New Year run for responders

On January 2, 2015, I headed out & did a virtual 5K in honor of all first responders & to take a step toward my new goals. 

My goals to start 2015...10 miles & a 5K each week. I beat it!! This run is dedicated to all first responders killed in the line of duty in 2014. Far too many souls didn't get to see the new year. They died protecting, serving & saving regular people like us. Mostly strangers. 

Remember our police, firefighters, paramedics, including K9's, & their families in your prayers. God bless, cover & keep them all. 

Rainy evening run...

Rainy evening run after 30 min aerobic workout. Time to focus. The mini will be here before I know it!!

Dedicating today to firefighter Major Malcolm Jenkins. After completing a strenuous departmental agility test, including strenuous work in full gear, Major Jenkins did not return home. His family searched for several hours before finding him. He was sitting in his department vehicle at a closed gas station. He had passed away hours earlier of an apparent heart attack. 

Major Jenkins was 60 years old & had served for 31 years. He left behind his wife, 3 daughters & his 92 year old mother. God bless & comfort them. 

Angel on my shoulder...

Today during my run I looked over in a field. There stood 6 beautiful deer watching me. This instantly made me think of Lanett's post about Paramedic Gary Hammer. Each time I see deer I think of him, especially on a run. Perhaps the angel flying with me today was a paramedic. 

I ran today Chad Null. Firefighter/Paramedic Null had just returned to quarters after completing two medical emergency calls for service. Co-workers left the room briefly. When they returned, he was found unresponsive on the floor. Resuscitation efforts were immediately initiated and he was transported to an area hospital. He was later pronounced dead from an apparent heart attack.

He passed away 4 years ago today, December 16, 2010 at only 33 years old. He left behind his wife, a young daughter & son, his parents & his work family. 

Praying for their peace & healing. God bless them. 

 

Early morning 2...

I love early morning runs. I'm doing my best to get back to them. I like how I feel when I start my day like that. Sets a good tone. Plus I get it done before everything else gets in the way. On Dec 10, 2014 I hit the road at 5:30 to get in a couple miles. 

This morning I ran for a young man that was taken way too soon. Officer Nickolaus Schultz was shot after he and other officers responded on a Friday evening (Sept 5, 2014) to a condominium complex following a report that an evicted resident had returned to his former residence. The subject, who was wearing body armor, opened fire as officers entered. Officer Schultz was shot once in the head and was transported to the hospital where he was placed on life support. He was removed from life support Sunday morning (Sept 7, 2014) and later died.

Officer Schultz was only 24. He left behind his parents, a sister & his girlfriend. He had only served for 13 months. It's so tragic to lose someone, an officer, so young. 

God bless those he left behind. 

Nice day to run...

Today was very nice for the last day of November. It hit the 60's. I bought the full program on my running app so I gave a new interval set a try. It wore me out. Then I did stalls at the farm. Good workout today!!

Today was my first run in memory of a female. Flight Nurse Sandra Pearson was killed when her team's Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter crashed in a cornfield located outside Burney, IN. The accident occured at 1:17 p.m.

Flight Paramedic Wade Weston and Pilot Roger Warren were also killed in the accident.

The 3 participated in a community day sponsored by the Burney Volunteer Fire Department where their chopper was on display and were returning to their base in Rushville when the accident occured.

She was in service, saving lives, for 10 years when she & her teams lost theirs. She is survived by her 2 children & her parents. God bless those they left behind. 

Here's to you Robert "Bud" Webster...

While writing my last post I noticed the one about my run for Chief Firefighter Robert "Bud" Webster wasn't here. So I'm writing it again. 

On July 4th, 2006, Chief Webster and units of the Glencoe Fire Department were dispatched in response to a report of 'wires down' during a thunderstorm. While at the scene, a report was received of a motor vehicle crash on Interstate-71 with injuries and persons trapped. Chief Webster, driving the department's mini-pumper cleared the scene of the wires down and responded.

While en route to the crash, the mini-pumper slipped off the roadway and hit an embankment. The Chief was ejected from the apparatus and sustained critical injuries.

Chief Webster was mostly bedridden afterward with debilitating injuries. He died of complications of his injuries almost eight years later on May 6th, 2014. 

He passed away at the age of 64 & spent 12 years in service. He left behind his wife, a son, a daughter & a granddaughter. 

I ran 3.02 miles for him on 10-29-14 while Brandon worked the Haunted House at the fire department. Prayers for his family & thankful for his service. 

Need a new start...

I've been struggling. Forcing myself through half-hearted, sporadic workouts. It's time I get serious. I was more focused when I wore my activity tracker daily. It stopped working & it seems I did too. It's time to get real. I've gained weight & lost focus. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. One of my favorite holidays. Today, I'm spending my Black Friday at home cleaning & focusing on my health. I'm recording everything I eat & drinking more water. I've recoded my weight & measurements. Time for a turn around. Trying to keep my focus on being healthy this time & become obsessed with what "size" I am. Hard to do but I have to.