3 Day Wrap Up

We made it! The 3 Day, 2010 was a huge success. What an absolutely amazing, inspiring, gut wrenching time it was.

This year we were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, no nor-easter's,no rain, so no cancellations. It was sunny and brisk. Perfect weather to walk 6o miles and that we did.

Day 1 started at the Willow Grove Mall. We wound our way through the burbs, into Chesnut Hill, through Mount Airy, into Rowborough and Manayunk, to Belmont Hills, to Wynnewood and finally into the park and down to Belmont Plateau. The cheering sections along the way were amazing and really helped to keep you going. Day one was done. We were exhausted but exhilarated. I totally messed up though and paid for it with two nasty blisters on the inside of my feet back towards my heel. It had called for some rain, so instead of my cushy socks I wore some dri fit ones. There must have been alot of rubbing, but it was pretty ugly when I took my sneaks off back at the hotel. But a little minor surgery and bandaids in my room and I was good to go. Friday night a few of us went to a local pub for dinner and then went back to hotel to soak our feet in hot tub. Then it was early to bed.

Day 2 began at Belmont Plateau, we walked up the hill overlooking the city as the sun rose. It was gorgeous. Each morning a man stood at the top of the hill with his two dogs and quietly cheered us on and said thank you each day. He told us we were amazing angels. There were so many people like this throughout the journey, setting up shop at different locations along the way, giving you that extra boost just when you thought you couldnt take it anymore.

Day 2 was spent out on the Main Line. We did Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Havertown. Somewhere in Haverford we came up to this amazing cheering section near a firehouse. It brought chills to my spine as we walked closer, it was so cool to see so many people out cheering and yelling, handing out goodies, and tissues. A woman in front of us spotted her husband and ran over crying and hugging him, I got tears in my eyes. Then I heard a commotion in front of me and looked up to see Kevin, Alek and Maks and Tim and Megs. It was such a surprise, I immediately choked up hugging Kevin and the boys. Alek still had his baseball uniform on from earlier. They were a sight for sore eyes and sore legs. Kevin had gone on line to figure out where the cheering stations were that day and headed down. I love him for doing that, I know it was alot handling the boys all weekend with games and such and to manage to sneak that it, well it was just perfect. Exactly what we needed to keep moving forward on our longest walk day.

Day 2 was rough, but it is easy to keep moving forward as you walk past survivors and family members cheering you on, or walk next to someone who just finished chemo a month ago. Its easy to keep walking when you see signs of remembrance of those who have passed on. The pain in your feet, legs, and back is nothing compared to cancer, so it is easy to keep moving forward. Day 2 ended back at the plateau. We all climbed back in our limo and headed back to camp Four Seasons. We were definitely spoiled during this. I cannot imagine walking all those miles and then sleeping in a tent. God bless all those who did. You amaze me! I was in a plush bed and my body ached each morning.

Saturday night we enjoyed a great dinner as a team at the hotel and then proceeded to watch the Phillies blow another game. What a disappointment for us baseball fans.

We headed to bed to get some good sleep for our final day.

Again we started at the plateau. We walked throughout fairmont park and into the zoo. We got to see the baby giraffe. It was great seeing all the people cheer us on, I think the animals were too!

We wound our way through downtown Philly and all the usual sights. We were all hurting. It was definitely gut check time. You were afraid to sit down because you might not get back up. I could feel the blister on my one foot filling back up and this bone pain on my right foot was making me nauseous. We decided to forgo a sit down lunch as the finish line was less then 2 miles from there. We trudged forward past the stadiums as we listened to the Eagles score a couple touchdowns! Finally the end was in sight, the Navy Yard. It was so amazing to walk in there, to walk through the finish line with people cheering and crying. What a journey it was. Such an amazing experience, the people we met along the way, the stories told to us, it was so inspirational. I am so proud of the Rack Pack, we did it-we made it and we raised $26,000!

Thanks to all who donated, inspired and cheered us on.

To those who we walked in honor of including my Pink Warriors: Kerry, Deb, Dale, Stacie and Deb: You are strong, beautiful, and amazing women, Your fight, drive and determination is awe inspiring and I hope very soon this walk will no longer be necessary!

Like a woman we met along the way said:

"I hope one day soon, pink will go back to just being a color"

Go to my Flickr page to see the remainder of our pics and video of us crossing the finish line!

The Rack Pack thanks you for your "support"!!