Tomorrow we leave for East Stroudsburg for my first attempt at running a marathon on Sunday. 26.2 miles in the beautiful Pocono mountains for the Run For The Red Pocono marathon benefiting the Red Cross. I wanted to post this, not for myself but to thank some very important people. First my wife Kate, whom I have driven completely nuts with this. I have been gone for long periods of time on my long runs, missed important activities and was gone off to run and train for things I should have been here for and she didnt complain once, she has stood beside me and encouraged me every step of the way, I have a great wife whom I love and admire. My family has been in my corner the entire time too, I love you all and could not have done this without your support, My daughter Jacqueline Showers, her husband Kat, my son Shawn Jenks and daughter Val Goldberg and her husband Mark and especially my grandkids, Brooke Elyse, Ava, Brady and Lyla. Any success I have at this marathon will be because of you and my friends....Heidi Steinhart, Joe Alexander, Sherry Krebs Romanoskie, Jordan Rick, Joyce Richardson, MJ Rogers, Christa Stumhofer (Pip), Stacy Faust, Dar Marr, Scott Bailey, Mary Ann, Heidis husband Gary, Mac Magdeburg and Jean and Tom Olcese. These friends of mine went way above and beyond the call of duty: Crawling out of bed on winter weekends to run with me, in the rain and snow, constantly encouraging me, yelling at me when the need arose since they know I dont do well with gentle persuasion..(the prison hill, Jordan..she didnt yell but I knew it was coming if I didnt get my ass in gear..lol) and in Macs case putting up with my endless questions until he was ready to pull his hair out! LOL... And Jean and Tom Olcese; I have a deep love and admiration for the old school and they helped me a great deal. These people define friendship. Having these friends and family of mine, the messages and well wishes I got from people who knew I was running this and having my hometown behind me is just incredible, I am blessed to have you all. In true coal region style I will get this done, I will either run across the line, crawl across the line, or they can carry me piece by piece across the line but make no mistake. It WILL get done. I am giving myself 4 hours and 30 minutes to finish, but if I finish at any time on Sunday I will be happy..lol. My IPOD is loaded with classic rock and metal and despite some nagging issues I am ready to go. And, somewhere, out there in the great beyond, out in the cosmos, I know my mom is watching, she will run with me, deep in my heart. Mac told me one time the person who finishes a marathon is a much different person than the one who starts it..Im looking forward to meeting that guy. :) Thank you all again. Jim
Posted on: Sat, 17 May 2014 00:45:32 +0000
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