I Survived!

Well, I did it! Met my goals and didn't wimp out. (Warning, this is LONG!)

Stats are: 12 hours, 30 circuits of the track (1/4 mile per circuit = 7.5 miles), 34,368 steps. I am SO sore today - if I could I wouldn't move at all.

The weather co-operated beautifully - lovely and sunny with a cool breeze so it didn't get too hot.

Everything started at the registration tent

which was also the beginning/end of each circuit. When I checked in I was given a survivor shirt

a name tag

and a long thin loop of plastic thread to wear around my neck. More about that later.

At 10 a.m. was the survivors' walk - the opening circuit. We were led by 2 R.C.M.P. officers in full dress red serge and as we passed all the tents we got cheered and applauded. It was quite something to experience. Then the regular walking started. I walked a lot with with another member of my team, the Amazons. Lori has just finished her first year cancer free - still undergoing breast reconstruction - so it was pretty emotional for her.

I picked up a patch that I am going to put on one of my vests.

There was a stage set up

and there was upbeat music all day - sometimes live bands or singers, sometimes canned, but it really kept us going.

At lunch, 2 of the tents started to do barbecue - hamburgers, hot dogs, beef on a bun - all for a nominal price that was given back to the relay when they were done.

CityWest (our telephone/internet provider)

Overwaitea, a local grocery store.

And we walked the afternoon away. There were some challenges for people to have their heads shaved, but mostly we just walked. Then at supper time one of the local food trucks showed up, again all their profits going back to the relay.

About 9:15 p.m. they started to announce prize winners, which teams had raised the most money, etc.

I won a water bottle.

Our team got an honourable mention in money raising.

We were really pleased - we only had 5 members and we raised $1140.

Oh, remember the loop of plastic I mentioned? Well, every time you completed a circuit you "earned" a bead to put on it.

This was mine by the end. There was a prize given to the person with the most beads. The lady who won - a bicycle - had walked 93 circuits, 23.25 miles.

Then the final walk at 10 p.m. was the memorial walk. The track was lined with paper bags containing candles and on the outside the names of people who had lost their fight. We all walked around, read the names and grieved. It was an incredible circuit - there were 300+ people on the track and there wasn't a sound except for our feet hitting the dirt. Not one picture was taken - everyone was fully in the moment.

There were lots of tents, each one had a team on the track.

My team tent.

The survivors tent - lots of snacks and drinks.

Royal Bank of Canada. That's a cheque for $3,000 sitting on the grass.

Fight Like A Girl tent.

Jazzy Dragons - a dragon boat team.

Choices for Healthy Living.

The Lutheran church.

All in all, an exhausting, emotional, uplifting day. And I plan to do it all over again next year!