Tag Archives: 3-day route

A Glimpse at the 2026 Boston 3-Day Route

The 2025 Boston 3-Day was home to groups of walkers dressed in pink from head to toe.

Boston is gearing up to welcome the Pink Bubble back for another unforgettable Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. Whether you’re returning or experiencing the 3-Day route for the first time, Boston has something for everyone to enjoy.  

Boston is one of America’s oldest cities and rich with history at every turn. From its colonial landmarks to its iconic neighborhoods, every mile in Boston is memorable. This year, participants will also see the new Commonwealth Pier, which offers beautiful waterfront views and a new perspective on Boston’s harbor. 

Day 1: Landmarks & Neighborhoods We Love 

A group of 3-Day walkers at Graffiti Alley at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

Your 3-Day journey will start bright and early with an exciting Opening Ceremony at the Marriott Copley Place, before you set out on your first 20 miles. You’ll pass Boston icons like the Citgo sign, a skyline staple since 1940, and wind through the tree-lined streets of Brookline, Chestnut Hill and Brighton with support from cheer stations along the way.  In Allston, you’ll walk along Boston University, a Komen Grantee advancing breast cancer research through groundbreaking studies in genetics, environmental risk factors, therapies and early detection methods.

Crossing the Charles River brings you to Harvard Square in Cambridge, home to historic Harvard Yard, eclectic shops, restaurants, bookstores and street performers. Don’t miss the photo op at Graffiti Alley, a colorful area where graffiti and street artists can legally express themselves.  

Participants are full of high energy as they walk into the Celebration of Champions at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

You’ll end Day 1 taking your last steps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another incredible Komen Grantee and world leader in research and education. You’ll be tired after your first 20 miles, but also proud of the miles you powered through. Back at camp, be sure to take some time to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs, eat a delicious meal and sit and enjoy the Celebration of Champions with the rest of the Pink Bubble community.

Day 2: Art, Culture & Classic Boston Energy 

Fenway Park is a great photo op for 3-Day walkers along the Boston 3-Day route.

The second day kicks off through the Underground at Ink Block, an urban art park beneath the I-93 expressway transformed into an innovative community hub filled with murals and walking paths in Boston’s South End neighborhood. From there, you’ll pass the Fort Point Channel and Boston’s historic Old State House. Built in 1713, it’s one of the oldest public buildings in the United States and a powerful reminder of Boston’s role in early American history.  

Next, the Pink Bubble will walk to the iconic Cheers bar, made famous by the long-running TV sitcom, and then to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912 and America’s oldest Major League Baseball park.

The halfway point of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day on Day 2 of the Boston 3-Day.

You’ll then pass Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Komen-funded research pushes us closer to a world without breast cancer. From there, you’ll continue toward beautiful Jamaica Pond, a stunning 68-acre freshwater oasis. Next up is a stroll past the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery where the renowned beer is brewed daily, before walking past the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, which collectively contain over 500,000 works of art. The day winds down through the lush Back Bay Fens, before ending at the 124-year-old Symphony Hall. Back at camp, you’ll enjoy a warm meal, the heartfelt Honor Ceremony and some quiet time to rest and relax before you take on the challenge of the last day.

Day 3: History & Heart 

The final day of the 2025 Boston 3-Day is rich in history.

On your final day, you’ll visit a variety of meaningful landmarks. First is the William Lloyd Garrison Memorial Statue, honoring one of America’s most prominent abolitionists. Then, you’ll see the Hatch Memorial Shell, a 40-foot semi-circular arch set into the ground of the Charles River Esplanade. This unique outdoor concert and performance venue makes for a great Pink Bubble team photo op. 

From there, you’ll explore the storied Freedom Trail that connects 16 sites which are historically significant to the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll be able to admire the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House, and much more before immersing yourself in the stories of the Boston Tea Party.  

The giant Hood milk bottle along the Boston 3-Day route.

