Run for the Fallen

The run for the Fallen was yesterday. It was started by an awesome woman Julie who had run in Maine for the same cause last year and knew NH needed a run. Everyone knows how proud I am to live in the USA; I mean I do have it tattooed on my body! It was a little daunting to see it was a 12 mile run but they were always very clear to state it wasn’t a race to see how fast you could finish but to honor the 55 men and women who are no longer here with us.
I have been very lucky that of the 30+ soldiers I have adopted over the last 6 years I have been able to say Welcome Home to all of them, but there are so many families that never get to say welcome home let alone goodbye.
The run started at Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH and the ceremony before was bar far one of the most touching and emotional things I have ever been a part of. As the names were read, a gold star father, who lost his son, rang a bell. He also ran at least 10 miles! We sang the National Anthem, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and Senator Kelly Ayotte spoke as well as did the run too. I’ve decided she is so awesomely in shape I want to be here when I’m 43!
The run itself was beautiful, we ran along the ocean for a while and on the side of the road the families of the fallen were standing next to a picture of their loved one. One of the most touching moments was to watch a veteran stop at every picture, take off his hat and tap the top of the sign. I told Kelly we had to stop following him since I couldn’t cry for 12 miles! We high fived a lot of people but it came to a point when it was just me and Kelly (everyone spread out) there were many hugs and yes tears! I found it so ironic they were thanking us, there’s no words to express my thanks to them!
We had originally planned on doing 4 miles, hopping on the trolley and then finishing the last couple of miles. Well 4 miles came and went and we didn’t see the trolley! The next time we saw it, it was completely full! I’m glad we kept going since around mile 6 there was the cutest girl in her yard cheering us on and her mom had a hose and we got a nice misting! The people of Rye were so amazing. People were in their yards and were handing out water which was very much appreciated. Around mile 8 Kelly and I decided that it was a very good time to catch the trolley and it was very nice to sit down! They took us to the boat ramp and we waited for the rest of the people to make their way there! We all finished the last mile together. I’m not going to lie, it was a struggle for me to finish. I tried to keep moving while we were waiting but my muscles did start to tighten up so the end was mind over matter! At the end we all had flags and put them around the pictures that were set up. I was good until the families started to put flags around their loved ones pictures. Cue the tears (AGAIN!)

Carrabba’s provided the after run meal which was super yummy! I could have eaten the bowl salad they had there it was super yummy! They had an awesome Air Force Band, Afterburner, and I think it was duty as a good American to drool over the trumpet/guitar player! They were very very good though and you couldn’t beat lunch with a view! The ocean people not the hot military guys!

I was so humbled, honored and proud to have been a part of such an amazing event. So while they were not there, I know they must have been smiling down. Thank you Army Spc. Nicholas P. Bernier, Army Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr., Army Chief Warrant Officer Christopher R. Thibodeau, Marine Lance Cpl. Michael E. Geary, Marine Cpl. Philip E. Charte, Army Ranger Sgt. Andrew C. Nicol, Army Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst, Army Staff Sgt. Kyle R. Warren, Marine Cpl. Jonathan D. Porto, Marine Pfc. Eric D. Currier, Army Spc. Marc P. Decoteau, Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy, Marine Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen, Army Spc. Justin R. Pellerin, Marine Sgt. Michael C. Roy, Army Staff Sgt. Edmond L. Lo, Army Spc. Adam M. Kuligowski, Marine Cpl. Michael W. Ouellette, Army Pvt. Chipper T. Rogers, Army Maj. Brian M. Mescall, Army Cpl. Scott G. Dimond, Army Spc. David S. Stelmat, Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Nathan H. Hardy, Army Pfc. Marcianna Bennington, Army Pfc. Juctin P. McDaniel, Army Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier, Army Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh, Army Spc. Justin A. Rollins, Army Spc. Toby R. Olsen, Army Spc. Matthew J. Stanley, Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan T. McCaughn, Army Cpl. Nicholas A. Arvanitis, Army Cpl. Matthew E. Schneider, Army Sgt. Russell M. Durgin, Army Sgt. Daniel R. Gionet, Army Capt. Douglas A. DiCenzo, Army Pfc. Nicholas R. Cournoyer, Marine Lance Cpl. Robert L. Moscillo, Army Pfc. George R. Roehl Jr., Army Staff Sgt. Donald Smith, Marine Pfc. Matthew L. Bertolino, Navy Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, Army 2nd Lt. Matthew S. Coutu, Army Sgt. Angelo L. Lozada Jr, Marine Cpl. Timothy M. Gibson, Marine Lance Cpl. Adam R. Brooks, Army Spc. Alan J. Burgess, Army Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, Marine Lance Cpl. Peter "PJ" Sora Jr, Army Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, Army National Guard Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes, Army Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, Army Pfc. Andrew D. Stevens, Army Spc. William J. Tracy, Army Spc. Jesse Conger.

Your service and sacrifices have not been forgotten! They gave their today for our tomorrow.

If there are two things you can pick up from my blog today they are:
1. Our freedom is not free and a day should not go by that we should not be thankful for those who have paid the ultimate price for us.

2. Always ALWAYS thank a soldier no matter where you see them. It may be the nicest thing they hear that day!

Daily Mantra: We are the land of the free because of the brave!

Cigna 5k and 200 days!

The weather for this race was AWESOME! It was 75 with no humidity. I have no idea how in August we lucked out like that! Traffic was a NIGHTMARE, I sat on the off ramp for 20 minutes and finally went the opposite way and parked a mile away. Gave me a chance to do sprints on the way up. It was my first race with my Nike+ shoes. Having the chip in my shoe is so much easier since I just hit start and set it to a 5k run and it does all the math! I started off way too fast for my pace. There were 5328 runners and it was hard at first to not get caught up in the fast pace. My first mile came up before I knew it and I ran a 10:50 and I knew I couldn’t keep that pace up ( I wish but not yet!) so when the water stop came up I actually stopped to drink water which helped me to fall back a little more and slow my pace. Mile 2 was pretty boring so I’m glad I had some good music. Going into mile 3 there was a hill. I was like WTF are you KIDDING ME? It was BRUTAL! I called it my own little heartbreak hill, but I kept my feet moving and told myself it would be pointless to walk at this point. The last .1 there are always a ton of people which is a good motivator to get to the end! I crossed the finish line and according to my chip I ran the 5k in 40:17 (13:01 pace). According to my bib I ran in 41:42 (13:26 pace). This time I’ll go with my chip since there seemed to be some errors on scoring and times kept changing. Either way I shaved time off my last race which is always the direction I’m headed. There was no fruit left so I grabbed a Powerade, grabbed my free but I’ll never wear shirt and walked the mile back to my car.

So my goal for August is to get up to 4.5 miles and then by the end of September 6 miles for the 10K in October. Next week is the Run for the Fallen and then the 28th is the Tavern to Tavern 5k. Not sure I can drink beer before 10 in the morning but if that’s what I have to do I will! After October I will probably concentrate on building distance (SO NO BILL I WILL NOT RUN THE ZOMBIE 5k!!!) since there are a mere 200 days until the ½ marathon. It will be interesting to run in the winter! I also decided (or was coerced) into playing softball this fall, so we’ll see what kind of entertainment I can provide!

At some point I’m sure Kelly, Deanna and I will start group runs. Really Kelly and I had the best of intentions to run last weekend but Saturday was a pajama day and Sunday it was like a monsoon so we just stuck to our own regiments for the week! Well kids that’s all this week. Get your feet moving even if it’s taking the stairs or parking farther away at the grocery store!

Daily Mantra: "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."