Night Before

We got a bit of a late start into Denver today and we stopped for a lesierly lunch in Raton. This got us into Denver just in time for Friday rush hour. It took us quite a while to get from Castle Rock to downtown, but we made it.

The registration for the walk is this afternoon and tonight at the Adam's Mark hotel. We got in right at 4pm and the registration was super smooth. There were tons of volunteers everywhere and directional signs at every turn. The registration area was filled with computers, loud music, and happy people wearing blue shirts. Since Joel didn't send in his medical form, we had to go to the medical area which they kept telling us via email would be a long wait. There was no wait! From there we went to the regular registration area where we signed up for our tent, got tags for our baggage, and a wrist band with our participant number on it (Joel is upset that the band does not come off).

Joel went to his crew meeting at 5pm and I met JM in the lobby by chance. About 30 minutes later Sean and Susan came to the lobby to check in. It was like we had planned it all along!

After Joel's meeting we went down to the 16th Street Mall to Johnny Rockets where we met up with Jackie (who drove up from Santa Fe today too), her brother-in-law Adam, and her niece Ashley.

Now we are at the hotel at the Tech Center, rearranging our bags and preparing for our 3:45 alarm clock. Joel has to be at the park at 4:30am.

JM is planning to volunteer. It will be so nice to know she is around - and hopefully we will see her at some of the cheering stations. Jackie is coming to the opening ceremonies and hopes to see us at some of the cheering stations.

Joel is driving a van and helping with quick stop stations A and F.

We are going to share a tent, and this means I will be camping in the crew area - so I won't get as much sleep as the other walkers - with the crew getting up very early.

I am excited and nervous. The event itself has been a huge unknown, and now it is right here!

Off to bed to get a few hours of sleep.