Category Archives: Event

Meet Your Philadelphia 3-Day Coaches

The Philadelphia 3-Day is only one week away, and our coaches can’t wait to welcome all the walkers to their hometown! That means it’s the perfect time to get to know your coaches better! We asked all of them to tell us more about themselves, and to talk about each other, and boy, did they have a lot to say! The 3-Day team love was flowing, so come on and meet your 2017 Philadelphia 3-Day coaches…

2016 San Diego Walk number 6 is in the books

Many walkers already know Tisho Jessop, who has been a much-loved fixture on the 3-Day route. But do you really know everything about her? Did you know, for example, that she doesn’t like olives, raisins, veal or lamb…but she’ll eat everything else?

Or that she’ll be celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary this year, ideally with a trip to Africa, Australia or Italy? Well, now you do!

The other thing to know about Tisho is that she will certainly make you laugh!

Fellow coach Joanne Taylor says, “The first thing that I think of when I think of Tisho is her sense of humor. She just makes me laugh. And she is my ‘go to’ girl when I have a tough problem. She is a wealth of instant knowledge. She loves talking with participants, especially newbies. She has a calming and welcoming voice which makes her great at her job.”

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But the love goes both ways. Tisho thinks Joanne is hilarious, too!

“She’s one of those people that you’re talking to and suddenly she slides in the funniest comment and you both just start cracking up. Last year she made me laugh on event more than anyone else.”

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This applies to the whole team, including coach Emily Clay. Tisho says Emily has fit right into the 3-Day team, and that they all work well together.

“We each have our own area of responsibility, but we work together to make sure our participants are properly supported. We all feel comfortable asking for help because we know we have each other’s backs. I know if I call one of them and ask a question they will give me the answer or will find out and get back to me.”

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If you haven’t met Emily yet, you should know that she loves chocolate cupcakes, wants to travel to Greece, and that the song “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas puts her in the 3-Day mood! That makes sense, considering she started walking in the 3-Day when she was just 16, and has walked (and crewed) four times since then!

Joanne raves, “Emily is a young, spry 25-year-old who has taken Philadelphia by storm! She is absolutely open to any and all things and is a great listener. Because she’s young, she has such endless energy and has a wonderful sense of humor. I know she’s enjoying her new role and wish her all the best for this year’s event!”

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Things the coaches are looking forward to for this year’s event? The new route of course!

Tisho says, “There are so many exciting changes and new venues! And I really love that we are bringing our awareness message to a whole new set of communities. Awareness is such a critical part of this event overall.”

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If you still have some training to do before you hit the new route next week, the coaches have you covered there, too. Aside from Emily’s choice of the Black Eyed Peas, Tisho recommends Paralyzer (Finger Eleven), Good Feeling (Flo Rida), California Gurls (Katy Perry), Girl on Fire (Alicia Keys), California Love (2Pac) and Giant (Melissa Etheridge) for your walking playlist.

Stay tuned for more fun memories and exciting plans from the coaches next week on the blog, and be sure to follow along with them on Facebook too!

2014 San Diego Team Girlapalooza

Meet Your Twin Cities 3-Day Coaches

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The Twin Cities 3-Day is coming up fast, and our coaches can’t wait to welcome all the walkers to their hometown! Some of the Twin Cities coaches and staff have been with the 3-Day for a while, but there are also some new faces. It’s the perfect time to get to know your coaches better!

Beach Family

A new addition this year is Coach Dana Dalpra, who is joining the Twin Cities 3-Day team after spending the last six years living in Hawaii (lucky lady!).

Coach Stephanie says her “kind heart, her willingness to help everyone and her go get ‘em attitude” all make Dana a great part of the coaching team.

A big heart is common among all three ladies, with Coach Kiki Setterlund saying, “I love the care and compassion my colleagues have for, not only the big picture of ending breast cancer, but for each and every one of our participants. I participate in many different events for non-profits locally. I haven’t received the care and attention like my colleagues provide our participants. Truly.”

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Dana echoes that, and is happy to join in the cause!

“I love my team! I don’t think we’ve had a call where we aren’t laughing. Their sense of humor is everything. […] Stephanie, Kiki and Eileen are so informed and organized that it’s helped me to dive right in with confidence. Additionally, I work very closely with the other 3-Day coaches across the country. Because of all of them, I feel supported which leads to the success of the Twin Cities 3-Day this year. It’s definitely a supportive, welcoming group effort.”

