My 3 Day Experience

I arrived in Dallas the evening before the Komen 3 day walk. I was excited, nervous and emotional as I anticipated the 3 day journey before me. I woke early Friday morning and Mike and the kids drove me to the drop-off point in Plano. I kissed my family goodbye and walked across the parking lot to join the “sea” of people near the opening ceremony site. 2,800 walkers were there!

People were clamoring with excitement and getting pumped up for the day ahead. Almost immediately I was asked to take a picture for a team of six ladies. When they learned that my team of three had dissolved and I was walking alone, they immediately adopted me!

We hit the road at 8:00 a.m. and began our walk. We weaved through neighborhoods, schools and the University of Texas. Eleven different cheering stations greeted us and gave us fresh bursts of energy. The weather was pristine - a sunny, clear, slightly breezy 64 degree day, made it absolutely PERFECT! My new-found team inspired me with their stories of how cancer had touched their lives. (One woman on their team, had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. She went for her annual mammogram and it came back clear. Three weeks later - she found a lump in her breast. She had it biopsied and it was malignant. Thank GOD she did a self breast exam!! It saved her life.) We made several stops throughout our route at pre-designated “Pit-Stops”, which are designed to keep everyone rested, stretched and hydrated. Lunch was served at the 10 mile mark at a beautiful park. We all rested in the sun and got recharged. We arrived at camp that evening around 5pm and I immediately headed for a hot shower and good meal. I was tired and achy, so I went and crawled into my tent before “lights out”.

The temperatures plummeted that night to 38 degrees!! My sleeping bag zipper broke, so I had to use a mylar emergency blanket to make it through until sunrise. It made a very long, and not-so-restful night! I rose early Saturday morning cold and tired. I immediately noticed my knee was really achy and so I went to the medical staff and had them wrap it. That helped!

I, again, met up with my “adopted” team of ladies on the road. The Saturday route was much more scenic - winding through parks and over bridges. A beautiful course with 21 cheering stations along the way. At milepost 31, I stopped at the Pit Stop for water and to have a blister taped up. Toward the end of the day, I noticed my energy was completely zapped. The ladies walking with me offered to let me stay with them at their hotel in a nice, warm bed. I couldn’t pass it up! So when we pulled into camp that evening, I packed up my stuff and we headed over to their hotel, just down the road. I ate an excellent meal, took a hot bath and slept like a baby!

On Sunday, we drove in to camp and loaded up on busses to take us to the 3rd day starting location. We started walking around 8am. I immediately noticed that between my knee and blisters my pace had slowed considerably. I told my friends to go ahead and I would meet up with them at closing ceremony. I became very discouraged. My pain was becoming increasingly unbearable and I was seriously considering giving up. However, as I hit the first morning Pit stop area, I noticed a young woman who had 10 times as much tape as I did! It was evident she was in as much pain as me, so I asked her if she’d like to walk with me. I told her I was determined to finish all 60 miles and she expressed her passion and drive to finish, as well. So my new friend, Sarah, and I walked the last 14+ miles together. She was a God send! We talked, shared, laughed and encouraged each other to press on.

We weaved through downtown and finally crossed the into the pre-finish area of the Cotton Bowl arena. She and I waited there a short time for all the walkers to arrive so we could walk the “Victory Walk” to the finish line together. As we waited, she went and collected mail addressed to her at the event post office. She had several letters from her mother. She invited me to read her letters which contained personal sentiments and encouragement. As we read them together, we both laughed and balled hysterically. In a magical sort of way, it was like I was receiving letters from my own mother. They spoke of how proud she was of her daughter, how her life was better - just for having her in it. It touched me so deeply.

Moments later we lined up for the final march. As we walked together toward the finish line, arm-in-arm...with thousands of other men and women - I felt such a deep sense of personal accomplishment. I thanked God for all the provisions and amazing things he He had done before, during and after this event...more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. I felt like I had finally completed my "Journey" -and had reached the end of my road of grief for loved ones I'd lost to cancer. I felt like as though I'd finally found personal health and spiritual wisdom along this path.

What I soon came to realize, is that undoubtedly, one journey had ended, but another had just begun....

Never Stop "Moving Forward" ~ Jen

(If you haven't seen it yet, please watch my 3 Day Compilation Video, posted below.)