Motivation

This past weekend everyone was celebrating Memorial Day.  There were parades and cookouts and it felt like the first official weekend of summer. I know this because I was at the beach, ate a hotdog and drank corona. How much more summer can it get right?

This year I am proud to say that I also celebrated by doing my part to thank the troops. I participated in a 5K that benefited the Wounded Warriors, a group that provides assistance to families who have lost loved ones fighting for our country and to those who have been injured or disabled in battle.

I was able to run/jog/walk the loop in 37:10, a new personal best as I hate running and did not train.

When I had first arrived at the race I saw guys with ARMY shirts on and their 30 lb ruck sacks ready to go.  I thought holy crap they are nuts.  It was about 85 degrees when the race kicked off. I immediately fell to the back of the group. My goal was to stay out of people's way and scoop up some family friends children who fell back along the way. The run was beautiful.  We left from a parking lot but soon sought refuge on the shaded woody path.  We caught a breeze as we ran bast the river and under a bridge.  The frogs sat on the side of the river and as we ran by seemed to croak us a "keep going!!"

Further into the race I was passed by a man in full fatigues running in work boots with a helmet and the ruck sack and it hit me.  They aren't nuts.  They are the men of our ARMY.  This is their job. This 5K is a drop in the bucket to what they have done for me. Thousands of men and women just like this man risk their lives everyday to protect me. It was inspiring to me to see this man running. He would find people along the way who were over heating and just wanted to give up.  He'd run up behind them and say "hey brother! You've got this,  c'mon we can do it, lets go!"  Even though he wasn't talking to me I was still inspired.  I made it a goal to finish with him.  When the little girls i ran with felt like giving up I told them about this man and how if he can do it they could do it.

I started to feel a cramp with about a half mile left. I was so close I could feel it and I really did not want to give up.  I tried to exhale when the foot opposite hit the ground (I read that tip from a health magazine a while back) but it didn't seem to work.  Just as I started to slow down I thought about the soldier running now a little ways back.  I thought he doesn't get the option to give up.  I replayed his voice in my head "You've got this,  c'mon we can do it, lets go!"  It was just enough.  I jogged a little further and sprinted for the finish line.  I stayed there for a minute just on the out side of the shoot.  I caught my breath and waited.  I heard some people down the line start to cheer and others began to clap. I hollered and cheered as the soldier crossed the line with a smile from ear to ear.  I gave him a high five and said "thanks". He deserved more.  Everyone in the military does.  What they do is hard work. But my thanks was what I gave and I'm glad I did.

When you feel like giving up remember there are people who do not give up for you.  A complete stranger.  The run around and risk their lives in crazy situations and they bear a heavy load.  Next time you run up a hill or feel like stopping just before the finish think "You've got this,  c'mon we can do it, lets go!" and remember you aren't wearing work boots and fatigues.

Thank you to all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.  You are incredible people.

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