June 2014 Meet-up Round-up!

It’s hard to believe that 2014 is halfway over! Here in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® world, this means that we’re even closer to the start of the event season, and Komen 3-Day walkers and crew members are busy preparing with training walks, meet-ups and clinics. The 3-Day® will be here before we know it! Take a look at some of our local events from June.

Michigan

Members of two of Michigan’s largest teams, The BC Babes and the Hines Pink Pathers, joined forces to get to know each other a little better on a beautiful June training walk.

Twin Cities

Twin Cities walkers came out on June 28th to attend a Packing Workshop held at TC Running Co. in Eden Prairie. They learned some tips to make their 3-Day camping experience easy, comfortable and fun! New friendships were made, tenting partners were found and all enjoyed some delightful discounts off clothing and gear. They are ready to go!

Seattle

The Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure took place on Sunday, June 1 at Seattle Center. There were over 7,000 participants this year, and 3-Day coaches Aubrey and Jon saw lots of 3-Day faces there. The weather held out and we had a beautiful event with lots of sunshine and plenty of friends.

Atlanta

Stone Mountain Park – the site of the Atlanta 3-Day Opening Ceremony – was the setting for a beautiful morning training walk. Coach Tara enjoyed some company with a great group of motivated ladies who walk there almost every weekend.

We discovered a new Walk & Talk path and some wonderful new walkers to join us. It was a very humid night, but we all made it and even enjoyed getting some training in on the hills.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Coach Gayla rocks her signature selfie at this Walk & Talk in Richardson.

Eight walkers showed up for a Get Prepped Clinic in Rockwell, hosted by our friends at New Balance.

Nothing could dampen the spirits of Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day team Pink Soles in Motion, who trained right through the North Texas flooding rains on June 22^nd. On their walk, they met a young woman who was holding a rummage sale to raise money for her friend who was recently diagnosed. It was a poignant reminder of why they walk.

We had a great casual meet-up with new and veteran walkers at The Londoner in Frisco.

San Diego

Thirty-five wonderful walkers attended a Walk & Talk with Cliff’s Crew and friends in Fullerton.

San Diego 3-Day coach Kim hopped in on a training walk in Daley Ranch. As Kim put it, “Sometimes we just want some dirt under our feet!”

We had a great Walk & Talk in Encinitas – gorgeous day, 6 amazing miles and 15 fabulous people.

Bonus Meet-ups!

Chicagoland – As a special thank you for their dedication to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, coaches Jennifer and Eileen hosted a Chicagoland 3-Day gathering on Thursday, June 5th in Park Ridge, IL. It was a night of fun, friendship and laughs. We had a wonderful time celebrating with our Chicagoland 3-Day community.

Tampa – Atlanta coach Tara ventured further south to the Sunshine State for a Walk & Talk with some Tampa Bay walkers, including members of Team 211. It was a morning walk along the Bayshore with 20 amazing women, and the morning included a beautiful sunrise, muffins, stingray sightings and a surprise birthday party for Team 211’s captain Sylvia—cake included, of course! Tara shared, “This team really is family, and I was so honored to be welcomed in and even invited back. They are working hard to keep the Tampa walkers engaged and excited to make their travels to other 3-Day cities.”

Looking to find a meet-up in your area? Check out the 3-Day calendar of events here.

May 2014 3-Day Meet-up Round-up and Tweet Chat Recap

The beautiful month of May brought us face-to-face with so many of our amazing Susan G. Komen 3-Day® participants and supporters. The warmer weather provided wonderful conditions for our many Komen 3-Day Training Kick-off Events, as well as other meetings and get-togethers. Come see where we’ve been!

Michigan

In Michigan, new walkers gathered at a California Pizza Kitchen to share a meal and get advice from some seasoned 3-Day veterans. Michigan 3-Dayers also had some fun with wine at Michigan By The Bottle, and got their families involved at the Maybury State Park Family Meet-Up. Some of these events will be happening again in June, so check the calendar and don’t miss out!

Twin Cities

The Twin Cities Training Walk Kick-off event was on May 3^rd. The 20+ participants in attendance started the morning off with a 3-mile walk around beautiful Lake Harriet, followed by a training workshop led by New Balance Outfitter, GEAR Running Store. The walkers were even supported by an awesome group of crew members/volunteers who set up a pit stop back at the store. Lots of 3-Day excitement!

Seattle

Training walk leader Sandra led this group of Seattle participants on a fun and informative 3-mile Walk & Talk to Pioneer Park and back to Wanna Cupcake for a delicious ending. Check the June calendar at The3Day.org/Calendar for more Seattle training events and meetings.

Atlanta

On May 3^rd we had the Training Kick-off event for the Atlanta 3-Day. Nearly 40 gathered at the New Balance store, excited about the perfect walking weather that morning. They had the choice of an 8-mile or 4-mile route (most opted for the full 8), and once the walkers were out, a few wonderful crew members and coaches set up a pit stop, complete with water, oranges, bananas, bagels, and of course some Snickers. Back at the store after the walk, the coaches hosted a packing workshop while the New Balance folks helped with lots of shoe fittings. By the end, walkers were already asking about having another Training Kick-Off event at the 16 week-out mark.

Dallas/Fort Worth

3-Day coaches, walkers and crew members gathered for a Meet & Greet at The Vintage House, a charming 100+ year old home/shop in Historic Downtown Carrollton which is famously known as “The Pink House” – how perfect!

