It's 3 Day or Bust!

Laura and I had a GREAT weekend of walking. I made a total of 28 miles and Laura did all 30! Woohoo! The Prep Rally, and the training walk held before it, were good opportunities to see what the 3 Day is really going to be like. We got a lot of good tips from the seminar hosts. The group that led the discussion on how to pack, and not to pack, were hilarious! Laura and I also found out about an "underground" 3 day handbook that gives tips and advice on surviving the 3 day. Between the seminars, the manual and advice from other veteran walkers, we learned a lot.

We also experienced how disorganized the 3 Day might be at times. Yikes! I hope that the people in charge of organizing the registration for the training walk are not in charge of the registration for the official 3 Day on Day 1! We were also surprised by the nature of some of the walkers during the training walk. People have not been training on hills! And I have to admit, I don't understand why walkers with a slower pace insisted on getting in front of everyone at the beginning of the walk. The first few miles with the group were frustrating with the slower walkers in front and the faster walks trying to maneuver their way to get ahead of the slower walkers to get to their faster pace. But after around 2.5 to 3 miles, Laura and I ended up with people that we basically walked near the rest of the time. Some of whom were from our training walk group. I guess we're picking up the same pace!

I do remember a woman from our training group saying that the walking crowd is pretty congested on Day 1 for about the first three miles. Then you get to Torrey Pines Grade! The group really spreads out after that. The stronger, more experienced walkers take the lead and the rest follow at their own pace. On Day 2 and 3, the start time will be spread out over at least a half hour which hopefully helps prevent that congestion of several thousand people starting the walk at the same time. Good! It was a little frustrating some moments to be stuck with such a large group, walking so slow. But, it made for good experience, I guess!

Laura and I were greatly encouraged by the people who drove by honking and cheering the pink walkers on! We are also pretty excited about the pre-packaged peanut butter and graham cracker snacks that are apparently the stable of the 3 Day pit stops. They were pretty good!

In all we are doing a great job. The minimum amount they want first timers to hit is 38 miles in a weekend. We are keeping up with the training schedule pace and are keeping a good pace when we are out walking (our training leader even said so!). With 59 days and counting, it's 3 Day or Bust!