Marathon Monday

It is called Marathon Monday.  And it will continue to be Marathon Monday.  Right?  The future of the sport and other events in similar settings is questionable, but it is also just a result of another attack on America, not runners.  The headline might look something like this.....

"Runners and spectators take the brunt of the latest attack on America"

I don't know, it's been a while since an English teacher critiqued the length and focus of a story title.

I have so many thoughts about what people post or say after such a tragic event.  I am not writing this to mock people's thoughts or emotions, but to simply work through my own, and highlight what I think are some things we REALLY need to think about and remember.  I am not writing this to downplay the tragic events of the Boston Marathon, but to highlight that this is not isolated.  

"Are we safe doing anything anymore?"  No, but we already knew this.....didn't we?  Let's not pretend we are SURPRISED by this happening at a running event.  

"Runners are strong and mentally tough and we will not let this bring us down.....we will keep running."  That is no one's quote in particular, but the combined sentiments of the running community around me (I'll include myself).  It's true, but what are we coming together to do? It needs to be more than run.  Runners happened to be the target in this particular case because the large crowd, but overall, we're not the only target.

However, I will admit that this hit home a little moreso than some other recent tragedies.  But that is just human nature, I suppose.  It's one of the settings I love the most....a running race.  Running IS one of the places I escape.  It IS what I love to do.  So while my heart has broken for the victims and those affected by other terrorist attacks, this one actually made me put myself in those runner's shoes.  I thought about races I've done.  The finish line moments.  And then made myself try to understand what it would feel like if 2 bombs went off right there.  Two? Are there more? But I can barely imagine what that must have felt like.  And I will think about it in the future.  After my last marathon, I felt terribly sick immediately following and then almost passed out a short while after.....while laying down.  I don't think my body would be very resilient as a runnner near that finish line.  But those spectators and runners actually wounded or killed- they didn't have a chance.

I am seeing so many debates on FB in the form of comments to other articles...people calling others selfish because they think it is just about their sport.  I don't think all runners think it just about them, but it hit home for them and all runners have that in common.

Each time one of these tragedies occur in a new setting, I think people are affected differently.  Each time they occur, I feel numb and then I cry and each one is a little more difficult to process, regardless of where it happened.

So for me, there are 2 separate pieces to this and any terrorist attack (the news may not officially state that yet, but I am).  The target of these attacks is where there are the most people.  Where it is the most shocking.  Terrorists don't hate runners specifically.  They are going for big.  Tragic. But, how we react to this particular attack and the way we let it affect the future of something we love (running) is a separate issue.  And how we come together to prevent other tragedies is yet another issue.

We can come together as a running community...to keep on running and support each other.  But how do we act and come together to prevent future tragedies?  In any setting.  We all know it won't be a race next time.  That is what is on my mind.

Love to Boston.

What are your thoughts on health care reform?

I feel like it is my responsibility to share this video with my fellow Americans.  Slightly dated, but still so, so relevant.  Especially with so many people running around 100% against the Health Care Reform (the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare).  I think it's "funny" (sad, really) and ignorant.  I am by no means stating that it is perfect, or that I know everything (I never, ever claim that) but I want to hear better ideas.  Not likely to come from the greedy, though.  Anyway, before I start screaming from my soapbox, here it is, with some better ideas.  Yes, sometimes other countries have better ideas: 

Frontline: Sick Around the World

 I don't normally get into politics publicly, but this issue has got me reeled in.

1) I like this T.R. Reid guy (correspondent)
2) I don't understand why this is so difficult for the U.S. to figure out.  Well, I do understand.  But it makes me a little sick.  Only because we (as a whole) are clearly just too stubborn on this issue at the expense of so many, and in the end, all U.S. citizens.  Money and politics are so nasty.  If you choose to watch this 60 minute video about how our health care system (or lack thereof) compares to healthcare in other countries I would love to hear reasons why some of these ideas won't work.  Because I can't think of many, if any really.  Seriously.  Ranked 37th in the world.  Nice.

WHY ARE WE DRAGGING THIS OUT???

3) I am proud to say that if I become a doctor, it is not for the money.  On the other hand, if doctors feel like they are not being compensated enough, I feel that endangers the quality of care.  So....I don't know.  My personal opinion is that too many doctors become doctors to become rich (I would like to think that is sort of a thing of the past, but not sure).  I say too many-definitely not all, but too many.  In order for us to get out of this mess, some doctors will need to accept less.  

I'll let the video speak for itself. 

