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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