broad street run and whatnot

another thing off the bucket list!!! i finally ran the broad street run. 10 miles straight thru my city. 13 of us did it together. for some it was their first race ever. for a couple people, it was the first time they ever ran 10 miles! for one, a 54 yr old Master Sergeant, it was his 1st race and his first 10 miler. how about that???? amazing. it motivates me. he will also be doing the half marathon with us 11 days from now. doin the damn thing at 54. hard core bragging rights. luvs it.

i like the pains i have the day after. not the actual hurt, but the evidence of accomplishments. i accomplished more this weekend than most people do all month. i qualified with 2 weapons. most soldiers with my rank do not get that opportunity. it looks amazing on my military bio. M9 and M16 qualified! woo hoo! i was so nervous. if it was up to me, i would skip this part of training. but were soldiers. have to qualify or have a flag. no one wants a flag!!!! i am now considered "Special Staff". M9s are for officers. Me, having the greatest boss in the JAG office, who is also an expert marksman, walked me thru it and boom, qualified. i love that man. my army big brother. my protection. he's leaving me in a couple months. my life will get much harder without him in my corner. my entire army career up until now, he has been with me. he makes shit happen. keeps anyone from fucking with me, and introduces me to people who can help me get places. he pinned me at my promotion ceremony. an officer pinning enlisted is unheard of. in the normal order, he would not be in my chain of command. but there has been no one on the enlisted side who has done more for me than this man. it has been just the 2 of us for the last 2 1/2 years in the JAG office. we are the JAG for the command. me, the only paralegal in the Brigade, and he the only lawyer. It has been pretty badass. i was afforded the same privledges as him because he saw to it. it was also his first race, the Broad Street Run. also his first time in Philly. he said he ran the entire thing with a plastered smile on his face. he loved every minute of it. he thanked ME for talking him into doing it. he is still riding the high of the race and doing something cool. he'll do it again in 11 days with the rest of us. i cant wait. that is him and i in the pic. cheesin before the race started.

so much of life is a challenge. some challenges are by choice. like running a long distance. it was painful, but it was a choice. today when i saw that 54 yr old MSG, he was walking funny but smiling. his wife of 30 years and his kids had a cake and a small party waiting for him when he got home. the look on his face was priceless. did i mention he finished only a minute and a half after me? again, badass.

i am the unofficial/official, wether i like it or not, organizer of these things. i apparently motivate people into doing things they never thought of. in my past life, i probably motivated people to do things, but maybe not things they would be proud of. now, a lot of my time is spent rallying groups to venture out and kick some ass. after this half marathon? i need to find another event. one not just for runners, but a feel good, team building, bonding, bragging rights, kinda thing. maybe a big fund raiser for Wounded Warriors or Yellow Ribbon? Maybe climb a mountain, white water rafting. something cool where we can find the strength in our Battle Buddies in times where strength is something were lacking in that moment. an experience or memory of the extraordinary. i have 11 days before i have to start planning the next thing. one finish line at a time!!!!