A Preview of the San Diego 3-Day Route

Walkers at the 2024 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

In just a few days, the 2025 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day® kicks off! Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with inspiration, the Pink Bubble community and the beauty San Diego gives year after year.

Day 1

Our 60-mile adventure begins Friday morning at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with the inspiring Opening Ceremony. If you walked the San Diego 3-Day before, your heart and soles may find this year’s route to be both familiar and fresh.

We’ll start along Del Mar Dog Beach, where playful dogs run and swim while watching surfers ride the waves. From there, we’ll follow the beautiful shoreline of Torrey Pines State Beach, known for its dramatic cliffs and breathtaking views. The nearby Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve remains closed for construction, so our alternate route will not have quite the steep climb 3-Day veterans are used to.

Along the way, you’ll pass Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Ellen Browning Scripps Pier and UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where scientific research and oceanographic studies are conducted to maintain the beautiful waters and marine life you will see on your walk. Keep your eyes peeled in La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove for leopard sharks, sea lions, harbor seals and bottlenose dolphins gliding through the clear blue waters. You’ll also pass the Children’s Pool La Jolla, a favorite for visitors watching sunbathing harbor seals and sea lions, and the historic Taylor Branch Library.

Pink tints near the bay at the San Diego 3-Day.

When you arrive at Camp at Crown Point Shores Park at the end of Day 1, you will be able to relax in the Bank of America massage chairs, enjoy some delicious food and attend the Celebration of Champions ceremony.

Day 2

Make sure to fuel up with breakfast before setting out on the second day toward Mission Bay’s South Cove. Home to various bird species, you and your fellow walkers can enjoy some bird watching and the calm waters. From there, head into the coastal neighborhood of Ocean Beach and to Narragansett Hill, a hidden gem offering panoramic views of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Point Loma and even La Jolla.

The 2024 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

Next up: the Sunset Cliffs National Park that stretches from Point Loma to Ocean Beach. It’s a well-known destination for locals and visitors who crave natural beauty. Breathe in the ocean air as you venture toward South Mission Beach and Sail Bay, where you’ll find paddleboarders, kayakers and sailboats on the water. When you return to camp for the end of your second day, you’ll have a delicious meal waiting for you, followed by the touching Honor Ceremony.

Day 3

Our final day begins along Ocean Front Walk and the lively Belmont Park, a historic amusement park that’s been entertaining visitors since 1925 and home to the iconic Giant Dipper roller coaster. Capture the nostalgia on the historic beachfront boardwalk before heading to Bonita Cove, a peaceful spot with stunning views of Mission Bay. This secluded area is always a great place to reflect on your reason for walking the 3-Day.

The final day of the 2024 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

Continue toward the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, where scientists work to protect marine life and promote ocean conservation. Close by, you’ll approach SeaWorld San Diego, home to sloths, penguins and countless marine animals. History enthusiasts will enjoy the Mormon Battalion Historic Site, a step back in time to San Diego’s early days. From there, walkers will move on to the Old Town Viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the city’s historic heart.

The 2024 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day went through the city's Little Italy neighborhood.

The 3-Day journey will wrap up near vibrant Little Italy and end with the Finish Line Festival at Waterfront Park. As the sun starts to set on your final day, be sure to take a moment to reflect at the Closing Ceremony on the amazing adventure you completed. We can’t wait to see you in San Diego!

The Finish Line Festival at the 2024 Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day.

Walking 60 Miles for the Mom They Lost Too Soon

Brooke and Kelly will walk 60 miles in November at the San Diego 3-Day to honor their mom who died from triple negative breast cancer.

This fall, sisters Brooke M. and Kelly T. will walk 60 miles at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in San Diego to honor their mom, Margie, who died from breast cancer nearly 20 years ago. She was just 51.

“On the very day we cross the 3-Day finish line, it will mark the 20 year anniversary of the day we lost our mom to triple negative breast cancer. But it still feels like yesterday,” Brooke said.

The Diagnosis

Margie and her children before she died from breast cancer.

In 2004, Margie, a loving mom of three in their 20s, was recently separated after being married for 27 years when she got the devastating news.

“She sat us down and said, ‘I’m seeing a doctor,’ and I got excited. I thought that meant she was dating,” Brooke remembers with a bittersweet smile. “But she meant she was seeing a doctor for cancer, and it hit us hard.”

Her diagnosis came shortly after a mammogram.

