Atlanta 3 day- day 3

Day 1 Day 2

Here it is, the final installment of my three day adventure.

Day 3

After a rather interrupted sleep, Erin and I finally pulled ourselves out of our sleeping bags at about 5 AM. We did our best to dress in the sleeping bags as it was a rather cold morning. We were tired but ready as we knew there were only 20 miles left on this adventure. 8 hours and we would be finished.

We dressed, tried really hard not to get wet as we took down our tent, and headed over for blister popping and breakfast. My legs were still wrapped from the night before and in addition to the extra warmth it provided I was happy to see that I could move fairly well with legs wrapped.

We trekked up the hill from camp to the bus waiting to take us to the starting point for the day. I tried to get some extra sleep in but instead listened to the chatter of excited women around me as they contemplated hot tubs, long showers, flushing toilets, and comfortable beds. Finally, we arrived at the starting point and clamored out of the busses. It was cold, even for this Utah girl, and I was excited to get moving in hopes of warming up.

We started off after taking some lovely pictures with our crew. I want to talk a bit about them here. These 350 people were amazing. They took such good care of us, helping us cross busy intersections, becoming cheerleaders, making sure we were fed, making sure we were warm, had towels, had medical care, had everything that we possibly needed. They were amazing. I never saw one without a smile or energy. They were never without encouragement or with a joke. These men and women were willing to make fools of themselves for us. I will ever be grateful to the countless faces I started to recognize but never met. They dealt with all the crap that we gave them with smiles and efficiency. They were true troopers through that whole weekend.

I was grateful that the first cheering station was only a mile away that morning. It really bolstered my thoughts and gave me a push I needed. I was amazed at how early people came out. They were willing to stand there at 8 in the morning while a fall chill still settled around us. They cheered on their loved ones and total strangers. They offered us candy and just a bit of their strength to lean on.

After the cheering station we had 3 miles till pit 2. Off we went. I soon lost the ace bandage on my left leg, as it had quickly become unwrapped. I realized how much support that small bandage was giving me at that time and I missed it. On top of that I had another blister forming on one of my toes, and strange as this sounds, it was by far the most painful of any of my blisters. We kept pushing on, passing the women handing out pompoms and the other women handing out candy (there was a lot of candy). About this time Erin started developing shin splints as well, she flagged down a van with about 1.5 miles left and I was on my own for a bit.

The highlight of this stretch was the girl scouts on the side of the road with their cookies. I skipped Girl Scout cookies this year, being a good girl but that Samoa looked too good to pass up. I later learned Erin wanted to stop her van and get the cookies. It was a great treat and with that little bit of sugar boost I surged forward to the next pit stop.

Once there I immediately took care of my blister. The medical line was long so I did not get my leg rewrapped- big mistake. I also spent time looking for Erin. We must have passed each other a few times as I was about to leave when I came across her. We smiled and then took off. A grab-n-go our next goal.

We had a slower pace then the previous two days, there were times I believe we actually hobbled. One of the walkers made a joke about hoping on the Marta, we knew where we were supposed to end up, surely Marta would get us close, we joked...the thing is I am not sure we were kidding. One of the best sights that I had was the Atlanta City limits sign. I think I almost burst into tears right there. Erin and I did stop for a picture though, smiling as brightly as we could. We continued to push through the Atlanta streets, loving the sun as we walked through it. There were cute older ladies in cars waving at us as we passed various parking lots. Each one brought a smile to my face. They had taken time out of their life to support me.

We finally made it to the grab-n-go excited for a brief rest and a potty break. It had finally started to warm up too. People were shedding their warmer clothes for cooler t-shirts and shorts. I was just grateful that the we could sit and rest in the sun for just a minute. We finally took off again, our next stop a cheering station.

We went through the streets of Atlanta. Erin found a great bistro to try out and we keep wondering how it was that miles had seemed to double in length since Friday. I also secretly wondered how I had the energy to dance through intersections yet barely be able to move my feet while walking. The cheering station was as awesome as the rest. We were given another boost of needed energy and took off. In the mass of people Erin and I would often get separated and I found myself yelling over my shoulder "You with me Duluth" only to hear a yes in reply. Funny thing is, Erin just started answering to Duluth. I never got a "What you're talking to me?" question or response. I guess it goes to prove that nicknaming friends is a long standing tradition in my family.

On our way we met someone who was a fire cracker. She had to weigh close to 270 lbs but she kept trucking along. We talked everything from politics to family. This is why we made our way through a church section of town. Really, I live in Utah where there is a church on every corner but never have I seen so many churches in one place at one time. This was also the only section of the walk that I really got angry in.

