Monday, March 1, 2010
DFW 2010
It's official! I am now registered for the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day! And not only am I registered to participate, so is Dan. We will not be walking this year, but we are participating as Crew Members. I am not sure yet of our our assignment, but we will keep you posted.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Closing Ceremonies
Closing Ceremonies was an inspiring event. It certainly assured the reason I entered this journey. There was 7.5 million dollars raised at the Dallas Fort Worth 3-Day, and without that and the 2,400 walkers, those ladies walking in the pink shirts could not have been there. Those are the breast cancer survivors that participated in the 3-Day. I didn't really get the chance to meet any of these women, but I'm sure they all have an inspiring story to tell. This was definately and event and a journey that I will never forget. Almost a year of my life was committed to this, and I would do it again. It is for such a great cause! These women and men walk for every woman you know and love!!!!Saturday, November 28, 2009
Z-Bra Girls
That is the name of my team, and a includes 8 lovely ladies, and 1 pretty cool dude! Sara Portillo and her mom Nina Rangel have had this team for 5 years. This was the first year that there were more teammates on the team besides the two of them. They always work crew and drive a Sweep Van. Until this year, one of Nina's best friends passed away of breast cancer in mid-July, and she decided she was walking. Sara's brother, Ernie, decided to join her on the Sweep Van this year. Our walkers included Nina Rangel, Wendy White, Rochelle Gillum, Brandy Byers, Megan LaBounty, Louise Davis, and myself. These women were my second family for 10 months. All of these women were such an inspiration to me in some way or another. Those who couldn't make the entire walk, yet came back fighting against the odds and finished up wither the last day or last 6 miles, which was tough on them, those who were hurting, but perservered through the entire walk, and Rochelle (in a catergory all by herself, Love you Rochelle), who never complained, said anything hurt, had a smile on her face the entire 60 miles, and just kept on going. Nina, you could see the push in her face. You knew she was going to walk those 60 miles and each step was for her friend, Margaret and her mother, Marina.
Spending those 3-Days with these ladies definately made everything much easier. You really get to know people when you sleep, eat, and potty together for 3 days! We had such a great time; we laughed, we cried, we sweated, and we hurt, and we did it all together. The women on my team are wonderful women, and I would not have wanted to do this any other way.
Spending those 3-Days with these ladies definately made everything much easier. You really get to know people when you sleep, eat, and potty together for 3 days! We had such a great time; we laughed, we cried, we sweated, and we hurt, and we did it all together. The women on my team are wonderful women, and I would not have wanted to do this any other way.
My Family
This is Nathan rubbing his brother, Joshy, because he doesn't feel good!
At this point, you might be asking "Where was your family for these 3 Days?". They were right beside me (not literally). Dan was such a trooper with the boys. He had decided that he would take the boys to every cheer station, until I talked him out of a couple of the early ones. He did bring them to many of the cheer stations and even sometimes just found spots along the route to park and get out so I could see them. The first day he endured a couple of hours of waiting to see MOMMY. He had even helped the boys make signs for the walkers and for their MOMMY. I was able to stop for a few minutes along the way to visit. It was so encouraging and motivating to see them along the way. On Sunday morning, as we entered Pit Stop 2, I could feel my phone ringing. It was Dan in somewhat of a panic to tell me that Josh was having an asthma attach and they were heading back to Tyler so he could have a breathing treatment. At this point, I was so sad because they had been there the entire way, and now they were having to end the journey short, but at the same time, I was also scared for Josh and for Dan. I get off the phone and tears just start to stream down my face. I explain what is going on to my teammates and immediately two of them start making calls to family to go find breathing machines and medicine. One of them was able to get all the parts to the machine and medicine, so Dan met her husband at their house. Josh was able to get a breathing treatment, and the family was generous enough to let Dan take the machine and medicines with him. I was able to spend some time with them at Lunch Break, although Josh was asleep. They made it to the cheer station. It was such a sweet sight to see them when I took my last steps of the 3-Day. They were there to support me the entire way, until the end.
