown: 18 days until Day 1!