Putting Our BREAST Foot Forward

The Tampa Bay 3-Day started out with Opening Ceremonies at Sand Key Park in Clearwater, Fl. I was determined to escape the tail nail blisters from years past and proudly wore my new Bite running sandals. I was lucky enought to find the one fire ant mound -- even in the 6:30 am darkness -- but the 30 or so bites on my fee didn't stop me from starting out with the rest of the pack promptly at 7:45.

I completed the first day's 23 miles in less than 9 hours and arrived at the 3-Day camp only to find out the the 2000+ walkers and 350 crew members were being evacuated due to bad weather. We were all bussed to downtown St. Pete looking forward to a nite in an air-conditioned gymnasium, but instead were left to 'camp' on the 7th floor of a parking garage! Suprisingly, or not, I slept VERY well on the concrete that night [special thanks to Cathy Jo for lending me her air mattress!].

Day two of my adventure started with a 5:00 am bus ride back to camp where walkers breakfasted and showered before the route opened at 7:30. I walked another 20 miles on Saturday and finished the day's route at 5:15 with only a small hobble to my gait. The second nite was spent in Tent City.

I finished the last 17 miles on Sunday around 3:30 pm. I am happy to say that at each pit stop I checked in faster than other walkers - I started out as the 1210th walker, by noon had moved up to 1100, and reached the holding area at walker 1040 [last year, I was easily losing ground as the day wore on]. I am sure the mile weather [with a high of only 90 degrees] made the biggest different in my accomplishment, but my renewed workouts at Fitness Partners surely helped my stamina! 

I ended the walk with with two minor blisters; my new Bite's did the trick and it looks like I'll have toenails for the coming sandal season! 

As always, closing ceremonies were bittersweet; a chance to reflect and remember why we each walk, and time to look forward to the world we are helping create -- a works without breast cancer. 

I may have put in the miles, but it would not have been possible without my generous friends and supporters! I have to send a shout out to some new friends as well.

This year, I met many amazing ladies, but none as much fun as Candace, Lisa and Alicia! We all met the first time just the night before the event. The four of us enjoyed a "pajama party" in the hotel the night before we started walking, and we spent the remaining three days together - laughing, walking, crying, walking, talking, walking - all walking for the same cause. We've built a sister-hood that will last us a lifetime. I might have made it through the sixty miles without the support of these three wonderful women -- but I wouldn't have wanted to do it! [*thanks ladies!]