And so at last.... the Marine Corps Marathon weekend arrived! It was a very hectic week for me with the arrival of my two dear sisters early in the week, and then two Midterms, and at last I was off to base for my extended drill weekend (aka the Marine Corps Marathon)!
We, were left JRB NAS Fort Worth, on a C-130 flight via Pensecola in route to Andrews Air Force Base (Washington, DC)! It was my (and many of those with me) first flight on a C-130! Certainly an adventure.
Upon arriving in Andrews, I had a small dilemma, as my friends who lived in DC were not able to pick me up directly from base - I would have to meet them at a Metro station. Unfortunately with all the last minute details, I was not able to meet with them until about 2AM (ah, the life)! So, inste
ad, my "plans" (or lack there of) were changed to spend a rather enjoyable evening with my fellow servicemen, out to dinner and later a movie (Flags of our Fathers).
Alas, though it seemed as though the night would not end, through rain and confusion, my friends arrived to pick me up from base and head out to there place!
The next day, was rather uneventful, but quite nice, as by this point I was rather tired, so it was nice to be able to sleep in, and just chill! I spent the morning with my friend Joe chatting and catching up! We had a good time. Then, later that day his wife Rebecca came home, and Joe and I took their car out to the Marathon Expo to pick up my runner's package! Even though we arrived quite late in the afternooon, there was still quite a crowd there. We returned home sometime afterword, shortly after we made a Starbucks/beer run! Then upon arriving home we were met by a lovely aroma of pasta and spices (Rebecca had a feast awaiting us!)
Then, it was off to bed for a somewhat early morning as Joe drove me out to the Metro to head off to the race! I was a little worried as I was running a bit late, but I was fortunate as there were many on the train heading in the same direction! And, even when I arrived at the site, the race was slightly delayed, so that gave me just enough time to stretch and head out to the starting line!
The race itself was intense! It was nothing like I had ever experienced before! The first three to four miles or more I was booking it! But, not long after the initial adrenaline high, I knew I would have to start focusing on a steady pace I could keep for the remainder of the race!
Surprisingly, I felt strong throughout much of the race, until I hit about mile 17 or 18! By then, I was not nearly as competative! I was simply determined to focus on putting one foot in front of the other! It seemed like the course I was on would never end, and even once or twice I considered walking or evening stopping for a short breath!
But this proved ill advice, and I pressed on dispite my growing pain!
By my 20, I was cramping up quite a bit! Yet, by this point I was back in downtown DC, and I knew I only had a short way to go - I was going to make it! By mile 25,
I had just passed the Pentagon and fans were telling me the Iwa Jima Memorial was just around the bend, and I would be there! Well, that final mile never felt so long, yet I pushed for all I had left, not to mention throw a few elbows here and there to clear a path through the slowing mass of runners!
And at last, just a heartbeat before I was through I heard my name called out by my friend Jenn, who was there to see me race! And then, at last, I had crossed the finish line - I had made it!
Shortly after the run, and after the line for food and water, I joined my friend on the other side of the Memorial for a picture! To my surprise, after the picture was taken I saw the CMC (Gen Hagee) pass by me! Just after he passed, it occurred to me it would have been nice to have asked for a picture with him, but I was too tired to carry this out!
And so, the rest of the day, mostly I spent hanging out with my friend Jenn and her friend Courtney!
The next morning, my friend Joe drove me back to Andrews, where I joined my fellow servicemembers for the flight home to Fort Worth!
Thus concludes, or nearly concludes my Marathon story!
Getting the Blues
It seemed still as though my troubles over getting my dress blues were not quite over! As I waited for my roommate to pick me up from base, I headed over to the uniform shop on base to buy a new dress blue jacket! Unfortunately for me, with the upcoming weekend being the weekend of the Ball, I had a limited choice of jackets. And for me, it was fated that none of them should fit! So, my final hope was to order a pair that would arrive the following day at my house!
Yet, as I arrived home that following day from class, I was horrified to discover after attempting to put the jacket on, that it was too small! My only hope now was too pray that the blues I had altered would suffice for the Ball! And so, I went to work that day praying for a miracle!
The blues I picked up, were not 100% in regs, but the would have to work! And they did (thank God!)
After all this, I will still have to return the jacket I ordered in the hopes that sometime next year, I can get a jacket that will fit!
