State 4 Flordia

After running in Nevada, the idea of doing all 50 states was born. When the thought first occurred, it seemed far fetched and more then a little intimidating. But, like any race, you have to start one step at a time. The miracle isn't that I finished, the miracle is that I had the courage to start

My first step was Florida. I signed up for the "26.2miles with Donna, The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer " which was in Jacksonville Fl on Feb 19th. I had a week of vacation. My plan was to leave Friday Feb 19th and drive to Biloxi Ms, there, I would spend the night at my sister's who lives in Ocean Springs, which is right outside Biloxi. I planned to get up and drive Saturday to Jacksonville, do the race on Sunday, and then spend a few relaxing days in Florida. Wednesday, I was going to drive back to Biloxi, stay again over night, and be back in Texas and visit my Mom who lives near Ft Worth, before doing the Cowtown race on Feb 27th. (I am doing the 5 year series of the Cowtown marathon in Ft Worth, if you run 5 consecutive years from 2009-2013 the 5 finishers medals form a large star, its my 5 year plan) After Cowtown I was returning home. That WAS my plans, funny how these things seldom work out. Thursday before I left, I got a call that my father had passed away, and would be buried in Enis Texas(near Dallas) on Tuesday the 23rd. I decided I just had time to drive 2 days to Jacksonville, do the race, and drive back in time for the funeral. I figured that if I did all 50 states, each one would have it's own story, and this one was going to be a Duzzie. Somehow, It all worked out, I drove a lot more, in less time than I would have liked, but it is all part of the story

When I signed up, I just wanted to do a race in Florida, so I could scratch that state from my list. To that point, I had not encountered Breast Cancer. I have lost several people that I cared deeply about, to other forms of cancer, and I have worn a Yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet since my Stepfather passed away from colon cancer, a number of years ago. (I now wear a Pink one too for Breast Cancer). My "Run for a Reason" Charity in the 2008 Houston marathon was the American Cancer Society, in memory of Papa Ray, and a close friend of mine Kerry Malone (King Bo) However, when I went to Jacksonville, I didn't really know anyone suffering from Breast Cancer. Little did I know the force of the impact it was about to have. Once I got to Jacksonville, I think it must have been one of the most Humbling experiences of my life. As I said, I went just to run in Florida. When I got there, I encountered so many people, with so many tragic stories. So many women with shaven heads due to Breast cancer Treatment. Everywhere you looked, people had signs proclaiming Who they were Running for, and Who they wanted to remember. I have never seen more PINK in my life. Early in the race I passed a man on crutches, he had lost his left leg below the knee to cancer. He said cancer had knocked him down, but it didn't kill him, he was doing the Half Marathon and doing it WELL. We ran through a neighborhood, and it seems every block, the spectators had created their own aid stations. The crowds lined the entire course and the runners were treated like heroes. I felt like a member from some conquering army retuning to a victory parade, and yet, I was just there to run in Florida. It was overwhelming. I have never seen a run more supported by the spectators. There were so many survivor shirts (people who had beat cancer), they were loud, and they were vocal, they were banging on noise makers, and they had organized Cheering sections. If you couldn't be inspired by them, you were never going to be. At one point, a woman came up to me while I was running, she told me how proud she was of me, and that I was doing a Great thing. She said she lived in the house next to us, and offered to let me use the restroom, or come in for water. I felt a little more insignificant. I couldn't tell her I was just running so I could say "I ran in another State". Instead, I told her I was OK, and thanked her for her generosity, and her encouragement. At the finish line, they were picking out people and asking them their stories, and putting then them up on a Gumbotron Screen, some stories were heartbreaking, others inspiring, all were unforgettable.

After doing this race, I knew my decision to run all 50 was indeed a good one.

I would strongly recommend this run. It should be a MUST DO on everyone's list. If you have only one Race left in you, Go Do "26.2 With Donna"