As we walked there was a group protesting abortion. They had the aborted fetus pictures and signs condemning candidates and different groups to hell. Now, they have their right to peacefully assemble and express their opinions, I will never doubt that nor will I ever take that away from them. My problem was over the past 2.5 days I had seen communities and people come together. I had seen people put aside themselves and their ideas to fight against a greater foe. And here were these people trying to remind us what divided us. I truly believe there is more that brings us together and makes us stronger than what divides us. Yet we let these things creep into our lives and take control. I was so angry that the reminder was placed there. I wanted nothing more than to go and tell them, "Can't you see the remarkable good people can do when we work together on things we can all agree on. Why don't we focus on that? Why don't we try to bring ourselves together rather than tear ourselves apart?" Yes, I was angry but I felt (and still feel) very protective of what I was doing.

We finally made it to Pit 3 or 4- I think it is 4 and I am forgetting a pit somewhere, but I couldn't tell you where. We had 3.5 miles to lunch at this point and 7.5 miles to the end. This also became the hardest stretch for Erin and I.

After leaving Pit 3/4 I knew that I needed to get my legs taken care of at lunch. We were literally hobbling down the street. Moving to the side for the faster walkers. Poor Erin was so tired she even forgot what side of the street Left was. That bit did make me giggle. We moved up Heartbreak Hill, each step harder than the one before. One cute crew member put his arm around me as we neared the top and told me that it was okay, that I was almost there. Now people had been telling me that all weekend, and I was starting not to believe them, but for some reason I believed this crew member, he had been out there with us, and I knew I was almost to the top of that stupid hill.

Finally Erin and I decided to flag down a van to take us to lunch. Our new problem became finding a van. We continued walking hoping beyond hope one would come. I kept praying for strength, remembering the promises made to me and the promises that had been kept. Finally, about a mile away from lunch we saw one heading towards us. I stood to the side of the road, put up my arms in a great big X and praised the "beer van" as they pulled over.

Now each of the vans had a theme. They are decorated in that theme; they play music supporting their theme. They all had candy, and prizes and the drivers were dressed up in the theme. There were the clowns, the 40s, the 60s, the beach bums, Hollywood, and the beer girls. Now this is what I remember about them- the beer girls drove around the first day and chanted "No beer until there's a cure." It made me smile and giggle and I knew I wanted to ride in their van. I was so excited when we got to; it was like a highlight for me. I leaned against that window though feeling beaten. I knew once we arrived at lunch there was only four miles and change until the end. But I really wondered if I could do it. I was exhausted and in more constant pain then I remember being in before. I needed help in and out of cars and the usually talkative bright Nat was gone.

We didn't even stop for food at lunch, heading instead to medical. The cute lady who took care of me the day before was there again and she quickly was taping me up and ace bandages were replaced with lovely white tape. I also had the lovely blister on my toe popped, much to the relief of my toes. Newly taped and taken care of Erin and I went and got lunch- which once again was freaking amazing. Then found a nice piece of asphalt and sat down. I ate what I could, not really hungry. Then I simply lay down on the parking lot. I think I could have fell asleep there, or at the very least stayed there until lunch closed, but I got up eventually. The sun felt good and the stretching felt even better. I was still moving slowly, but I was still moving and at that moment that was all that mattered to me.

We took a trip to the "magic portapotties" hoping that they would work again, and then stumbled out of lunch and into the park. As we walked we began to get a bit of our speed back. We moved quickly through the park and chatted with other walkers on the way. We made quite the pair. Me with my two legs taped and Erin with her one. It was also quite warm by that point so I had rolled up my sleeves and my pant legs. As we excited the park part of the bike troop went by. Their fairy wings and orange chest cones setting them apart as one of us. There was one man sitting at the exit of the park, watching all this and the parade of pink go by. We then had the following discussion:

"That's not even the strangest thing we've seen this weekend," Erin said.

"It's not?" he asked, with a dazed look on his face. (expression stolen from Erin)

"Oh, no," we assured him.

"Then what is?"

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you," I smiled and went on.

At that time I thought it was the 70 something man in a wedding dress at the lunch the day before, I was to be incorrect though, as we found something even better at Pit 5.

We then made our way through a really nice neighborhood. The neighbors were out playing music and just made us believe that we could do it. We had a Pit in about 2 miles and then only 1.5 miles to the end. We then were back on some major road, Peachtree I am sure. And crossing the freeway. We ran into a cute pair of ladies from Tennessee and enjoyed a lovely discussion with them. About this time someone came up behind us with a radio playing, "Yeah, I Feel Like a Woman." And wouldn't you know it right there on the streets of Atlanta 20 some women started singing along. We were in a pack walking down the street singing at the top of our lungs. Clapping along and just having a riot. The people who passed us in their cars thought we were crazy, and those waiting for the bus wondered what exactly was going on. I loved that moment. I have no idea who brought the music, and we didn’t hear it again once we reached pit 5 but it was a riot.

