Packing
Hotel Reservations
Crew Meetings
Day One
2-Day Walkers
1-Day Walkers
The Route
Sweep Vans
Meals and Snacks
Cheering Stations
Hotel Camp
Merchandise
Day Three
Alcohol Restrictions
Safety
Weather
Medical
Important Policies
Pre-Event Prep Webinar
View a Map of the Route
Route Cards
Your gear bag should weigh no more than 35 pounds. Easily toted bags with wheels are the best choice.
For 1-Day Walkers: You will be carrying all of your belongings with you while walking. We recommend a waist pack or something that evenly distributes the weight, so as not to disrupt your walking stride.
Please avoid bringing any valuables with you. The 3-Day assumes no liability for the replacement of lost items. Mark your bag clearly with your name and Participant ID number ().
You must bring your own water bottle. We will provide water and sports drink in large dispensers on the route and in small mixing packs at the hotel, not in individual bottles.
PACKING CHECKLIST |
The following items should be carried with you while you’re on the route:
Do Not Bring:
Stay Informed and Connected
Subscribe to 3-Day Text Alerts so you can receive important announcements while on the event. Also, follow the 3-Day on Facebook and Instagram, join the New England 3-Day Facebook group and post your own updates and photos using the hashtag #The3Day.
When you check in to the hotel, you will need to provide a credit or debit card for incidentals. A hold for $80/day (max $400 total) will be placed on your card (if it is a debit card, the $80/day will be removed from your account). If you do not charge incidentals to your room, the $80/day charge or hold will be refunded 7-10 days after you check out.
3-Day Walkers and Crew: If it says “Roommate Status: Assigned” in the Online Check-In section of your Participant Center, then your Friday and Saturday night room is confirmed. You will not be getting a confirmation email from the hotel for Friday or Saturday night, because the 3-Day is managing those reservations.
2-Day Walkers: If it says “Roommate Status: Assigned” in the Online Check-In section of your Participant Center, then your Saturday night room is confirmed. You will not be getting a confirmation email from the hotel for Saturday night, because the 3-Day is managing those reservations.
Parking: On site valet parking is $69 for 24 hours. Off Site Parking is $44 for 24 hours Copley Place at https://www.lazparking.com/local/boston-ma/copley-place-plaza
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app.
To reserve your parking spot for the Susan G. Komen New England 3-Day, visit the Boston Marriott Copley Place SpotHero Parking Page.
Crew members: Your 3-Day journey will begin with your crew team meeting where you will get to know the other members of your team, receive your crew t-shirts and other event swag and learn about your team’s specific responsibilities.
Your arrival time and meeting location will be determined by your Crew Captain. Please confirm these important details with them.
Crew training events:
8:00 am – Route Marking Crew Team arrives
2:00 pm – Crew Captains meeting
2:30 pm – Route Safety Crew Team meeting
4:00 pm – Crew teams meet individually
Please bring:
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® begins early Friday morning with the Opening Ceremony. It’s a moment to remember what brought us here—to recall the loved ones lost and the lives to be saved.
Here’s the play-by-play of how the day will go.
After the Opening Ceremony is over, you’ll walk onto the route. Remember—the Komen 3-Day isn’t a race. So, it’s not about getting to a finish line first. Once you have completed Day 1, if you haven’t already, you can retrieve your luggage and check in to the hotel (4:00 p.m. or later).
You will need to check in at the at the Marriott Copley Place to receive your 3-Day credential, lanyard and legacy pin. You can check in between 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Friday or on Saturday morning between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
On Saturday, breakfast will be served between 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. The route will open at 8:15 a.m. and all walkers must be on the route by 8:30 a.m.
You will need to check in at the at the Marriott Copley Place to receive your 3-Day credential, lanyard and legacy pin. You can check in between 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday or on Sunday morning between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
On Saturday night at the 3-Day, we hold a special ceremony to honor and celebrate the people who we are walking for. We invite you to attend this moving, inspiring ceremony—you won’t want to miss it. It’s a wonderful way to start your 3-Day journey and will give you a chance to be with the rest of the 3-Day community. The Honor Ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. If you’d like to attend the Honor Ceremony, please check in at the host hotel between 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Dinner is served between 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
If you didn’t check in on Saturday, arrive at the Marriott Copley Place on Sunday between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. to check in.
On Sunday breakfast will be served between 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. The route will open at 8:15 a.m. and all walkers must be on the route by 8:30 a.m.
Parking: On site valet parking is $69 for 24 hours. Off Site Parking is $44 for 24 hours Copley Place at https://www.lazparking.com/local/boston-ma/copley-place-plaza
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app.
