3 at 5...

Things are getting hectic. Soccer is starting & I'm coaching 2 teams plus I'm still trying to catch up on my training for the Indy 500 Mini. So I'm back to running in the mornings. If I don't, it won't get done. 

This morning I ran 3 miles at 5am for Fire Chief Jimmy Zeeks. His brother got him into fire service & his son followed in his footsteps & is now chief of the same department, as did his nephew. He was the family jokster & his brother's best friend. 

Chief Zeeks and members of his department responded to a motor vehicle crash. After working the scene and preparing to clear, Chief Zeeks suddenly collapsed from an apparent heart attack.

Firefighters immediately started life saving efforts and he was rushed to a local hospital emergency room by EMS, but died a short time later.

He passed away on August 15, 2009 leaving his wife Myra, son Jason, daughter Ashley & 5 grandchildren. He gave 31 of his 54 years in service. Between himself, his brother, his son & nephew, they've spent a combined 110 in fire service. 

Thank you for your service & God bless your families. 

Hard one to process.

I started to abandon this early morning run on 1-5-15. It was SO cold!! Half a mile in I was almost numb. It was 27 degrees but felt like 20. I pushed through & before I knew it I was up to 1.25 miles. Why stop then? So I finished out 2.1 miles before work. I dedicate this run to EMT Laura Auman Halsey. Her story made me cry.

EMT Halsey, along with members of the Stroh Vol Fire Dept EMS and the LaGrange County EMS responded to a motor vehicle accident where a car had struck a tree. The patient was stabilized and loaded into the LaGrange ambulance. EMT Halsey drove to the hospital.

As the ambulance proceeded with lights and siren activated, a 17 year old driver crossed the center line and struck the ambulance head on. EMT Halsey and the 17 year old were killed instantly. It was 4:25am, four days before Christmas.

Paramedic Bryan Allred, who was attending the patient, died within 30 minutes of the accident from massive head injuries. Natalie Kocher, another Stroh EMT Vol, 22 and pregnant, was injured and taken to the hospital where her son was stillborn the next morning. The patient received additional injuries from the car-ambulance collision and later died, as did Mr. Hill's brother, David, who in attempting to get to his injured brother's side was involved in a fatal car crash.

At the time of her death, Laura was the EMS Director at Stroh Vol Fire Dept in charge of all the day-to-day operations of the service. She had been a devoted Advanced Emergency Technician for over four years, leaving a LaGrange County paid staff position and assuming the "full-time" role of Vol to accommodate her newly-wed status. She had been married for one year.

EMT Halsey was 25 years old & had spent 11 years in service. She left behind her husband & parents. God bless her families. 

 

Before the storm.

On January 4th I headed out for a couple miles before a storm blew in. 

This felt GREAT!! Way better times than I've had!! I reserved a room today so it looks like I'm actually doing a FULL MARATHON this year as well as my first half!! I squeezed in a couple miles to get my week started off right. Pushed to beat a coming storm. The temps dropped & it was pouring at one point but it passed & the clouds actually opened a tiny bit as I got home. 

This run is dedicated to Firefighter Donald Matt Raibley. Firefighter Raibley was responding to a residential house fire when he had a seizure and drove his car over a dam into a lake, where he drowned.

He was only 19 & had given 1 year in service. God bless his families. 

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.