3-Day Thursday: 60 miles, 3 days, 1 mission. Our Boston 3-Day Walk

We started in the rain (and it stayed with us for five hours), but it couldn’t dampen our spirits! We handed the umbrella to a spectator at Opening Ceremonies, and walked with plastic grocery bags tied around our feet until they wore away.

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This gang cheered us on all thru the 3 days.  There were enthusiastic spectators (and spectacles!) along the route.

We were able to ditch the fashionable rain ponchos around noon; they didn’t match the pink theme!

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This trio was a constant cheering section along the route.  We dubbed them the “MAN i CURES” because we first spotted them on the porch of a nail salon (out of the rain) around 7 Friday morning.

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Check out the fancy footwear!  Real men wear pink!

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On Day 1 we walked into Base Camp carrying the “I’m Walking for the Future” flag.  Others took turns carrying “I’m Walking for … My Sister, My Mother, My Best Friend, My Partner, My Wife, My Grandmother”, etc.

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Many supporters along the route held signs honoring those who are fighting Breast Cancer; there were many survivors holding “thank you” banners.

Lots of walkers wore signs or ribbons honoring those they were walking for.  These wise words from a woman fighting Breast Cancer are inspirational.  A group of her friends walked in her honor and shared her message.

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Nancy’s sister made these gorgeous butterfly wings!  They have the names I walked in honor/memory of on pink hearts, and the names of my supporters on the white wings.

Yes, we wore wings every mile of the journey.  I like to think they made our steps just a little lighter!

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Men with Heart cheered the walkers in every afternoon, and sent us off every morning.

Many in their group also walked and offered support along the way.

They say “do something bold!” and I did!  I put out a call for cards of encouragement, and you responded!  There were 17 pieces of mail for me to open and share your kind words with other walkers while we waited in the shower line.  Thank you!

Home sweet home!  A sea of hot pink 2-man (or woman!) tents.

After all that walking, we slept soundly!

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Helpful Crew reminded us to fill our water bottles, and sent us on our way down the hill out of Base Camp each morning (yes, we climbed UP that hill at the end of the day!)

I didn’t get pics of all the great volunteers – Safety in orange shirts helped us cross intersections; Medical in red assessed blisters and other walker injuries, Crew in teal served meals, kept us hydrated, and manned the pit stops and lunch stations.

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The Youth Corps also saw us out in the mornings.  This group of teens is inspiring and energetic, always willing to help out where needed.

On Saturday evening there was a program which allowed them to share their reasons for being involved with The Breast Cancer 3-Day.

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Each pit stop, “grab and go”, and lunch station had a theme.  The crew pulled it together with costumes, decorations, and sometimes music.

Here we’re in Nerdville, complete with beanies, athletic socks, taped glasses, pocket protectors, and LOTS of plaid!

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Yes, it’s true, everyone loves a nerd!

Note the line of porta-potties in the background.  I will never take a flush toilet for granted!

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Along the route, stores, restaurants, bars, and residents opened their doors and offered cold drinks and the coveted flush toilet!

This farm market had beverages and a bathroom, and pink ribbon balloons for those who wanted them.

In sections of the walk, people lined their blocks with hoses and sprinklers running to cool us down, offering baskets with lollipops, ice pops, bubble gum, etc.  Just when we started to sag we’d hear a cheer up ahead and pick up our feet to meet it.

Some walking teams had roving cheering stations that were in themed clothing and boosted all the walkers along.  This is Noochie and her human friend Lisa, part of the Pink Angels team (thanks to Amy for ID-ing them!)

The husband and son of my tent-mate popped up all along the route, cooling off the walkers with spritzes of water from spray bottles.

Sunday morning.  We dismantled our tents and stacked them to be prepped for another group of 3-Day Walkers.

Base Camp was broken down and partially reassembled at Closing Ceremonies.

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Nancy and I depart Base Camp for Day 3!

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Officers in all the towns and cities we passed through helped keep us safe.

Here I was “arrested” for walking without a license

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Nancy and I cross the “Smoot” bridge from Cambridge into Boston.

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Here’s that “do something bold” again …

Jill over at Fizzy Thoughts wrote one of her famous (infamous?) parodies in honor of my walk.  Well, in honor of “MaDawnNa’s” walk.

This pose seemed appropriate!

Closing Ceremonies at UMass Boston/Dorchester.  The speaker announced that our 1600 walkers and volunteers raised $4million for breast cancer research, education, and treatment.  And, yes, if you’re inspired to contribute to my fundraising efforts, the online form is still open!

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All walkers raised a shoe in honor of the Survivors who walked the 3-Day.

The weekend was phenomenal – inspiring and invigorating!  Quite the range of emotions, from laughter to tears … and everything in between!

If you’d like a rough sketch of where we walked, this map outlines the 2009 Boston 3-Day route.

I haven’t put every detail into this post (I know, it went on longer than I planned!).  Go ahead and ask any questions you have.  Even though the Boston 3-Day has passed, I’ll continue the 3-Day Thursday posts twice a month while the other Walks are happening around the country.

I hope to walk in another 3-Day event next year, and I think it would be fun to walk in a different city.  Hmm, I was able to convince several bloggers to try a 4-week “lifestyle challenge” (diet) with me; will I be able to scare up some 3-Day Walkers?  How about “Booking for a Cure!” for a team name!?

Search my “3-Day Thursday” posts to learn more about this incredible event!