"Amazed" by the "news"

I really enjoy my time in the morning before class, or especially on the one day I don't have class (Tuesdays).  I usually just hang out on the couch reading or watching the news....whatever I'm interested in checking out at the moment.

Well this morning I chose to turn on the news.  I guess it was Good Morning America.  Cool.  I used to love that show.  The story on when I turned on the TV is about the school shooting in Ohio yesterday.  Tragic, of course.  So tragic that I can't figure out for the life of me why they try to do an intimate interview with one of his best friends the following morning. 

"I know that you were good friends with Danny.  It must have been a huge blow when you heard that news."

No pun intended. Yeah he probably could have added that to the end of his statement.

Ok, seriously? Why do they say such STUPID things?

Next: "How are you all going to pull together after this?"

Well, who the hell knows.  Pretty sure family and friends are trying to figure that out and really don't need the news reporters asking.  Maybe the 15-year old or so kid agreed to do an interview, but why do we even ask these people to do it in the first place?  Or can you have an intimate conversation with them off camera and discuss what they said?  Maybe that isn't what "gets the viewers" but that is just another example of our sad world.

Oh and "shockingly," the shooter may have been a victim of bullying, but they are "investigating" (seems like they always go with this as the probable cause).  So when we find out that was his motive, or not, we've solved the world's problems, I guess.  Bullying is bullying.  Trouble at home seems to be a better thing to look at.  HOW THE HELL DID THE KID GET A HANDGUN?  And then more importantly (because there are unstable people of all ages getting guns) why does he feel shooting his classmates is the way to solve his problems (whatever they are)?  Because that seems to be more common these days.   I know, these are obvious questions.  I'm just saying, I get absolutely nothing out of these stories besides they are sad because all they do is state the obvious.  And in MY opinion, it all comes down to parenting, or lack thereof and a child's home environment.  For it is this environment that influences how a child reacts to adversity.  This is also a factor in this story.    Screening for so many things in this world.  Can we add parenting?  All opinion, of course. 

I did really enjoy the commentary later on Angelina's right leg.  How RIDICULOUS does her right leg pose look?? Sorry, I enjoy joining in on this one.

When confidence doesn't "work" in life

Ok, so maybe I have not always had the MOST confidence in the world.  On the flip side, even if I am very confident about something, I try to be humble.

So maybe that is why I have a problem with people with huge destructive egos.  When you are confident, but a complete ass, you are serving no one but yourself. And probably very few people like you.  Maybe you don't care, but they do, because they don't want to be around you.  When you don't listen to anyone but yourself, you are ignoring the value of those around you. It's one thing to have an opinion about everything, it's another to shut down everyone around you.  And another to be ignorant.  That is just icing on your ego cake.

I want to know who your parents are and what they do that makes you so damn special.

Just saying.  Confidence isn't everything.

*feeling better* :)

A Fallen Hero

I'll never forget the confusion and the heaviness I felt in my chest when an out-of-the-blue facebook post (a simple ":(" face) on my wall from an old friend led me to do some searching around...facebook. I was quickly able to conclude from the overwhelming amount of condolences on her cousin Meg's wall that Meg's brother Ian had passed away. My family used to vacation in the U.P. every summer with Meg and Ian's family when we were all just a bit younger.

Ian was a Marine who worked in an EOD unit. Explosive Ordnance Disposal. One of the ones who wears a bomb suit and disarms IEDs. One of the most dangerous jobs you can get. While I had lost touch with the McConnell family over the years, I followed Ian and Meg on facebook regularly. Imagine that. Me, on facebook. But it was Meg's facebook page that always kept me in the loop on when Ian was gone, and just how close they were and how much she adored him. This facebook connection was also what allowed me to catch up with Ian a little bit during his last deployment. He messaged me one day while I was just sittin' on the couch doing my hw...and naturally getting distracted by fb. Out in the middle of nowhere disarming bombs, I'm sure his unit had the ultimate Comm hook-up. One of the perks of putting your life on the line daily.

Of course I don't remember talking much about Ian....because he had plenty of questions for me about what I was up to and what was going on in my life. I'm sure any distraction from the stresses of that environment were welcomed. Ian did talk a little...I told him we want to go to Washington state for our next assignment and he told me how beautiful it is and that he would like to move there when he gets out of the USMC. We chatted a few different times, I sent him a care package, he told me I ROCKED (I sent him a care package, he disarms bombs for a living....who do you think is more awesome?), he mentioned wanting to buy me and Dave a beer some day (again, I think that one would be on us...but Ian was always that way...I even remember as a kid) we messaged back and forth a couple more times towards the end of his deployment/his way home...and that was it.

