Arizona 3-Day Walk Pictures!

Suddenly all those sports drinks are seeming like a BAD idea!

Pink Tent City - No  green bologna here!

 

I hope they are using official Sharpie Markers!

If you enjoy drums with your bagpipes you really must see/hear The Wicked Tinkers!

I'll have pie ala mode, thank you!

The pure unbridled joy of one who has made it to the end and did not have to face the wrath of Jeannie for getting on the sweep bus!

It looks like she is relaxing. . .  she's just doing her pilates because the walk isn't quite enough of a work out.

Be vewy vewy quiet. . . .  Kristine is sleeping.

Wendy isn't in this picture because she thought it would be more challenging to swing across the bottom of the bridge like tarzan.

 
Nos dames de danse et de fendage perpétuels.

One of the many signs of encouragment in our neighborhood.  Thanks Deanna!

Much much nicer than the way I had phrased the same sentiment.

Don't ya just want to hug them?  Or invite them to your next party?

Otter Pop People Rock!

So Team H.O.P.E. and Simply the Breast have returned triumphant!   None of them had to ride the sweep bus.  Not that there would be any shame in riding the sweep bus the last couple miles but I guess Jeannie threatened to pull them off the bus and to beat them senseless if they did motivated everyone to keep walking.

 

My ladies did not lose any toenails - which I guess is a fairly common malady of 3-day walkers. (and of people who get run over by sweep buses)  There were some aches and pains but nothing that immobilized or demoralized them!  Unsurprisingly, Wendy walked a little too fast to stay with the group.  She apparently arrived at the lunch stop a full half hour before it opened on the second day.   I didn't even know Wendy ate lunch!  

 

The ladies were incredibly touched and inspired by all the support of the community.  I guess all the official cheering stations were packed full of well wishers.  And I guess some of the well-wishers even ventured away from the official cheer stations and just greeted and cheered and gave them refreshments all along the walk.  

 

They were thankful for all the support and all the refreshments; but the ones they mentioned by name more than once were the Otter Pops.  Otter Pops are apparently the perfect size and sweetness and everything.  I am not discounting the generosity of companies that provide refreshments to events like this - but there is something so incredibly generous about a private person buying, freezing, and distributing Otter Pops just because.

 

Did you know that Otter Pops have characters for each flavor?  I have a ton of other Otter Pop info to share with y’all later – but right now we are focused on the people providing the Otter Pops, not the pops themselves! 

 

We don’t know who these people were but we are thankful and grateful!   

 

We were so indebted to so many before the sun even came up Friday morning; and the kindness continues.  Our ladies were very impressed with the motorcycle and bicycle teams.  They also liked this guy:

 

They want to thank the lady who passed out Trivial Pursuit cards, whoever she is.  (Hmmpf!  If I had known it was going to be a walking trivia game I might have signed up to walk.  But then I would have tried to get on the sweep bus and then it would have turned ugly) 

 

I hope to have more pictures soon! 

 

On a final note.  I do not ever like to intrude upon another persons grief.  I almost didn’t mention this because it seems private ~ but this is why folks are out there raising money and awareness so . . .

 

Our ladies saw a woman along the walk that just melted their hearts.  This woman was wearing a pink t-shirt in honor of her two daughters who had both died of breast cancer.  That is just unimaginable to me and when Jeannie told me about it I cried at the absolute tragedy of that, but also the hope and the love evidenced by this woman’s support of the walkers. 

  

And on the third day. . .

It is cold out there right now.  And dark!  And expected to be 82 degrees later; so long underwear is probably illadvised.  Yeah, yeah, yeah I know some of y'all don't think 40-50 degrees calls for thermal long johns but around here it does.  

So today our ladies walk through Tempe and into Scottsdale.   I don't have pictures yet of yesterdays adventure through Guadalupe and Awautukee but I'll try to get those as soon as possible.  

I like the route that the walkers are on.  If I were actually walking I would want Saturday to be a point A to Point B thing rather than a loop.  Which is odd since I'm much more loopy than I am linear!   

Much of the Phoenix area is under construction at any given time - the three day walk folks have pulled off a small miracle in setting up a 60 mile course that does not go through multiple construction zones.  I also understand that they have supplied enough port-a-potties. That is something some of these 5K walk planners could think about.  

I know most people can walk the 5K in an hour or so and one wouldn't think a person would need a rest stop, but it's not like you step out of the port-a-john and walk 3 miles and that's it.  You arrive at the event early, you drink some coffee while waiting to check in, you hit the port-a-potties and then you stand around with your group near the starting area for a while and then you drink some water and next thing you know you are 3 miles from the nearest restroom and walking a bit faster.  Which leads me to believe the absence of port-a-potties along the route is a deliberate attempt to  make slow people keep up with the herd!

