Not every run serves your training plan. Sometimes a run is about so much more.
On Memorial Day, across the country, thousands of runners and non-runners took to the streets and trails to dedicate their miles to fallen service members with wear blue: run to remember.
Here on 29, though it was a hot, hot morning in the desert, Stroller Warriors banded together to add our own miles to this remembrance. Running in memory of friends, running in memory of loved ones, or running in memory of total strangers, more than thirty women and children (even a few men) joined in to dedicate a 5K.
Miss A, Baby K, and I ran in memory of Corporal Terrence P. Allen, USMC, who was killed in Al Anbar Province on September 15, 2007 while serving with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC.
My children took to the challenge of running this course (challenge because it was hot, they have short legs, and it was 3.1 miles) like the champs they are. Well, let's be realistic, Baby K actually cruised in the jogging stroller for all but about a quarter mile. But he ran that quarter mile with heart.
The run also gave me the opportunity to talk with Miss A about why we were really out there on that course. It can be confusing for small children when their moms or dads deploy into combat zones. It's even more confusing when they don't come back home alive. Miss A, after our talk, was happy that her daddy has come home from all his deployments, though saddened that some don't. She picked up her chin and said "let's do this for him {CPL Allen}."
We did not know Corporal Allen before dedicating our run to his memory (we were matched with hi by wear blue: run to remember), but I have taken the time to learn about him since. He was just 21 years old, from New Jersey, and a newly wed. A young man who enlisted even before he graduated high school. This young man had a long-term goal to become a high school history teacher.
After it was over, to reward my children, of course I let them have some play time on the tanks. After all, Memorial Day is about both remembering and celebrating...what better way than playing on the tanks that have given so much to our country as well. Happy trails!!!
2017 miles to date: 658.48 miles
Observations: I've still got soreness in my tendon that borders on pain. It dissipates a bit once I get a mile or so into a run. I'm currently treating it with a bit of spray on Icy Hot before workouts to numb the pain.
I'll be able to focus on healing it after Zooma half next weekend.
I'll be able to focus on healing it after Zooma half next weekend.
