The 3Day
Posted on | October 21, 2008 | No Comments | Share!!
Whew! It has been a whirlwind around here! We finished up September on a some great high notes:
A trip to Georgia for a cousin’s wedding, where we had some great times with family that we don’t see very often (and I left the darn camera in the car!) We did have a very good time, especially catching up with my cousins and their wonderful wives, and had some good QT with Marshall as well, who flew into Raleigh and then drove with us from here.
Mathias rallies – that poor boy has been through some tough times, but he is hanging in there! He’s a really special pup and we’re so relieved. Funny that I’m more willing to mention it here when he’s improving – things were pretty bleak for a couple weeks there, but they’ve been bleak before and here he still is. Dogs are amazingly resilient creatures.
And though it came down to the wire, I finished up a project that occupied a ton of my time in September, my first knit for print publication.
All that left us free to enjoy our 5th 3day event in Washington D.C.! This particular event was really special and there were so many great highlights, so many new awesome memories made. We owe Tim a huge thank you for his awesome and rousing pep-talk, which he sent via email so we could share it with our team.
Walkers on Day 1
I can’t believe another 3Day has come and gone again. They have all been incredible, and our fifth event was no exception.
Mugging & dancing for the camera up the big hill into camp
We are fortunate to be part of a truly amazing team on this event. We started walking with a small group of other folks in 2004 who didn’t have teams of their own, and we banded together – we got so close on those first 3Days that we coined the term “3Day fam” to describe each other. Some walked in other cities during the following years and rejoined us again (a couple of our members are walking in Philly this weekend, if you are anywhere near, check it out, you won’t be sorry!), some have crewed or cheered in off years, but most of the original crew was back this time – along with several more members that have joined us along the way. Our Sis joined us in our second year and has continued to walk with us each year since – Last year, my good friend Catherine walked with us; and this year, she and her husband and new baby Caroline made the trip all the way from Raleigh on Saturday morning to cheer us all on. Each of these people, those from our lives who have joined forces with us and those that we never would have met without this event – are all amazing. I wish I could take some time to tell you a little bit about each of them – but it would take me about 20 posts to do that. Suffice it to say that they all bring their own awesome strengths to the group, they all walk for their own reasons, they all inspire me in so many ways. We walked, laughed, cried, sang and danced our way through another 60 miles – and there’s no way we could do it without them. They’re some of the best friends we’ve ever had. They’re family.
The weather this year was amazing. In years past we have battled over 100 degree heat, fading hurricanes with lots of rain, and even wore space blankets a couple times, but this year’s weather was the best we have ever had for an event and we were so thankful. The mornings were bright and chilly, and there was always a cool breeze when the air did warm up. Perfect for camping!
Getting scanned out on a chilly Day 2, bright and early; Camp with it’s sea of pink tents
The remembrance tent. We go here for some quiet moments to think about those people that we miss and record their stories.
Practice for opening ceremonies
The ceremonies were very emotional. One thing that I love about the opening ceremonies is that instead of having a moment of silence to remember those who are no longer with us and think about our reasons for walking, we are asked to call their names aloud. And the chorus is powerful. Click here for a link to a participant’s YouTube video of the ceremony. Even though I’ve heard the words and was there, I can’t watch it without getting emotional. Carrying the flags was amazing – I was excited and honored to do so, but it also meant we got to lead off the walk – Tad, myself, several of our teammates, and some other amazing walkers who we had just met – I can’t explain it, but it completely filled my heart.
Tad’s carrying “Turning Points”, I’m carrying “Strength”
And Closing! The closing ceremony is just as powerful.
The one shoe salute to survivors
Another 60 miles completed with our awesome team.
We had such a great time, we thought we’d do it again next year 
D.C. – October 9-11, 2009.