As you begin to wrap up your 3-Day journey, you won’t miss the giant Hood Milk Bottle, a beloved landmark with sweet treats for purchase. Continue your walk through South Boston, and see the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the Boston Public Market and the Garden of Peace before heading to the Finish Line Festival at Boston Common Parade Grounds where the emotions and celebrations will be overwhelming in the best possible way. 

As you look ahead to this week’s Boston 3-Day, you can expect a route filled with deep history and unforgettable moments. And by the time you reach the finish line, you’ll have earned a deep sense of accomplishment and a celebration worthy of the journey.  

We can’t wait to see you on the route.

 

How the 3-Day Routes Come to Life

Participants walking along the shoreline at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

Planning the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® takes months of collaboration and careful coordination. Each route is carefully designed to be safe, challenging and memorable while taking participants on an unforgettable journey of up to 60 miles toward a world without breast cancer. 

This year’s Komen 3-Day Series will travel through four beautiful destinations — the historic streets of Boston, the charming neighborhoods of Dallas/Fort Worth, the waterfront in San Diego and the scenic paths of Tampa Bay. While each route and city offers its own unique experience, every mile is carefully planned long before the Pink Bubble arrives in town.  

Planning the Route 

A group of 3-Day participants walking through an intersection at the 2025 Boston 3-Day.

The route planning process of the three day, 60-mile walk is a year-round effort that requires collaboration between Komen staff, city officials, police departments, public works teams, chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus and other local partners.  

“We’re very lucky to have great relationships with every city that we’re in,” route planner Ethan P. said. “I really can’t thank the cities enough for what they do for us.” 

Planners aim for approximately 20 miles each day of the event while identifying parks and open spaces for pit stops and lunch, and ensuring major intersections are staffed by route safety.  

Walkers line a street at the 2025 Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day.

Scenic paths, local landmarks and iconic attractions help shape the 3-Day routes, but planning also includes adapting to changing conditions. Construction projects, road closures, local events and even parking availability can impact where 3-Day participants walk from year to year. 

“When one event’s over, we’re already looking at next year and how to make the route better,” Ethan said. “It could be the smallest things like there’s not enough parking at this one spot to we just think that this area is much prettier.” 

The pink arrows are placed along the 3-Day route to keep participants on the right track throughout event weekend.

To help participants confidently navigate all 60 miles, the route planning team marks the course with pink arrows. They are placed along the route to keep participants moving in the right direction, along pit stops, to lunch and back on to the next portion of the day’s route. It is another behind-the-scenes detail that’s key to creating a safe, seamless 3-Day experience. 

It Takes a Village 

A successful 3-Day route also depends on the support of the communities that welcome the Pink Bubble each year. The 3-Day team spends several months doing outreach with local businesses, neighborhoods and community partners along the route.  

Businesses showing support for 3-Day walkers at the 2025 San Diego 3-Day.

“The 3-Day coaches do an amazing job at helping us and making sure we’re reaching out to everybody around where we’re walking,” Ethan said. “The support we have received from Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego and now Tampa Bay has been truly amazing. “ 

The community spirit is part of what makes every 3-Day so special. From businesses decorating storefronts with pink decorations and snack stations to cheering spectators lining the sidewalks, the encouragement participants receive throughout the weekend happens because of the in-depth preparation that leads up to every event season. 

Every City Has Its Own Feel 

The 2025 Boston 3-Day had a historical backdrop for participants.

Each 3-Day route is different and that is what makes each city so special. This year, San Diego participants can look forward to a couple of new pit stops that Ethan described as “absolutely stunning,” though he is keeping the details a surprise. 

Tampa Bay returns to the 3-Day in February 2027 for the first time since 2013, giving many participants the opportunity to experience an entirely new route featuring waterfront views, downtown streets and scenic trails. 

“It’s going to be a very pretty route that’s also really diverse,” Ethan said.  

Boston will feature a new pier on Day 3 that participants will be able to walk around, while Dallas/Fort Worth’s new hotel and camp location has inspired thoughtful route updates that still preserve many of the familiar sights participants know and love. 