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That is, in part, because of their history with the 3-Day cause. Coach Kiki used to be the Race Director for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Madison, WI, while Dana coached the 3-Day in Tampa Bay, FL for five years before her big move to Hawaii. Even Stephanie’s family has gotten involved, including her daughter who has served on the Twin Cities 3-Day Youth Corps.

In addition to their love for the 3-Day, both Stephanie and Dana have a passion for Italy, and list it on the top of their “must-visit” travel lists. All the coaches also love food! From a lavender glazed lemon donut (Dana) to “anything fried and on a stick” (Minnesota native Kiki), even salad (Stephanie)!

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They also have some interesting past lives!

When she was young, Stephanie was a speed skater in Wisconsin, and trained at the same facility as future speed skating Olympians! Dana used to be a marine biologist, working at a range of zoos and aquariums, and Kiki was a Vocal Performance major in college who still has Eminem on her walking playlist of pump-up jams!

Kiki

However, before they can take any time off for an Italian vacation or hold an Eminem dance party, they are working hard to have the Twin Cities 3-Day all ready for their walkers! Stay tuned for more fun memories and exciting plans from the coaches next week on the blog, and be sure to follow along with them on Facebook too!

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Note: Coach Stephanie and Coach Dana won’t be present throughout the entire event at the 3-Day this year due to personal circumstances, but they will both be making an appearance to cheer on all of the Twin Cities walkers.

 

 

Twin Cities 3-Day Route Preview

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The Twin Cities 3-Day is coming up this weekend, and as you get ready for the event, we have a preview of what to expect! For those who are familiar with the route, you will see a lot of our favorite sights of the Twin Cities. If you’re new to the walk this year, you will love seeing all the natural beauty of Minnesota, as well as getting to know Minneapolis and St. Paul better.

Our walk this year begins at Southdale Center in Edina. It has been a local staple since 1956 and is the perfect jumping off point for sixty miles of fun. This was the original Mall of America!

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From there, much of our first day of walking will be the route we have used in years past. We will leave Edina and walk through many parks and trails in the area. Event Production Manager Eileen Barnick promises you will see “many beautiful lakes and trails! If you’re into nature you’re going to love this walk!”

Those views include a trail between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun!

Grab & Go A will be at Father Hennepin Bluffs. You will see the name Louis Hennepin all around the area. He was a famous missionary explorer during the Lewis and Clark era, so a lot of the known history of the Twin Cities we know because of him!

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After lunch at Loring Park, walkers will cross the Stone Arch bridge, which is great for photos! This year there will also be a spot by the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center. It was under construction last year, but this year it will be another great spot for photos. We will end Day One at the University of Minnesota campus before bussing to camp.

Our camp will be at Harvest Park, and walkers will have a mile walk on a quiet trail both in and out of camp, so it’s a little secluded.

“It’s really quiet, with no car traffic, so it’s totally our own little village for the weekend! Perfect for beauty sleep!” says Eileen.

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Day Two will take place in the suburbs of the Twin Cities. We will start out on a trail and then go through some beautiful local neighborhoods before heading back into nature!

After lunch, we will hit the amazing St. Paul Utility Trail between two lakes in Vadnais Snail Regional Park.

Per Eileen, Day Two has “a good mix of streets and trails on this day, but the Vadnais Park is breathtaking!”

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Day Three is a favorite of Coach Kiki Setterlund’s, thanks to the Indian Mound Park in the heart of St. Paul. It will be about 70-80% of street walking on Sunday, but Indian Mound Park overlooks St. Paul for epic views. Walkers will then go down a hill towards the water.

“You’ll have great views as you walk through the city, and then you’ll come up to the Closing Ceremony!”

Eileen echoes that sentiment, saying that crossing Wabasha Bridge towards Closing Ceremony at Harriet Island is like a “victory march” to end the 3-Day.

The Closing Ceremony site on Harriet Island is another one of Kiki’s favorite spots.

“It is our third year there, and the beautiful backdrop of St. Paul has great views of the Mississippi River!”

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All in all, there will be plenty of scenic views over the course of all sixty miles, and the whole Twin Cities 3-Day team is hoping for some sunshine so walkers can enjoy them!

Kiki promises, “The local staff has sent in a memo to Mother Nature to request blue skies and sunny weather! It looks like we might get finally that after a few years of tough weather in the past. We are hoping that Mother Nature will work with us. We can’t wait to have you all on the route this year and in our gorgeous city!”

For more of our favorite sights from the Twin Cities 3-Day, check out our photo slideshow!

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What are you looking forward to most on the Twin Cities 3-Day? Tell us in the comments! And, if you have any more questions, your Twin Cities 3-Day coaches are here to help!