Day 2 started at 5:50 a.m., with the alarm clock blaring and my feet begging me to just stay in bed. But, all four of us got up and headed to camp, where we’d start day 2 of our 60-mile journey. Monique and I used a photo opp as a chance stay in bed for another couple seconds!
Monique and Alyssa press snooze.
We got to camp, joined the moving sea of pink, and started walking! We walked past Sea World, and got to see a cool pink bird of some kind posing for pictures, as well as Sea World staff in wet suits cheering us on. We all remarked about why there wasn’t a whale jumping out of the water to greet us, but ya know, budget and stuff. A few miles in is when the problems started. Aubrey and I had been initiated as the blister sisters on Friday, and sure enough, our blisters began popping and throbbing. We opted to hitch a ride to the next Pit Stop, where we caught some amazing ocean views and then headed to lunch.
Team DCD started Day 2 PUMPED UP!
We ended up getting lunch with one of our awesome coworkers from a taco shop called Roberto’s. Holy cow. Mexican food is up there in my top three favorite kinds of food (Thai and Italian round out the list, if you’re wondering), and I eat a lot of great Mexican food living in LA County. But – this carnitas taco was off the chain! So flavorful, so simple, so fresh, so perfect on my tired tootsies and hungry belly. I also had a potato taco, which was so yummy, and basically like a fried shell of mashed potatoes. Perfect walking fuel!
It’s Taco Time!
As we strolled out of the lunch stop, we walked by some amazing beach front apartments, and even better, DOGS! A therapy dog group had come out to cheer us on, and all of the pooches were decked out in pink bows, vests, or tutus. I fell in love with this fellow, a Great Pyrenese. He was so fluffy! After lots of head pets and scratches, we kept on walking.
I wanted to steal him.
I made it to Pit Stop 3, where I decided to go to the medical tent again and get fixed up. At that point I was having some random dizziness (dehydration), so I decided to hang out and wait for Monique and April, who were a little bit behind us since we had taken the van earlier. I caught up with them, and after surveying all of our various states of ailment, we decided to grab a ride back to camp. While I initially struggled with not walking close to a full day, I quickly decided that making myself feel crummy, either mentally or physically, wouldn’t change the fact that the money I raised would be making an impact. So, I looked on the sunny side, which was making it to camp before dark and having more time to explore. Once I got to camp, I was greeted by a beaming husband and smiling father-in-law with the coolest signs ever!
MEOW!
Once we caught up about the adventures of the day, we headed into the Remembrance Tent. The Remembrance Tent is a very special place on the 3-Day. It’s set apart from the hustle and bustle of camp, and is a beautiful, private white tent with soft music, soft lighting, and framed photos of those we’ve lost to breast cancer. In the center is an illuminated white tent that you can sign and write messages on for your loved ones. Outside of the tent are the white tents from every other city the 3-Day is, a traveling tribute to the lives lost. While difficult to be in the Remembrance Tent, it’s also cathartic. We all wrote my mother in law Shirley’s name on the tent, sniffled, and hugged. I know she was with me that weekend.
Photo Via Susan G. Komen 3-Day Facebook Page
Later that day, I was exploring posts on the official 3-Day Facebook page when I saw the above photo. Coincidentally, the man standing directly in front of the tent is my father in law. It’s amazing to think that out of 2,000+ people at this event, he happened to be the one captured in this photo, right before our family had a very touching moment inside that tent. Call it hocus pocus, but I like to think that was Shirley’s way of saying, “Hey guys, I’m here, too.” 🙂 My mom and dad came down to San Diego to cheer us on too, so it was great to show the family what the 3-Day is like.
We wrapped up at camp, and then the very tired Double Chin Divas crawled into bed for another 5:50 AM wake up call (Ugh!). I had been warned several times that Day 2 was the hardest day of the walk, and I found it to be true. You have the exhaustion and soreness from Day 1, and the adrenaline surge you had in Day 1 has come down a bit. While initially I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to walk all 20 on Day 2, I decided that feeling crummy mentally or physically wasn’t going to change the fact that we raised lots of money, money that changes lives. Every step I took was a step toward victory; for myself and embracing fitness, and for the thousands of women and men fighting breast cancer.
What an amazing experience, I’m sure. I think your attitude about stopping early was exactly right. So what if you didn’t do all 20 miles that day? You still raised a ton of money, had such a precious moment with your loved ones in the tent, and enjoyed yourself. Awesome!