A Woman's Determination - Part 4 of 5

The Determination of One Woman – Part 4 of 5

Part 4

I don’t think I ever got around to talking about one of my main questions. Why do you think Jonathan decided to run in a marathon? Why not pick a shorter race? Is there a special significance to a marathon?

“It has been something he has wanted to do since his accident. I do not recall him ever talking about a marathon prior to the accident. I guess before that…it really would not have been an accomplishment. Most Marines could run a marathon without much additional training. I don’t know much about the ways of the Corps now…but I remember lots of forced marches with packs and long runs….so a marathon would just be a long day at work for most Marines. After the accident though, it is a HUGE achievement.”

Peg was describing her training to me.

“Well….we walk/run 4 times a week with the long run on Sundays and we do weight training 2 times a week. I have adjusted our meals….it is nice to have the complex carbs in abundance again without the weight gain! I guess I should have been walking all along then I could have eaten all the rice, potatoes, and pasta that I could stand. Live and learn.”

Somehow I don’t think Peg is going to have to worry about her figure come October. You don’t see many if any, marathon runners who are carrying extra weight around with them, unless it is a fanny pack of food/water!

I got the impression that a daily date at the gym was not a normal part of Peg’s routine, prior to this past April. In fact she describes her feelings about going to the gym quite clearly.

“I started exercising daily at the end of April….had to create the habit of going to the track or gym. Before this, Jonathan would say, “ I am going to the gym.” And I would reply, “Tell him I said hello”. I couldn’t understand spending an hour or more working out…YUCK! Now….if I don’t get some track time in…I feel YUCK!”

I would say that is quite a turnaround in attitude! I wondered where she gets the time to do all this training. After all she is a full time Mom with 3 kids, all quite active with their own activities, and you just know she is doing a lot of volunteer work there at the base. I wondered if she was working outside the home? And if so, when does she actually meet Jonathan for their run/walks.

“Since I am not currently working, I have plenty of time and can go whenever. If I have a long walk/run, then it is not beneficial to wait for him since he is always late coming home. I prefer not to run in the dark nor do I like treadmills. If it is a walk day or a short run for him, then we can do it together. Most times we are just on the same track…he is running and I am run/walking. We motivate each other by being on the track. He is impressed that I am out there everyday…and I am impressed that he is really running long distances.”

Peg mentioned that they are mostly on the track at the same time, but she is walk/running while he is running. Well she let something slip in an email to me last week. It seems her training is really starting to pay off these days.

“Just got back from my training today......amazingly I ran 3 miles straight in 34 minutes....so that is a big improvement. In April, I was able to run a lap (1/3 mile) every 3rd lap...and did that for 5 miles.....so I am getting in better shape. The 3 miles was easy....slow and steady....my hero is the tortoise not the hare! Jonathan was having a hard time passing me today....so maybe by race day....I will run with him. No promises though.”

Way to go Peg!! I would not be at all surprised to hear that Peg has been able to run at least half the marathon side by side with Jonathan!

We have pretty well covered the training, running, walking, eating, shoe buying areas, but I need to clear up a misunderstanding I personally had here.

While I was shocked to see Jonathan entered into the marathon, given the history of his back and all, I was pretty surprised that there were not more donations showing up. I thought, what the heck, they know people all over the world. What is up with that? So rather than guess, I asked. That always seems to be the best way to find out information, in my book.

“We don’t really have a home. We have where our parents, where our siblings live, and where we were stationed…but for the most part we are not from “anywhere”. I can’t “call home” and tell everyone in the neighborhood about Jonathan in a marathon because there is no home. Our community is spread throughout the world. It is difficult for us to raise money for this cause because the people we know are the people that we are raising it for….our fellow Marines and their families.”

That makes sense. What I don’t understand is how come the readers here are not kicking in a few bucks? Don’t just say money is tight! It is for all of us, but that doesn’t stop the bullets and IED’s from injuring our Marines, or prevent the burns and broken limbs from happening does it? No! Each and every day there are Marines that lay it all on the line for our freedoms! So that you and I can go to bed at night in peace! This isn’t about politics either! Bullets and explosions don’t care about whether you are a Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, black or white, man or woman!

Now are you really going to tell me you can’t even afford $5 to help a Marine, who would go without rather than ask for help?? Trust me! It is a rare person in the military, any branch that will easily walk into a place and say, “I need some help! I know that, from dealing with soldiers/Marines/sailors/airmen for the past 3 years! Stubborn, hard headed, determined, but most of all it is their PRIDE! So I am doing it for them! I am doing what I can, even though it isn’t much, but I am trying to give Peg and Jonathan’s Fundraiser as much visibility as I can in hopes that others will donate. Be an anonymous donor! I don’t care! They don’t care! Step up to the plate, for those who have given so much and asked for nothing!!

In Part 5 I am going to wrap things up. Peg has made a very strong case why the Semper Fi Fund would be a good organization to donate to. I am going to share those thoughts with you. I intend to wrap up this series tomorrow. I will touch on how strength grows out of adversity! How miracles do occur! See you then!

Link to 2010 Donation Site

Related Stories

The Determination of One Woman - Part 1 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Determination of One Woman - Part 2 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Determination of One Woman - Part 3 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

Running TO Live - Running for Others. (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Opening Shock of Adversity: The Gratification of Perseverance (Hardened Warrior Series)

Team Semper Fi and the Semper Fi Fund (Support Our Troops - Actively, Veteran/Soldier Health)

Copyright 2008 MsMarti. All rights reserved.

