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. 

Getting back to it...

Getting into my groove again...at least working on it. Running for heroes gives me a motivation different from any other. It's truly an honor. 

On 10-28-14 I ran 2.3 miles then finished walking for a total of 4.5 miles. This workout was in honor of Flight Paramedic Wade Weston who flew with Air-Evac Life Team. Weston passed away, along with his 2 crew mates, when their helicopter went down in an Indiana cornfield. They had just participated in a community day, sponsored by a local fire department, where the helicopter had been on display. They were returning to base at the time of the accident. 

Paramedic Weston was 38. He had been in service for 10 years. He left behind his wife, 2 young daughters, his parents, 5 sisters & a brother.

RIP Parametic Weston

Fighting burnout. A few miles for ME.

I've been fighting burnout lately. I've let so much get to me & get in my mind. Issues & people involved with our local running community have gotten under my skin. I've almost forgotten why I started in the first place. It's been very discouraging. 

When I first started running there were, what seemed like, just a handful of us. We joked about the "closet runners" in the area. We even created a running group to pull us together. Over the years we've developed more. Now there's a running BOOM! There are runners everywhere!! It's a great thing. However, with more people come different opinions & different opinions lead to friction. There's been friction on so many levels & I'm beyond exhausted. 

I believe we should encourage each other. Not put someone down because they don't run like you or as fast as you feel they should or if they don't have the "ideal" runner's body. Build each other up & promote the sport. Above all, remember these races are for charity, not glory. 

Through it all, I've learned that not everyone has the same heart & values as me. Because of this I decided to run for ME a couple times. I did 2.25 miles on 10-22-14 & 2 miles on 10-23-14 & it felt great. At times I guess we all just need to step away & refocus. 

I will make my comeback. I will be better than ever. I just need to remember why I started & stay focused on MY goals. 

107 minutes for 107 fallen...

This past weekend there were 107 fallen firefighters added to the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial. That's 107 dedicated responders who paid the ultimate price over the last year. That's 107 families that gave their loved ones. 

Today I ran for these fallen responders...107 minutes...1 minute in memory of each. I also read through their profiles. So many people, different as night & day. Men, women, young & not so young. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children & grandparents. The one thing they had in common was dedication to a career they loved.

I invite you to go learn about these heroes. Give them the honor & respect they deserve. Pray for their families. God bless them. 

http://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/about/2014-roll-of-honor/