The 2023 3-Day Walk marked the 20th anniversary of my first meeting with the wonderful ladies who would become my teammates.

We did not “officially” become a team until we had a few Walks under our feet.

On our 10th anniversary, we changed our name to the Pink Tahoe Ladies. Prior to that anniversary, we were known as Fight Like a Girl (before it became widely used then trademarked).

Although we have 16 team members, it was just teammate, Penny, and me for this anniversary. Who knew this Old Lady Walking would outlast the youngins’? 🙂

2023 3-Day Walk Times 2

Since the pandemic, it has just been Penny and me walking 60 miles in 3 days. But since Penny was the person who first invited me to join her and two soon-to-be teammates, it seems appropriate for our 20th anniversary.

Day One

The first day was fabulous. A really nice Opening ceremony where survivors and those living with breast cancer touched our hearts. I even made it up the Day 1 “hill,” Torrey Pines, without stopping.

Also, Penny and I became famous. 😉

Penny’s cousin sent screenshots of Penny and me on the local news station. A friend of mine also texted me. Was that you wearing a pink cape? Yep, that was me. I wear it for all of the REAL heroes – the ones we’ve lost, the survivors, and those facing this awful disease right now.

Day Two

Day 2 was another story. That day’s hill was a nightmare for me. Although it was more my stomach than the hill. Before starting my little chugging train self, I felt extremely nauseated. While I got up to the top, I had to stop several times due to nausea. I usually make it up without stopping.

After meeting Penny at the top, I decided I should stop by to see the medics. These volunteers are fabulous. The good news was all my vitals were good and after lying down for a while, I finished the 2nd day and 20 miles.

The medics thought I needed to drink more of the sports drinks. Hard to do on a nauseated stomach. But I think I may not have been doing as good in that department as I usually do because of a new water bottle I had. It had a wide mouth (great for filling up with ice). The problem was I couldn’t drink it while walking unless I wanted to be wearing its content. 😀 So, I had to stop any time I wanted a drink, which I think contributed to me not drinking as much as I should.

Day Three

The great news is by Day 3, I felt great and finished all 60 miles. But the best news?

The San Diego 3-Day Walk raised $5.3 Million!!!

Post 3-Day Tumble

After our annual spa day massage, I was feeling fabulous (in so many ways). I dropped off my rental care and proceeded to the escalator with my luggage to catch the shuttle bus to the airport.

At the top of the escalator, my luggage got caught between two of the rising stairs and decided to push me out of the way. Both my luggage and I took a tumble down the escalator. Two guesses who ended up with the most damage. Hint: it’s the one with the legs.

Fortunately, a man who was about to step off the escalator rushed to turn it off. Long story short, I ended up with a multitude of injuries including:

• Numerous open wounds to my left shin
• Lacerations to my right knee along with instant swelling
• Cuts to the back of my left hand
• Bruises to my left shoulder, hip, thigh, and face

I’ll spare you the photos (my apologies to those who saw them on Facebook or Twitter -X). I am thankful it wasn’t much worse. Nearly three weeks after the accident, we are monitoring one deep would on my shin.

2023 3-Day Walk High Note

To end this on a high note, as always, I am most grateful for my incredibly supportive teammates, family, and friends who all contribute to this being an annual delight (even with the accident). I simply could not do this without you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! And, yes, (the good Lord willing), I will see you next year.

Walk on.

My 19th 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure was fabulous. Until that other C word entered the picture.

No not cancer (the worst C word ever!) but COVID. Mom and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

• By Friday, I thought I had the start of a cold.
• When Mom started exhibiting symptoms on Sunday, I got suspicious.
• Two positive home COVID tests later, my suspicions were confirmed.

COVID – the master intruder.

The Other C Word Can’t Crush Us

Both Mom and I are on the mend. Fatigue is the biggest villain right now. But I refuse to allow that other C word to diminish the joy of completing another 3-Day Walk.