To reserve your parking spot for the Susan G. Komen New England 3-Day, visit the Boston Marriott Copley Place SpotHero Parking Page.
The day’s mileage will vary, from 15 to 20 miles. You should aim for a pace of about 3 mph, spending approximately 10-15 minutes at each pit stop and 30 minutes at the lunch stop.
Every 3-5 miles along the route, you will have an opportunity to stop, stretch, use a portable toilet, grab a snack and refill your water bottle. The Medical Crew will be available at pit stops to help you with any medical problems. A grab & go is a smaller pit stop, which has toilets and drinks only. The midday pit stop will be your lunch stop. You can rest, relax, eat a healthy bag lunch that we provide and visit the Medical Crew, if necessary.
Pit stops will have designated operating hours, scheduled to correspond with how you’ll be moving along the route. If you reach a pit stop before it opens, you will be asked to stop and wait. If you reach a pit stop after it closes, you will be transported to the lunch stop (or camp, if you have already passed the lunch stop). This is to keep everyone moving along the route at a pace that ensures traffic support and sweep vans are available and ready to assist if needed.
Remember, it’s not a race. If your pace has slowed to the point where you are not making it to the pit stops before they close, you will be transported to lunch or camp (depending on the time of day) for your own safety. We don’t want to leave anyone on the route after crew support and signage have been removed.
There will be a staff member on a bicycle (who we lovingly call the “caboose”) at the back of the pack making sure that no one gets left behind or ends up on the route after it has closed.
The route is well marked with pink arrows and instructional signage so all you need to do is follow the signs and the walkers in front of you!
The route will open at 8:15 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. each day, other conditions permitting. Exact mileage per day varies according to a number of factors. The amount of daylight hours also impacts the total event mileage as it dictates the amount of time the route can be kept open safely.
Here’s a general description of what you will experience along the way. Print a map here.
Friday: Approximately 20 miles
The New England 3-Day will begin with an emotional Opening Ceremony. Then walkers will make their way to the famed Boston Marathon route. And don't worry, we will take the marathon route backwards to avoid the infamous Heartbreak Hill! The afternoon will bring walkers through the villages of Newton and Brighton before crossing the bridge into Cambridge to walk past Harvard University and enjoy the diversity of Mass Ave before we head back to the Marriott Copley Place, our home away from home for the weekend.
Saturday: Approximately 18.9 miles
On Saturday morning, we'll rise and shine, ready to hit the trail. The route will bring walkers through South Boston and Downtown Crossing before reaching the Massachusetts State House. From there, walkers will go past Fenway Park, through the Longwood Medical Area, Brookline and Jamaica Plain. Walkers will complete the day walking through the Back Bay Fens and the South End before we return to the Marriott Copley Place for another evening of community, camaraderie and fun.
Sunday: Approximately 15.2 miles
Sunday's route will give walkers a sense of the city's history as they walk through Copley Square, Boston Common and Beacon Hill before crossing the river into Cambridge and Charlestown. After lunch, walkers will make their way through the city's North End and the newly constructed Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway before reaching the Seaport District and South Boston. The day will culminate with a picturesque Closing Ceremony at UMass Boston's Campus Center Lawn.
View a map of the route.
Please be courteous and follow instructions of crew and staff at all times. They are here to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Abusive behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Friday/Saturday Gear Drop
If you have any gear, such as raincoats or heavy jackets, that you feel like you don’t need after your morning walk, you can drop at the second pit stop of the day (between 8:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 8:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. on Saturday) and we will bring it to the hotel for you. Pick it up at the pink Info room at the hotel after 12:00 p.m. the same day.
If you get injured, or are too exhausted to finish the day’s mileage, one of our “sweep vans” can pick you up along the route and take you to the next pit stop, where you can get medical attention, if you need it. All you need to do is raise your arms over your head in an “X” to stop a sweep van when you see one approaching on the route. If you are still unable to walk after seeing our Medical Crew, a Lunch & Camp Shuttle will take you to camp.
There will also be sweep vans staged at each pit stop (not grab & go stops) which can take you directly to the next stop. Based on the time of day, some of these vans may be going directly to lunch or to camp. Just ask them before you hop in!
As the day comes to a close, sweep vans will pick up any walkers who have fallen far behind and take them forward to the next stop, so that they arrive before that stop closes. This ensures that all walkers make it to camp before dark.
At each pit stop there will be an assortment of snacks including clementines, bananas, potato chips, carrots, peanuts, pretzels and more (as supplies last). To drink, there will be water and sports drink provided. You must bring your own water bottle to fill. About halfway through each day’s mileage, you will have a nutritious lunch.