“She had a mammogram, and a month later, on her own self-check, she found the lump,” Brooke said. “That’s why it’s so important to do self-checks, too. Mammograms are great, but you know they don’t catch everything.” Margie before her death from breast cancer

Margie first underwent a lumpectomy, then a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Through it she remained hopeful and positive.

“We honestly believed in her positivity and thought she was going to beat it,” Brooke said.

“They told us she was in remission for about one month. Soon after the cancer metastasized to her liver,” Kelly added.

But through it all, Margie was able to be there for some of her children’s most memorable milestones.

“She was there for my sister’s wedding. She barely made it to my brother’s wedding, and then she passed away six months before mine,” Brooke said. “It was really hard because those are the moments you want your mom beside you.”

Strength That Carried On

Margie ran her own business and worked alongside two of her kids while undergoing treatment. She showed up for her clients, and for others impacted by breast cancer, until the day she had to be hospitalized.

“The treatments were hard for her, but she didn’t want to show us how hard it was,” Kelly recalled. “She stayed strong for us.”

Margie and her daughters even walked a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, a memory that inspires Brooke and Kelly today as they prepare for the San Diego 3-Day.

Margie’s Marchers

Margie at a Race for the Cure event before her death.

Brooke and Kelly are walking the 3-Day in November as Margie’s Marchers—a team named in honor of their mom, whom they remember as strong, joyful and endlessly giving. As they train for their first 3-Day walk, the sisters carry a mix of excitement, nerves and deep love for their mom who is alive in their hearts, traditions and memories.

“We know she would’ve wanted to be part of this,” Kelly said. “We can’t wait to celebrate her the whole way and be with our families at the finish line.”

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Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.

How the Youth Corps Led Kim C. to a Career in Ministry

Kim and Jennifer C. at the Komen 3-Day with angel wings on their headbands.

For many participants, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is more than just a walk—it’s the start of something bigger. For Kim C., it was the beginning of a lifelong journey dedicated to service.

“I love working with youth and watching them grow through life,” Kim said. “And a big part of that is because of where I started.”

Kim’s 3-Day story began in 2012, when she joined the Youth Corps at the age of 12. The Youth Corps is a special group of young volunteers, ages 10 to 16, who support walkers during the 3-Day by offering a helping hand, cheering them on and lifting their spirits every step of the way.

Kim first learned about the Youth Corps from her mother, Jennifer, who attended an informational meeting for the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day and thought the program could be a great opportunity for her daughter.

Kim at the age of 12 with her mom in her Youth Corps sweater. “She was very shy and unsure of herself at that time,” Jennifer recalled. “But when she started on the Youth Corps, I watched her transformation begin right away.”

Kim volunteered for three years with the Youth Corps, and it became a defining part of her teenage years.

“We would go up to the walkers and ask if we could walk with them for a minute,” Kim said. “It was always mid-day, right before lunch. We got to hear their stories and connect with them, and we would encourage them to keep going because at that time of the day they’d usually be exhausted.”

Kim says those meaningful conversations left a last impression on her, not just because of what she gave but also because of what she received.

“There is something really powerful about getting outside of your own lived experiences and talking with people who’ve been through different struggles,” she said. “That’s a really formational part of life.”

Kim and her mom, Jennifer, at the 3-Day in pink hats.

Now 25, Kim has been involved in the 3-Day for more than half her life. In that time, she supported countless walkers and raised over $38,000 to help end breast cancer.

Today, Kim has dedicated her life to supporting young people. She recently earned a Master of Arts in ministry from Southern Methodist University, graduating summa cum laude. Today, she works full-time as a youth ministry associate at a Texas church, leading mission trips where youth repair houses and serve at food banks.

“For the past 13 years, I have watched Kim blossom from being a Youth Corps member to a 3-Day walker and now as a Youth Corps leader,” Jennifer said. “With each event she participates in, she grows stronger, more confident and realizes how much she enjoys helping people.”

Kim and Jennifer’s dedication to the 3-Day is also deeply personal. Kim was named after her mother’s best friend, lovingly known as, “Big Kim,” who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39 and died when Kim was just 5 months old.

“Breast cancer has always been close to home for us, and it always will,” Jennifer added.

This fall, Jennifer will walk in the San Diego 3-Day, while Kim will be leading the Youth Corps in Dallas/Fort Worth. They said they look forward to continuing a shared 3-Day journey they began together more than a decade ago.

Kim and her mom, Jennifer, at the 3-Day holding hands wearing angel wings.