Bra Heaven
If this is your first Breast Cancer 3-Day, we know you have a ton of questions. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please send them to D’Lyn (dlynbiggs (at) yahoo (dot) com).
Q: What if I don’t raise the $2300?
A: By October, this seems to be the top-of-mind question for many walkers. When you complete Phase 2 of registration, you make a commitment that the Breast Cancer 3-Day can count on your raising $2300. If you have not yet met that minimum, you can elect to self-donate.
To self-donate, you will supply the 3-Day with a credit card number. They will immediately charge $2 to the card to make sure it works.
Your card will not be charged the remainder of your balance until four weeks after the walk. That means you have until four weeks after to complete your fundraising. At that point, you will only be charged the amount you are short.
You can wait until as late as the first week in November to make this commitment; however, at that point there is no guarantee you’ll be able to tent with Team Tiara.
Crazy things happen on the 3-Day. If you are still short when you start walking, we recommend you wear a sign that states just how much you need. You will be amazed at who will give you “extra” funds. You can adjust the number downward accordingly throughout the walk.
We are doing everything we can to ensure that everyone is “paid up” before the walk. Many of our team members have surpassed the amount required and are still working to raise funds. Many of those funds are being funneled to the accounts of fellow team members. Your participation in the 3-Day started by stepping out in faith, and that’s how you will finish as well. Hang in there.
Strut Your Stuff
Q: What do I need to wear?
A: Planning your 3-Day wardrobe can be a daunting task. The weather in North Texas can vary from very cold to hot the first weekend in November. It’s best to check the weather forecast, and be prepared!
In the mornings you’ll want to bundle up in easy layers. Lightweight gloves, ear muffs, leggings, polar fleece…. It’s really cold at 5:00 a.m. You will be able to shed these layers as you walk, and will hand them off to one of our Walker-Stalkers for delivery back to camp.
To help us find each other in the crowd, we suggest team members wear Turquoise on the first day. Whether it’s in the form of a hat, a shirt or shorts, wearing our team color will help you find the rest of our team at pit stops and lunch.
Day Two will be any combination of bright pink, black and white. For Day Three we’ll once again go with hot pink. Several of the girls on our team wear walking / running skirts rather than shorts.
Sharon & Tracye 2008
You’ll want to make sure that your walking attire is made of moisture-wicking fabric. That will cut down on skin irritation and will make the walk a much more pleasant experience.
In the evenings you’ll want to shower and then change into something warm and comfy. A pair of crocs or other easy-to-wear shoes will be a welcome change from your walking shoes. A sweatshirt or other warm pullover is a great idea.
On the 3-Day, it’s all about the Bling. You’ll want to accent your walking attire with beads, boas, crazy hats, etc. One caveat: Beware of anything itchy, heavy or cumbersome. When you’re on mile 56, the last thing you want is to deal with an itchy accessory!
Q: Where are we staying?
A: Hotel information for Thursday night can be found under the Event Information tab.
Dude, Where's my Tent?
On the Walk, we sleep in tents. Cute, pink tents — an entire sea of them. It’s very important to plan a way to distinguish your tent from the 1500 others that match it. One of our team members is currently working on an idea we could all implement, or you are welcome to do your own thing. Additional details should follow shortly.
Carla Venette, 2008
Q: Where do we eat?
A: A better question would be, “Where don’t we eat?” The 3-Day is a 60-mile buffet. You eat breakfast and dinner in the main dining tent, and lunch in a park. You eat candy and chocolate and popsicles all along the way, especially at cheering stations. We’ll have a Pit Stop every three miles or so, and there you can get potato chips, peanuts, cheese sticks, fruit and a myriad of other treats. You will not go hungry on the 3-Day.
Dining Tent -- Food & Entertainment
Lunch!
Most meals are high in carbohydrates, protein and salt. Three things you need if you plan to walk 60 miles. If you prefer vegetarian meals, you can request those through your participant center.
Q: Just what does a Pit Stop consist of?
A: You’ll find two different types of Pit Stops on the 3-Day. A Grab & Go is set up for a quick Gatorade / water refill and a visit to the Porta Potties. A full-fledged Pit Stop has food, Gatorade / water, Porta Potties and a Medical tent. At the Medical tent you’ll find doctors, ice, blister care and wraps. If you have any kind of an issue, whether it be knees or blister, please take care of it immediately. Those issues will only get worse the farther you walk.
Bra Heaven Pit Stop
Q: What kind of shoes do I need?
