Day Three...WE DID IT!

2002 Boston 3-Day

"Always reach higher than what you can touch." ~Author Unknown

Day Three: May 19, 2002

Lexington to Boston

I woke up and left my warm bed for the second time in this journey to start walking. We were back in Lexington at the high school at 6:30am. Traffic was terrible - everyone was heading back to get started on the last day. Finally we parked and hit the trail. It was about 6:45am.

The route was gorgeous! We walked through Minuteman National Park and it was so beautiful outside. Everyone was back in a great mood and we were again reminded what the 3-Day Spirit is all about. Our route took us through more residential areas and even through some commercial sections too. More people were cheering us on - my favorite in the beginning of the day was a couple with wooden spoons banging on cookie sheets and cake pans. It was so funny!

We continued on our way to Boston. I couldn't wait to see the skyline. Most the route continued on a bike path which was great walking conditions. The sun was out, peeking through the trees and it was great. As we walked on the bike path, a dad was jogging with his infant who clapped the whole way down the miles of walkers. Everyone's heart melted!

For part of Day 3, we walked with Men With Heart. What an awesome group of guys! We had seen them all weekend since Day Zero. They always wore thier matching bright yellow t-shirts and they gave out their Men With Heart stickers. I heard they cheered on walkers into camp at Day One. They were so nice to walk with - they always kept the conversation going. Kathey and I stopped to sit in the grass at one of the last pit stops and we talked about how great they were.

Lunch was yummy! I got a turkey salad sandwich and Kathey got the vegetarian lunch PB&J. We swapped. The woman next to me at lunch had her feet so covered with powder, band-aids and vasoline..ouch! I told her she was almost done and she said she was going to finish. I had two tiny blisters that I got on Day Two - I think it was from my feet being so soggy. But they were really no problem. After I fixed up my feet for the rest of the day, we got walking.

Kathey and Jerry's friends came to see us walking! Brian, Lynne and baby James came to Boston all the way from the Cape just to cheer us on. We knew they would be waiting at the Fresh Pond Mall - we couldn't wait to get there! I stopped to ask a group of cheerers how far we were and they told us it was less than a mile away. Yey!

Finally, on one of the bridges, I could see Boston!! I was so excited. I took pictures and even though they were far away, I felt like I was almost there. We had walked there...from Fitchburg! That was when I realized how far away we had really started.

We found Brian, Lynne and James! It was so great to see them. They told us how good we looked and took our extra clothes (we dressed in lots of layers, especially since Saturday's weather!). It made the rest of the walk great to have gotten to see them. And given them my extra clothes - my fanny packed weighed 6-8 pounds! Thank you so much for coming to see us!

On our way to Boston we went. A redheaded little boy gave the walkers each a pink carnation. We thanked him, his family and his mom. That was one of the most touching moments of the walk.

We walked down Memorial Drive. Finally, we made it to the bridge over the Charles River! As we got to the other side, I could see lots of yellow shirts ahead of me. Members of the Men with Heart team were lined up on either side of the bridge, applauding us as we walked by and welcoming us to Boston. They took the time to stop there and cheer on fellow walkers as we went the last two miles to the Holding Area at City Hall Plaza. Amazing.

Our route took us by Cheers Bar which was cool. As we started to look around, we saw some of the girls of Team Hope again. We walked the first mile with them and now we were walking the last. Finally, we passed by the Boston Common - our finish line after we all joined to walk the last mile together and we walked up the BIG hill, past dozens of supporters and people cheering. One girl on her way to her college graduation, in cap and gown, congratulated us. Everyone told us were were almost there and that we did it!

We crossed the intersection into City Hall Plaza. I could hear the cheering before we got across the street. The walkers who had gotten there before us, the crew, medical staff and friends lined up and cheered us on the last few steps. People were yelling, cheering "YOU DID IT", whistling, handing out more stickers, blowing bubbles, saying thank you...what a moment! It was then that I realized I had really done it.

Our victory shirts awaited us! White for crew, pink for survivors, blue for walkers. Kathey and I got our long-sleeved, blue shirts and went outside to wait. Jerry was on his way to meet us. I went to join the others in cheering the walkers on as they finished. I was there to cheer on Team Wild Women, Team Hope, Team Sole Sisters and Men with Heart. I saw Karen from CT and got her attention - and gave her a huge hug. Some were crying, some were laughing, most were limping. It was awesome.

I heard someone calling me and went back to where I had left Kathey sitting. Jerry, Jay and my two friends Brandie and Shawn were there. I was so happy to see them! And they brought Starbucks. We waited for about two hours while the rest of the walkers came in. Totally by luck, we were sitting right next to Sandy, the woman we had trained with in Portsmouth!

Kathey and I had to get ready for the last mile, known as the Victory March back to Boston Common where the closing ceremony would be. The two of us stood near the front, hoping to be towards the front of the pack.The motorcycle police took off to block the road down to the Common. Finally, we lined up for the last mile. We were in the front of the pack, in the first 30 people. Pallotta let a group of about 20 people in front of us - they were 3-peaters. Good for them, they deserve it!

And we're off. We did the wave while we waited for the group to get going - the same thing we had done in line at the first mile on Day One. Hundreds of people lined the street this time, with signs like "It rained on Woodstock too!" and "My Mommy is My Hero". The walkers started a chant: "We walked from Fitchburg. We couldn't be prouder. And if you can't hear us, we'll yell a little louder!".

As we made the last turn, we were asked to ssshhhh. I wasn't really sure what was going on. But then I heard some big thumps and I realized it was music. Music that we were walking toward! We walked by the sign that said Boston Common. The crew, medical crew and Pallotta staff were lined up on the sides into the Common. Most were in tears, thanking us and applauding. But really, more walkers were in tears, thanking them and applauding. We walked by the bicycle crew who were awesome and the motorcycle crew who was amazing. The medical staff had a Mylar blanket flag and the pit stop with the stars you could write on were strung and held up along the way.

We hit the finish line! The stage was at the far end of the park and there was a huge open area barricaded off. Thousands of people were on the other sides - yelling, holding up signs, applauding. Kathey and I walked into it and ran towards the stage. When we stopped, we hugged and everyone started jumping up and down. We were dancing and hugging and everyone was so happy. I don't know how long it lasted time-wise but it seemed like forever - and that was okay with me. It was our moment!

All 3,945 walkers and 400 crew came into the Common. The Closing Ceremony last about 45 minutes. The Survivor Circle that participated in the Opening Ceremony was there again, reminding us of why we walked. It was awesome.

I wasn't sure if I was going to walk or crew in 2003. After I got home, I thought about it. I'm not sure if I can raise the $2,000 again. But, I thought that when I registered for 2002. And I did it. Thanks to YOU!

Kathey and I raised over $4,200. The 2002 Boston 3-Day produced a NET DOLLAR VALUE of $6 MILLION DOLLARS that went directly to breast cancer programs.

$6 million dollars. All because of people like you.

60 miles. 3 days. 1 cause.

Now see the pictures! Visit our online photo album.