And, after the 3-Day Josh had woken up and felt much better, so we went and had a nice dinner at Uncle Julio's. Boy did it hit the spot!!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
DAY 3
Oh, the long awaited Day 3! This day started again at 5am with getting dressed (getting dressed on the 3-day for me meant, changing my pants and putting on a jacket. Lots of people sleep in their walking clothes to save time in the mornings), pack up your 35 lb bag, load luggage onto the truck, start taking down the tent until someone comes to rescue you, breakfast, and off to the bus. 
At 6:20, all 7 Z-Bra Girls loaded a bus to Pit Stop 1, and the route opened at 6:50am. 
Day 3's route is the shortest of them all, and I'm sure you can understand why. We walked through beautiful Highland Park, had lunch near Turtle Creek, continued walking through Victory Park and Downtown Dallas. We saw our destination of Fair Park many times through the winding route, but in order to get in the mileage we couldn't take the straight path. 
Finally at 3:35pm we arrived at Fair Park. The Z-Bra girls, arm in arm, walked into the Holding area. 
At 6:20, all 7 Z-Bra Girls loaded a bus to Pit Stop 1, and the route opened at 6:50am. Day 3's route is the shortest of them all, and I'm sure you can understand why. We walked through beautiful Highland Park, had lunch near Turtle Creek, continued walking through Victory Park and Downtown Dallas. We saw our destination of Fair Park many times through the winding route, but in order to get in the mileage we couldn't take the straight path. Finally at 3:35pm we arrived at Fair Park. The Z-Bra girls, arm in arm, walked into the Holding area. Once you got to holding there were walkers, families, and friends there to cheer you on to the last steps. My family was there waiting for me to take those last few steps of the 60 miles!
DAY 2
Rochelle and Robyn, and Brandy in the background, ready for Day 2! See those bunny ears on Rochelle....they must have given her some Energizer energy because she was ready to go on Day 2!!!!
Rows of Pink Tents that we woke up to and came "home" to.
Some of the sites along the walk on Day 2
OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH DAY 2! That is what I sounded like at 5am as an unrested 3-day walker. Here we are DAY 2! Up and at 'em! Get dressed, hair in ponytail, breakfast, foot and shoe preparation, and off to the line-up the Z-Bra Girls went. We had decided as a team that we would get closer to the front of the walker pack on Day 2 since we were getting the "10 minute warnings" at Pit Stops on Day 1. We wanted to have plenty of time to do the necessary things such as potty, eat, drink, and rest. This experience was somewhat like potty training, in that you hear "don't forget to drink" and "relieve yourself" about every 15 minutes along the walk. The only exception is that most toddlers don't potty train in port-a-potties. Let me assure you that I do not want to see a port-a-potty for a long time. On Day 2 our team took a split-up approach. We had two members who had more energy than the Energizer Bunny himself, and then there were 4 of us that weren't so energetic. We had two end up catching the bus, so we ended up having 2 groups of 2 that day. While we were crossing the LONG Addison bridge, which really probably doesn't seem that long when you're driving over it, but it is a sight to see, we got word back from our girls at camp that we had one the Tent Decorating Contest. 
Those awesome words came at such a great time in the walk for most of us. It energized us to keep going. About 3 miles from camp, I starting having knee problems. It was hard to get up and down curbs, and it was slowing me down a bit. By the time we got back to camp, I was fully limping. Even though our team split, the 4 of us who continued the walk all met outside of camp and walked into camp together. Now that's a TEAM! Our teammate who had been in the hospital the day before was back at camp waiting to join us for the fun evening and to perservere through Day 3. After dinner, I went to the medical tent and saw a camp chiropractor. She iced my knee and did some crazy adjustments to my body, and by the end of the night my knee felt much better. So much that I was dancing at the showers. I had thoughts of Day 2 being the hardest day during the 3 days, and I'd have to say that my thoughts were correct. I think because I had these thoughts and had prepared myself for this challenge, I was much more able to handle the things that came my way.
Rows of Pink Tents that we woke up to and came "home" to.