Part 4

I don’t think I ever got around to talking about one of my main questions. Why do you think Jonathan decided to run in a marathon? Why not pick a shorter race? Is there a special significance to a marathon?

“It has been something he has wanted to do since his accident. I do not recall him ever talking about a marathon prior to the accident. I guess before that…it really would not have been an accomplishment. Most Marines could run a marathon without much additional training. I don’t know much about the ways of the Corps now…but I remember lots of forced marches with packs and long runs….so a marathon would just be a long day at work for most Marines. After the accident though, it is a HUGE achievement.”

Peg was describing her training to me.

“Well….we walk/run 4 times a week with the long run on Sundays and we do weight training 2 times a week. I have adjusted our meals….it is nice to have the complex carbs in abundance again without the weight gain! I guess I should have been walking all along then I could have eaten all the rice, potatoes, and pasta that I could stand. Live and learn.”

Somehow I don’t think Peg is going to have to worry about her figure come October. You don’t see many if any, marathon runners who are carrying extra weight around with them, unless it is a fanny pack of food/water!

I got the impression that a daily date at the gym was not a normal part of Peg’s routine, prior to this past April. In fact she describes her feelings about going to the gym quite clearly.

“I started exercising daily at the end of April….had to create the habit of going to the track or gym. Before this, Jonathan would say, “ I am going to the gym.” And I would reply, “Tell him I said hello”. I couldn’t understand spending an hour or more working out…YUCK! Now….if I don’t get some track time in…I feel YUCK!”

I would say that is quite a turnaround in attitude! I wondered where she gets the time to do all this training. After all she is a full time Mom with 3 kids, all quite active with their own activities, and you just know she is doing a lot of volunteer work there at the base. I wondered if she was working outside the home? And if so, when does she actually meet Jonathan for their run/walks.

“Since I am not currently working, I have plenty of time and can go whenever. If I have a long walk/run, then it is not beneficial to wait for him since he is always late coming home. I prefer not to run in the dark nor do I like treadmills. If it is a walk day or a short run for him, then we can do it together. Most times we are just on the same track…he is running and I am run/walking. We motivate each other by being on the track. He is impressed that I am out there everyday…and I am impressed that he is really running long distances.”

Peg mentioned that they are mostly on the track at the same time, but she is walk/running while he is running. Well she let something slip in an email to me last week. It seems her training is really starting to pay off these days.

“Just got back from my training today......amazingly I ran 3 miles straight in 34 minutes....so that is a big improvement. In April, I was able to run a lap (1/3 mile) every 3rd lap...and did that for 5 miles.....so I am getting in better shape. The 3 miles was easy....slow and steady....my hero is the tortoise not the hare! Jonathan was having a hard time passing me today....so maybe by race day....I will run with him. No promises though.”

Way to go Peg!! I would not be at all surprised to hear that Peg has been able to run at least half the marathon side by side with Jonathan!

We have pretty well covered the training, running, walking, eating, shoe buying areas, but I need to clear up a misunderstanding I personally had here.

While I was shocked to see Jonathan entered into the marathon, given the history of his back and all, I was pretty surprised that there were not more donations showing up. I thought, what the heck, they know people all over the world. What is up with that? So rather than guess, I asked. That always seems to be the best way to find out information, in my book.

“We don’t really have a home. We have where our parents, where our siblings live, and where we were stationed…but for the most part we are not from “anywhere”. I can’t “call home” and tell everyone in the neighborhood about Jonathan in a marathon because there is no home. Our community is spread throughout the world. It is difficult for us to raise money for this cause because the people we know are the people that we are raising it for….our fellow Marines and their families.”

That makes sense. What I don’t understand is how come the readers here are not kicking in a few bucks? Don’t just say money is tight! It is for all of us, but that doesn’t stop the bullets and IED’s from injuring our Marines, or prevent the burns and broken limbs from happening does it? No! Each and every day there are Marines that lay it all on the line for our freedoms! So that you and I can go to bed at night in peace! This isn’t about politics either! Bullets and explosions don’t care about whether you are a Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, black or white, man or woman!

Now are you really going to tell me you can’t even afford $5 to help a Marine, who would go without rather than ask for help?? Trust me! It is a rare person in the military, any branch that will easily walk into a place and say, “I need some help! I know that, from dealing with soldiers/Marines/sailors/airmen for the past 3 years! Stubborn, hard headed, determined, but most of all it is their PRIDE! So I am doing it for them! I am doing what I can, even though it isn’t much, but I am trying to give Peg and Jonathan’s Fundraiser as much visibility as I can in hopes that others will donate. Be an anonymous donor! I don’t care! They don’t care! Step up to the plate, for those who have given so much and asked for nothing!!

In Part 5 I am going to wrap things up. Peg has made a very strong case why the Semper Fi Fund would be a good organization to donate to. I am going to share those thoughts with you. I intend to wrap up this series tomorrow. I will touch on how strength grows out of adversity! How miracles do occur! See you then!

Link to 2010 Donation Site

Related Stories

The Determination of One Woman - Part 1 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Determination of One Woman - Part 2 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Determination of One Woman - Part 3 of 5 (Support Our Troops – Actively)

Running TO Live - Running for Others. (Support Our Troops – Actively)

The Opening Shock of Adversity: The Gratification of Perseverance (Hardened Warrior Series)

Team Semper Fi and the Semper Fi Fund (Support Our Troops - Actively, Veteran/Soldier Health)

Copyright 2008 MsMarti. All rights reserved.