Ventura Half Marathon, Ventura, California, February 27, 2022

Race #86

Today I ran my 86th half marathon in Ventura, California. I enjoyed some special time with my beloved Uncle, Aunt and cousins.  I love and miss them so very much and especially our banter. 

As in most races, there is a loneliness as you exert yourself, yet there is also a bond to hundreds of other runners. It is highly diluted, by comparison, with the bond that binds men in combat, but it is there, as the element of combat is there. Now…….

Katy Half Marathon

Reason #10 of “13.1 Reasons Why I Run Half Marathons”

“I get to slightly excel at something I did not think I could do!”

I started my resolute running career in the fall of 1966 with the cross country team during my senior year of high school in preparation for the track and field season in the spring. I was not on the team but Coach Strain (That was his name, I am NOT KIDDING) allowed me to run with the team. Coach ran us from Estancia High School in Costa Mesa down to the Santa Ana River jetties in Newport Beach, California (8 miles, round trip). This occurred every other day. We ran on a sandy and difficult trail that runs along the Santa Ana River which flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Then, a few years later (1970) I got the “opportunity,” in the US Army, to run with a full pack and loaded M14 or M16 weapon at Fort Ord, California. Without a trace of rancor, I would admit, training for the Infantry required me to dig deep into the reserves of my young manhood to absorb the punishment. We ran, almost every day, to the beaches in Monterey (about five miles, one way, in thick sand) to practice our marksmanship on the rifle ranges set up at the beach. During this portion of our training, I volunteered to run at the rear of the Company with two other men (we were known as the Three Musketeers). We were required to make sure no man was left behind by literally picking them up and dragging them to the rifle range if they should collapse or dropped out of the running formation due to exhaustion. Those runs to the rifle range still secure a place in my repertory of nightmares.

Both of these early experiences taught me the concept of mind over body as well as what it means to run (and serve) a team or fighting unit. I also began to become keenly aware of what the human body was capable of and I developed a deep appreciation for the incredible machine that Almighty God has crafted.

I did not run a lot after those years. Yet, at age 56, my son, Cameron, invited me to a small race in Denver (the fall of 2005) to raise money for cancer research. Although I almost died that day on the short three mile dirt trail, my running juices were re-ignited and my desire to get back into running shape took over my mind and soul. I made the effort to do something again, that I did not think I could do again.

I have been blessed (let us therefore rejoice) to be able to continue this trek, but more importantly, I have learned that I can usually succeed at something if I do not let my mind ambush me and truly believe, “We can do this!” 

Next race? Gosh, I don’t know. The big enemy (I suppose this is a matter of temperament. So, more safely: MY big enemy) is the heat of the summer months. I really dislike running in the temperatures that cause your blood to bubble. Notwithstanding, number 87 is on the horizon. Until then..... Blessings!