Category: honor veterans

I ran for the t-shirt and the medal

How it all started…

I ran my first Half Marathon in 2010 at Walt Disney World in Florida. I kid you not….it was in January and it was snowing while we stood freezing in our running corral there in the heart of Central Florida. If you have ever ran a big race like a runDisney event, you know you have to arrive really early…like 3am early. The race starts at 5am, and they have a strict time limit. You must maintain a 16 minute mile pace or get on the bus. Snow, cold, stress of maintaining the pace, a running partner that quit on me (that’s a whole other story), first time running that far…and I had a great time! Who wouldn’t have fun at a race with Mickey Mouse in a jogging suit cheering you on at the start and finish line?! Of course since it was Disney, the race swag included a really nice technical running shirt and a big ol’ Donald Duck finisher’s medal.

I enjoyed it so much, I came back and did it again in 2011. This time I ran with my oldest daughter, and I think I was the one slowing her down. Totally different experience! We found out later that Al Roker had ran the same Half Marathon that we did, but he was way up front in a better corral. However, we beat his finish time! Take that and your celebrity status! It was still cold in January as we arrived at the Epcot parking lot at 3am. But at least it wasn’t snowing this time. We had family cheerleaders that followed us on the route. My daughter’s aunt and cousin were there near the half way point and at the finish line. Thanks, Nasly and Eli, that was awesome! Again, we got a great shirt, but I was disappointed that we got the same Donald Duck medal with a 2011 attached to the bottom of it.

I ran the Soldier Half Marathon at Fort Benning, Georgia (now known as Fort Moore) in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The start and finish was at the amazing National Infantry Museum. The highlight of the race for me was the very steep hill that had Drill Sergeants yelling at us…for encouragement. My favorite quote was actually straight out of the reg for the Army PT test, ” Although walking is authorized, it is strongly discouraged.” This hill was so steep, most everyone was walking up it. We all got a good laugh since most of the runners were Soldiers and Veterans. The race swag was cool! The t-shirt was a soft cotton blend and the race medal each year featured the infamous “dog tags.” The first and second year I ran it, it was actually shaped like dog tags. The third year it was a big circle with a picture of dog tags on the medal.

Eli, me, John, and Pete before the Soldier Marathon Event. I ran the half while they opted for the 5K. Slackers!

My last Half Marathon was in 2017, on base at Yongsan in Korea. We ran two laps around South Post inside the fence. There was a big hill or two (maybe three) on this one. The funniest part of the race was the water cups, or the lack of water cups. The first lap there weren’t any, and if you were really in need of a drink, you drank from the spout on the water jug. Yep, old school like we use to do with the garden hose. By lap two there was a form of a cup to get water, but since the race was sponsored by the hospital, they were using specimen cups at the water stations. Quite an experience! I ran with a good friend, not knowing this was his first Half Marathon. It was a PR for me, and a proud first finish for him. Thanks for the pace push, Byron. BUT…there were no finisher’s medals. I felt bad for my running partner that he ran his first Half Marathon with nothing to show for it but a cool photo with me and a cheap Korean made t-shirt.

I’ve ran 5Ks and 10Ks. Sometimes you get a shirt and medal. Sometimes at the smaller ones, you are just happy that they have cold water at the finish line. The nice thing about the smaller races is there is a pretty good chance you will place in your age bracket. Then you get to go home with whatever prize they are giving. Sometimes it was a medal. One time it was a jar of candy. The Ugly Sweater 5K had cookies and hot chocolate at the finish area. That was motivating! But nothing is more motivating than crossing the finish line and have a medal placed around your neck.

Byron, HW, and myself before the Yongsan Half Marathon

Jump forward a decade, plus or minus a few years…

This year, I retired from the Army, and I started helping out another retired Army Veteran with his business, Just TRI Athletic Events, LLC. Marc Chung started the company in 2017, and as the Race Director, he has hosted races ranging from 5Ks to Half Marathons, plus there’s always the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run. There’s also been several Triathlon events since the company started. COVID hit us all hard, and Just TRI was not immune (pun intended) to the pandemic. Marc was deployed for three years, and after the Mother’s Day Run in 2020, face-to-face races came to a screeching halt.

Here we are in 2023! Just TRI is back and re-building. And I’m gonna add since I’m helping out now…even better. This year will feature two races on July 2nd and September 2nd. The first is a 5K and 10K with a Kids 1 Mile Fun Run at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Washington. Since its Independence Day Weekend, the race is a Yankee Doodle theme. The swag was designed around the theme of the Yankee Doodle red, white, and blue hat. Based on my experience and first hand knowledge of the finisher’s medal…everyone will want one of these. All that sign up to run or walk get a Yankee Doodle hat and a finisher’s medal after they run under the finish line arch on July 2nd. Plus, there’s the cool t-shirt.

Then we have the big race in September. The Labor of Love during Labor Day Weekend. This second run will not only have a 5K and a 10K and a Kids 1 Mile Fun Run, this is your chance to run a Half Marathon. Whether this is your first or your tenth run, everyone will be celebrated at the finish area with a finisher’s medal and t-shirt. Sorry, Byron. Maybe you should join us out in Washington in September. You’ll get that medal and a much better t-shirt.

sign up for both July and September at runlakewood.com

The magic behind the curtain…

Most races have a small staff and depend heavily on volunteers and sponsors. After working this from the other side, I won’t complain about the gradual price increases and the strict packet pick-up times. You know why they raise the price? They need to order those medals and t-shirts. And that gets really expensive when its a late, rush order. Sign up early and get the better price, plus help out your local Race Director as they try to plan the big events. Packet pick-up times are limited because those same volunteers that are sitting there handing out the cool swag probably need to get back to finish sorting medals and packing the trailer for race day. It’s all about perspective.