To learn more about the 3-Day routes, visit the3day.org. 

2019 San Diego 3-Day Route Preview

Our final 3-Day of the year is coming up this weekend, and we are so excited to be kicking off the 2019 San Diego 3-Day. As Friday fast approaches, we are giving you a sneak peek at our 60-mile route, which will immerse everyone in the stunning sights of San Diego and celebrate the final walk of the year.

Event Manager, Meredith Parker walked her first 3-Day in San Diego years ago, so she (along with all your San Diego coaches) is very happy to welcome all of our participants next weekend. She has big plans for a great weekend ahead!

That starts with our Opening Ceremony, which will once again begin at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This spot has become a favorite for participants and supporters alike, and we’re excited to once again kick off our journey here.

Day One is very similar to last year, which means that participants need to lace up their shoes for the infamous Torrey Pines hill at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve!

“Anybody who has ever spent time in San Diego or Torrey Pines knows it’s the most serene piece of coastline. When people I know are visiting the city, I always recommend Torrey Pines. It’s just breathtaking,” Meredith enthuses.

We will also be making our way through Del Mar, which is always so welcoming to our walkers! After lunch at the picturesque Kellogg Park, we will enter La Jolla and spend Friday afternoon walking through the area, including passing Pacific Beach.

Meredith loves that part of the day, saying, “I love walking through La Jolla and going past La Jolla Cove and the tide pools. It’s another spectacular piece of coastline.”

We will finish the day at our outdoor camp site at Crown Point Shores, which has been a wonderful location for the last several years.

“Where else can you camp and get a water view?” Meredith smiles. “It’s the cheapest and greatest waterfront view you can get in San Diego. It’s just so beautiful and a wonderful environment for us all to be together.”

It will make for a cozy spot to spend the night after our first 20 miles. ?

Walkers can then expect some changes on Day Two. After listening to participant feedback from last year, we have worked very closely with the amazing San Diego Police Department to make some updates to Saturday afternoon that we think people will really enjoy.

Because of these updates, our lunch location is now in Bonita Cove! We are very excited about this spot, but Meredith wants to make sure that walkers know that lunch will now be a little later in the day on Saturday. So, be sure to fuel up at breakfast and at the Pit Stops throughout the morning on Day Two.

After lunch, walkers will start seeing those changes as they go along Ocean Front Walk, which will take them through South Mission Beach. In years past, we have stayed along Ocean Front Walk for much of the afternoon, but instead, we will be finishing up Saturday with a walk on Sail Bay. This provides new views and more excitement throughout the afternoon before we come back to camp.

Meredith is most excited for our final Honor Ceremony of the year when we all return to camp on Saturday night. This impactful experience is a new part of the 3-Day this year, and everyone from coaches to participants to family and friends have really appreciated the addition.

“It brings us back to the heart of why we all participate in the 3-Day together,” Meredith explains.

Sunday morning will dawn bright and sunny, bringing walkers to the Northern section of Ocean Front Walk as they make their way through Mission Beach. The boardwalk will be a fun and exciting way to kick off Day Three!

Other highlights include the Juan Street hill, which always leaves walkers with a great feeling of accomplishment — and some serious selfie views — when you reach the top!

In addition, walkers will have the option of crossing the Quince Street Bridge before entering Balboa Park. If you’re scared of heights, we will have shuttles on hand to drive you around, but we really encourage everyone to take advantage of this new portion of our walk!

Our Finish Line and Closing Ceremony will bring our 60-mile journey to a close, once again at Waterfront Park.

We will still be on the West side of the park, which gives us beautiful views of North San Diego Bay. Meredith loves the updates we have made to this final celebration for 2019.

“We have been making changes to make sure this is as an immersive and engaging and intimate Closing Ceremony as possible. We want to close out the year as one big 3-Day family!”

We are so excited to celebrate with San Diego all weekend long and end our 2019 3-Day season making committed strides together towards a cure for breast cancer. Let’s go!