I can't go to the Mill Avenue cheering station today since I'm up to my neck in gingerbread but I'll be think about our ladies!  I am just flat out amazed that everyday people (not that my ladies are not exceptional!)  can do this.  When I look at the marathons and triathlons and such I just sort of dismiss those people as being freakishly in good shape.  Yesterday I saw a lady walking in this 3day that is my size!  (She wasn't smoking so she had that edge on me!)   The notion of being able to do something extremely difficult and challenging and yet still doable for a 'normal' person is such a great concept!

Since today is the final day I will post the official 3day "tips on how to help your walker make a smooth transition back to their daily routine "  It's not as if they have Stockholm syndrome here!  But nonetheless here they are:

After the Event
Your participant has participated in two emotional celebrations, a challenging 60-mile journey and a life-changing experience in just three days. Now, it’s time to go back home. Here are some tips on how to help your walker make a smooth transition back to their daily routine.

• Have a welcome home meal prepared and make it an evening of rest and relaxation.
• Encourage your participant to share the Breast Cancer 3-Day experience.
• If you can’t attend the Closing Ceremony, be sure to ask how much money was raised!
• Unpack, clean and put away gear.
• Share the newspaper articles or news footage that you’ve collected over the weekend.
• The following day, give your participant a massage or schedule a day of pampering at a spa.
• In the days to come, help your participant write thank you notes.
• Print pictures and assemble a scrapbook.
• Help your participant plan a reunion party to keep in touch with other walkers.
• Get ready to do it all over again! Maybe you’ll be joining the Breast Cancer 3-Day in 2009!

 I can't wait to see the scrapbook Mr. Moore has made for Jeannie!  As for the welcome home meal; well let's just say that Jeannie's mother is in town so that is covered.  I am not slamming Mr. Moore here.  Not at all.  If Jeannie asked him to weld a 20 foot ribbon to the front gate he would happily (and skillfully) do it.  

Yep, this definitely feels more like girlfriend advice than husband advice!  Yes, I'm definitely up for planning a reunion party!  Details to follow!

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And they're off!

No, seriously ~ these ladies are off.  The weather outside is perfect; for light gardening or maybe reading a book.  It is currently 81 degrees, which is apparently a bit warm for walking 20 miles in.  

You know how I mentioned that the actual route is very hush hush?  Well come to find out the walk goes right past our local grade school!  And look who was out supporting the walkers:

This is the new vice principal of the school.  He encouraged all the kids to wear pink today and has just been wonderful.  I've known the principal of the school for years but this was my first opportunity to meet the veep.  So far so good!  This is the same school that allowed Team H.O.P.E. to sell t-shirts at their fall festival.  A school that encourages all the students to wear halloween costumes, AND has a little halloween parade.  Not that they shirk the academics; they are very focused on making sure the children learn what they need to.  But they get that students are children and allow them childhood experiences!  The school has great retention of teachers.  The first three teachers my son had were all 20+ years at this school.    I'll get back to the walk in a second but I just have to say that if you are moving to Chandler and want a genuine neighborhood school for your kids to attend you should definitely check out the Pomeroy Elementary School neighborhood!  

Now back to the walk.  A local junior high school allowed some of their students to come to the #4 pit stop to cheer on the teams.  These were the Hendrix Huskies - which is why we have a picture of Kristine and Jeannie wearing Huskies t-shirts.  I did not know there would be costume changes as part of the walk!

And as an added bonus ~ today only ~ we actually have a picture of Mr. Moore!

After the pics here we will list the OFFICIAL cheering stations for tomorrow and Sunday.   

This picture is a little deceptive.  

Tina was standing on a box on her tippy toes and

Wendy had her knees bent at a 30 degree angle!

Saturday, November 15:
      
8:00 am - 10:00 am
de Las Lomas Elementary School  
11820 S Warner- Elliot Loop
Phoenix, AZ 

11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Joann, Etc   
5021 E Ray Rd.
Phoenix, AZ  

Sunday, November 16:      

8:30 am - 11:00 am
Mill Ave.
East side of the road, between 7th Street and 3rd Street
Tempe, AZ  

10:00 am-  1:30 pm
Papago Complex  
1557 N Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ

 

The 3-Day Walk Route Map!

You are right, that's not the 3-day walk map.  But it is a map and it is pink so . . . . 

I tried to put the actual map here but it is in a format that won't paste and I am lacking both the talent and the software to force it up here.  

But even if I had the actual map it wouldn't do that much good since it is deliberately vague.  We know the walk will go past the cheering stations we talked about HERE.  And we also have some specific 'points of interest' from the so called map.  But apparently the exact route is a top secret. Due to safety concerns.  

