Journal Entry - Fri. 8/29/08

As I run today, I start to pay attention to the many people running on the other treadmills in the room. Hmm...wonder what they are thinking about right now? Are they watching the televisions strategically placed on the walls? Are they singing along with the music playing on their headphones? Are they praying? Planning? Worrying? I wonder if anyone even realizes what they are thinking about right when they run. Until a couple of days ago, I honestly couldn’t tell you what went through my mind while running besides thoughts such as “I am so hot” or “I need some water” or “I should just stop now”. “I can’t breathe.” “I hate running.” “Why is it so hard to get in shape?” Does everyone hate running or is it just me? My husband loves to run but I can’t understand why. Perhaps this understanding will come to me later.

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.