Journal Entry - Fri 4/10/09

Well, I took a break from the running after the Veteran’s Run last November. I went back to the elliptical machine and walking through the holidays. On January 1, I found myself trying to figure out what I was going to do to keep myself motivated to exercise everyday. I had accomplished becoming a member of the “500 Mile Club” at the YMCA in 2008. I knew I didn’t want to try to walk another 500 miles in 6 months. It was taking up too much of my day to set such a high goal. I also knew that if I didn’t set a goal that was difficult, I would probably quit. My mind returned to running. Now that was definitely a challenge. After all, I hate running. I thought about the satisfaction I had felt when I participated in Run for the Fallen and the Veteran’s Walk/Run. I decided that my goal for 2009 was to become enough of a jogger that I could participate in events without difficulty. My husband has always been a runner so it would be nice to do these events with him.

I started out running just one mile. Each week I slowly increased my distance. Doing this gradually kept me from experiencing a lot of muscle soreness. Today, I am happy to say that I run three miles daily. I usually walk another mile or two depending on how much time I have to spend at the YMCA. I will be honest. I still don’t enjoy running but I don’t struggle until I am in the middle of the third mile. My biggest struggle with the third mile is fighting the desire to stop. I’m hot and sweaty and somewhat tired, but the reality is that I don’t have to stop so I force myself to keep going. I remind myself that my heroes don’t quit when things get tough so I can’t quit either. The reward is reaching the end of that third mile and knowing I didn’t give into my lazier side. If I wasn’t worried about people in the gym thinking I was crazy, I would probably scream and throw my arms up at the end of each day’s workout!

Journal Entry - Tues 3/17/09

Since that day back in August, I have worked slowly to build up my endurance and ability to run. I spent the first 48 years of my life avoiding running so taking this feat on at this point in my life was not easy. Because I have a physical disability, I have to work on everything in baby steps. I knew I could run at least a mile so that is where I began. I worked through many different pain issues as I strengthened muscles that had never been expected to carry me at more than a walking pace. I had setbacks and even went through a period of time where I had to settle for walking. Most days I ran about a half a mile and did about 5 miles on the elliptical machine at the YMCA. Two things kept me going....the first, I realized that I was actually getting much stronger and therefore, this exercise stuff was allowing me to make positive changes in my life. The second.....I was very motivated to dedicate each mile to someone that had stepped up to serve on my behalf. I had to come up with six names a day, one for each mile, and that was causing me to think beyond the people I knew personally. I was now interested in finding out about others that served for me even though they have never met me.

Journal Entry - Wed 8/27/08 - Run for the Fallen

Last weekend I was invited to participate in Run for the Fallen. I have been working out a lot lately, and while I am no runner, I figured I could run a mile for a good cause. The concept was simple. Join others across the nation and run in honor of a fallen hero. A group of people actually ran from Ft. Irwin, California to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. They began their journey on June 14 and finished on August 24.

I don’t recall the actual temperature on the day we ran, but I do know that it was HOT! Not only was it hot, it was humid! My goal was to run the entire mile, but as we headed out, I wondered if I was being realistic. The only time I run is inside the YMCA where there is a nice padded track and a working air conditioner. I typically run distances less than a mile, so I was definitely taking on a challenge.

As I continued, I started thinking about the list of fallen heroes I had pinned to my shirt. I was wearing the names of six fallen Marines…..all who had some sort of tie to my own son, a USMC Sergeant who happens to be deployed.

I became more and more tired, and more and more hot, but as I pondered the lives of these heroes, I realized that my efforts on this hot August day were really not much of a sacrifice. I think about our military everyday. I think about them 24/7. My son is on his third deployment as I run this mile in honor of his friends. I can read through the list of fallen heroes and I can say that I have met a number of their family members….but do I honestly stop and really consider what these did for me in more than just a passing thought? Do I think about how difficult it must be for the family members that must go on without their fallen hero? On most days, the honest answer is no. Most days, I am busy living the American Dream just like everybody else. As I run, I realize that every single man listed on my bib not only endured heat and fatigue far worse than what I was experiencing in this moment, but these men had also made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives! Each one sacrificed for people like me, unknown to them. Each one sacrificed for the good of our nation. Each one had a life here in the USA that they did not have to give up to serve others. Each one was loved and cherished by family and friends....each a brother, sister, son, daughter, wife, husband, parent, friend, and neighbor.

As I continued running, with each step, the thoughts of fatigue were replaced with the excitement of knowing that I was pushing myself beyond my comfort zone to make people more aware of our heroes and their sacrifice. Not only was this effort making others more aware of their sacrifice. It was making ME more aware of their sacrifice!