Why Do We Love Our Besties? We’ll Spell It Out for You!

Your best friends are the family you get to choose. They know all your secrets, were there to laugh at every embarrassing moment, and have supported you through any tough time. What better person than your bestie, then, to bring on the 3-Day with you?

In honor of best friends, the 3-Day is so excited about our “Bring Your Besties” program again this year! We want to help you, and your best friends, get off on the right foot this 3-Day season.

We want to give new participants the chance to see the 3-Day magic for the first time. And we want to give past participants the chance to relive their first 3-Day journey, this time with one of their best friends by their side. Free travel is available for any new walker who registers by April 19 with the code BYB17*

That way, no matter where they live, you can have your besties by your side!

*Visit The3Day.org/Bestie for important details about this offer.

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Need any more motivation to start recruiting your pals to walk with you? Here are a few reasons why we think nothing could be better than the 3-Day with your besties.

B … is for Being side by side with my friends as we cross the finish line after 60 miles together.

E … is for Each and Every person who has fought, or is still fighting, against cancer.

S … is for Survivors standing tall and strong, beacons of hope for those who fight.

T … is for Together we can do anything. Together we are More Than Pink.

I … is for I will not give up. You will not give up. We will never give up.

E … is for Everyone you love supporting you with donations and encouragement.

S … is for Susan G. Komen® and our shared mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Your besties mean everything to you. With their help, and you by their side, let’s walk to end breast cancer forever. Visit The3Day.org/Bestie now.

Tips for Making a Bestie on the 3-Day

There’s nothing quite like meeting someone, and knowing they’re going to be your new best friend. Someone who has the same interests, listens to the same music, and is passionate about the same causes as you are. Plus, they’re fun to talk to!

On the 3-Day, we walk with old friends, and make new ones on the trail. When we are all walking for a common cause, and it helps pass the time to have someone to walk, sing, dance, day dream, and even share secrets with. Naturally, many of our walkers meet new lifelong friends along their 3-Day journey.

Want to make this the year you meet a new bestie who is More Than Pink™, just like you? We have some tips, including stories and ideas from coaches and walkers who have done exactly that…

Take the first step:

Jennifer Hanskat, Michigan 3-Day Participant Support Coach, says you should never be afraid to reach out to anyone and everyone to encourage people to walk with you. Don’t be afraid to even ask strangers! They might turn into best friends over 60 miles.

“I sent out an email to the moms’ group from my son’s school asking if anyone wanted to walk with me. Not even 5 minutes after I hit send I got a response from a mom named Susan. Susan was 100% on board and told me she was registering right then! Even though we didn’t know each other then, we became besties and 14 years later have walked and crewed many 3-Day events since then.”

It might seem daunting or crazy, but asking people in different parts of your life to walk with you, especially if you would otherwise be walking alone, can lead to new friends or the creation of a team.

That’s how it worked for Laura from the Twin Cities’ Northern Nippy’s team. She has walked with just one or two friends in years past, but has also walked with thirty or more people on her team. “The more I talked about it, the more of my friends wanted to try it!” It never hurts to ask.

Connect on social media:

So, you’ve registered and found a friend or two who are interested in walking with you. Want to grow your group even more? Check out social media and the 3-Day online community.

Walkers connect, give tips, share concerns and ideas, and more on the 3-Day Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and message boards.

Jana Kono from Arizona is one such 3-Dayer, who has used Twitter to talk with a growing group who support each other all year long. “There is an amazing group of walkers and crew who have become the best friends. We do a secret pal swap all year and reveal #BFFs.”

Other walkers, like Kristin from Alabama, met friends on the 3-Day and have used social media as a way to stay in touch. She says (via tweet), “How do you explain the beginning of a wonderful friendship in 140 characters? I met my friend Crystal at Day 1 lunch in ’12!”

You can also use the 3-Day Friend Finder to locate people who are looking for friends to make strides with. It’s new and improved this year so you can now search by location, by participant type, even by walking speed to connect with fellow walkers and crew.

Attend training walks:

If you’d rather find your bestie in person, or need extra motivation in your training, find training walks in your area at The3Day.org/TrainingWalks and RSVP. Showing up is half the battle after all!

Stephanie Mayer, Twin Cities 3-Day Local Events Coach, says she definitely recommends attending training walks in your local area. “These are a great way to meet people and exchange fundraising ideas. If you’re a solo walker you may even find a team to join!”

Be bold:

If you arrive at the 3-Day still not knowing anyone, it’s never too late!

Lauri Yanis has walked and crewed in a number of different cities and says on her first walk, back in 2002, she approached the first day with a specific goal. “I set myself the personal challenge that I was going to pretend that every person I met was really interested in meeting me. I was going to approach everybody and make friends as a big, self-confidence activity. And it worked!”

She has met many long-term friends, and even her husband Matt, on the 3-Day.

(PS You’ll learn more about Lauri and Matt next week for Valentine’s Day, so be sure to check back!)

Make the 3-Day a vacation:

The fun doesn’t have to only last for 3 days! Arrive early with your friends or teammates and get one last training walk in the day before your 3-Day officially starts. Or extend your stay a few days after the Closing Ceremony.

Faren Ann from San Diego says she and her 3-Day Tweep friends make it a whole affair each year. “Besides on event, we travel together and shared Friendsgiving in (San Diego) the last 2 years.”

You could also plan a much needed spa day for you and your new besties!

How have you made friends on your 3-Day experience? Share your story with us!

3 MORE Ways to Talk a Friend Into Walking With You

So you’re thinking about walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® this year. Fantastic! If you’re like most folks, you know that the Komen 3-Day will be an unforgettable experience, and you are eager to share that journey with people close to you. But convincing a friend or family member to register for the 3-Day® can sometimes be challenging. In a blog post last year, we shared “3 Ways to Talk a Friend Into Walking With You,” and today we have a few more ideas to help you convince a reluctant buddy to join you for the experience of a lifetime.

Get in Their Face – No, not in an aggressive or threatening way, but if you are going to ask a friend to make the huge commitment of walking 60 miles and raising $2300, do her the courtesy of asking her face-to-face. Studies have shown that using a calm voice and making eye contact puts people at ease and makes them more open to suggestion. While you have your friend’s attention, tell her why the 3-Day is important to you and how much it would mean to you if she would join you. Then…

Stop Talking and Listen – You’ve made your plea, and in a perfect world, your friend will agree readily and you’ll both be registered before the day’s end! But there’s a good chance your friend will still have some concerns or hesitations. Let her tell them to you. Listen to all she has to say, and let her know she’s being heard. If you’ve had the same concerns, tell her that you empathize with her and offer advice for how you have dealt with the apprehension, but mostly, let her share. She may not be ready to make the decision right away, and that’s okay. Just knowing that you’re supportive of her feelings and concerns will make her feel closer to you and more likely to join you, knowing that that support is there.

Go Surfing! – Have a friend who is more visually stimulated? Between the 3-Day’s Facebook photo albums, Instagram feed, Pinterest boards, and YouTube channel, there is a nearly endless source of eye-catching inspiration to be found on the Internet. Grab your friend and park in front of a screen for 30 minutes or an hour and just explore! Chances are, by the time the hour has passed, you both will be so excited by the fun, entertaining and moving pictures and videos, you’ll be saying, “I want to do that too!”