Last year on the 3-Day® blog, we shared some detailed “Insider’s Peek at the Route” posts with you. We pulled the curtain back on the overall process of planning and executing a 60-mile route, and then got even more in-depth with each individual 3-Day walk’s route.
This year, we don’t need to dive quite so deep, since most of what we shared last year still applies. But we definitely wanted to keep you looped-in with the updates and changes that have been made to the 3-Day routes for 2016. We’re also bringing in members of the 3-Day Advisory Council to share their thoughts about the 2016 changes. These participants stand as the “voice” of the 3-Day community and their input has been instrumental in strengthening the communication and camaraderie between Komen and the 3-Day family, so we’re thrilled to have their insight here on our route updates.
We’ve previously shared route updates for Michigan, Twin Cities and Seattle, and today, Atlanta is front and center!
Need a refresher about what the Atlanta 3-Day route was like last year? Read our 2015 “Insider’s Peek” post here.
New for 2016 – Meredith, the Event Planning Manager for the Atlanta 3-Day told me that the 2016 event doesn’t have too many major differences from last year. Day 1 starts in Stone Mountain again, and should look pretty familiar except for a few changes on the last two miles before camp. On Saturday morning, the first half of Day 2’s route will be a reverse of Day 2 from last year; in other words, the morning route out of camp up to lunch will be the same route that brought walkers from lunch to camp on Day 2 last year (of course, there will be other pit stops in between). Meanwhile, the entire second half of Day 2’s route this year, from lunch back to camp, is brand new. With regard to Sunday’s course, Meredith shared, “You’ll also see some changes on Day 3: Atlanta Pride is happening the same weekend as the Atlanta 3-Day, so on Sunday, we’ll have to go around Piedmont Park, rather than through it as we have in the past. You’ll also see a few changes to middle miles of Day’s 3 route.” The Closing Ceremony will be at Turner Field again. Meredith pointed out a couple of highlights that walkers can look forward to in Atlanta this year: “Get your cameras ready for a photo op on the Jackson St. bridge, made famous by The Walking Dead. And Atlanta’s new Beltline Trail will play a starring role in our Day 2 and Day 3 routes this year.” She also added, “And yes, Atlanta never disappoints in the hills department and some of the city sidewalks are a little rough around the edges, but hopefully our Atlanta walkers have been preparing for that!”
In Their Words – Here’s what Charles, Beth and Sylvia, three of our 3-Day Advisory Council members, had to say about the 2016 Atlanta updates:
Charles (5-year Atlanta 3-Day crew member) – The Atlanta 3-Day will mark Charles’s sixth year as a crew member and his fifth year as the captain of the Traffic Control crew team. Since he hasn’t walked in the 3-Day before and spends most of his crew time in camp, Charles didn’t have much feedback about the changes to this year’s Atlanta route. But he did say, “I think the route is good! My wife (this is her 6th year as a walker) is disappointed about not going through Piedmont Park, but she is looking forward to the Belt Line trails.” Charles and his wife Renee participate in the 3-Day in honor of Renee’s mother, who is a breast cancer survivor.
Charlie, on right
Beth (2x Atlanta walker) – Beth, a breast cancer survivor herself, is excited to be returning to the Atlanta 3-Day after completing her first walk last year in Atlanta. Beth shared, “I am going to miss walking through Piedmont Park, but think the Beltline will be a great addition.” One other thing Beth enjoys about walking in Atlanta in October is the excitement of fall and the upcoming holidays. “I love walking through the areas that always have their homes decorated for Halloween.”
Sylvia (11-year 3-Day walker) – Sylvia, who lives in Florida, will be walking in Atlanta this year for the second time. “I love the parks, and the beautiful trees and old homes. I love Stone Mountain, and the wildness of it.” Asked what she thinks about the route updates, she said, “The changes are truly going to help. I can’t wait to see the new routes, as I went to college here and it is a trip back in time for me.” Having such a long history with the 3-Day, Sylvia had some other thoughts to share “It is truly the journey that brings you to the awareness of why each of us are here. We have our own personal reasons for wanting to travel this path…but each of us, in our hearts, shares a passion for doing something, somehow, to make a difference, to change a life…to find a cure. Each of us, as we walk these miles, travel not only the journey of the road, but also the journey of our hearts. Each of us become one of a family that is united across all boundaries, to do what we can to truly make a difference, and we know that each step does make a difference.” Beautifully said, Sylvia.
Keep an eye on the 3-Day blog in the coming weeks when we’ll continue sharing updates about the remaining 2016 3-Day routes.