Some of the sites along the walk on Day 2
OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH DAY 2! That is what I sounded like at 5am as an unrested 3-day walker. Here we are DAY 2! Up and at 'em! Get dressed, hair in ponytail, breakfast, foot and shoe preparation, and off to the line-up the Z-Bra Girls went. We had decided as a team that we would get closer to the front of the walker pack on Day 2 since we were getting the "10 minute warnings" at Pit Stops on Day 1. We wanted to have plenty of time to do the necessary things such as potty, eat, drink, and rest. This experience was somewhat like potty training, in that you hear "don't forget to drink" and "relieve yourself" about every 15 minutes along the walk. The only exception is that most toddlers don't potty train in port-a-potties. Let me assure you that I do not want to see a port-a-potty for a long time. On Day 2 our team took a split-up approach. We had two members who had more energy than the Energizer Bunny himself, and then there were 4 of us that weren't so energetic. We had two end up catching the bus, so we ended up having 2 groups of 2 that day. While we were crossing the LONG Addison bridge, which really probably doesn't seem that long when you're driving over it, but it is a sight to see, we got word back from our girls at camp that we had one the Tent Decorating Contest. Those awesome words came at such a great time in the walk for most of us. It energized us to keep going. About 3 miles from camp, I starting having knee problems. It was hard to get up and down curbs, and it was slowing me down a bit. By the time we got back to camp, I was fully limping. Even though our team split, the 4 of us who continued the walk all met outside of camp and walked into camp together. Now that's a TEAM! Our teammate who had been in the hospital the day before was back at camp waiting to join us for the fun evening and to perservere through Day 3. After dinner, I went to the medical tent and saw a camp chiropractor. She iced my knee and did some crazy adjustments to my body, and by the end of the night my knee felt much better. So much that I was dancing at the showers. I had thoughts of Day 2 being the hardest day during the 3 days, and I'd have to say that my thoughts were correct. I think because I had these thoughts and had prepared myself for this challenge, I was much more able to handle the things that came my way.We had a fun evening at dinner with lots of laughts, and was even able to enjoy the game of the evening with one of our teammates on stage. She did a fabulous job!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Day 1
I call this one "Fun at 4am"!!!
Day 1 began at 4am waking up with a nervous feeling. The team trip to the Plano Center included energizing music, laughs, camera flashes, laughs, Mama Nina Breakfast Tacos, and more laughs. We patiently waited for opening ceremonies to begin, checking out the scenery, cameras flashing, foot and shoe preparation, and still nervous all the while. 
Opening Ceremonies began at 7am, and included inspiring words and breast cancer survivors. The Z-Bra Girls are off on the route at 7:50am. We were towards the back of the walker pack due to a medical incident with another walker at the exit of Opening Ceremonies. Getting outside of those gates was such a great feeling, yet still nervous and thinking "There is still so much left". I was clueless as to what to expect for the next 3 days of my life. Yet, knew it couldn't be near as bad as someone faced with battling Breast Cancer.
Opening Ceremonies began at 7am, and included inspiring words and breast cancer survivors. The Z-Bra Girls are off on the route at 7:50am. We were towards the back of the walker pack due to a medical incident with another walker at the exit of Opening Ceremonies. Getting outside of those gates was such a great feeling, yet still nervous and thinking "There is still so much left". I was clueless as to what to expect for the next 3 days of my life. Yet, knew it couldn't be near as bad as someone faced with battling Breast Cancer. Some of the moments to remember on Day 1 were the beautiful weather that God graced us with, elementary students standing outside their school to cheer, costumes that many walkers and cheerers wore
, seeing the sweep vans for the first time (sweep vans come by to pick up walkers who need a hitch to the next Pit Stop), a dehydrated teammate who had to go to Medical City, finding items on the scavenger hunt, the full cheer stations, and of course, the end of that 20 mile day. We were 1/3 of the way through!!!!
, seeing the sweep vans for the first time (sweep vans come by to pick up walkers who need a hitch to the next Pit Stop), a dehydrated teammate who had to go to Medical City, finding items on the scavenger hunt, the full cheer stations, and of course, the end of that 20 mile day. We were 1/3 of the way through!!!!
Arriving to camp at 5pm felt like such a victory. I never thought I would enjoy seeing the sight of a tent that I would actually be sleeping in so much. Once we got back to cap, it wasn't time to wind down. The evening concluded with find your bag, roll your 35 lb. bag to your tent site, set-up your tent (although we had some boy scouts come rescue us), decorate the tents, check out the grounds, dinner and entertainment, and finally shower in the shower truck (which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, way better than at campgrounds), wind down and hit the bed at 9:30pm. Day 1's night of rest was not so restful. I must say, some of that nervous feeling still lingered.
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