2008 Washington DC Breast Cancer 3-Day

This year I had the opportunity to see the Breast Cancer 3-Day from an entirely different perspective as a crew member on the route safety team. Here is a brief account of my participation in the event.

Crew Day

At about 11:30am on Thursday, October 2nd, my teammate and tentmate Danielle and I met up with most of the route safety crew for a get-to-know you lunch at Chili's. We had the chance to meet many of the 20 or so motorcyclists and 5 cyclists who would make up the Moto team. Our responsibility over the weekend was to direct walkers and traffic in intersections, call for sweep vehicles for walkers needing a ride or medical assistance and to ensure the overall safety of those on the event. The team consisted of quite a few veterans of the event, for one teammember who I had previously met on the Atlanta 3-Day, this was his 18th!

Later that afternoon, over 300 crew members gathered at the site for Opening Ceremonies at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, Virginia to participate in 'Crew Day.' We learned how to use Nextel phones, what to do in emergencies, learned the general route and more. Other teams had specific training in driving a MULE (little RV), setting up a Western shelter, unpacking a Pit Stop pod and more. Danielle and I reunited with our friends we trained with last year, Terri and Angel, as well as Larry, the writer of the now famous Underground Guide to the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Danielle quickly took off to the campsite to begin her work on the Camp Logistics Crew and I stayed for the remainder of my training. A quick dinner with some new cycling friends at Red Robin, a shopping trip for some quick laces for my running shoes and it was off to bed at the hotel!

Day One

Friday morning began with an early 4am call time. The moto-crew was tasked with directing traffic through the drop off lanes for three hours until Opening Ceremonies. Walkers began arriving around 5am and the ceremonies began at 7:30am. When the first walkers with the 3-Day flags departed the mall, I was in front of them on my bicycle. I slowly rode my way up to an intersection in front of Pit Stop 2 where I was assigned to work with Deb, a moto-veteran. Wow - what a new experience! Not only were we directing traffic, but stopping walkers from walking right into intersections with green lights in order to try and 'catch up' to their friends and teammates. It was also the start of the safety crack-down on iPods, headphones and cell phone usage while walking. (All are forbidden while walking. You need to stop walking to use the cell-phone. Route safety helps enforce this.) We danced walkers through the intersection to the sounds of Motown and Disco provided by little speakers and our iPods. About three hours later, all of the walkers had come through and I rode forward to find my next intersection. Along the way, I had to radio in to Command to direct sweep vehicles and one ambulance to walkers needing assistance. There was also a LOT of cheering walkers along the way.

My second stop was at an intersection with Repo, our crew captain, where I was sent on an errand to the Lunch stop for a meal for our police support. This was a lunch that as a walker, I would have skipped! Due to the early mileage (8.5), the walkers weren't very spread out. The ending result was a line about 400 deep. (Check it out at left.) My friend Larry the crew captain quickly adapted and the problem was fixed by Day 2. Luckily I could scoot around it as a crew member and get lunch for our officer. My lunch was another 'Uncrustable 'and some string cheese at the next Pit Stop.

The afternoon was spent at an intersection near Occuquan, where I saw the last 1200-1500 walkers move through. Lots of sunscreen, much dancing, and several hours later, the last walker came through and I was pushed forward to check on other route safety crew members until I reached camp at Occuquan Regional Park. This entailed riding on a very busy Route 123, through the hilly and charming town of Occuquan, across a footbridge and up quite a few hills, while continuing to check on walkers. All of route safety gathered at the entrance to camp to welcome walkers to their last half mile and to determine the route assignments for the next day. While as a walker, I was typically in camp at 1-3pm, as a crew member, we wait for the last walkers and the caboose (a staff member on a bicycle who stays with the last walker.) On Friday, we walked in with the last walker at around 7:15pm. After dinner and settling into our tent, it was 9pm and lights out.

Day Two

The next morning saw my fellow cyclists, Leslie and Sheena, and I departing camp around 6:30am. We helped set up patrols around the Lorton area, on a 19 mile out and back route that included about 5-6 miles of trails, grass and rough terrain. As the only member of the team on a road bike, I was assigned to entrances and exits of trails for much of the morning. I set up music, the pink sweatered teddy bear that W had sent to me in the hotel the first night, lots of chalked encouragement and began welcoming walkers to the '3-Day Obstacle Course.' Unfortunately uneven terrain exacerbates blisters and many walkers had to catch a sweep van or get medical attention at Pit Stop 1.

