To Days to Come: Cleveland 3-day--Day 1

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.-- Margaret Mead

I believe this statement, history has proven it, my life has proven it, and I believe that you don't have to have money or power to change the world, simply the heart and the determination. For me I have decided to fight cancer and I do all that I can to fight it. This last weekend I walked 60 miles (the second time in nine months) to do that.

Nine months ago I walked into camp in Atlanta having just finished my first day of my first three day. I was overcome with emotion and knew that I had to do this again. Erin looked at me as if I was crazy, and perhaps I am, but we she followed me to the tent to sign up. We sent a post card to Heather and told her we were coming to Cleveland and that we wanted her to join us. Partly out of guilt, partly out of interest, and partly at out devotion Heather decided to join us in this year's adventure.

This year of training was full with up and downs, many times I was facing bouts of depression, not knowing if I had the strength to make it yet another 60 miles. I drew strength from so many though and that is what got me through some rough training months and some tough fund raising.

I arrived in Cleveland the Tuesday before the three day to be with Heather and visit some of the sites. Heather and I instantly picked up our friendship, that is one thing that always amazes me about meeting online friends, it is not like meeting a stranger--even though they technically are. We had dinner together, I met her daughter, we sat and talked and it was fantastic.

On Thursday, after we picked up Erin, our team was together and I realized that this was going to be a good thing. Though I was still nervous about starting my 60 mile journey the next day I knew that the three of us were going to get on fabulously.

Heather and I were both honor flag carriers, this was fantastic and we were both honored to do so. This meant that we had to attend an afternoon rehearsal. That was when I first saw our starting point. It was on Lake Erie and it looked over downtown Cleveland. Seeing the pink trucks filled me with and overwhelm sense of serenity. I knew that I was supposed to be there. I cried when they placed the My Father flag in my hand and each time I carried it I felt sense of pride and would often tear up. My father is a wonderful man and a cancer survivor. The tears flowed freely during that afternoon and I knew that they would come even more the next day.

The next morning Erin and I woke up early to a torrential rain storm. I have to admit I was ready to cry for different reasons then. I had to walk in the rain last year and I wasn't ready to do it again. I sat there and watched the rain pound against the windows, a boa sitting on my head at 4:30 in the morning. I was willing it to stop, but no end seemed in sight. I was so scared I had to walk in the rain again and any confidence that I had rallied seemed to drain away. Heather's friend was a champion though, she drove through one of the worse rain storms I had ever seen. We arrived at the drop off site to our pirate traffic crew, cracking jokes in the rain and full of good spirits. I felt my spirits began to rise as I was once again immersed in a group of people who were willing to take on a rather formidable task.

We picked up our bunny ears from the Enterprise representatives and we stood in the rain snapping pictures and really hoping that the rain would stop. Heather and I left Erin and made our way behind stage, with plans to meet up after the ceremonies. As we stood there the rain began to let up and I felt that by the time we started that I could ditch the poncho.

Opening ceremonies was powerful. Most the time I was just hoping that I wouldnt slip and fall, but it was amazing to be surrounded by a sea of pink and know that I was part of something that was bigger than myself. We walked through the gates and I felt energized. I was in my element. If anyone knew about hard three days, that was me. If anyone knew about the joy of the three day, that was me. This is where I was supposed to be.

We walked through downtown Cleveland and Heather gave us a running commentary and I learned quite a bit about the city. it was a fantastic walking tour. We started walking with a man sporting a pink beard. We soon found out that this was Pink Beard Barry's 45 walk and he was scheduled to walk ten more this year and crew the last five. I couldn't imagine having the strength and stamina to do the walk so many times. I was in awe of this man, and during the rest of the time I saw him on the walk I was amazed that he always seemed to be doing well. I figured if I could keep up with him I was doing okay as well.

We wound our way through two pit stops meeting two friends that would accompany us the rest of the journey. Woo-hoo man and Jerry. Woo hoo-man is a 20 something man whose mother continues to walk in the 3-day. He could be heard from blocks away yelling woo-hoo and holding aloft a sign stating Woo-hoo. We started to look forward to his random appearances and loved to hear him cheering us on. Jerry became our personal cheerleader. He was on the route three or four times a day, cheering us on and making us feel like heroes. I looked forward to seeing Jerry at each step and he always seemed to pop up just when i needed his bit of support.