Ian committed suicide on July 6, 2011. He suffered from PTSD and had recently lost a best friend to the war (and I'm sure others previously). I don't know all of the other details and intricacies of what was going on in his life...but knowing his job and what he probably went through on multiple deployments was enough that it didn't come as a HUGE shock. Which is even MORE sad. It was a wake-up call that no matter how much love and support a person has, no matter how many people view you as a hero, a mentor, friend...no matter how much you positively impact other people's lives (this was all obviously the case with Ian), there is a mental condition that can take it all away. Can make the pain unbearable to live. As his sister put it, the PTSD killed him. I've really been struggling with how very very sad this is. This happens all of the time, but this time I happened to know the person. It struck me. How terribly, terribly sad it is. I just wanted to share this as awareness...that this problem is prevalent throughout the military. There are different levels of care, accessibility to services, etc. but the problem is serious. Bottom line. Ian is a casualty of war.

RIP Ian. My memories of you will always be of the happy times at Birch Shores. Your cheerful personality and distinct grin. Swimming to the island. Shooting the potato gun...ya know, trying to hit the raft. Skiing. Dinners on your #1 Cabin bluff. I'm just so sorry that we never got to reunite in person to catch up and reminisce. Thank you for your service.

Service

Over this past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Airlift Tanker Association 2010 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. I signed up to go about a month ago and was looking forward to going, but at the same time didn't quite know what to expect. It's name implies it is just a 'pilot's' conference, but I knew this was not the case as there were many of us attending from different career fields.

The days were spent attending seminars, listening to speakers, to include the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and perusing vendor booths, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, during meals. Some things I heard were somewhat frustrating, such as the seminar on 'Air Refueling Optimization.' It seemed like the gist of this one was that we are just now starting to try to do this (coordinating missions in order to waste less fuel, minimize missions, etc)...really? How long have we been doing air refueling? I'm sure that there is more to it that I don't understand (or maybe not?), but regardless I was surprised. And a little disappointed.

Or the 'Medical Lessons Learned 2010- Haiti and Afghanistan.' The Vice Commander of the Medical Embedded Training Team spoke about their experiences at the Kandahar Regional Military Hospital, and how we can enhance the medical mentoring mission. We are faced with many obstacles and met with resistance when mentoring the Afghan National Army in the hospital, which is difficult to accept when we are far more advanced in our medical practice. Sometimes this results in the unneccessary loss of lives. On our dime.

But then there is Haiti. Disaster relief ops are a core capability of the airlift community, and it was awesome to hear what the Air Force did to get there as quickly as possible and provide medical support (following the 10 Jan earthquake).

We heard the story of an Airman, a flight engineer, who returned from a deployment to find out that he had cancer in his foot, resulting in an amputation of his lower leg. He asked the doctor the quickest way he could get back to flight status, and after a lot of biking along with the support of his unit, he was back with his team in the jet in no time.

One of our very own KC-135 aircrews was recognized for one of their missions in Afghanistan...the critical refueling of an A-10 engaged in a ground attack. Not that this is an irregular occurrence; just the opposite, the fact that it is such a regular occurrence makes you start to realize how important teamwork is and how much we really take care of each other. In so many ways.

I chose to attend a seminar about EOD. The pamphlet said "This briefing will illustrate how these EOD technicians perform this critical duty." Because I have such a great appreciation for this career field, I figured I would learn a little more about it. But I heard something completely different. I heard stories from 2 NCOs. Stories about the teammates they had lost on their deployments, and how they keep going and performing their job in the midst of these losses. It was painful fighting the tears and eventually a few slipped out. I was overwhelmed with emotion on this one, and when I went to shake their hands and thank them after, I could barely keep myself together.

We heard Joe Jackson speak. Out of his hour and a half presentation, he only talked about his 'Medal of Honor' actions in Vietnam for about 5 minutes. He flew his C-123 down into a fire-fight to rescue 3 combat controllers left behind during the evacuation of a post. He assumed the risk. A huge, huge risk. To save his brothers.

Regardless of whether or not we 'should' be in Afghanistan, currently or at all. Regardless of what anyone's view is about this war, whether they support it or feel similar to the majority who disapproved of the Vietnam war...there is no denying that the AF, along with our sister services, is an amazing team, capable of doing amazing things. Working together to protect each other and serve others.

