Location: Soldier Field
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2015; 10:30 am-12:30 pm
I had
volunteered for them 2 years ago, but decided to walk
this year. I also signed up to
volunteer, thinking that I could do both, where I do some work before the walk
commences. But then, they asked me to
come over at 5:30 am and that made things easier for me. Hey, walking is better than waking…get it...nevermind It was overcast when I left for
‘Soldier
Field’ and had started drizzling by the time I arrived. My first challenge was locating the
registration area and I navigated through the crowd looking for the tent; noticing
that many were in fact private team tents. Not finding anything on the outside
green, I went inside the stadium, this being one of the few events which lets
people have access to the playing field. The last time I was inside the stadium was
for
‘Wish Ball’ a year ago.
 |
| People were getting ready |
I still couldn’t find the registration, but heard the
countdown for the walkers to set off. So
I just decided to join them, with or without checking in. Well, that was easier said than done, since
lots of folks were setting off and the exit from the field was crowded. Around me, as usual, there were many who were
walking as teams with customized t-shirts and carrying banners. I made my way through the crowd and exited
the stadium amongst cheers from people sitting in the stands. Some folks were also tossing packs of gummy
bears, though the significance of that was lost on me.
 |
| The big crowd set off |
We left the stadium and I stopped to tie my shoelaces. As I was doing that, a group of girls stood
in front of me and posed for a picture.
I am pretty sure that I made that picture and it was a photobomb if
there ever was one! I re-joined the
crowd as we walked around the stadium and proceeded towards the lake. I liked the fact that this route would take
us North along the lake, unlike the
‘Hunger Walk’ which goes South. There were
some interesting team uniforms, including a group that was wearing green crown
like objects that looked like things that people wear to prevent alien
abduction! Besides that, there were
other people dressed as
“Superheroes”,
“Star Wars” theme etc. One of the best things about these walks is
people who walk as a team and truly celebrate this occasion. While they were doing that, I had my
earphones on and not being very social. In fact, I kept slowing or picking up speed
else it looked like I was amongst a group.
Yeah, really anti-social.
 |
| It was for a great cause |
We continued Northwards along the lakefront and it was
getting hot, making me take off the jacket that I had worn as rain protection. We turned around near the
‘Daly Park’ and headed back to the
stadium, once again, sticking alongside the lakefront. While everything was going well, I was
disappointed that there weren’t any water stations along the way. But, the end was in sight as we walked past
the
‘Shedd Aquarium’ and then towards
the other side of the stadium. As I
walked past the
“Finish line”, I saw
a group wearing a shirt called
“Brady’s
team”. I initially thought this had
something to do with my beloved
‘New
England Patriots’, and this was to support the team after the recent
controversy; but then I saw that there was a kid’s picture. This was a different Brady and probably a
worthier cause to support. The party was on both, inside and outside the
stadium, but I was tired and had another project later in the day. The walk had been 3 miles and combined with
another 3 miles to and fro to my apartment, I was exhausted. But it had been a fun time and for a
group that I like to support.
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