A: Finding shoes can be a daunting task. Just as each walker is different, so are their feet. A lightweight running shoe with great support and cushioning is worth its weight in gold. You want your shoes a bit roomy, to allow for any swelling of your feet. They should be wide in the toe box to allow for wiggle-room. Stores like Luke’s Locker and Run On are great — they give you many options to choose from, and have a staff that will help you find the right shoe for you.
Q: Will good shoes be enough to prevent blisters?
A: Everyone seems to have a different formula for preventing blisters. That’s one reason why training is so important — it gives you time to sort all that out.
The formula that works best for me (D’Lyn)… I use Body Glide and apply that all over my feet. (I apply it anywhere else there is friction, as well.) I wear moisture-wicking socks. When I’m walking, as soon as I sense a hot spot (pre-blister) coming on, I stop and apply a small square of moleskin to that area. At lunch, I rest, air out my feet, and repeat the Body Glide process. At the Medical Tent, you will find a table set up for self-care of blisters. They have this GREAT spray-on adhesive that works wonderfully with moleskin. One note: Moleskin cannot be applied over fresh Body Glide. It needs to go on first, or it won’t stick.
Amanda, Carla & Alicia 2008
One more note: Staying hydrated will do wonders for your feet. Dehydration is almost always accompanied by blisters!
Q: What does Michelle Olson, 3-Day Packing Queen, recommend I pack?
A: Walking Stuff:
Pack Day-1/2/3 outfits in 2-3 gallon ziplock bags
-
Top
-
Bottoms
-
Socks
-
Underwear
-
Bra
Depending on temps: Jacket/Long pants/Pink Camo sweatshirt
Hat/visor/headband
Sunglasses
Waist Pack
- Water bottle (wide opening to fit ice). The 3-Day does not supply water bottles.
- ChapStick
- Sunscreen
- Mittens
- Small notepad/pen
- Body Glide
- Bandages
- Camera
- Phone
- Hand sanitizer
- Poncho (if rain is forcasted)
- Any prescription medication you require
Credential/Lanyard
- Driver’s License
- Cash
- Debit card
- Insurance card
Shower Stuff: toiletries and shower shoes/flip flops.
Put on comfy sleepwear! Long underwear set, long pants, long sleeve shirt, socks, crocs. It was COLD last year. Be prepared!
Extra Stuff:
2 plastic shower curtains (buy at $ store) 1-tent floor,1-on top of tent, 1-cover duffle bag at night if left outside tent
Clothespins (to attach plastic on tent and decorate tent)
Hefty bag (I put one in my bag, with everything inside it)
Flashlight (for middle-o-night potty breaks)
Sleeping bag/pad/pillow
Watch w/alarm
Ear plugs
Plastic bags (for wet/dirty clothing)
Extra socks
3 Ponchos
Allergy meds./Motrin
Safety pins
Light fleece blanket
Waterproof mascara
Nail clippers
Sunscreen
Decorations for tent and YOU!
Two Michelles 2008
Q: What if I can’t walk 60 miles?
A: No worries! Listen to your body. You’ve already accomplished the hard part — the most important part. You’ve raised the funds. The people who sponsored you didn’t do so to see you limp around town for the next two months. They sponsored you because they believe in a cure for breast cancer.
Shuttle Van
As you walk, you’ll notice a constant stream of decorated vans driving by. These kind volunteers are there to help you. They’ll pick you up and give you a quick ride to the next Pit Stop. Sometimes you just need to make it to lunch a bit early to get wrapped to to get ice — and then you can jump back in with your friends afterwards.
Please do not hesitate to hitch a ride in a shuttle van, SWAG bus or with one of our Walker-Stalkers. It can mean the difference in preventing further injury that could slow you down for a couple of weeks.
Q: If my sleeping bag won’t fit in my suitcase, can I just tie it on top?
A: Ummm…. No. Your sleeping bag and all your goodies really need to go in your duffle. With Wheels. It’s simply the best way to protect yourself from potential heartache. Your duffle must not weigh more than 35 lbs. If that means leaving your mascara at home, you’ll manage — just don’t forget your lipstick!
The weight limit is very important. Volunteers make the 3-Day, and no one wants a dear, sweet volunteer to get hurt lifting a big, ol’ suitcase. To help protect your belongings in case of rain, you can line your bag with a large trash bag, and then put everything in that.
Luggage at our Tent City
Do you see the white building on the far side of the field in this picture? In 2008, our tents were on Row 2 — right by that white building. This photo was taken early in the day on Friday — right by the entrance to camp. By Friday evening, that open space was a sea of tents. After walking 20 miles, the last thing you want to do is carry a huge suitcase across that big field. So please, please, please stick to the weight limit and use a bag with wheels.