Very fitting for the somewhat rejuvenated, prideful state I was in, we had Dr. Ken Pitetti, a Vietnam Veteran and currently a professor at Wichita State University, speak to our 'Exercise in Health and Disease' class on Monday evening. Dr. Pitetti has a lower leg amputation. He lost his leg in combat operations in Vietnam. He returned from Vietnam and soon after got involved with research that would help in understanding exercise for those with lower extremity amputations. He said he didn't feel qualified when he was being encouraged to take on the study ('Aerobic training exercises for individuals who had amputation of the lower limb'), but decided that he wanted to do something for those returning from the war. He wanted to continue to serve others. Especially during a time when America 'literally and figuratively spit on veterans.' He now works with developmentally disabled children. I had already decided that if Physical Therapy is in my future, I would like to work in a rehabilitation setting, including individuals with prosthetic limbs. He shed light on a different way to help them- through exercise. Just another option.

He is very passionate about exercise for lower extremity amputees. He is very passionate about those people taking care of themselves and not feeling sorry for themselves. He feels passionate about others around those individuals not enabling that to happen.


'Life isn't fair or unfair; it isn't good or bad. It just is'


He says life is about adjusting. The better you are at adjusting to what happens to you, the better off you are. Who can argue with that? Not me. Served as an important reminder for me when I feel like things just suck.

He finished by sharing his feelings on service. Not enough young people serve others, serve their country. Not necessarily just through the military, but period. Not enough have the desire to or understand the importance of serving. Who can argue with that? I can't. That is why I joined the Air Force, so no matter what else happens and no matter how many things frustrate me day to day...no matter how much a service member agrees or disagrees with our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, they step up and say 'where do you need me?' and they go. Dr. Pitetti said he spends so much time working out in the base gym because he loves being surrounded by people who understand what it is all about (although I will argue that there are those in the service who don't share this same understanding and seemed to have joined for more personal reasons). This idea, of doing something bigger than yourself, is very important. I agree with Dr. Pitetti and I made sure to thank him for HIS service after he thanked me for mine.


It's what it's all about.

keep the spotlight on the heartbreaking situations

Chance Phelps. Some of you may know him from the movie 'Taking Chance,' the HBO film that tells the story of a Marine who gave his life in OIF being escorted home by a Lt Col from his hometown. The film beautifully brings to light the honor and respect that is given to every fallen hero on their journey home.

I never knew Chance when he was alive, but he has certainly touched me in a special way through his story.

When I found out I was deploying, I began to wonder how much time I would have to run. I knew I wanted to keep this stress-relieving activity in my routine. Then, some of my friends told me about 'satellite runs' in the desert. People were organizing races in Iraq and Afghanistan to coincide with a race back in the States (same date), getting official race t-shirts and essentially letting runners be a part of something back home even though they weren't there. How cool!

Of course when I got to Kandahar, at first I was 'too busy.' But as I participated in more and more organized runs, I realized it was possible and I really needed to do it....something to do outside of work. Otherwise, the work never ended. I tried to get some sponsors back home and didn't get a response. One of my friends back home even tried to help me out by offering to mail stuff for the race but with no response from sponsors, I kind of gave up.

Ironically enough, as I was doing a long 8 mile run around the base on a Sunday afternoon, a fellow runner who I had met during my travels to Kandahar but was in a different unit on the other side of base, ran up beside me. I was towards the end of my run and about to start walking...but he distracted me long enough to finish it up. One thing we chatted about was movies....somehow 'Taking Chance" came to mind and I asked him if he had seen it. He said no, so when I returned to work, I Googled the movie to get the link for him and ended up at the HBO site.

I browsed around for a while and noticed a link at the bottom of the page. 'Run 4 Chance.' Curious, I clicked on it. It was an HBO initiative to raise money for The Chance Phelps Foundation through running. And that is when I really learned about who Chance Phelps was and what his family has done to honor him and serve veterans and their families since his death in 2004. I was amazed with the story.

http://www.chancephelps.org/

There were other links on the page about organizing running events, but none of the links seemed active/up to date. I gave up again.

But the next day, I was still thinking ' how can I raise money for this foundation? How cool would it be if Kandahar did a 'Run 4 Chance' race?' I went back to the page and finally found a 'Contact' link. This brought me to a list of 2 individuals with email addresses. One was the webmaster. It didn't say who the other was. So I emailed him regarding my interest. He emailed me back right away. He was the Phelps family attorney, and immediately put me in contact with Gretchen Mack, Chance Phelp's mother.