All afternoon, Sheena and I, along with Leslie and our friend Gary (wearing his pink Crocs, knee socks, kilt and pink ribbon cape) worked with local police to direct traffic and walkers on the very curvy and busy Lorton Road. We welcomed them to Part 2 of the obstacle course! We saw lots of great costumes and danced many walkers through the intersection. We saw walkers dressed as Fred & Wilma and walkers with multi-function bras! As the course was about 19 miles, we rolled into camp around 6:30pm that evening after our waterfront cheering station.

As Leslie and I rolled into camp, the emcee for the event announced the arrival of the last walkers into camp and the walkers and crew went out to the flagpole to greet them. When the crowd parted, a familiar face appeared. I pointed out the guest to Leslie, who turned to me stunned and asked me to repeat myself. "That is Nancy Brinker, you know....the woman who promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything she could to end this disease" I said. Since it was Leslie and I, we naturally rolled up with our bicycles and Ms. Brinker's 'handlers' introduced us and our roles in the event. Her son walkers in Chicago in '08 and she is very familiar with the event, but she did have a few questions about our route safety team. A quick chat, some tearful thank you's and she was gone. What an honor! Leslie and I each took a collective moment after parking our bikes at a crowd control barrier ironically placed at second base on the field where the dinner tent stood. That evening we were treated to a brief speech by Nancy Brinker, congratulating us on our accomplishments, and then the walkers watched the 3-Day Idol finals and had a dance party. The cycling group dispersed for showers in the 18 wheelers, went over our assignments for the next day and watched the staff dismantle most of the 3-Day cafe area, post office, New Balance, Pepperidge Farms and LaCroix tents.

Day Three

Danielle and I both woke at 4:45am on Sunday to begin packing up our stuff. Leslie, Sheena and I met up with the Sweep team at 6:20am for our rides to Pit Stop One. All of the walkers were being bussed into Abingdon to start their final 16 mile walk into Washington, DC. Due to some directionally challenged driving, my Rock & Roll van ended up leading the way into the Pit Stop and were directed to get out on the route. So I accidentally got a ride past the infamous Superman Hill (Walter Reed Drive) and was dropped off to start riding at the front at about mile 2.8.

I rode quickly to mile 5.7 and set up a station in front of the Arlington County Courthouse that entailed a double intersection, where I saw all 2700 or so walkers!!! I also saw my nerves stretched a little tight after my first run red light. Two later and I had the rhythm down to the intersection. By the 11th red light runner, I was confident but cautious.

No injuries or car accidents and four hours later, I was off to ride with Sheena into DC. We hustled out of Arlington and Fairfax and navigated some Army 10 Miler traffic to get to the Key Bridge. The pedestrian area was too congested so I stuck to the driver lanes. Shortly afterwards, we navigated church traffic in downtown Georgetown on M street and stopped quickly for food and necessary porta-potty breaks at the lunch stop. We gathered up what must have been our fifth or sixth Uncrustable of the weekend and headed downtown through Dupont Circle and lots of DC traffic to meet Leslie at our patrol in front of the White House. We spent the next several hours watching the walkers navigate through tourists and protestors. Our main role there was to watch out for walkers who needed assistance (it was mile 14) and to cheer them on. Our other role was as chief picture takers!

Our costumes attracted LOTS of attention. My wings and halo prompted pictures with foreign tourists, as well as a protestor dressed as Uncle Sam! It's hard to explain that you are an 'Asphalt Angel' to someone who doesn't speak English. I think they just assume you are an insane American.

The caboose finally caught up to us and we took off at a quick pace through Chinatown, in front of the Washington Monument and the Capital, towards holding and Closing Ceremonies at the City Center Lot on New York Avenue.

At Holding, the walkers and crew gathered to rest, grab their victory T-shirts, and wait for the final walkers to enter the area. At the end, we walked through a gauntlet of walkers to Opening Ceremonies. The tears flowed as walkers gave us high fives and hugs, and told us how we had made their experience a great one. (I was even told by one walker that he had his sunscreen on....I guess I did my job!) It was certainly the emotional event of the weekend for me.

Then the roles were reversed. The crew made a gauntlet outside of Closing Ceremonies and cheered the walkers coming through in groups of 6. It was about twenty minutes of cheering and blowing our whistles. My parents were trying to reach me throughout this, so I texted them to stay by the stage and watch the event. We would be difficult to miss in our orange shirts and pink blinking vests!

Closing Ceremonies was an emotional salute to those who are no longer with us and a celebration to those who are. The survivors circle included all age ranges and both sexes. Men do get breast cancer too, and due to social stigma and many late diagnosis, it is often fatal. Nancy Brinker announced that the DC 3-Day, the first to take place in that area since 2004, raised over $7 million dollars for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Miles ridden - 54

Events participated in - 4

Funds raised to fight breast cancer - Over $800
Amazing experiences - too many to count

Thanks for supporting me once again in the fight against breast cancer.