Daily Archives: November 18, 2009

…that is the question

I’ve done two walks now, and I have a few thoughts on this question.

This past weekend, I was asked repeatedly if I was “walking alone”. My response was always the same-no, I’m walking with 1700 of my new closest friends. I rather enjoyed walking and talking with whomever I was by, for as long as I was by them. I didn’t need a team, I didn’t need to walk with the same few people constantly. I could walk at whatever pace I so desired, and neither slow anyone down nor make them speed up to keep pace.

Last year, for San Diego, I was on a two-person team, Troops for Ta-Ta’s (we were both in the Navy), and I never met my lone teammate until camp the first night. We were at completely different paces, but we did walk together for about an hour on Day 3. We posed for a picture together while we were in the Holding Area. I never saw or heard from him again.

For Arizona this year, I joined a team, The Boobs Brothers, obviously not knowing anyone because I was walking in a different state. I met them Day 1 in camp for just long enough to get the tent set up, then I left to eat, which is what you’re supposed to do first thing back in camp. When I came back, they weren’t there anymore. I went to spend time with Mary, and by time I came back, they were in their tents. I left early in the morning and didn’t see them. As a matter-of-fact, I never saw them again the entire weekend. (see more on this below…)

For San Diego this year, I was the team captain for The Breastfast Club. Only problem was, no one signed up for my team. I was a team of one. I was also a training walk leader, and the one time I lead a training walk, the only person that showed up was Claudia, and she said she usually trained with a team down in Ocean Beach (OB). When the Chief stuff was done and I had to jump back in to the training walks, I knew I had to jump in with another training walk leader and not try to lead training walks of my own. I decided to heed Claudia’s advice and join up with the OB Walkers-Breast Defenders.

So, I joined up with them both in training and on the team for the walk. Roxanne (one of the team leaders/training walk leaders) was just awesome and the training walks (particularly the long ones) were just as I’d imagined they should be-well thought out, with Pit Stops (bathrooms in this case) every 4-5 miles, similar to the actual event. I realized I would have paled in comparison as a training walk leader once the walks got more than a few miles.

And, the team was great-eclectic in age and experience, with a lot of pride and a team logo, which most everyone will wear on Day 1. And, we’re making a town, “Hooterville”, at camp (Bob and I, the only two males amongst 60 or so females, have “The Man Cave” as our tent name). The event hasn’t even started yet, and I can tell being on a huge team is going to be a blast.

Apparently, many others think so as well…we will be recognized (with Legacy Pins) as both the largest team, and the top fundraising team.

So, what am I doing next year? Well, for the Michigan Walk, since that’s the state I grew up in, I started a team, Stay Anchored in Hope, because I knew I could get others in Michigan to walk with me, and it looks like both Wendy and Candy, who are also very close to my sister, will be doing so.

In Chicago, where I don’t know anyone? I’m not going to bother joining a team. It just doesn’t make sense, and I think after being on a kick-ass team this weekend, and having friends join my team for Michigan, that being on a team with strangers will be a severe disappointment.

That’s my thought on the matter-join a team if you actually know people, or of you want to meet people before the walk. If you’re walking in a different city? Don’t bother. That’s just my two-cents.

UPDATE: Ok, so after the San Diego Walk, I got this email from the Boobs Brothers team leader in Arizona (who I will refrain from putting her email or anything on here). This is another reason why you shouldn’t bother to join a team just to join a team.

Lucas,

I hope you are having a succesful walk in San Diego this weekend.

The rest of the Boobs Brothers team and I were wondering why you even bothered to join a team in Arizona, since you did not participate with us.

According to the website, there are no benefits to you in being a team member vs. an individual. Since we only met the first night and never saw you again we were just wondering what your motive was. I understand you did not even sleep in camp? We feel that being part of a team means to participate and encourage each other along the route, as well as make sure the other team members are ok after returning to camp. As career Navy, we thought you had the same principles…that is why we welcomed you into our fold from afar.

Best of luck to you in the future, and thank you for enlightening us on inviting out of towners onto our team.

WOW WAS THAT RUDE! That’s all I responded back to her, was that it was a rude email and thanks for enlightening me as well.

So let’s break this down…I didn’t “participate” with the team…what my motives were…didn’t even sleep in camp…participate and encourage each other along the route…Navy and the same principles…I think that about grabs the headlines out of here.

She’s right on some accounts. I didn’t “participate with the team”. I had a tent in the middle of my teammates, and I had no tentmate. When I got to camp that first night, we did the introductions, they helped me set up my tent, and I went off to take my shower and eat like I’m supposed to do. When I got back, they weren’t there. I went off with Mary to the hotel, and when I got back at around 830pm, they were in their tents (I could hear them.) When I woke up in the morning, they were still in their tents (again, I could hear them). I left when I was ready to leave, at which point they were still in their tents. And, she’s half-right on the didn’t sleep in camp accusation-I did for the first night and didn’t for the second night.

As far as the other stuff…what were my motives? I had none. I liked their team name, I figured I’d join the team and maybe meet someone. Participate? In what??? I didn’t get “invited” to “participate” in anything. I literally saw them long enough to set up tents the first night and never saw them again. As a matter-of-fact, I couldn’t point them out to you if you put 10 people in front of me. I may get 1-2 of the 4 right. Who knows.

As far as encouraging along the route and all that…what? So, I’m supposed to have never trained with any of them, and just natually walk at the same pace as everyone? I don’t think so. I walked in San Diego with a team of 73 people, probably 25-30 that I’d trained with for 6 weeks, and didn’t even do the majority of the San Diego walk with one of my teammates. I really, really do not like to be relegated to walking at someone else’s pace.

Yes, I’m in the Navy, and I have strong principles. I don’t even understand that one honestly, as I don’t see anything pertaining to principles that has to do with being on a team on a walk like this. I mean, the rest of the team was pretty much related to each other, I just joined for the hell of it, seriously, what did they expect of me? I raised my funds, I made the trip, I came to Arizona and I walked. I had a good time (except the Day 2 route essentially) and I did something amazing. I’m not sure what more these strangers wanted fro me…really. If someone can enlighten me, that’d be great.