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Marine Marathon! Click on an image to enlarge the photo.
I decided, despite being overweight and middle aged and hating running , that I would set the goal to run. Last year I managed to make it to the bridge to be stopped and put on the stragglers bus. That brings us to this year's marathon. As a stress reliever during the plebe summer experience I renewed my determination to get the medal. I would visualize my plebe at PEP as I huffed and puffed down a local trail-still incredibly slow. The new job I started in April and dental problems also weighed me down. So I ended up on the line Sunday monring, with no expectations of seeing the finishline, and only there to do my best for me. After all that is what I preach to my children-give it your best. Picture an amazing crowd of runners-18000 in all-lined up at the
Iwo Jima monumment. Hundreds of Marines are there to provide support-many
of them are recent graduates of USNA at TBS. A howitzer fires and
the race begins....twenty minutes later my group at the back crosses
the start line! The course winds through DCand there are several
places where it loops back on itself-those are my favorite parts
where I can see the runners who are ahead of me. Blue rim t-shirts
were everywhere-and the shouts of "Go Navy" can be heard
frequently. My family placed themselves along strategic points of the course-and took turns running with me. Eric had the American flag he carried last year and we were frequently saluted as we shuffled along (It was the slowest that that kid has ever moved I think!) My Plebe was there in his SDBs-thanks to the overnight granted at the Delaware game. Many runners stopped along the course to thank him for being there and for serving. The going got tough-and that is when I thought about our Mids and
the struggles they have to overcome-a race vehicle ahead of me had
"Determination" written on the back...on we moved. When
we reached the bridge it was like a victory-even though there were
5 long miles left to go (just like Plebe Summer) Crossing the finish
line and being met by a Marine who place the medal around my neck
was incredible-and then who do we see but eldest son's favorite
detailer, now a Marine LT at TBS. The circle is not unbroken. Elaine Brye |