Hot breakfast and coffee will be served at the host hotel on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and a hot dinner will be served on Friday and Saturday evening.
You must show your 3-Day credential to receive all meals and services. If you prefer a vegetarian meal, please update your profile on The3Day.org, and then let us know when you select your meal on the event. (If you have other special dietary needs, call your coach in advance at 800-996-3DAY or email newenglandcoaches@the3day.org so we can discuss your options.)
Please discourage your family and friends from driving along the route, as it can create a safety hazard. Instead, encourage them to show their support at a Cheering Station. The following Cheering Stations are safe, recommended places for your supporters to cheer you on along the route.
Friday, August 23
9:00 am - 10:45 am, mile marker 5.6
Chestnut Hill Reservoir
Beacon Street & Chestnut Hill Driveway
Boston, MA 02467
9:45 am - 12:30 pm, mile marker 8.9
Bullough's Pond
968 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02460
11:30 am - 4:00 pm, mile marker 16
Riverbend Park
961 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02138
Saturday, August 24
9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., mile marker 5.8
Charlesgate Park - North Field
Commonwealth Avenue & Charlesgate West
Boston, MA 02215
10:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., mile marker 10.5
Pond Avenue Parking
367 Pond Avenue
Brookline, MA 02445
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., mile marker 15.1
Emerald Necklace North
1 Pond Avenue
Brookline, MA 02445
Sunday, August 25
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., mile marker 5
Paul Revere Park
Warren Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
10:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., mile marker 10.1
Eastport Park
D Street
Boston, MA 02210
The 3-Day camp experience will take place entirely in the Marriott Copley Place. Informational booths, massage chairs, a Komen 3-Day gift shop, medical services, meals and all of the ceremonies, celebrations and opportunities to mix & mingle will be hosted at the hotel. There will be activities throughout the weekend, so please pay attention to the signs and announcements informing you of the schedule of activities.
On Friday, Main Street opens at 1:00 p.m. and all camp services (except dinner) are available from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Dinner is served from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Friday evening we will host the Celebration of Champions at 6:30 p.m.
New for 2024! Yoga instructor Rachel Brodeur will be leading four 20-minute light stretching sessions in the stretching area of camp on Friday between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Space is limited!
On Saturday, breakfast will be served between 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. The route opens at 8:15 a.m. Morning camp closes and all walkers must be on the route by 8:30 a.m. Afternoon Main Street opens at 12:00 p.m. and all camp services are available from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Dinner is served from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. we’ll have an Honor Ceremony to honor the reasons why we commit. Both Friday and Saturday evening there will be mocktails and alcoholic beverages available for purchase outside the ballroom.
On Sunday, breakfast will be served between 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. The route opens at 8:15 a.m. Morning Camp closes and all walkers must be on the route by 8:30 a.m.
At the Pick-Up Point, you can check to see if you’ve received mail from a loved one at home and pick up a Sweet Treat if you see the icon on your credential. The Pick-Up Point is also where you pick up any legacy pins and fundraising rewards or crew awards.
If you have a Shout-Out icon on your credential, one of your supporters sent you a message that will be displayed on the slideshow screen at the 3-Day camp. Keep an eye out for it!
If you meet any of the following criteria, please stop by the Pick-Up Point to pick up the legacy pins you have earned:
Visit ShopKomen.com online to gear up for your 3-Day! 100% of all proceeds benefit Komen. And don’t forget to swing by the 3-Day merchandise store on Main Street to find additional 3-Day items available ONLY at the event, including a commemorative city t-shirt, city pin, visor, pajama bottoms and additional functional and fun 3-Day items. Sales will be with credit cards only—no cash.
Only Susan G. Komen® and national sponsors with written agreements in place will be permitted to sell merchandise on the 3-Day event. No other individuals or organizations may sell merchandise at the 3-Day hotel sites, campsites, ceremony sites, pit stops or any other location for which the 3-Day has obtained a permit.
You could win fundraising dollars, courtesy of Bank of America! We will be holding a Celebration of Champions in the Dining Area on Friday evening and awarding several participants with donations towards their 2025 3-Day fundraising, courtesy of Bank of America.
Top individual and team fundraisers will be rewarded with donations of up to $500, and five lucky participants at each 3-Day event will win a $250 donation through the Champion Celebration Raffle Sponsored by Bank of America. All participants who have completed online check-in by Sunday, August 18, will be entered into the raffle. Top fundraising individuals and team captains who are already being awarded a donation of $200 or more are ineligible to win the raffle.
You must be present at the raffle to win, so don’t miss the Celebration of Champions! All details of individual and team fundraising rewards and the raffle are posted on our Fundraising Rewards webpage.
