chrissy

I figured that I would write this out while on hold on the appointment line.
It was the most awsomest WOW experience ever! And I cannot thank you all enough for being there for me. I saw San Diego in the best way possible - by foot. And you know, even though I couldn’t stop and wonder around stores, eateries and other places (like Old Town – I have always wanted to go there!), it was the BEST time.
Okay, here’s the gritty.



We get up at too damn early and head down to Del Mar Racetrack. We dropped our one “35 lb bag that has to have your sleeping bag and air mattress inside too” at our trailer and walked up to opening ceremonies. On our way out, I meet the “walker stalkers” These guys are the BEST people on earth! There are guys in pink wigs, there are two older ladies in a PT cruiser that decorated it like cows and they are dressed as cows that have been “de-uttered” telling we can’t say “no!” We have to say “MOOOOOO” and of course we do! Then there is The Smile Guy and Little Grin who has a wife who is a survivor and a walker. We see them 3 to 4 times a day. He has this mega horn that plays that “da-da-da-da-ta-da” when we need to be “charged” and yes, we all say “charge!” And another guy in a jeep that must have over 10 different hats and costumes – one being a mammogram doctor costume. There were Barbie girls, prom queens, husbands with signs, and survivors with signs. All saying “thank you for walking”, “keep it up”, “it’s just around the corner!”, “You are almost there” Just when I thought I couldn’t take another step, there they were- ½ mile from a pit stop, at the top of a hill, on a path where we couldn’t be picked up if we needed a “sweeper van” and they helped you through it. Oh, and most had candy.

Speaking of hills, Torrey Pines sucks. There are three big hills; one on each day, and the first hill was Torrey Pines. I was walking with team mate Kate and her friend Linda and they really helped me get up and around and up the rest of the hill. We then walked in past the beaches in La Jolla and saw Sea World helping a Seal in trouble. We ended our day, setting up a tent at “tent city” in Mission Bay Park. I showered and fell in love with Biofreeze that day! That stuff is better than bengay, icey hot, etc. It is the bestest for sore muscles! When I sat down that night for dinner, I knew I had pushed myself too far (sorry Houdini! I know I said I wouldn’t) and I was waddling. My calves were tight and my thighs were getting there. I walked 22.23 miles after it was all said and done.

They really feed us well when we are walking and at camp. There were pit stops every 2-3 miles with crackers, pretzels, carrots, raisins, bananas and oranges and these really yummy pb &j graham cracker things that kicked butt. Dinners, lunch and breakfast were always too much food, but you would take it all and eat what you could. They had plenty of water and Gatorade on the walk and at camp, coffee, tea, soda and of course water and Gatorade.

chrissy

So, Day two begins, and my legs are saying no way. I am taking baby steps. I am stretching and it’s not helping. I am taking 1600 mg of Motrin, it’s not helping. I am going to walk a bit and see what happens. Kate and I take off. They do start to loosen up, but they hurt and I am slow. Kate takes off ahead of me and we make it to the first pit stop at 1.5 miles out. I beg for biofreeze and it helps a bit and I walk to pit stop two (5.7 miles) after walking though Pacific Beach. By now, I am getting a walking tour of Zippy’s photos and I am learning that our little cards with pit stops and lunch stop and cheering sections lie!!! Their miles are off by at least a mile or two and sometimes 3 by the end of the day! Mind games at their best. Here is where I was supposed to meet OKODOM, I think. It’s where the cheering station is and I am thinking that would be great to sit for a bit and stretch and chat. LOL I am looking and don’t see her. I turn on my phone, and get her message that she is at pit 3. GREAT! I will hop in a sweeper van and sweep to 3 and not walk there! Win WIN! Right? Wrong They swept me past 3 and into lunch. My phone didn’t get her number, I forgot it with my credentials at home in LV, so I didn’t get to meet her I really wanted to! And I am very sorry!

