HOLY COW!
Literally- there were lots of painted cows this weekend on vans as I walked 60 MILES!!!!!
I still can't believe I actually did it and it's over. 21.3 the first day, 21.7 the second day, and 17.5 the third day (yesterday). My calf muscles seized up halfway through Saturday's walk and I was sobbing the last mile back to camp, but I got through it. Luckily, I had about 2 mini blisters, which was AWESOME and I didn't do major damage to my ankles, knees, or hips, yet all are very sore right now. I waddle now, I don't walk. I have funky tan lines from shorts, socks, and Bengay patches on the backs of my legs. I even have a watch tan, and I never get those!! My nose and bottom lip are sunburned and I have a killer wife beater tan. I can't go downhill well, if at all, and stairs in any direction suck. I gained a pound (how the hell did that happen?) and our air mattress deflated both nights in our FREEZING ASS tent. I lost my sunglasses on the last day... I think they are wrapped up in the tent, actually. I broke my second pair when I was checking in at 6am Friday. The chicken marsala was funky, but the millions of porta-potties were quite fantastic! They were clean and new and not so smelly!
Suzie ditched me a bunch of times but oh well. I met amazing people with even more amazing stories. I saw some creative ways to wear the most outrageous stuff. I even sported a pink shower cap for about a mile! We made up songs about the experience, passed through Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Fraser, Warren, Sterling Heights, and I'm sure there were a couple more... I learned how to pack a bag with all my clothes, toiletries, fleece blanket, pillow, extra pair of shoes, bath towel, and decorations and to do it all over again in two days in record time... in the dark. I woke up before the sun rose and I went to bed before the sun set. We had no bugs, we had lots of sun, and we had TONS of supporters. I cried a bajillion times. I was on auto-pilot and still wondering, "Did I really just walk 26 miles so far? Did I sign up for this?" I laughed a ton, got sprayed by a hundred spray bottles, ate lots of Flavor-Ice, and kept on going.
I loved every minute of it. It was all I expected and more. It really does change your life. If you watched the "changing lives" clip, it is SO accurate. It was moving and so positive all the time. Everyone is grateful, and uplifting, and its so contageous. It's a shame that when I woke up this morning and waddled to work that I was sad it was over, grateful for no more pain, but disappointed that I won't get that awesome and incredible feeling for 3 days straight, NIGHT AND DAY, for another year.
So I think you can guess that I'm going to do it next year. Next time, I want you to join me. I want a team that is huge and ready to experience the total life change that I got because it FREAKING ROCKS!!
I walked because I believe in a world without breast cancer. I love you and miss you, Aunt Gerri. You give me strength! I hope I've made you proud. :)
www.the3day.org
I still can't believe I actually did it and it's over. 21.3 the first day, 21.7 the second day, and 17.5 the third day (yesterday). My calf muscles seized up halfway through Saturday's walk and I was sobbing the last mile back to camp, but I got through it. Luckily, I had about 2 mini blisters, which was AWESOME and I didn't do major damage to my ankles, knees, or hips, yet all are very sore right now. I waddle now, I don't walk. I have funky tan lines from shorts, socks, and Bengay patches on the backs of my legs. I even have a watch tan, and I never get those!! My nose and bottom lip are sunburned and I have a killer wife beater tan. I can't go downhill well, if at all, and stairs in any direction suck. I gained a pound (how the hell did that happen?) and our air mattress deflated both nights in our FREEZING ASS tent. I lost my sunglasses on the last day... I think they are wrapped up in the tent, actually. I broke my second pair when I was checking in at 6am Friday. The chicken marsala was funky, but the millions of porta-potties were quite fantastic! They were clean and new and not so smelly!
Suzie ditched me a bunch of times but oh well. I met amazing people with even more amazing stories. I saw some creative ways to wear the most outrageous stuff. I even sported a pink shower cap for about a mile! We made up songs about the experience, passed through Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Fraser, Warren, Sterling Heights, and I'm sure there were a couple more... I learned how to pack a bag with all my clothes, toiletries, fleece blanket, pillow, extra pair of shoes, bath towel, and decorations and to do it all over again in two days in record time... in the dark. I woke up before the sun rose and I went to bed before the sun set. We had no bugs, we had lots of sun, and we had TONS of supporters. I cried a bajillion times. I was on auto-pilot and still wondering, "Did I really just walk 26 miles so far? Did I sign up for this?" I laughed a ton, got sprayed by a hundred spray bottles, ate lots of Flavor-Ice, and kept on going.
I loved every minute of it. It was all I expected and more. It really does change your life. If you watched the "changing lives" clip, it is SO accurate. It was moving and so positive all the time. Everyone is grateful, and uplifting, and its so contageous. It's a shame that when I woke up this morning and waddled to work that I was sad it was over, grateful for no more pain, but disappointed that I won't get that awesome and incredible feeling for 3 days straight, NIGHT AND DAY, for another year.
So I think you can guess that I'm going to do it next year. Next time, I want you to join me. I want a team that is huge and ready to experience the total life change that I got because it FREAKING ROCKS!!
I walked because I believe in a world without breast cancer. I love you and miss you, Aunt Gerri. You give me strength! I hope I've made you proud. :)
www.the3day.org