One of the great things about the 3-Day is the spirit of kindness that we create for three days while on the event. It’s like living in a pink bubble—the way we wish the world would be. It’s a world where every walker, from the first to the last, gets a cheer as they enter camp. Where a stranger may help you carry your bag. Where a long line becomes another opportunity to make a great new friend. One of the most popular phrases around the 3-Day is “No whining!” So carry on that legacy of kindness. Be kind, smile, and lend a hand when you see someone who needs it.
If you are not staying at the host hotel on Sunday evening, pack your bag in the morning and load it on the gear truck, which will be located right outside the hotel before you begin the final day. The crew will transport your gear to the Finish Line Festival for you while you’re walking.
At the end of our three days and 60 miles together, all participants will gather in the Finish Line Festival Area to grab a snack or drink and rest up before celebrating the end of our journey together. If you haven’t made it to the Finish Line Festival Area in time, we will pick you up and transport you, so you won’t miss the final victory celebration at the Closing Ceremony.
The Closing Ceremony is a joyous celebration of your accomplishment and your friends and family won’t want to miss it! It’s a remarkable, moving experience—one that’s difficult to put into words.
The Finish Line Festival will open to participants and spectators at 12:00 p.m. The Closing Ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 25
UMass Boston Campus Center Lawn
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
You may purchase a ticket for a shuttle bus from the Closing Ceremony back to the Marriott Copley Place after the Closing Ceremony on Sunday. Making a Sunday night host hotel reservations does not include shuttle service. Shuttle tickets will cost $20 and can be purchased at the hotel on Thursday or Friday from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. or on Saturday from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Spectator Parking Options:
Public Transportation
https://www.mbta.com/
Take the subway's Red Line to the JFK/UMass MBTA station. A free shuttle bus will transport you to campus.
RideShare Pick-Up: Follow signs for Gear Retrieval. Turnabout in the lot across the street from the lawn. No unattended vehicles. Pick-up ONLY!
The 3-Day and all of the cities we travel through work together to help create a safe and enjoyable experience for 3-Day participants and supporters. As the 3-Day route is on public property, it is subject to local laws. Local jurisdictions will be enforcing open-liquor laws in neighborhoods along the route. The safety of our participants is our number one priority.
Our first priority is always a safe event. Walking in a group is different than walking alone—you must be particularly aware of your movement and behavior to ensure that you are not endangering yourself or others.
Please observe the following safety policies on the event and on all of your training walks:
Whatever the weather, the 3-Day generally continues. So please be prepared for walking and camping in inclement weather. If the weather gets too severe, we always have a back-up plan for evacuating and relocating to make sure that everyone is housed safely.
We will make every effort to hold the 3-Day events at the times, dates and locations specified. However, Susan G. Komen® holds the right to cancel or change the date or location of any 3-Day event, in its sole discretion, due to circumstances that may compromise the health or safety of the participants, including without limitation, unusually severe or extreme weather, fire, natural disaster, epidemic or riot. In the event that a 3-Day event is cancelled or changed, we will take active steps to inform registered participants of such cancellation or change as soon as possible by email and/or text message, posting announcements online in the Participant Center at The3Day.org and on our social media channels.
All registration fees and donations submitted to the 3-Day are non-transferable and non-refundable, even if the event is cancelled or changed. That means that once a donation is posted to a participant’s account it cannot be moved to another participant’s account for any reason, regardless of whether or not you’re able to participate in the event. Your donations will go directly to the cause, and we hope your donors will appreciate supporting Komen regardless of the cancellation or modification of the event.
As with any emergency, call 911 first, if possible. Then, immediately report any medical emergencies to 3-Day staff (the 3-Day event hotline phone number will be clearly marked on your credential). We have a full crew of volunteer medical professionals along the route and at camp to assist you as well as access to local emergency facilities for more serious injuries.
PLEASE NOTE: IN CONSIDERATION FOR BEING PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUSAN G. KOMEN 3-DAY, YOU HAVE AGREED TO BE SUBJECT TO, AND ABIDE BY, THE 3-DAY POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE LIST OF POLICIES SET FORTH HERE IS A SUMMARY AND NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OR EXPLANATION OF THE POLICIES APPLICABLE TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE 3-DAY. FURTHER, THE POLICIES OF THE 3-DAY MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME AND, AS SUCH, THE POLICIES INCLUDED IN THE LIST TO THE RIGHT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY 3-DAY POLICY, PLEASE VISIT THE3DAY.ORG OR CALL YOUR COACH AT 800-996-3DAY.