Okay. Pit 5 was 70 music based. It was a riot. That was the music my parents brought me up on. I was having a blast, and that was even better when the village people; yes, you read that right, came out to perform. It was freaking hilarious and also wins the strangest thing I had seen all weekend long. It was added to the fact that masses of women were out there screaming for them.

I was sad to leave pit 5 but there was only 1.3 miles left on this journey I had started 10 months before and I was eager to finish. So we set out. Enjoying the last bit of moments with our favorite crew members, getting a reluctant peace officer to shake his booty, and just imagining what we would do as we crossed the finish line. I was amazed at the walkers that opted to pop into a bar instead of finishing right then. But we finally made it to the Congress Center and I thought I would burst into tears at that point. The only problem was we were still about .25 miles away from the end. They had tricked us!

We keep walking, wondering where the end was, and not believing the volunteers who kept telling us we were almost there. But finally screaming family members were heard and the pink balloons that had been our starting off point for 3 days were in sight. I was so excited and wanted to cheer as we made our way through the cheering crowd to the holding pen where we were greeted by the walkers and crew who had already finished and made our way to claim our victory shirt.

I wish I could fully express the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that I had as we walked down. Tears streamed down my face and I knew that I had accomplished what I set out to do. I had proven to myself and all those who looked at me and at my body, that I could do this. I was doing something that helped thousands and thousands of women; I was part of something bigger than myself. And it felt good. As Erin and I took our victory picture I felt an even bigger sense of accomplishment. We had done it.

I wanted desperately too see my family. I wanted nothing more than to be back with them and share this with them. I talked to them on the phone, but it wasn’t enough.

Before we knew it, it was time for the closing ceremonies. One last chance to walk together and celebrate the reason we were here. We cheered for our crew, we cheered for the survivors who made the walk with us. We cheered for those who made this day possible. We were a wave of 3750 people strong, each sporting a new 3 day long-sleeved shirt and waving our pink and white pompoms. We were united. We were one.

We made our way into the arena where friends and family waited. I was clutching onto Erin, as I didn't want to loose her. But I looked over to my left and then started crying. I tugged on Erin's arm and pointed out a woman holding a breast cancer three day flag. It was Elyse. Our long lost friend from day one. We made our way over to her, called out her name and when she turned and saw us, all three of us started crying. To me that was yet one more miracle of the three day. We hadn't seen her in two days and amidst nearly 4000 people we found her. We all stood together at the closing ceremonies as we had at the opening ceremonies. Cheering in salute of those who had completed this journey with us.

The most poignant moment of the ceremonies was then the survivors entered. Each of the walkers took off one shoe in salute to them. It was incredibly moving, but then rather stinky after a moment.

Then like that it was done, the announcement we had raised 8.2 million dollars, the victory flag raised and we were dismissed. I felt a loss already, there was nothing more to do. There were no tents to set, no meals to eat, no police men stopping traffic to cross the street.

But we found Jenn who was there to take me back to hers and to cheer us on. Now I am going to get rather sentimental here, so if you don't want to read it skip down to the next paragraph. Jenn was my first online friend. Jenn is a woman who has always believed in me, who has let me into her life and never been anyone but herself. Jenn has accepted me from the get go. She knows my strengths as well as my weaknesses. She has pushed me to do better and allowed me to do the same for her. She is a true friend and I finally got to met her. Yes, she is this way in real life too. What you see is what you get with Jenn and I truly love her for it.

I was so excited to get to spend time with her and with Hogan. He has to be one of the cutest kids I have ever seen. Together with Erin and her dad we made our way out to collect luggage and make our way home. People stopped me to ask about the tape on my legs and marveled that I walked all that way with shin splints. I just smiled knowing what it had taken and knowing I would do it again in a heart beat.

All too soon it came time to say goodbye to Erin. The woman who had stood by my side for three days. Who had pushed me. And who had believed in me. It was hard, but we knew that this wasn't the end. There were plenty more 3 days to participate in in the future.

We hugged goodbye. joking about it being good riddance to make it just a bit easier. Then she and her dad went one way and Jenn. Hogan and I went another.

I think I will end the story of my three day here. There were a few more adventures on the way home (including Hogan throwing up). I missed my check in by three minutes for my flight and was lucky to get on one just an hour later, I broke down crying in the middle of the Atlanta airport, feet and legs swollen to the point that only flip flops fit and walking wasn't at all that easy. But the thing is, the three day story really does end here. It was an amazing moment. An amazing time in my life. One that I am extremely sentimental about. I still get tears in my eyes as I think about it.


"Glory only comes when one pursues their dreams." Rachel Scott

As I started this story I end it the same way. The past two days my students have been writing about this quote. At the start of the year I set out to fulfill a dream of fitness. One that I would be able to complete a 60 mile walk benefiting a cause that I feel strongly about. And I did it. I made a difference in the world and I proved to myself that I can do anything.

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Donate to Natalie's 2009 3 Day Cancer walk