San Diego

Like so many other 3-Day cities, San Diego kicked off its 24-week training schedule with a bang! Nearly 50 walkers and volunteers met at the Encinitas New Balance store. A representative from the local Susan G. Komen® affiliate gave an inspirational talk before the walkers were off on a 3- or 7-mile training walk (most jumped right in for the full 7!). They were even supported by two Route Safety crew members on bikes, and treated to a seaside pit stop along their route.

The 3-Day at the Race for the Cure®

Local Race for the Cure® events were held in a few of our 3-Day cities this past month, and the 3-Day coaches were on-hand to support the racers and say hello to our 3-Day family in attendance.

Saturday, May 10 – Twin Cities Race for the Cure

Sunday, May 11 – Philadelphia Race for the Cure

Sunday, June 1 – Puget Sound Race for the Cure

What? You missed out on these events in May? Well don’t you worry, because June is bursting with more meet-up opportunities in every 3-Day location. Find out where to find us at The3Day.org/calendar.

Wait, there’s more! We even met up in cyberspace!

On May 29, the 3-Day hosted its very first Tweet Chat. We joined with dozens of 3-Day walkers and crew members on Twitter and spent over an hour swapping fundraising tips and advice. It was fast paced, fun and inspiring to see so many 3-Day participants sharing their ideas with each other in this virtual meeting room. We’ve posted some highlights below, but you can see the whole conversation by visiting the 3-Day Twitter page (www.twitter.com/the3day), or searching for the hashtag #the3day, then scrolling to the May 29 posts. And of course, keep your eye on the 3-Day social networking sites for announcements about our next Tweet Chat, coming soon….

@The3Day This is a great way to maximize cash donations! I’m planning to do this to help with my fundraising this year. #the3day

— Shannon Underwood (@indygirl_1997) May 30, 2014

Send your donation form to all of the people you pay your bills to: Dr., Dentist, Lawn care, and even hair stylist. #The3Day

— Tara Preyers (@twitawhat) May 30, 2014

Personal connections and communications might be more effective than mass email blasts for fundraising. #tellyourstory #the3day

— dloveteach (@dloveteach) May 30, 2014

@twitawhat …and dates help. “I want to raise my $2300 by July 1” – people respond to deadlines! #the3day

— Alison Glancz (@glancz) May 30, 2014

If you want to go wild, offer to dye your hair or get a tattoo if you reach your goals! #the3day #fundraising

— Ann Love (@AnnLoves_Pink) May 30, 2014

@The3Day My most effective fundraising method has been blogging: making my story personal. Ppl want to know that you’re committed. #the3day

— Jay Furr (@jayfurr) May 30, 2014

@The3Day Never stop asking. Never stop learning. Vary options to catch the maximum amount of people. #fundraising #the3day

— Julie Bagel (@JulieWalks) May 30, 2014

Wrap Up: The San Diego 3-Day

All along the Susan G. Komen 3-Day^® series this year, participants and crew members had been mentioning why the Komen 3-Day in San Diego was an event of its own. Indeed, every stop along the 14-city tour had its unique and wonderful surprises, but San Diego seemed to embody the mix of California ease with the dedication of groups such as the San Diego Police Department.

The Opening Ceremony at the Del Mar Fairgrounds was an exciting way to kick off the special event, complete with thousands of walkers and hundreds of crew members dancing it up to Zumba and a little community stretching. The walkers danced out onto the route for a 20-mile walk that led through the fabulous community support in Del Mar, by the windy ocean, through Torrey Pines (just a little hill), and back down seaside for a lunch with great views.

The local news agencies gobbled up the scene of the pink walkers that stretched on for miles, as they captured scenes on the ground and from the air. (There were even some local news celebs as registered walkers!) The day was finished strong as walkers pushed on through San Diego and arrived at Crown Point Shores overlooking Mission Bay. The Camp Show Friday evening highlighted Grace Ramirez, who commanded the attention of everyone gathered. What inspiration!

Day 2 on the route led the walkers, assisted by their dedicated crew members, around the breezy (and sometimes chilly!) neighborhoods of San Diego, complete with great views of the Bay and of the ocean. Pit Stop 2 was jazzed up by a local cheerleading group and Bonita Cove provided some extra entertainment for walkers and crew. Pink and red gerbera daisies were once again provided anonymously after lunch, and thousands were handed out to walkers, brightening the final stretches of Day 2. The Camp Show included two amazing speakers who brought the tent to its feet: Eden Becker and John Shinar. It was definitely a Camp Show to remember, capped with games from presenting sponsor Bank of America, some new shoes given out from New Balance, and of course, a legendary dance party.

The route on Day 3 of 16 miles was a fun tour of San Diego with a beautiful walk through De Anza Cove, Mission Hills Park, and the Veterans War Memorial. The route was dotted with walker stalkers and locals who cheered on the walkers. The walkers were met at the finish line with the cheers of a packed area around PETCO Park, filling the sidewalks and public spaces. The Closing Ceremony at PETCO Park was a dramatic finish to the San Diego 3-Day and to the 3-Day season, as the crowd of thousands of walkers, crew, volunteers, and family and friends gathered to celebrate a successful 60-mile walk and to encourage each other on their journey to find a cure. The Survivors’ Circle gathered to raise the flag: “We Will Never Give Up!” and participants danced to “We Are Family” to wrap up another exciting event for San Diego.

See you all next year in San Diego!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS