Sigh, another day red carded. I got up this morning and headed over to the med tent to be cleared to walk. I should say I hobbled over to the tent! I actually got up this morning around 3:30am to hit the port-a-potties and practically had to crawl there. I could NOT stand up. I feared I was going to fall over and smother my poor tent-mate as I tried to stand. I was laying there this morning when I couldn’t stand up trying to figure out how I would let someone know I couldn’t get up after everyone left their tent. I could picture myself private tweeting @the3day saying “I am stuck in tent D-15, please help!” I can not stress the importance of STRETCHING! DO IT ALL THE TIME!! So anyway, I got to med this morning and she asked me how I was. I told her my lungs hurt from all the coughing and she made me do a breathing treatment and said she couldn’t send me out today. I was pretty upset but knew it was the best for me. I asked if I could take a ride in a sweep van to get that experience of the weekend but she said unfortunately since I was red-carded I could only get on the bus to lunch and then come back with the other walkers not walking after lunch.

I’ll have to say, I had no idea how many people actually don’t do the whole 60 miles! The important part is that you raised the money and you are HERE to support these people that can’t be here themselves! You do what YOU can do, that’s what I keep being told. (Thank you EVERYONE for your support!) It can feel very lonely as a solo walker, especially when you don’t feel support from some people you are closest with. The awesome thing is, these other walkers here with you: THEY support you! THEY lift you up when you feel you can’t walk one more mile, one more step. The support here is JUST amazing.

Jackie Miller, winner of the Keep Going® Spirit award on Friday

Last night when the last two walkers of the evening walked up we ALL got up and welcomed them to camp! The feeling of camaraderie is amazing. (Have I said amazing a lot the past two days?) Last night the Energizer Bunny® visited the camp and we also handed out the Keep Going® award. I got my one minute of fame while I got to stand on stage and pull a name out of the pink trash can. The Keep Going® goes to a walker that has been nominated as a walker that embodies the spirit of the Energizer Bunny®.  We will be giving another award out at tonight’s events. I’m hoping the Energizer Bunny® makes an appearance tonight as well because I’d like to get my picture taken with him before the weekend ends!

First Walkers in at lunch

This morning morning I was bussed over to the lunch stop and was able to watch as the first walkers got there. The first walkers got there somewhere around 9am. That is some super fast walking! I wish I would have caught their names, I would have nominated them for the Keep Going® spirit award!

Tonight we get to hear a concert from Candy Coburn. She sings the song Pink Warrior which is the official song of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®.

AMTA Team

Energizer and AMTA is offering free chair massages at the Energizer tent today. I got one done. It was my first ever real massage! After not being able to stand this morning, it felt amazing to get my back massaged! He warned me to drink LOTS of water to flush the acids that were released from the massage.

I also wanted to talk a little about the two wonderful people I’ve worked with here in the Energizer tent. Sandy is amazing! She has an awesome Keep Going® spirit and she’ll break into dance at any moment. Chris is hilarious! He keeps singing and striking a pose. I will definitely miss hanging out at the Energizer tent when I “go home” tomorrow. I’m actually headed straight to vacation in the Wisconsin Dells straight from closing ceremony!

Even though I’ve not walked as far as I would have hoped, I’ve REALLY enjoyed this weekend. I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and hearing their stories and why they Keep Going® .

Day 1! What an inspirational start to the weekend! We started off with all our sponsors saying a few words to get us pumped up and then a stretch. Then came out people carrying the flags reminding us of why we walk. I immediately started crying. They reminded us that “Everyone deserves a lifetime!” I’m walking for my friend Benah because SHE deserves a lifetime of moments with her beautiful family!

I cried the whole way out the gate as people cheered us on:

I started off making great time. Pit stops were spaced approximately 3 miles apart. They had these graham cracker peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I fell in love with! I know I was hydrated enough because every time I got approximately 1 mile from a stop I had to go! I was averaging 2.75 miles an hour today. The people in the neighborhoods were great! They were cheering us on, passing out treats, water and even giving little “tattoos.”

Unfortunately I’ve been fighting bronchitis or a very icky cough the past week and a half and the last 2 miles of the morning was very hard for me. My lungs tightened up and I could feel the mucus down in my lungs. I got to the lunch stop, grabbed my lunch and immediately headed to the medical tents. They were wonderful! They took awesome care of me. I took two puffs of albuterol and while it cleared out my lungs it gave me an immediate headache. They had me lay down and take a nap. While I was laying there they also rubbed some stuff on the back of my leg because my muscle tensed up bad. They also took care of the hot spots on my feet. Let me tell you, I was a MESS when I walked into medical.

Because of my chest tightness and headache they stripped me of my credentials for the night. I was not able to finish the walk today. I did make it 11 miles! That’s the furthest I’ve ever walked in one stretch. I was pretty close to tears sitting on the bus, though. I felt like I’ve failed so many people by not making it the full 20 miles today.

I got to camp and set up my tent and switched to flip flops! Ah fresh air on my feet! I grabbed some dinner. The food today has been amazing. We had our choice of turkey or ham sandwiches for lunch and dinner was grilled steak, green beans, red potatoes, salad, bread and apple pie! I haven’t eaten that way since New Orleans. I’m now sitting at the Energizer tent doing my blogging Energizer is offering portable cell phone chargers to people to walk around with their cell phones so they can recharge and still be able to connect! They’re also allowing people to get online and asking them to “like” The Energizer Bunny® on Facebook. For every person that likes The Energizer Bunny®, Energizer will give $1 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Their goal is 15,000 fans. So PLEASE click on like and share with your friends!

Tomorrow Energizer will be giving massages provided by the AMTA organization. I can’t wait to take advantage of that! Since having dinner, some Excedrin migraine medicine and relaxing I am re-charged and ready to walk tomorrow! Hopefully my lungs cooperate and I can make it all 20 miles!