Sweeper vans are really nice. They follow and circle around us as we walk along the route. They each have themes – Lucy and grape stomping, Dolly Parton, the 80’s, the 60’s there is one covered in bras and a couple others. They drive by and honk, cheer you on, some have candy others have a button or beads or something to say you rode with them in the sweeper. They are looking for thumbs up – meaning you are in good shape. When you need a sweeper, you raise your hands above your head and cross them; you can also give a thumbs down sign. They stop and help you into the van and sweep you to the next pit stop or depending on what their directions are (if they are to move ahead) lunch. And that is what happened to me.

After I ate, I headed out with Julie (our team captain) and her SIL, Dawn and Allison. We were all sore and planned on sweeping. A mile and a half later, we finally saw a sweeper and climbed in. Thank goodness because we were heading to Hill Street and there would have been no way I could have done that. We swept into pit 4 and I “sagged”. I climbed into the bus and waited for it to fill up and went to camp. I showered, got more bio freeze and Motrin and by then, everyone else was walking in. I walked 9.53 miles that day all said and done. I was done. We had fun at dinner that night; Dawn stopped by a liquor store somewhere along the route and bought some rum. So we had a shot in our sodas and laughed and ate and stretched and hobbled around camp a bit. I felt bad for sagging, but I really wanted to walk the third day and I knew if I had pushed myself the second, I would have been in an ambulance.

chrissy

On the third day, I woke up and I felt good! I finished packing, took down my tent (usually you would sleep with a team mate, but our team was odd numbered so I was to have slept with a stranger. My tent mate never showed up) and wasn’t feeling too hungry so I grabbed a granola bar and headed out with Kate once more. By the time we got to the first Pit, (3 miles according to the lie sheet) my ankle was killing me. I really don’t know what happened, I didn’t step off a curb wrong, I didn’t twist it, but it was SORE. I go to the med tent and have them wrap it and of course Biofreeze for my legs Kate has run into Linda again so the three of us stretch, eat, hydrate and pee and set off. We hit the next “grab and go” I think it was at sea world in a parking lot there and pee again knowing that the next area has no place for sweeper vans to get to us. We cross the road and walk onto a path next to the river bed. We cross the highway bridge and back down the other side of the river bed, under the other highway and “around the corner” by three blocks and to the next grab and go. We are at the base of Mission Hills and at the top, Lunch. Kate says to me, “Gonna sweep?” We were talking about me not doing hills with my ankle. But I did it. I mean, what is a sore ankle when you compare it to chemo? I walked and got to the top. When you look across the bay, you can see what is left of “tent city”. We head to lunch. Julie is there – she swept and she is getting concerned that she won’t make it to closing. She has to be there by 3:30 because she was picked to be in the ceremony! Megan meets up with us and she has a blister between her first two toes – ouch! We send her to medical to have it lanced. As we were finishing, it starts to rain. I grab a trash bag because I took my poncho out of my camelbak that morning because I didn’t want weight… We walk through Hill crest and Megan catches up with us. We hit our last pit stop we are going to make and the two Jennifers meet us there. We meet up with Dawn and Julie at the last pit that we didn’t stop at (we were too close!), past the zoo and the science museum in Balboa park and head into down town. Sunday was not the day to be driving in DT SD!

Traffic cops and bikers were our heroes over the weekend (and that’s not even mentioning the San Jose Bike cops that come down and beefcake their way through the ride!) These guys stopped traffic and kept us safe at corners and played music from their bikes to keep us moving and singing along. These guys are awesome! One story- one of the traffic cops in Hillcrest was directing traffic because it was getting all backed up between lights because we were crossing. This guy in an Acura either wasn’t paying attention or was just an ass stopped 3 inches from the cop. The cop blowing his whistle, hand out never moved an inch as he stood his ground. Dangerous job and he is good at it.

