Walk Update

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back here.....
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - Chicago was last weekend and here are a few highlights....
Friday - Event Eve
This was Emma's first stay in a hotel and she did really well. She seemed a little overwhelmed by everything around her she loved watching the planes take off/land at O'Hare. We took her down to the lowest level of the hotel where there wasn't much going on and let her run around for a while. That seemed to help her burn off some energy, but she still didn't want to go to bed. Dave ended up putting the pack in play by his side of the bed and draping his arm in and she settled down.
Saturday - Walk Day 1
Other than Emma, we didn't sleep tat great, so I think it was almost a relief when the alarm went off at 3:30 AM. I got myself dressed and my gear and I left the room about 4:45 AM to go get the bus to Soldier Field. Once there, it was breakfast and the Opening ceremony. The actual walk kicked off at 7 AM (why we had to be at Soldier Field so early, I don't know). The first part of the walk took us along the lake and it was amazing! I was in the middle of the 3,000 person pack and as we followed the curve of the lake, I could look out and see the front of the group. After we left the lake, we were in several residential neighborhoods and everyone came out to cheer for us. It was a nice feeling knowing that what we were doing was important to people. Dave and Emma were at the first cheering station around mile 7.5 and that was a nice boost for me. I felt good walking up to the lunch stop. I made the mistake of taking my shoes and socks off at lunch and noticed blisters starting on my toes and I put band aids on them.... that was a mistake. After I left lunch, my toes starting to hurt a little more. I stopped at the half marathon rest stop and had the medical tent to have the toes looked at. The blisters weren't poppable, but they did doctor apply moleskin and off I went. Dave and Emma were waiting for me waiting for me around mile 14 and that kept me going during what was the loneliest stretch of the walk. After leaving them, I struggled a little more and when I got to the mile 15 quick stop, I decided to hop on the sweep van to the next rest stop. At the rest stop, the toes were still hurting, so I took the bus to the final rest stop and then walked the last 1.3 miles to the Wellness Village. After getting me gear and getting the tent set up, I headed to the shower and then to medical. The blisters still weren't poppable, but the medical staff did provide me with mole skin for the next day. I then took advantage of the spa zone massage chairs and had dinner. Saturday night, I crawled into my sleeping bag and actually slept pretty well. Mylar blankets are a godsend!!
Sunday-Walk Day 2
When the alarm went off, I actually felt rested! I got myself ready, had breakfast, and got ready to walk. We left our campsite at 7:30 AM and headed off to walk some more. We went through the Loyola University Campus and it is amazing!!! The blisters were bothering me more and more, so I stopped at one of the rest stops around mile 5 and had the feet tended too. When I left the rest stop, I wasn't sure I could make it the whole way because I was really hurting. From that point on, I never really stopped again. I went through the quick and rest stops and kept my water bottle full and grabbed lunch/snacks as needed, but I just kept plugging along. We walked through some really nice areas on Sunday, by the Lincoln Park Zoo and along Lake Shore Drive before we starting getting back into the heart of the city and Old Town. Dave and Emma were waiting for me at Millennium Park, just before mile 12 and that's where I was trying to get. By the time I reached them, I was really starting to hurt. We headed off as a family and we finished the walked. The last .1 mile was really emotional because there was a huge crowd waiting for us and complete strangers were saying thank you and patty me on the back. After finishing and getting my gear, I went to take off the walking shoes and socks and was shocked at the size of the blisters on my toes. One of them was so big that the medical staff decided to pop it. When we got home, I was so STIFF and my feet HURT. I soaked my feet, drained the blisters, and rested.
Post Walk
I was amazed on Monday when I woke up that I actually felt pretty good. I was even able to wear real shoes yesterday (Wednesday)!