2022 3-Day Walk

What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, I was dealing with a body that was reminding me (quite loudly) just how many miles this Old Lady Walking had under her feet.

But this year, I feel great! I guess missing the 2020 3-Day Walk (not counting my virtual one) had more of an effect than I knew. One more thing to add to the long list of COVID annoyances.

3-Day Walk: The Video

Below is a brief video of some of the sights and sounds of this year’s Walk. It does not do the community, crew, and staff justice in how spectacular they all are in supporting crazy walkers like this Old Lady Walking.

Then there are my generous contributors. Without you, this would all be a dream. The reality is special.

Thank you to all of you. And as you may suspect, I am already signed up for 2023. 🙂

Walk on.

Top that COVID! The other C word has nothing on us.

Like cooler temperatures signal Fall is lurking, a new post here is the sign the next 3-Day Walk is approaching.

As I write this, that little 60-mile stroll is only 70 days away. This will be Walk #19 for this Old Lady Walking.

2022 3-Day Walk

San Diego 3-Day

This year’s San Diego 3-Day takes place from November 18-20, 2022. Thanks (per usual) to my generous supporters, I blasted away at the minimum required to participate.

 

Yep, Signed Up for 2023 3-Day Walk

If you’ve followed my journey, you know I tend to sign up for the next year’s Walk even before I’ve done the current year’s. That’s what happens when our San Diego Walk is the last one for the year.

So, if you have not contributed and wish to, you can help jumpstart my 2023 fundraising by going to my Personal Page. <===CLICK HERE

If you’d rather send a check, let me know and I’ll get you the information you need. Thank you!

Do I Have Your Loved One’s Name?

As I have every year, I wear the names of loved ones we lost, cancer survivors, and those currently undergoing treatment.

These Superheroes are the reason why we walk 60 miles in 3 days.

• The list is not limited to those affected by breast cancer (although most are).
• Some are longtime supporters who passed.
• Or individuals affected by other forms of cancer.
• No rules here!

I am constantly changing the look of the list. As a result, somehow I manage to mess up every year. I sometimes inadvertently delete names or put them in wrong categories. 🙁 So, please let me know of any corrections needed, as well as any additions you’d like.

Contributors will receive a separate email, but you can review the names on this list. Please note there are two pages (you get a lot of names in almost 19 years of walking).

• The names are in alphabetical order by first name.
• In Honor of lists survivors and those undergoing treatment.
• In Memory of is a list of those we lost.

Thank you AGAIN to all my wonderful family, friends, and supporters. Stay tuned for future photos of the 2022 San Diego 3-Day Walk.

Walk on.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could say the pandemic is history? Is that too much of a dream?

We have all had to make major adjustments in our lives. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk is no exception.

After a pandemic pause that had me walking virtually, I was able to hit the streets of San Diego for my 18th 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure.

And it feels so good.

Pandemic Adjustments

While much of the 3-Day Walk looked the same, there were notable changes.

• Masks worn by everyone when unable to keep 6 feet of outside air between us
• Pit crews handing us our snacks and filling our water bottles (spoiling us even more than they always have)
• Optional stickers to wear that showed our comfort level for touch (Hugs, High Fives, Fist Bumps, or Need My Space)

I am sure there were hiccups along the way, but it was unbelievable to be able to participate live once again.

Pink Tahoe Ladies

It was Penny who first asked me to join them on that first Walk in 2003. So, is it any wonder that 18 years later, it’s Penny who joined me for this one.

I hope 2022 sees the return of more of the Pink Tahoe Ladies team.

This Old Lady Walking body definitely let me know it had been two years since I walked the 60 miles in 3 days.

• But, I did it!
• All 60 miles
• And every blasted hill 🙂

As always, I am so grateful to my family and friends who supported me. I could not do this without you. Literally. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Visual 3-Day

I put together the quick video below to share some of the fun and wonder of my 18th 3-Day Walk. And, yes, this crazy Old Lady Walking is already signed up for next year.

Walk on.