My wife just finished her first marathon!

[bebop]

I'm so proud of her! She turned 62 last month and has been training with the Jeff Galloway program since Aug. She ran the "26.2 with Donna Breast Cancer Awareness Marathon" yesterday in Jacksonville Beach, Fl.

It was a outstanding event. People from all over the USA as well as other countries participated. I was fortunate enough to have been involved as a volunteer with the Jeff Galloway training program here for the last 6 months and was also fortunate to work the Start/Finish at the marathon. I was there at the finish line to award my wife with her medal.

Every runner recieved a medal for completing the marathon and everyone completed it no matter how long it took. Many, like my wife, had never run a marathon before and many had never run more than a couple of miles before the training. A few of the older men and women weren't able to run the half marathon event so they walked the entire way. One gentleman I knew from the training program was in his late 60s or early 70s and about 75+ lbs overweight but he crossed the finish line and I was proud to be there and shake his hand. I knew about 150+ runners and was there for them as they finished. Got big hugs from dozens of them at one of the proudest moments in their lives.

Runners of all ages and abilities participated and were running to raise money for fighting breast cancer. It is the only marathon dedicated solely to end breast cancer. 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research and care. Some of the runners were survivors, some were running for those who were fighting this disease, and some were running in memory of those who are no longer with us. So much love in one place at one time - it was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had. If I could still run I would be out there running with them. For now I will participate by helping in their training program and working the event.

If any of you folks are runners (or even if you are not) consider this event next year. It's a first class run event and is expected to be one of the top marathons events in a few years. "SAVE THE TA TAs"

http://www.breastcancermarathon.com/about/index/

Cheers! and congratulations to my main squeeze.

[dabull]

tell her: YOU GO GYRL!!!

[lw]

OUTSTANDING accomplishment!!

[cactusjack]

Wow, that's impressive! I am too lazy to drive 26.2 miles.

[jd01]

That was a great read, bebop! Congratulations to your wife and all involved! A great cause!!

[audiogooroo]

Awesome! Good for her!

[bosko]

WAY TO GO !!

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[schoeney]

Congrats to Mrs. Bebop!

I keep telling myself I don't want to run a marathon because it is so hard on the joints.....but people like your wife give me motivation and inspiration. Tell her thanks. I am only 50 so she is really an inspiration...and she must be in great shape physically and mentally!


I ran my first event (not a marathon but a 200 mile relay...about 18 miles per runner) last year called the Hood to Coast Relay. The Hood to Coast is not as tough as a marathon (more like a half). Never ran an event in my life until this one.


http://www.hoodtocoast.com/news.php



The only reason I got into running is a good friend started running marathons/relays after he got Hodgkins disease...he beat it for now...about 4 years clean so far.



I also lost a friend to breast cancer last year and have been doing some Susan B. Komen events.

This year I am doing the Reno to Tahoe Odyssey run. Only about 178 miles (15 miles per runner) but more hills and thin air. I am thinking about riding the Nomad down there...about 1200 miles round trip.

http://www.renotahoeodyssey.com/

These relays are a hoot....you spend two days sweaty in a cramped van with 5 other runners, little food, no real sleep, sometimes cold and other times hot, when you do attempt sleep (maybe an hour at best) it is usually in a farmer's field surrounded by horse or cow manure. Sometimes it is just you and your battery operated headlamp running in the middle of a pitch black mountain range....quite the rush...especially when you start hearing noises. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

Man does the cold beer taste good at the end.

Congrats again to the misses.

[chainsaw]

That is awesome, great job.

[Cajunrider]

Congratulations, what an accomplishment!

[pagemastr]

That is an incredible accomplishment! Congrats to you both

[glwilson]

Fantastic!!

[bebop]

Thanks, everybody for all your kind words. I'll get her to read your posts. She says I make more of a big deal about things like this than she does. To her it's just another thing she wanted to do before it gets to late. If it wasn't for her I would have missed out on a great many unique experiences in life including motorcycles. I sure got lucky with this one. It's been 21 years now so I guess she's a "keeper".

Cheers!

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Congrats to Mrs. Bebop!

I keep telling myself I don't want to run a marathon because it is so hard on the joints.....but people like your wife give me motivation and inspiration. Tell her thanks. I am only 50 so she is really an inspiration...and she must be in great shape physically and mentally!


I ran my first event (not a marathon but a 200 mile relay...about 18 miles per runner) last year called the Hood to Coast Relay. The Hood to Coast is not as tough as a marathon (more like a half). Never ran an event in my life until this one.


http://www.hoodtocoast.com/news.php



The only reason I got into running is a good friend started running marathons/relays after he got Hodgkins disease...he beat it for now...about 4 years clean so far.



I also lost a friend to breast cancer last year and have been doing some Susan B. Komen events.

This year I am doing the Reno to Tahoe Odyssey run. Only about 178 miles (15 miles per runner) but more hills and thin air. I am thinking about riding the Nomad down there...about 1200 miles round trip.

http://www.renotahoeodyssey.com/

These relays are a hoot....you spend two days sweaty in a cramped van with 5 other runners, little food, no real sleep, sometimes cold and other times hot, when you do attempt sleep (maybe an hour at best) it is usually in a farmer's field surrounded by horse or cow manure. Sometimes it is just you and your battery operated headlamp running in the middle of a pitch black mountain range....quite the rush...especially when you start hearing noises. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

Man does the cold beer taste good at the end.

Congrats again to the misses.

That's awsome Greg. Karma coming your way.

[schoeney]

Thanks...and congrats again to Mrs. Bebop...a real inspiration to all I am sure!