Let’s talk about volunteers. Did you ever think about how many people it takes to put on an event like a 5K? Lots! Most of those folks handing you water and guiding you along the course are volunteers. If you ever get the chance to volunteer, try it at least once. It’s a rewarding experience to watch athletes with a diverse background, from the elite “super fast” runners to the really slow “just happy to finish” runners. They all deserve to feel accomplished when it’s over, and it takes volunteers to fill all the jobs from start to finish.

Stepping off my soap box now. As you can see from my Half Marathon dates, its been a while since I ran that far. I did do the Cooper River Bridge Run this past April with one of my younger daughters. It’s a 10K that starts in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. You have to “get over” the Cooper River Bridge to head into downtown Charleston for the finish. A little warmer than usual this year, so that added to the challenge. Very well organized with nearly 30,000 runners and about 4,000 volunteers. We got over it. Great t-shirt and amazing finisher’s medal!

Gracie and I after crossing the finish line at CRBR…but before we reached the area with the medals

****As a side note, this year Just TRI is welcoming dogs (on a leash) and strollers to join both of the 5Ks. See…I told you its getting better!

Why we should respect the National Anthem

My oldest daughter captured a photo of her sister on ESPN 2 from the pre-game show. They didn’t play the National Anthem, but they did show her out there on the field!

My daughter sang the National Anthem at the opening of the Ohio vs. UVA football game today that was played at Vanderbilt University due to Hurricane Florence.   Yes, the same game that was aired live on ESPN 2.  Don’t you dare tell me you took a knee unless you were tying your shoes!  Or praying!  And I pray that my child who stood out there on the 50 yard line all alone saw nothing but proud Americans standing tall with their right hand over their heart while she sang THE National Anthem.   Yes, you have the right to sit or kneel while the Star Spangled Banner is played.  I also have the right to be offended when you disrespect OUR National Anthem that is sang and/or played to honor OUR Flag.   The same Flag that flies high over our Nation’s Capital.  The same Flag that covers the coffins of our Service Members when they make the ultimate sacrifice.  The same Flag that is presented to the mourning family members of the Veterans that gave up so much so you can sit, stand, kneel, or even do a cartwheel when they play the National Anthem.

National Anthem September 2018 Ohio-UVA Football Game played at Vanderbilt (link edited from original post to the professional edition courtesy of UVA)

It is a time honored tradition that our sporting events begin with the playing of the National Anthem.  When did it become acceptable to turn that treasured moment into an opportunity to protest?   Yes, I understand the protests are not meant to be disrespectful to those that gave their lives to keep that flag waving high.  So why not do it some other time?  Turn your back on the half-time show?  Ignore the announcer during the coin toss?  Refuse the cup of Gatorade or Powerade when you are thirsty?  Talk about it in the post-game show?

National Anthem June 2018 WAHS Graduation

This isn’t the first time my daughter sang the National Anthem.   She nailed it at her high school graduation just a few months ago.  I was just as proud then as I am now.  But now she’s taken it to a whole new level!  She’s stood on the green grass in a college football stadium and sang her heart out with nothing between her and the crowd but her guitar.  This time was also different because she sang the National Anthem while I sat in a hotel room on the other side of the world waiting impatiently for the video to be sent to me because this region of the world doesn’t get ESPN 2!  That wouldn’t have mattered anyway.  While she was on TV today, America missed the opportunity to hear her beautiful voice because  she WAS on TV, but they didn’t air the National Anthem.   She looked so tiny on that big college football field.  But her voice was huge and those in attendance today at Vanderbilt Stadium were blessed with a great start to their afternoon of football.   The rest of us were blessed shortly after when the non-professional video was sent literally worldwide!

Yes, I’m a little passionate about the National Anthem and protecting our Flag.  My family has a history of military service.  I’ve worn the uniform for over 25 years.  I’ve stood and saluted the National Anthem hundreds if not thousands of times.  And I’ve attended military funerals.  If you’ve never experienced hearing the bugler play Taps at a graveside service following the firing of a 21 gun salute or watched the solemn folding of the flag before its presented to a grieving family, you may not fully understand what it means to sacrifice yourself for the greater good.   True sacrifice means you are willing to give up EVERYTHING and expect nothing in return.

My youngest two daughters displaying the American Flag on Veterans Day 2015. One was putting it up while the other was protecting it.

I’ve heard people joke in the past that “no one joins the military to get rich.”  While most in the military do not get paid big dollars, they get to experience so much more than money could ever buy:  The friends that become more like family than your real relatives.  The opportunities to see and experience different cultures.  Education and training in some of the top schools and facilities around the world.  Learning the meaning of defending the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.  Sacrificing family time, missing birthdays and holidays, and explaining to your kids why you are going away again and again.  Then seeing your daughter sing the National Anthem just as good if not better than you’ve ever heard before knowing you did something right when you instilled in your children that you RESPECT the National Anthem and stand to face the Flag, always.

And if you don’t agree with me….you are welcome.  You have every right to disagree.  You have every right to speak your mind.  You have every right to sit, stand, kneel, or stand on your head.  That is the American way of life.  But next time you decide to protest during the National Anthem remember that my daughter sang her heart out and nailed it.  Twice!  And that deserves a little bit of your respect, too.