From there, I emailed back and forth with her and the ball started rolling. I got approval through my chain of command and the base approval officials to hold the race. A friend suggested I check with the USO on base to see if they would sponsor it (mainly, the t-shirts). They jumped on the opportunity to support such a great cause. It all started falling into place. Members of my Sq really helped kick things off by sitting at the registration table in shifts, every day of the week. In the end, I had about 60 volunteers who helped prior to and on race day.

My 'Opening Remarks'

The Start

Crazy Marine who always won every race:-)

Our Shirt, MSgt Anderson (#107), who helped me get all of my volunteers!

Some enthusiastic, pumped up finishers!

It got kind of crazy. It wasn't easy in such an already hectic environment. But on the first day of registration, we had already raised $1,700. I was so excited. In the end, we raised $5K.

I am proud of my deployment and what I did in support of all of my fellow members who were really fighting the war. I worked my a** off and lots of my Amn worked their a**** off and kicked a**. But the thing that gave me the greatest amount of fulfillment was raising money for a foundation that provides aid to military veterans and their families, and families of our fallen heroes. It truly was the best feeling I had during my time there.

I didn't know Chance, but he has forever changed me. Through his sacrifice. Through his heroism. Through his mother, a hero in my eyes for all that she does for others who have gone through the pain she has experienced. What she does for veterans who need support when they return home. It was an honor just to correspond with her and have her support in doing a Run 4 Chance. I hope to go to Wyoming and meet her one day.

When I look through pictures of Chance, it all seems more real to me. No, I didn't know him. But I think of every mother and father who has lost a child in this war. I think of what Gretchen is doing to help, in every way she can.

It has really been on my mind a lot. 16 May 2010 was an awesome day when 300+ runners ran 4 Chance. I would love to organize another Run 4 Chance next year here in Wichita, KS.

As good timing would have it, the other night I was watching the Emmy Awards intermittently as I studied and I tuned into a speech that tugged at this particular heartstring. George Clooney was awarded the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for 'having made a life-changing impact upon society.' As he closed he made a request to the viewers at home to 'keep the spotlight burning on the heartbreaking situations after the cameras go away.' While the context of his speech was primarily humanitarian disasters...it was a reminder for me of all of the the tragedies and heartbreak that is not paid enough attention. For me, military families who experience a loss are holding a special place in my heart and have been doing so since I opened my eyes several months ago. Now that the deployment is over and I'm back to not only a busy schedule but a more chaotic one as well, it is important to remember that families are still losing loved ones like Chance every day. It took a deployment to really feel what is going on...but I miss Chance, for his family. My heart breaks for them.

capturing America...the Beautiful

I think it is safe to say that the 4th of July is not Teddy's favorite holiday. He has been hiding in the basement all week...since the fireworks started. In his defense, when they first started going off a week ago I thought they were gunshots. And I was fairly confident one was going to take our house down this evening. Happy 4th everyone!

Today while Dave was picking up another toy at Gander Mountain, I decided to take my new Nikon D90 for a stroll. Gander Mountain is right off of one of the downtown exits near the pedestrian bridges over the Arkansas River and Lawrence Dumont Stadium where the Wichita Wingnuts baseball team plays. I knew I'd eventually want to get downtown and play with my camera, but I felt I stumbled across the perfect opportunity today. I haven't really had time to read the manual to see what I can REALLY do (ok, I've had the time...but it's much more fun to play with the camera). So I walked around, clicking away. I got some decent shots. It was fun.

As I photographed the abundance of flags near the bridge, I could hear the National Anthem being sung at the baseball game. Felt perfect for the 4th of July weekend.

Arkansas River with Dumont Stadium in the background

On my walk back to Gander Mountain, I decided to click a few last shots of the Wichita Boathouse. I've noticed this structure many times while driving down Kellogg (main East-West road going through Wichita) but never really knew what it was. Turns out it is an old boathouse that has been closed for years but is being renovated to be the new Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2010/01/25/daily19.html). There is currently still a permanent display of the Jayhawk, an International America's Cup class yacht (don't ask me what that means).

Wichita Boathouse

As I was getting some shots of this building, a man in a pick-up truck drove up and rolled down his window. Always makes me a little nervous...but he looked at me and asked me if I was a photographer. HA! I told him I JUST bought this camera and didn't really know what I was doing yet. He was looking for a photographer to "do some work." I didn't ask what, but I told him I was not at the point of offering my services to anyone, haha. He told me good luck and off he went. I thought "am I a photographer?"

When you carry a large camera around your neck, people look at you like you are one. As I walked into Gander Mountain, this guy turned and posed for me.

It was a fun adventure in downtown Wichita. I can't wait to capture PURE MICHIGAN with this new beauty.