Memorial Day Run

Here is a pass for the train of my thoughts.  Lets start shall we?
Today was a long run.  I front loaded my week so I would have Saturday free to go and visit my dead people.  So today was a 12 mile run.  You know you have gone fully over to the dark side when you think "Yeah - it was ONLY 12 miles."  I ran from my home - through Sugar House - up to Wasatch Drive - over through the Golf Course - Past Hogle Zoo - through Research Park - Through Fort Douglas - and then turned around.  I did it in 2 hours and 18 Minutes.  Which is respectable in Fat Men social circles.

I will tell you of my issue.  I have a play list on my iPod.  It is fairly eclectic.  I have songs on there from bagpipes to rap to Classical and Jody Calls from the military.  That was not my problem.

The problem was at mile 11.85.  Almost home.  A song came on my play list that caused me to tear up and break up while running my last .15 miles.

The Mansions of The Lord - Sung by the USMC.


"To fallen soldiers let us sing."
"Where no rockets fly and no bullets wing"
"No more bleeding - no more fight.  No friends bleeding through the night."
"Let no mothers cry and no children weep.  We will stand and guard though the angels sleep."
"Oh through the ages safely keep.  The mansions of the Lord."

Those are just a few lines from the song.  But you imagine.  Come with me.  Come back to the wars and the conflicts that we know of.

The Dane bare chested and horns on the head - The Scot with his claymore and kilt.  Antietam, Bull Run, Gettysburg.  All of those that gave all - and stood in line before this world began so that I could be where I am and have the freedom I have.  Those that gave as Abraham Lincoln said "The Last Full Measure of Devotion."

Look up your line and know that there have been those that have sacrificed all that they have had to come along the path to hand off to their posterity the ability and opportunity to get to a better place.  Think of your freedom and of your life.  I did.  I think that I have the opportunity to effect the world around me and to stand a little bit taller because off those that have passed on before.

So for this Memorial day - visit those that have taken that step.  Those that have gone on before you and as you lay the flowers down - know that they laid their lives down for you - and that you - you knew them and they knew you because we are all one big family.  Comfort those that
'have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom." Abraham Lincoln.

Fly the flag.  Be proud of who you are.  Be proud of those that gave you all.

FMR

Don't Look Back.

Today was a gut run.  You know the type of run I speak of I think.  It is a run that you need to do, that will be good for you, but your critical thinking portion of your brain says "Stay at your computer, maybe an email will come through and you will feel useful."

I wasn't going to let that happen. I did not want that to happen.  So I looked at the mileage sheet that my wife so wonderfully provided for me, and it said "3" meaning today was going to be a quick 3 rather than a long 18 or a short 12.  So I went for the run.  I went up the hills and across the foothills and through the traffic and over a couple of cross walks and then I was done.  I pushed myself because I could.  I pushed myself because I know that for the rest of the day I get to sit on my butt and handle issues or crisis or any number of tasks that might arise.  But, my run is done for the day.

So let me share with you a few kernels of wisdom that I had mashing around in my brain.

1.  Don't ever look back.  The past is something that you cannot change because it is done and you can't do anything else to change it now.  I hearken to Roger Bannister and John Landy - John lost his focus in the last few meters of the race and Roger blew past him to secure the race.  Don't ever look back.

2.  Don't ever stop.  If you stop you begin to tighten up and lose your resolve.  You won't have the ability to get up the next hill or the next mile. If you stop it will invariably take longer to get back home.  Back to your kids, your tasks, and your life.  Wait.  Maybe you do need to stop.  On second thought don't stop.  The one thing about running is that you get to go all the way out and all the way back.  You are in control of what you are doing and how you will accomplish it.  Don't muddle through a run - just go out and do it and get it done.  Unless you are truly injured, bleeding, or your leg has fallen off - get to it.  Your run awaits.

3.  You are in control.  You decide how fast to go - how long to go - your pace - and in the end, the results.  You get to choose where to go.  I apologize to all those that lived under Communist Running dictatorships where they told you how far and how long and what to do.  You choose.  You go.  Go do.

4.  Excuses.  Don't Live them, don't water them, don't repeat them, don't encourage them, don't appease them, don't love them, don't help them.  Like a avalanche of fire rolling down the mountain burning everything in it's path, exploding trees by boiling the sap from within, clearing whole swaths of the mountain and charging onward.  Don't timidly step out on the street, bull out there and make your statement.  You are your own nemesis.  Make your mark.

5.  Demons.  Name them.  Mark them.  Hunt them.  Kill them.  Win.

FMR