About 6 months prior Dallas and the 3 guys who will go through dive school with him all signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon. Dallas, not being a runner, was nervous from the beginning but knew with the help of the other guys that this may be his chance of fulfilling the dream of finishing a marathon.The day of the marathon I was so nervous for him. I just couldn't imagine running for that long. His original goal was to finish in under 5 hrs. That changed about 2 months before the race to under 4hrs 30 min. Then, when we arrived at registration he decided he would sign up for the 4:15 pace group and see how it would go.
That morning mom, dad, Presley and I were running late. I just knew we would miss the beginning of the race. There were soooo many people there watching at the start line. Some how we just made it in time. However, being 5 ft nothing I couldn't see anything for the crowd. Some how my mom found a hole in the crowd and was able to get up on a hill with a perfectly clean shot of the start line. I knew we probably wouldn't see Dallas but at least we would get footage of the beginning of the race.
The announcer began his 2 minute speech before the race. He mentioned many places around the United States where people had come from. He reminded all the racers of how hard they had worked to get to this place. He reminded them of what a special race the Marine Corp was. He reminded them that the day would forever be special and that they were there to stay healthy and complete the race-Start to Finish! The canons fired and I couldn't stop screaming...and crying. I realized at that moment even if he didn't get the time he wanted that Dallas would forever be able to share this experience with his children and their children. I was beyond proud. Then, I looked down....and there was DALLAS!! I couldn't believe it! Out of 20,000+ people we were on the right side where he running. We caught him right as he was setting his watch and before he began running. He gave us one of his "Dallas slanted smiles" that said so much! It said, 'Man, I am so glad I saw you guys!', 'Well, here goes nothing', 'What was I thinking?', 'Isn't this cool?', 'Wow, I can't believe I am here!', 'See ya'll at the finish line!" He was ready to go.
We decided to try and see him at mile 10, 16,20 and the finish. We had thought about only doing 3 stops but I realized that I wanted to see him as much as possible. So, with my Dad's knowledge of DC we were able to pretty easily follow Dallas. On our way to see him at mile 10 we passed the Seabee Memorial. All these times I had been to DC and didn't even know there was one. It made me smile and helped me to see that the Marine Corp Marathon really is in a different league than other races. Its not just about the running. It is about people remembering those fallen, missing and still fighting for our freedom.
We got to mile 10 and there were tons of people. We had not told Dallas that we would try and see him there so we were sure he wouldn't see us. We weren't even sure we would see him. We did get to see 2 of the other guys there. It was really cool to get to see them and they both looked like they were just going for a stroll. So funny! Right after seeing them there was a big running pace group that came around the corner. I didn't think Dallas would be with them because it seemed to be the 4hr 10min pace group. All of a sudden my dad said, "there he is!" So we all started yelling like our lives depended on us. But, he didn't hear us. We were too far away! I did, however, get teary eyed because I realized he was beating the time he set for himself.
After mile 1o we walked across to mile 16. Wow, this area was hard to get a spot to see him at. It seemed like that was where everyone wanted to meet for food and energy gels. I almost didn't get to see him because I was trying to get my mom's attention and then all of a sudden I got grabbed by the arm. I turned and it was him! He stopped just long enough to say hi and kiss Presley. He looked so good. NOT like he had run 16 miles! Dad looked down at his watch and said, "Cindy-do you realize he is running a 4hr 8 min pace?" I couldn't believe it and I could. Wow!
So, we thought we would hustle to mile 20. This is where it gets interesting for us. We were suppose to go straight on a path to mile 20-instead we turned left. Once we realized we had made a wrong turn we were halfway to our destination and with Dallas running and us walking, pushing a stroller we were not sure we would catch him. So, we started running. We looked soooo funny! We got to mile 20 just a minute before Dallas came running by. I was standing up on a side rail so that he would be able to spot the WOOOO PIG SOOOIE sign I was carrying. We hollered for him and he ran over to us smiling and waving. Mom had Presley down on the street level and ran her next to her daddy for a few feet. I wish I had video of that because it was so precious.
We realized then that he was still running a 4hr 9min pace and that if we didn't book it he would be a the finish line before we could get there. So, we started running again. It was really tough to get the stroller up and over a lot of the areas we needed to go through to get to the finish line fast. So, dad told me to run ahead. I ran as fast as I could. By the time I got to the finish line I was barely breathing. It was like straight up a hill. Needless to say, I felt for poor Dallas! My mom and dad made it in time and we stood at the finish waiting for Dallas to cross. The 4hr 10 min mark came and went. We knew that Dallas had slowed down. All of a sudden we saw him! Here he came around the corner for the last stretch of his run. We looked at the clock and he was getting ready to beat his 4hr 30 min goal! He crossed the finish line at 4:17:29 with a 9:49 pace. He said that at mile 24 he hit a wall and it was everything he had to finish!
But, HE DID IT! He finished and in a very respectable time for a first marathoner. I don't think he can say he isn't a runner now! I guess that is relative when one of the guys that went is a running junkie! He runs a marathon a month. His time was like 2hrs 52 mins. He finished like 88 out of 20,000! Yah, I know-super crazy. One of the other guys, Mark, finished in like 3hrs 8mins(I think) and was running a 103 fever that day and had been sick with the flu the week before! Really? These guys are like robots! Ben, the other guy I saw at the 10 mile marker finished somewhere around the 3hr 45min mark. So, needless to say-they all smoked it.
I was so proud on that day! I was proud of our friends and I was beyond proud of Dallas! I was also inspired. There were so many people running for family/friends who were in Iraq or Afghanistan fighting the war and many who were running in memory of someone they lost. Dallas ran behind a lady who had a t-shirt with a Sgt's name on it, his birthday and day that he passed. The shirt said "Sgt XXX. KIA. Today I run for my son!" What an inspiration. Then you had the guys who were amputees that did the whole race on the bikes that you peddle with you arms. Dallas said that they got a 10 min start and he only passed like 2 of them. Simply remarkable.
It was, in conclusion, one of the coolest things to witness and be a part of. It is so hard to have a dream and to commit to that dream and make it happen. So many people leave their dreams in the dream phase. On that day over 20, 000 people made their dream a reality. And, let me tell you. The energy that you feel in an environment with that many people fulfilling a hard earned dream is something everyone should experience. It is electrifying!
I uploaded all the pictures from the expo on Saturday night and all the pictures from the race. Click here to see them. But, you know that I HAD to do a slide show. I finally sat down last night a decided it was time to make it since we are coming up on 2 months since the race.
Dallas-I love you....and I am proud of you! You did it babe!!
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