Journal Entry - Thurs. 8/28/08

Participating in Run for the Fallen has given me a lot to consider. Just yesterday, I was pushing myself to run a mile on a very hot day. Today, I am back to running on a treadmill inside the air conditioned gym. It occurs to me that I might just run today’s mile for one of my fallen heros. I typically run 1 mile, walk 2 miles, and do about three miles on the elliptical cross trainer. I quickly came to the realization my daily six miles could be used to honor six heroes. I walked in honor of the six men that I had worn on my bib yesterday during Run for the Fallen. I found that the time went by much more quickly. Instead of looking down at the display to see how much farther I had to go, I was filling my mind with thoughts of gratitude for what these Marines had done for me. I thought about their funerals, and their families.....which led me to pray for their loved ones. How difficult each day must be for them! Before I knew it, I was on the next mile and my thoughts switched to the next hero on my list. It was on that day that I found a new reason to run. I honestly hate running, but I was interested in the idea that I could spend the time honoring someone that had made the ultimate sacrifice for me. I have decided that to honor someone’s sacrifice with a little bit of suffering really causes me to think. Whenever I feel like stopping, I just remind myself that the hero I run for didn’t stop when he was tired. He didn’t stop until God called him home. It’s hard to be a quitter when you think like that! I’m coming back tomorrow and I am going to run in honor of a few more heroes that served on my behalf.