In the 2 years we have walked this event, Team Henry has walked 72.4 miles and has raised almost $8,000! The Boston Walk in total this year had over 2500 Walkers and raised over $5.6 MILLION for breast cancer research, education, and services.
We started bright and early - at 5:15 AM on Saturday morning Team Henry was on the shuttle to Opening Ceremonies. After dropping off our gear bags, eating some breakfast, and seeing some old friends, we enjoyed Opening Ceremonies (if it doesn't make you cry, you are not human. Seriously), and at 7 AM we started off.
The day was beautiful - partly sunny and high 60s. We walked through South Boston, Downtown, Cambridge, Brookline, JP, Dedham, and Roslindale - our goal was the Wellness Village at Reebok Headquarters in Canton.
We took our time, enjoyed the scenery and the people we met along the way (and the food. There is always SO MUCH FOOD, and I seriously ate all day. I may be the only person to gain weight after this event). And...we did it! All 26.2 miles on day 1 - a full marathon!
(can you see the look in our eyes here? The "I am in some serious discomfort and am exhausted right now, but am plastering a smile on for this picture!" look?)
The Wellness Village was great, as always. We walked in and immediately went to their "spa" area for foot and back massages. We got our gear and tent set up, decided to skip the offered yoga classes to have dinner instead (again, me and the food...), and relaxed after a loooooong day.
Alas, Tiffany - my partner in crime and kick-ass teammate - met a little friend called "dehydration" after our trek. This friend introduced her to "IV fluids in the medical tent". Never a fun thing. Tiff was not feeling well (who would after being on an IV for an hour???), so we decided to send her home. I missed her terribly the rest of Saturday night and for Sunday's walk, but Team Henry pressed on with one remaining member.
Sunday was not as nice weather wise - it poured for the first 4-5 miles - but only doing 13.1 miles felt scarily easy after the previous day's Walk.
And...I did it! All 39.3 miles of the Walk! It was exhausting, painful (at times), long, and utterly amazing, just like it is every year.
Since poor Tiff wasn't with me I didn't get a good picture of me at the Finish Line this year. Instead, you have to settle for this video I took while crossing it. If you think it looks like it was taken by a drunken sailor in rough seas...YOU try walking well after almost 40 miles, OK??
So, you ask...is Devon going to be crazy enough to do it again? Well, I may be DOUBLY crazy - I am already signed up to participate in not one, but TWO Walks next year! For the Boston Walk next May I decided to participate as a Crew Member. This all volunteer staff is there all weekend, just like the Walkers, and we camp out Saturday at the Wellness Village. Instead of walking and fundraising, the Crew provides all the support for the walkers - everything from manning the Rest Stops, to serving food, to cleaning up, to hauling gear. I am REALLY excited to participate in this way.
For the second Walk...I saw that Avon has a new city location in 2010 and I couldn't resist:
Yes, you read that blurry picture correctly. The Avon Wallk is coming to Santa Barbara in September of 2010 and I would not miss it for the world! All my California friends (yes, you know who you are) start your prep now - you have a year and a half for training and fundraising. Trust me when I say that this is an event that will change your life. I'll be calling you :)
For a full set of pictures from the Walk, Click here: http://tinyurl.com/p3pvh3
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THIS YEAR! Your support means everything to me, and your contributions have made an enormous difference in the fight against breast cancer.
Emma Bagnell
Kristen, Tom, and Cyanne Blabey
Maile Broccoli-Hickey
Kiera, Jim, Kate, and Ben Carlisle
John and Bobbie Cary
Patrick and Carrie Cary
Jamie Foley
Karen, Etan, and Gadi Fremen
Lyle Freeman
Scott Grandi
Tim and Nene Grandi
Karen, Zach, and Anna Gustafson
Meri, Ed, and Sawyer Houseworth
Joyce, Brian, and Charlotte Leonardo
Valerie Levine
Michelle, Matt, and Jake Mund
Sarah, Rich, Maya, and Bailey Paisner
Audra and Griffin Plewak
Mike Powell :)
Norman Powell
Mark and Gayle Rohde
Mike Skrzynski
Tara Stepanian
2 comments:
Oh WOW!!! Hmmm... I think this is an idea I can get behind! I like it...! Now we just need to get Karen and other California people =)... Yay - now I'm excited =). And if not before (which would be ridiculous), now I know that I'll see you (and Henry and mike, hopefully) and you'll see Cyanne etc. in Sept. of 2010! Yay!
Oh, Henry and Mike will be there. I need them to cheer us in at the finish line! :) I figure it will be a vacation for the 3 of us, with 2 days of extreme walking thrown in the middle:) Think of all the talking we can get done while walking 40 miles through one of the most beautiful places in the world!
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