The two-day walk challenged walkers to walk either a marathon (26.2 mile) walk or a half-marathon (13.1 mile) walk on Saturday, then a half-marathon for everyone on Sunday. Rest stops and quick stops along the way provided snacks, water, sports drink, and porta-johns. All of the walkers arrived in camp at the Avon Wellness Village at Mary S. Young State Park for Saturday night. There, the walkers showered, had a delicious hot dinner, and camped in two-person tents.
The walking routes showed the walkers some of the best of the Portland area. Opening ceremonies was at Lincoln High School in downtown Portland. Walkers toured through Northwest Portland and down Broadway before heading along the Willamette River through Waterfront Park. Then over to the east side of the river down the Eastbank Esplanade and through Sellwood with the half-marathon ending at Westmoreland Park. The marathon walkers continued through Milwaukie, Jennings Lodge, and Oregon City before ending at camp at Mary S. Young State Park.
The Sunday route is one of the prettiest half-marathons possible. First along the Willamette River to George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. Then through Tryon Creek State Park, Terwilliger Boulevard, down Corbett to Willamette Park and up the Riverfront Trail back to downtown for the Closing Ceremonies again at Lincoln High School.
The walkers are supported by hundreds of volunteer Crew members, who also camp with the walkers. These walks are some of the best walking events in the world for on-trail support for the walkers. Food, drink, porta-johns, and sweep vans to monitor anyone who needs a ride are plentiful.
The breast cancer cause has center stage, with large ribbons given out every 3 minutes during the event to emphasize that in the US, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes. Men and women alike participate as walkers and crew members, and it is not forgotten that men also may get breast cancer.
Next: Being on the Crew