As we walked into Petco stadium, we meet the Jennifer’s husbands and Kate’s mom who is a survivor and her two kids and you see EVERYONE you EVER saw along the route cheering you on that last mile. We go into the holding area and high fives all around and get scanned in. We get our t-shirt and a pink rose and wait for the last walker to come in. We get our team together and take a picture- we are all still standing. We get lined up for the closing ceremony and we walk!!! Back out into the street. And for a block and a half is our families and “walker stalkers” cheering and waving and we are cheering and waving back. Smile Guy and Little Grin “charge!” us one more time and we round the corner. Julie’s husband and her 3 kids are there and hand us more pink roses. Megan’s mom and dad come running into the “walk” and take pictures and hug all of us. Families behind us, we walk by the bikers and the San Jose police and they are cheering, and then it’s the 550 volunteers who woke up before we did and went to sleep after we did and they so rock!

I knew this weekend was going to be emotional, but I really didn’t know how much. There are so many stories, so many sights, so many blisters and sore muscles and feet. But those aches don’t compare to chemo or losing a breast or a mom, sister, friend or daughter.

This walk is amazing. And you guys are amazing for helping me reach my goal. On night two, when I could barely walk, and my legs were telling me to cut them off and leave them behind, I signed up again for next year. And I cannot wait to be sore again. I cannot wait to see the faces and to hear “thank you for walking!” again and again and wanting to clobber the next person that said “it’s just around the corner” when it was actually a mile and a half away or so it seemed. And next year, I will make it up Hill Street.

Again, Thank you guys so much for supporting me. I owe it all to you. (Secret Santa, I just want a donation! ) As soon as I can, I will get my new link up. They haven't set it up just yet.

OneKidOneDogMom

Oh Chrissy!!!

We are so proud of you...you did it! I'm disappointed I didn't get to meet you on the walk - but we'll have 3 days to connect next year as I've already committed to the 2008 3-Day San Diego

I am so glad I went out on Saturday morning - I had the BEST time! I really had no idea how many people walked and no appreciation for what they went through to do it. I spent 2 1/2 hours being one of those people on the sidelines saying "Good Morning!" and "Thanks for walking!" to the 3000+ people that walked by me (when I got there they said about 800 people had already been checked through Pit Stop #3). The funniest part was that I had my big "Go Chrissy" sign and THREE other Chrissy's stopped to have their picture taken with me! I also got to explain what the "g|a" on my sign stood for - so we might have some newbies checking out the site soon!

I'm glad you survived and I thank you for inspiring me to walk next year....Go, Chrissy!!!

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Jenny

That's so great. I didn't cry reading it, really.

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oblongmelon

Biofreeze...ahhhhh it's sent from Heaven Above. Glad all went well.

uncledaddy

You are welcome chrissy, and congrats on your accomplishment. Way to go.

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chrissy

Thanks guys! Even with all that I wrote, there is so much more to tell!

If you guys have a free weekend Nov 21-23rd 2008, think about volunteering! It's a great experience and even if you don't sign up, if you drive by and see us, honk, wave, whatever! It's a beautiful thing!

I just got back from a check on my ankle- I am on crutches and a brace for it. And I am losing a toe nail on my other foot. Dammit. That happened the last day too. I was scanned in, got my shirt and it felt like I had a rock in my shoe but when I moved my toe, couldn't feel anything in my shoe. So I took it off and saw my nail bed red. I was hoping just for a blister but it's not. My nail has now turned blue. It's just a matter of time now.

faither

Congratulations! You should be incredibly proud of what you accomplished personally as well as your impact for (and on) others!

The nail thing is not too uncommon from long distance walking or running. I have a friend that would lose the nail on one of his big toes or -- more usually -- just get the black nail from marathons. Wear it as a badge of honor!

Prngr44

Congrats on the accomplishment!!

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chrissy

Thanks guys!

http://picasaweb.google.com/chrissyconner/3Day

I will be adding more pics - they are no where near zippy quality These are just what I took. Ellen took close to 90 alone and Michelle took another 30. So there will be more - including a team shot