Daily Archives: November 14, 2009

Let me get this out in front: Day 2 generally always sucks from what I hear. I know it did last year in San Diego, and it sure did this year in Arizona.

Day 1 is full of excitement-you’ve worked hard to get to this point, did your fundraising, bought all you gear, trained (hopefully) and set tour mind to doing something good. Opening ceremony got you all pumped up, you have a couple thousand new friends, and people are cheering you on for your first day. Plus, the outfits are outrageous, which is half the fun (everyone comes in their best for Day 1).

Day 3 is typically shorter (so that they can schedule the Closing ceremony and make sure everyone is done by then) and you have a sense of accomplishment, knowing that when you’re done, you’ve completed this particular journey.

Day 2? You wake up sore from the previous days’ walk (you also do on Day 3, but it’s overcome by the excitement of the last day) and camping, and you know you have to do it all over in the morning. And, people don’t put nearly the effort in to looking good by dressing up. Day 2 also is typically longer.

Having said that, there are things that can help make Day 2 bearable, most notably a good route. San Diego has that-Arizona doesn’t. I swear we walked about a 5 mile radius today, zig-zagging all the side roads. The worst part was it was almost all residential walking, and even worse on top of that, everywhere seems to block the road with a wall, so we were literally staring at walls all day.

Two semi-cool things today though: after the rain, we had a rainbow (which we don’t see much in San Diego either) and I got my pic taken by a cactus.

I will say that the community support today, both at the “official” cheering stations and the impromptu ones was awesome, however, it won’t beat San Diego’s Day 2 and the “beer for boobies” beach house.

I started off with such great aspirations today-to get to camp by 2pm. I was feeling great (no real sore muscles, thanks to Ben Gay sportscreme), just some blisters, which is normal. I was doing well and keeping pace for the first couple hours. Somehow during the day, I slowed down considerably. I actually finished the day about an hour later than I’d finished yesterday, and I started at least a half of an hour earlier.

Again, it was awesome to see Mary, Diane, Colbi and Devin cheering me on today. As brutal as the day was, they were the bright spot (along with carrying the “MY SISTER” flag.

Tonight? I packed up my stuff, signed out of camp, and went to dinner with Mary and Devin. I had a beer (well-deserved!) and then we came back to the hotel, which is where I’m sleeping tonight (yes, I abandoned camp-I didn’t see any reason why I had to stay).

I’m sitting here at lunch on Day 2, taking a well-deserved breather and writing an update.

I’m at about the 30-mike mark right now, so I’m halfway done. I’m also exhausted and slowing down. Day 2 is the hardest-Days 1 & 3 are filled with euphoria over the beginning, and then the end, of the journey. Day 2? Well, nothing special.

I will say, the San Diego walk is *so much* more beautiful and more fun than AZ. We are walking in mostly residential neighborhoods, and seemingly around in circles, as we’re on the same basic streets the whole time. I swear I saw the exact same lake with a fountain in it today that I saw yesterday. It’d be nice to see new scenery.

I will, however, say that there are a lot of people out cheering, and that helps, particularly when it breaks up long stretches of walking by houses and apartments.

I am, by far, not on pace. Although I’m feeling pretty well (not particularly sore), I’ve slowed down considerably. I won’t make my 2pm camp time. Oh well, I should make 3pm like yesterday.

Cool thing today, number one: as I approached lunch, I saw the woman carrying the “My Sister” flag (as in, “I’m walking for my sister”), the same one that I’ll be carrying next weekend and asked to take a pic with it. She said “no, but you can carry it, I’ve had it for miles”. So, I’m carrying it now!

Ok, back to the route…

IT’S RAINING! Ok, it’s sprinkling, barely. But, the point is, I am *completely* unprepared if it does rain. I mean, seriously, what’s the chance it rains in Phoenix or San Diego? Very slim I would say…

Ok, but…seems my training, blister care, Ben Gay and ibuprofen routine has made me bode well this morning. Last year, Day 2 morning was utterly miserable, until I took a sweep van between pit stops (it refreshes you!) and got my blisters taken care of. I was in so much pain, lower back all the way to my feet-hips, knees, ankles, shins, feet themselves…you name it, and it hurt.

Route is opening in about 5 minutes, time to refill the water and Gatorade and stretch…my goal is to finish today (not sure of the exact mileage count) before 2pm.