Puhlease.  If I were going to harass a group of women it wouldn't be this group.  They are in physically good shape, they are determined, and more than a few of them are a little bit on edge. (if you have 2 to 3 thousand women over the age of 18 that means that about three hundred of them will be PMSing)

But who am I to second guess the great Komen machine?   I have absolute faith in our ladies; but since I do want them returned home safe and sound I'll not complain about the safety rules.  

And because I hate critics and complainers I'll be positive and upbeat at all times and refrain from making snide comments as we go through the "points of interest" along the route.

1. Freestone Park

The 65-acre park is home to softball fields, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, batting cages, soccer fields, a skateboard park and walking trails around 2 lakes.

 

2. Joe’s Real BBQ

Has been featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives as a Gilbert favorite! Yummy!

 

3. The Islands

You’ll see the first of the 15 water features on today’s route!

Okay, see?  I haven't said anything snide yet.  Mainly because I love love love Joe's BBQ.  If my mouth wasn't watering just thinking about their pulled pork sandwich I might have muttered something about our cultural obsession with TV.  Why not point out the local areas that have been featured on "Cops"?  

I also didn't say anything about the water features of The Islands.   (For those of y'all who don't live here, The Islands is one of our many many suburbanite housing developments.)  I like the water features at The Islands but if we are going to pass 15 of them today - are they really special enough to mention?  

4. ASU Research Park

Seen from a plane or a map, this interesting building complex is shaped like a double helix.

Now the ASU research park thing was interesting.  This is one of the Team H.O.P.E. training grounds and I have never noticed the shape before.   If you look closely at the picture you can see Miss Kristine making an obscene gesture at the pilot!

5. Camp

Welcome Home!

 

6. Town of Guadalupe

Guadalupe is a Native American and Hispanic community of about 5,500 residents between Phoenix  and Tempe at the base of South Mountain.

Ahhhh, Guadalupe.  Named after a virgin.  I'm not sure what my ladies will do there but it is a cool little town.  The produce market at Guadalupe Road is incredible!  

This isn't from our Guadalupe, it's from Des Plaines, Illinois of all places.  But I think everything looks better in either rhinestones or neon!

7. South Mountain Park

At nearly 17,000 acres, this desert mountain preserve certainly covers a lot of ground.

I went to South Mountain Park on my first date with my husband and. . . .

Sorry.  My mind wandered there a moment.  

8. Ahwatukee Foothills

The area is known as a bedroom community with great access to freeways, hiking trails, and an amazing holiday light display alongChandler Blvd.

I have several friends who live in Awatukkee  and I've never learned to spell it.  I wonder if "great access to freeways" is on their postcards?   

9. Mountain ranges

To the southwest you will see the Estrella Mountains with their jagged edges creeping into the Valley. To the East are the Superstition Mountains ~ the world famous icon that separates urban luxury and wilderness adventure.

That's it!  I've tried to be nice here!  Who wrote this?????   The walkers here are 20+ miles farther away from the Superstitions than they were when they started!  

Urban Luxury?  It's true that the houses that have been parasitically encroaching on these beautiful mountains for the last couple decades are luxurious.  And yes, the roads are paved.  But I think if you hear coyotes howling more often than police sirens you aren't yet in an urban area.

10. Arizona State University

 ASU plays its Homecoming football game on Saturday against Washington State ~ go Sun Devils!

More football?  I wonder if anyone hears ASU and thinks about higher education and  . . . .oh never mind.

Here is a picture of ASU during the flood of '65.

And a more recent ('84) pic for comparison:

11. Mill Ave.

The heart of downtown Tempe. Shops, restaurants, bars and bookstores help make this a great heart to the surrounding college community.

 

12. Mill Ave. Light-Rail Stop

The light-rail is the newest public transit available to Phoenixresidents, scheduled to open in December 2008.

 

13. Papago Park

The history of Papago Park begins back in 1879 with the area being designated as an Indian reservation for the Maricopa and Pima tribes. During World War II, Papago Park housed a German prisoner of war camp. Now the area is home to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.

14. Old Town Scottsdale

Most of the buildings date back to the 1920s. A laidback grid of wood and faux adobe with covered walkways, Old Town has ditched its utilitarian past to become a community of eclectic shopping. Its eastern end leads to the more sophisticated architecture of Scottsdale Center for the Arts, city government buildings and a row of restaurants and bars.

A laidback grid?  Faux adobe?  Whatever.

I'm sorry to be so snippy and sarcastic. I really and truly enjoy the east valley and it just bugs me to read these descriptions.   But the descriptions are only words and they can't hurt the actual joy of walking through my backyard.  And to be honest; if I wrote the 'points of interest' part of this I don't know if i would be getting any awards from the various chambers of commeraces!  

So to recap:

Our Ladies will be walking through Gilbert

Chandler

Ahwautukee

Phoenix

Guadalupe

Tempe/ASU

And Scottsdale

I'm sure you join me in wishing them safe travels and interesting sights.

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