We continued on our way and the sun came out and was shining now. Heather, knowing that I would get moody if I hadn't eaten, made me stop and eat at each pit. it is funny the things you remember about the 3-day. The food is one of them. They were the same meals that they had last year but for some reason the Uncrustables and the bananas seem to taste better at the pits then at home.

We finally hit lunch, mile 12, and I was so happy that I didn't have shin splints. It was a minor victory after what I went through in Atlanta. We enjoyed our time at lunch, and for me the only downside was that I did not have any clean socks. I had left them in my bag and was forced to walk in my now wet and bloody socks. The back of my heels had started bleeding profusely, the back of the heel torn away on both legs. Armed with wet socks, but a full belly we started off again.

About a quarter mile after lunch walking through the most beautiful area that we had seen I had the overwhelming urge to pee. It was crazy as I had gone twice at lunch but my bladder was full again! Heather and I were contemplating committing an illegal act and using the woods as our own personal bathroom. Fortunately at the moment the Sole Patrol- On a mission from God to put the band back together Team-For-A-Breast. The nice ladies in suits came and picked us up and took us to Pit 4 where the lovely porta-potties waited. We had to miss a cheering station to use the bathroom, but it was worth it. While we waited for Erin we stretched and took a bit of a nap maybe, it was fantastic. There was the moment when there was a nice pop and twinge that went through my back and my knee and at that moment I let out a sigh of relief.

When Erin got there we continued to walk and I loved the conversations that we had. We talked about Doctor Who, online friends, Harry Potter, talking about my religion, Heather’s religion. There was strawberry candies that I hadn’t had in years that I was able to eat once again, taking me back to my childhood. There were tears as we passed through small cheering stations, just grateful people that were there giving us the bit of boost we needed. <

The three of us hobbled through the sun, just laughing and enjoying our company. Heather and Erin jokingly (or not so jokingly) called me Hermione as we walked as I was a safety monitor. I would call out something or tell them about rule breaking they would say “yes, Hermione.” We cheered on the cute kids-crew that would pipe us music and gave us a fun way to enjoy the rest of the day. Every time that the hula van went by Heather talked about the inappropriate picture she wanted to take with it. These talks filled us through the really long three miles to the grab and go it was horrible. One thing that got us through was there was a woman standing outside her door crying, knowing that we were doing something that also overwhelmed her was overwhelming to me. If I wasn’t sweaty and gross I would have gone to give her a hug and told her it would be okay. There was even one moment that my cell phone sounded and the Tardis sound split the air, Heather and I both had a moment of hope that the Doctor was there to save us, then that hope died.

Finally we reached the park where we were to spend the next two nights, our home away from home to enjoy. The music of Michael Jackson pulled us forward towards our goal and I felt like I needed to dance to Billy Jean as I came in. We were greeted by Hug lady, the woman that was there to simply give us a hug.

We went to pick up our luggage and it was so easy to find this year. Then we went to put up the tent, for some reason this was easier this year. We set up our pink Tardis and were so proud of our geekiness. The Hermits United sign was placed in the front and then we were ready.

I actually got two lovely letters from my parents. I felt so proud to be their daughter and so loved. We then headed to dinner, as we are rule followers, and poor Heather started getting sick. I am pretty sure that she was dehydrated. I felt so bad for her, after a while she started to get better. We headed to the showers hoping that all of us would feel better. When we got there there were lines that made you get up and go, we decided to be rebels in our own right and start a rebellion. We started a sit in and told them just to remember who was in front of them. That meant that we didn’t need to move until it was time to move to the “prime seats

After showers we headed to medical where Erin got a nice shin massage and I got my blisters lanced. This would lead to later complications; but that is a story for another time. I lost my camera in medical..thankfully we found it soon after.

We then went to 3-day main street, and though we were too late for the massages we did get an awesome team pic and I got to spin a wheel and won a bandana;what a perfect gift for me. We also bought $11 dollar buttons, I don't remember them being that expensive last year.

Finally it was time to go to bed, 22 miles behind us, ready to face the 21 miles that we had the next day.