The 2025 San Diego 3-Day/60 Mile Swim for the Cure: A Photo Blog

A picture is worth a thousand words, While my skill with a pen (keyboard?) far exceeds my skill with a camera, I know these pictures will preserve precious memories for me.

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Day 1:

My black lanyard marked me as a first year walker - notifying all of the more experienced walkers to check in with me frequently and make sure that all was well.

The people on the bus! Look at all those Day 1, 5:30 am smiles! Look at MY 5:30 am smile!

Locals wrote messages on the sand for walkers at mile 5 just before the 2 mile long hill at Torrey Pines.

My own personal walker stalker crew.

Day 1, Mile 13 - moments before my phone ran out of battery

I crossed the Day 1 finish line with Steph and Ruth, two lovely women with whom I shared the last mile.

Back at the hotel. Feet up the wall. Recovering for Day 2.

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Day 2:

Ready to get this show on the road despite the wind and rain.

Day 2, Mile 1!

I carefully washed my white shoes before heading to San Diego. Apparently, I wasn't diligent at the rinsing part of the equation because for the first 6-8 rainy miles, I left a trail of soap suds to entertain whoever followed me.

Rain did not scare away local supporters who braved the elements to entertain walkers and make them feel loved.

Given the wet, I chose a quick picture and a protein bar on the go for Day 2 lunch to mark the halfway point.

As I was celebrating the completion of Day 2 in a massage chair, I was watching the weather ramp up and the campsite flood - and finished just as people were told they needed to move away from the tents, which were becoming a danger in the violent winds.

I was able to grab my camp mail before the weather went completely nuts and became an "atmospheric river." It was so special to read notes of encouragement while cozied up under the covers after a long, hot shower.

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Day 3:

The sun finally made an appearance on Day 3.

With the sun shining and an abbreviated route on the schedule due to flooding on the intended pathway, I set off to the campsite by foot to add a few miles on to my total.

Having worn pink logos and ribbons on the uniforms for days 1 and 2, on Day 3 SDPD showed out in full pink to support the walkers.

By Day 3, I was officially a member of Cliff's Crew and made it a point to keep track of where they were rather than meandering off.

This handsome gentleman offered me a margarita shot as I began the final mile.

Due to flooding and high winds, the Day 3 route was shortened to 9.7 Miles, but I did my 60! Between parking a 15 minute walk from restaurants, walking to the campsite instead of taking the shuttle, and otherwise fitting extra distance in - I walked 60.3 miles in 3 days!!

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Stuff! So much stuff!

Among the most amazing gifts handed to me during the walk were a backpack for Loki's leash, dry socks and towels in the pouring rain from the Heartland Fire Department, and sunglasses from Blenders.

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The walker stalkers and crew who created the madness . . .

. . . and so, so many who aren't pictured.

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People who made sure my bubble never popped . . .

Cliff's Crew is a Fullerton based team that has raised over $1,000,000 in the past 20 years. They invited me to join them when I sought local training partners and were a wealth of wisdom. At the opening ceremony, I was clearly a loose affiliate on the outskirts of this smiling group of people.

Day 1 was spent meeting walkers, walker stalkers, and locals whose paths intersected with mine. Day 2 was spent laughing and keeping my head and shoulder moving forward into the rain and wind. Day, 3 I welcomed the embrace of Cliff's Crew and made a point of not losing them despite the frequency of distractions along the route. You can see that I moved from the periphery to the center of the fun.

By the finish line, I felt like a fully integrated member of the team and within 10 minutes of this picture had registered as a full-fledged Cliff's Crewmate for San Diego 2026!