The Coaches Favorite 3-Day Photos (and memories!)

May is National Photography Month, and even though we share 3-Day photos all year long, you don’t always get to see our walks through the eyes of your coaches. They are on the ground from sun up to sun down on the 3-Day; along the route, at pit stops, at camp, and everywhere you need them! So, they have a unique view of the 3-Day that we want to share with you. These are some of their favorite photos from 3-Days past, both ones they’ve taken and those from our on-event photographer. Click through to see the 3-Day through their eyes (and lenses)…you might even see some familiar participant faces!

Happy Thanksgiving from the 3-Day Coaches!

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Happy Thanksgiving 3-Dayers! We hope you are all celebrating with friends and family and lots of good food! There is so much to be grateful for this year; from all our amazing participants to our beautiful host cities to the phenomenal amount of money we raised towards Komen’s Bold Goal in 2017.

Though many of us are spending the day relaxing, we wanted to make sure to throw some thanks and love your way! Our coaches, from Michigan to San Diego, are thankful for each and every one of you. But they’re also thankful for chocolate, puppies, their families, and more! Here are a few of our coaches’ favorite things this Thanksgiving…

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Coach Gina from Michigan: I am grateful, beyond measure, for this “village” I am part of. After my own diagnosis, I quickly learned you need to rely on those around you and I am blessed to have family and friends who know how to shower love and support. This has enabled me to cherish each moment and be thankful for each day!

Coach Emily from Philadelphia: I am thankful for my pup, Cooper’s, face when I come home from an event and the snuggles that follow all night long!

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Coach Marianne from San Diego: I’m thankful for all of the community support we received on our event last weekend in San Diego! I was so happy to see places like Brick & Bell (who also have amazing scones that I’m thankful for) come out to cheer our walkers on!

Coach Tisho from Philadelphia: My family, my health and dark chocolate

Coach Liz from Dallas/Fort Worth: It’s so corny and simple, but I am thankful for my husband, his love and support. (They have been married for 35+ years!)

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Coach Stephanie from Twin Cities: I am forever grateful to all my friends, family, co-workers and amazing 3-Day volunteers who jumped in to lend me a hand after I was seriously injured in a bike accident just three weeks before the Twin Cities 3-Day. It was difficult for me to accept all the help, being someone who likes to “do it all.” But, of course everything got done and we had another amazing event. I feel incredibly blessed to have all of them in my life!

Coach Heather from Michigan: I’m thankful for friends. I am so fortunate to have my circle of friends from childhood that have been such a source of love and support for three decades! I always thought I had “enough” friends… and then I came to the 3-Day. So many of my teammates I now consider friends. I am rich 🙂

Coach Gayla from Dallas/Fort Worth: I’m thankful for a job that brings me so much joy and surrounds me with human beings who inspire me daily — from my co-workers to all our participants! I’m also thankful for my family and our four-legged fur babies who love me unconditionally.

Coach Staci from San Diego: I am thankful for good health and the fact that you have to work for it. And for my new puppy that’s coming home very soon! She’s a Vizsla and we haven’t named her yet but my whole family is so excited!

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What are you thankful for this year? Tell us in the comments!

San Diego Coaches’ Favorite Memories

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We’re just one day away from our final 3-Day of 2017 and our San Diego coaches are bursting at the seams with excitement! They can’t wait to welcome all the participants to the West Coast for three days of fun, love and a big pink bubble of happiness. Before we begin our sixty-mile journey with them, they’re taking a look back at 3-Days of the past, and giving you their must-visit spots in San Diego!

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What are your favorite memories of the 3-Days past?

Coach Marianne: The time that I spend with my team training and on-event are some of my best memories. There is so much time to talk and really get to know each other as we spend hours walking. This opportunity is hard to find in our busy lives.

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Coach Amy: Caboosing the Kansas City 3-Day. My bike was way too big, and I had no idea how to operate my Nextel. Not a great combination. However, those technical difficulties quickly faded when I came upon 2 little girls, probably around 4 years old, on the side of the path holding a sign saying, “Mommy we miss you, please come back”.

As the tears welled up, I was dumbfounded at the reality of this plea. We do not realize how precious life is until it is too late. We tend to take each day for granted, not understanding what tomorrow may bring. This is why we walk. And this is why I feel so grateful to do what I do. Every. Single. Day.

What are you looking forward to most for this year’s walk?

Coach Amy: Loving up the San Diego 3-Day crew community. For the past two years I have been supporting the Twin Cities 3-Day and I am so excited to be back in San Diego, and have the opportunity to see all the smiling faces of my sweet crew members who I have missed working alongside.

Coach Staci: Meeting all the people I’ve been emailing with and speaking with on the phone!

Coach Marianne: I’m thrilled to be experiencing the walk from a different perspective this year as a coach. I’m excited to interact with all the people I’ve been talking to and planning with the past few months. My appreciation for the walk and the many people involved has grown immensely as I’ve seen firsthand just how hard everyone involved works and how committed our entire 3-Day community is.

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What are your favorite spots on the route?

Coach Staci: The top of Torrey Pines hill and the Day 1 lunch spot – with surfers crossing the path while walkers are walking by.

Coach Marianne: I love the approach to La Jolla Cove and listening to all our visiting walkers comment on how spectacularly beautiful it is. This gives me a renewed appreciation for where I live. My very first-time snorkeling in the ocean was at La Jolla Cove when I was a teenager so it brings back sweet memories. I also love to walk through the residential neighborhoods and look at the beautiful homes. You notice so much more walking than you do driving, it’s a real treat.

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Coach Amy: The view from the top of Torrey Pines! Watching the waves crash along sunset cliffs. And of course, morning sunrise at camp. I know that is not the route, but it is spectacular to see the sun rise above the bay!

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What are your favorite spots in San Diego to eat and play?

Coach Amy: Lofty Coffee for my favorite almond milk latte. The. Best.

The Fish Shop for a yummy fish taco. Favorite beach is Table Tops in Solana Beach or Cardiff beach. I relish any time I can escape to the Belly Up for live music!

Coach Marianne: I love the ocean so I find that I gravitate there when I go out to play. A perfect San Diego day may be as simple as a day spent at the beach swimming in the ocean and sunning. We also have so many new brew pubs in the area that I’ve been methodically working my way through them. My favorite go-to place to meet up with a group is Bagby’s in Oceanside because they have so much creative indoor and outdoor space for a group as well as fantastic food and drinks.

What are you most excited about for the 2017 San Diego 3-Day? Tell us in the comments!