All We Did was Run ...

Oftentimes the reason we do something is as important as the way we achieve it.  This is not always apparent, but sometimes becomes very clear.  I participated in the Keys 100, a one hundred mile race from mile marker 100 in Key Largo to mile marker 0 in Key West.  I was a member of a six-runner relay team to honor our fallen shipmates.  It was an experience to say the least, both touching and inspiring.  I dedicate this blog to the Duque Family, it was both an honor and a privilege to have been a part of the team.

The Team and Supporters taking a short break.

The memorable aspect was not the challenge of the race, but the purpose behind it.  In running for our fallen shipmates, we ran for something more.  The support of the ones that had lost their children or friends was our reason to push to the end.  I cannot put in words the feeling of crossing that finish line as a team below the broken starry sky and the supporting families to cheer us on.  We were hurting with every step, but the joy of completion was overwhelming.  It is still hard to believe that 15 Relay teams ran 1500 miles to show respect for those they had served with.

The Race began at 0600 on Saturday morning and I don’t believe that anyone on our team knew what we were about to do.  The startling line was composed of characters from your serious runner to the male ballerina swans.  I have run for most of my life, but the last time I ran twenty miles in a day was about ten years ago while running cross country in high school.  Of the six members of our team, two could be considered avid runners.  Everyone ran an initial five-mile leg of the trip.  This was not a particularly difficult leg considering we all had fresh legs.  Once we had rotated through, we all ran our second leg.  The fatigue has started to set in, but the apex of the challenge was still to come.  For me, it was my third leg. 

After a five and four mile leg, I ran eight miles over seven mile bridge.  The run started just fine, with a minor misdirection onto the wrong bridge.  Fortunately someone informed me that the other bridge is the one I wanted.  I am glad they did, considering the non-continuous walkway only went about a mile out before I would have had to swim the rest of the way.  At this point I met the line of endless orange cones going off as far as I could see.  They vanished at the central rise of the bridge and beyond the next island looked close.  I kept running thinking that at the rise, I would be near the end.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  The next island was not close and the cones still went as far as I the eye could see.  I could see the other island, but I was probably less than halfway done.  The sun was beating down, a small breeze would occasionally provide some relief and I just kept running.  I could finally make out the light poles running parallel to the bridge when I hit the wall and had to stop and stretch.  I started running again, and although every step was painful, I knew the end was near.  After an hour and ten minute run, the next runner relieved me.  My next two legs were still painful due to the fatigue, but tolerable and short in comparison.  When we crossed the finish line, I had run approximately 22 miles.

 A little celebration the next day.

 I suppose mile marker one is when the reverence settled in.  We were all meeting up to run the final mile and had reached Key West after running 99 miles.  I was looking up at the sky where a break in the clouds had revealed the starry night above.  The challenge of the race had been the heat, distance and fatigue we were all feeling.  I had been so focused on running that all I had seen most of the day was the path in front of me.  Even though I was tired and hurting like all of us were, we knew we would not fail.  It was a long last mile, but the Duque family met us a little off the finish line to guide us in and the camera crew from the Coast Guard was waiting.  The only thing I felt when crossing that line was satisfaction and joy.  We had succeeded as a team.

Seven Mile Bridge

I have never lost a friend in the line of duty, nor had to bury a child.  I did not know the Duque family or other effected families.   I cannot even fathom what it is like to go through what they have had to come to grips with.  All we did was run, but that small act meant the world to them.  On the rare occasion, we have the opportunity to immeasurable impact someone’s life in a positive way.  I can only hope that as individuals and as a group, we have the courage to do so.           

Florida Is ...

Sunset on the Intercoastal Waterway.

I have been in Florida for about six months now and finally getting a real sense of the place. I know that six months may be a long time to just get a sense of a place, but it is not a vacation, it is home for the near future. There is so much more to a place being your home and not just a place to visit. There are no mountains, no cliffs on the sea and no waterfalls that trickle down the terrain. It is a landscape in which the mangroves will block the view to the ocean at only eight feet tall and the buildings are the only tall structure for hundreds of miles. It is also a place that has intrinsic waterways running thought-out the landscape just few feet deep in which wild life and people has flourished for centuries. An endangered panther, buffalo, alligator and a multitude of other creatures can be seen on any given day. I have seen very little all things considered, but here is what I have seen so far.

I have taken a local trip on the Inter-coastal waterway with some family friends, seen the keys and Key West, visited Seminole Indian Reservation and taken a tour on the everglades. I have already written about the keys, so I will focus on the other three.

Marty and Donna at Fort Lauderdale.

The Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

First is the Water Taxi tour on the inter-coastal waterway. My family friend Martin and his girlfriend Donna joined me. They flew in from Southern California and were vacationing in the Keys. The Water Taxi runs up the inter-coastal waterway from Miami to Fort Lauderdale. It is not the fastest way to get around, but it does provide some very nice scenery along the way. Ranging from the bordering mangroves to the largest cruise ship in the world. We boarded in Hollywood and went up to Fort Lauderdale. On the way to Fort Lauderdale, the ferry goes by the harbor where the cruise ships depart from. Just above that is where the famous people such as Steven Spielberg, Oprah and Judge Judy keep their insanely expensive boats. That is followed by a row of insanely expensive houses. Needless to say, it really makes you feel like a little person. I don’t know about you, but paying 32 thousand a month in property tax is a little insane. They are absolutely beautiful houses and have some very interesting stories to their history. The most memorable would have to be the house built by the Sheik for his daughter that has never actually been lived in. Keep in mind this is a multi, multi million dollar house. Simply because she did not like the floor plan. I took them to the Las Olas Blvd to have a few drinks and a good view of the ocean. After the trip home on the Water Taxi and observing the Cruise Ships departing for sea, we had a nice dinner and watched a football game. It was a nice very local adventure, but the important part was seeing friends along the way.

The Royal Home, nobody lives there.

Allure of the Seas, largest cruise ship in the world.

The Seminole Indian Reservation and Billie Swamp Safari were my spontaneous little adventure. It was not very far away, but felt like a world away. I went to If you read the rain forest blog I described it as very wet and life teaming everywhere. This was a similar feeling. Spontaneous swamps are created when the storms come through. Waterlines run on every tree, showing where the water has reached. An inconsistent pattern of green and brown dynamically paint the landscape as if to tell you that nothing is predicable or expected. Than any given day, this area may be the feeding ground of an Alligator or an American Bison. It seems that both predator and prey are ready for anything that may happen.

The Wetlands.

A small oasis in the middle of forest.

One of the many species of plants that seem to grow right out of the water.

The blue sky and overbearing sun fall upon the land only broken by the semi thin canopy above and the intermittent patches of plants and trees. As the Airboat gracefully glides across the water, minus the sound of the fan of course, floating plants sink only to emerge a few minutes later and paint the water in to a deep verdure covering an unsettled void of water. Small islands large enough for a single animal dot the landscape as the occasional alligator can be seen lounging in the sun or gliding through water with only the eyes and nose visible. Taking it all in creates a respect for both the grace and unpredictable nature of the landscape and its inhabitants. In short it was different, but nothing short of spectacular. It was my first time on an airboat and to the everglades. I will have to make a few more trips when the seasons have changed.

An airboat returning to the dock.

Everywhere I have been, I have found the beauty in place and its unique combination of universal aspects. Florida is different, but equally as beautiful as the other places I have been. I do miss the rolling hills, tall mountain peaks and creeks running down the mountainside. It takes some time to adjust to the various cultures that populate the area and how their ethnic backgrounds have affected the overall attitude. Regardless, I am fortunate to be able to partake in this life. Work is going well, I may possibly be taking a trip home in the near future and life is good.

The boardwalk through the Seminole Museum nature area.

This alligator was about 14 feet long.

An Endangered Buffalo.

I shall keep you all updated on my endeavors out here, until then, enjoy every moment.

My Thoughts on the Year

Last year this time I was headed off to Puerto Rico to be as far away from home as I had ever been. I had just finished A-School and had an ideal two years ahead of me. Well, I can laugh and say that is not how it turned out. It was a very hectic and frustrating year; and even if I had the opportunity I would not change it. As strange as that sounds, I am a better man because of everything that has transpired. For everything that I have lost, I found a strength and the will to get through whatever I have to face. That is something no one can ever take from me.

I am now in Florida, still thousands of miles from the family, but on the mainland and just a flight a way (wink, wink). I am not going to tell you that this year will be ideal, because frankly I don’t know what is going to happen. What I can tell is what I have gained in the short time I have been here. I have my dog and the unconditional friend he provides me with. I have also gained some true friends that have showed me the impact of treating someone like family.

No one can ever replace the family that has been with you your entire life. That family for me has always been there. They have always been open to people joining us at our family gathering when they could not make it home or had no place go. I always saw the family do this, but I never truly understood the gratitude of the ones that were welcomed in. I can say that I understand that now. My adopted family out here has graciously invited me to and hosted the meals that I would normally spend with family. I cannot give ample thanks to Lee and Lourdes for their charity through out this holiday season.

After all was said and done, it turned out to be a good year. I have three blessing to start 2012 off with. In addition I have a mostly decorated home, a job, and a chance to make everyday a good day. To my friends and family, wherever you may be. I hope that your year is full of blessing, joy, laughter and maybe some lessons along the way.