Our plan was to start later on Saturday morning, and since we were so fast-moving we'd have the opportunity to pass a lot of people. While we were passing them, we would meet them and talk to them and get to know more about everyone. So we climbed out of bed and went to the Blister Busters to get bandaged up, then went and ate our breakfast... and before we knew it we were nearly the last ones leaving the hotel. Later than we planned, but oh well, we'll catch up. The first three miles were a breeze. Our feet and leg muscles felt good and we trucked along as usual. Then we got to the hill. The big hill. The really big steep long hill. We worked our way up it, slow and steady. Marathon folks (not from our event) were passing us at a run! We didn't talk much, just breathed. When we finally made it to the top, Jana's left hip was really bothering her. We stopped to stretch. She said it felt better but I didn't believe her because she wasn't moving very fast. So we went slow until the next rest-stop (5 miles in to Day 2 [25 miles overall]) when the medical professional told Jana it was a nerve issue. Uh Oh. But we kept going, both of us wondering silently if this was the end of our journey on foot. Would we have to catch a van back to the hotel and not finish the 20 miles that day?
About that time, I saw a big sign that one of my co-workers had printed for our team. It says "Go Karin's Kids" and has this cute little goat on it (because a "kid" is a baby goat) and I was so excited! I showed Jana and we took pictures. We trekked a little farther, Jana limping badly. And then we saw another sign, one with a photo of you and I on it that said "Keep walking Beth, We love you. From, your co-workers." It brought tears to my eyes. Seeing the picture of you and I together, and knowing that my co-workers thought of us and had the sign made. Jana took a photo of me with the sign that I'll send to you soon.
I recovered from my emotional moment. And quickly thought about one of my co-workers who has trouble with her hips and so I called her and she described some stretches that we had not yet tried that might help Jana's hip. Jana tried them and they worked! Her hip stopped hurting so much. We picked up the pace and kept going, and Jana did the stretches every mile or so. But we didn't catch with many folks since they were now SO far ahead of us. Jesse caught up with us by car about that time (8 miles in) and took some pictures. He would drive ahead a mile and then peek out from behind a bush and snap photos. Like we were celebrities.
We made it to the lunch stop (12.5 miles in [32.5 miles overall] a park outside a high school) and ate. We rested there 25 minutes or more. At this point we were probably in the back third of the pack. Two more Karin's Kids team members were there: Katy and Lisa. Jesse said goodbye to us and then we got going. We kept trucking, our pace not as fast as usual... and walked with several different groups of walkers who we had never met before. It was nice meeting them and hearing about why they are walking. Some of the people walking have MS - actually about 25% of the walkers had MS at this event. Our friend Debbie lives in the area so she rode her bike to us and then walked along with us, pushing her bike (15 miles in [35 miles overall]). She brought us some Advil which was a nice relief from some of the aches. At this point we were getting a delirious. It had been a long day already and we still had 5 miles to go. But we kept walking. And talking. Now our conversations weren't quite as free-flowing, because something happens to your brain after 35 miles... it just doesn't work as quickly. You can't think of the words to describe what you want to say. It's frustrating, and when you're physically exhausted too that makes for a tough combination. Anyway, Jana and Debbie and I walked and talked. Debbie cheered us on like a cheerleader - walking with us until the last half-mile. We made it to the Day 2 finish where they were going to shuttle us back to the hotel and we said "where's our limo?" Ha ha. No limo. But the shuttle was a nice van with air conditioning.
At the hotel, now 4pm or so, I quickly showered and then rushed down to the banquet room to rehearse some timing for the evening because I did have a part in the program that night. While I rehearsed, Jana was up in the room. Her husband brought 40 pounds of ice which he put in the bathtub filled with cold water. And then Jana SAT in that ice cold bath for 20 minutes! Yikes. But I'm sure it helped that hip. After rehearsing, I went to the Blister Busters for attention to my little blister (which really isn't anything, not bigger than a piece of unpopped popcorn) and the volunteer in the hallway asked if I wanted a massage! I knew we had volunteer massage therapists there that weekend, but I didn't know there would be room for me. So I said YES! I would love a massage. It was awesome. She massaged my feet, my legs front and back, and even my hips and lower back a little bit. What a treat.
Jesse arrived at about 6pm and Jana and her husband came down from the room and we all went to the dinner program together. The food was tasty and plentiful all weekend - and this meal was no exception. After eating, the program began with several awards, then what we call the "testimonials" began. One 31-year-old girl who was diagnosed with MS at age 20 spoke about having a positive attitude. She's great – and looks so healthy that you might not even know she has MS. Then a woman whose mother and brother have MS spoke about her experience. Then a woman in her late 40's who is in a wheelchair full-time and lives in a care facility spoke. She spoke about raising money - and was a real laugh! Then it was my turn to speak.
So I went to the stage. And I took the microphone. And I told the story about Mom getting MS, and how it affected our family. And how it affected me, and how I'm affecting it back by taking this 50-mile Challenge. The audience was so attentive and responsive and wonderful! And after my speech, I led the candle ceremony. The candle ceremony goes like this: all the lights are turned off. I read about 10 reasons for why anyone would be involved in the event, and when each person hears the reason that they're involved, they light their candle and stand up. So it starts with a dark room, and then I say "Those who are living with MS, we honor your strength, we honor you," and about 60 people light their candles and stand up. Then I read "if your brother or sister has MS..." and more people light their candles and stand, and then "mother or father," and more light and stand, including Jesse who joined me on stage with a lit candle. And so on until everyone in the room is standing with candle. It was amazing. To start from nothing and come to a whole room of candles symbolizing support and unity. Goose bumps.
When the program was over, we went to bed. But I laid awake for a long time thinking. A lot had happened in those two days.
~Beth
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