This was my second running of the THE Ohio State University Four-Miler (http://ohiostatefourmiler.com) and I was definitely getting excited about it.  The event benefits the Urban and Shelley Meyer Cancer Research Fund which is dedicated to advancing cancer research for all forms of cancer.  I couldn’t pass up running this one after being a part of last year’s inaugural event.  It was by far the largest I had been in at that point and I was in complete awe.

The OSU themed even started in the shadows of Ohio Stadium and finished on the 50 with participants decked out in Buckeye gear.  This year, knowing what we were in for and being familiar with what to expect it was a lot easer.  The pre-race warmup/pump up groups with special guests, several Buckeyes, cheerleaders, Brutus, and musical groups was awesome!  The time leading up to the race went fast and there were plenty of events for attendees and children to participate in.

The weather was perfect, but a little breezy, the course was great and offered some challenges, but the finish was where it was.  Runners entered the final stretch down the Buckeyes team tunnel where they take the field.  Newly renovated you could see the mural and other decorations done to the area before running the visitor sidelines, turning and heading down the field to cross the 50!  The post race area was great; plenty of food, drinks, vendors, but the music wasn’t quite going when the faster runners were getting done.  This will be a yearly event for me and I was pretty happy with the 33:17 time that i posted from this one.  I was hoping for a 32 and solid eight minute miles, but a busy week of limited training due to a schedule I pushed with all I had.

Last year I ran the course in full firefighting gear including my themed Ohio State Fire helmet that tells my story and why I PAY FORWARD.  This year I raced in my orange to show support for Leukemia and Lymphoma.  If you look back you can find my article from last year where our family did the event WITH my mom Peggy who is a Leukemia survivor thanks to the University.  In March of 2000 she received the first unmatched unrelated bone marrow transplant at OSU, which ultimately was her cure.  After battling the disease for four years it was almost too late.  I owe a lot to what Ohio State and the L&LS have done for my family that I can NEVER pay back enough, but I can PAY FORWARD and make a difference for others.

GO BUCKEYES!

Yes, 9/11 has came and went with another year honoring our fallen 343 brothers, while many of the climbs and events are completed, there are still several left.  If you’re in Ohio, or within a few hours of Yellow Springs there is another 9/11 Memorial Climb on September 27.  Click here http://www.active.com/yellow-springs-oh/races/yellow-springs-9-11-memorial-stair-climb-2014 to visit their website for more information.

I can’t say enough about these events.  They are a great way to get out and support a cause that supports us, or in the unfortunate times they support our families as well.  The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, NFFF, have many of these events across the United States and this is the second one in the State of Ohio.  The event is a few hours of your time, some energy, some sweat, some tears, and hard work.  If you’re off duty and available, sign up, bunker up, and climb.

Its taken me a few days to get this one written as I’ve been quite swamped the last week traveling for the fire department with our truck committee to pickup our new Engine Rescue for the Fredericktown Community Fire District. Almost as exhausting as a race, the emotional reveal of seeing, touching, and driving that truck is like spotting the finish line, crossing, then collapsing.

Initially this past weekend I had planned for months to be at the Lancaster County PA 9/11 Memorial Climb for the 110 floor climb up and down their stadium, that was until I read of another event. A local event, the Torres Trail 5k in Gahanna that was started for a firefighter and again benefitting a firefighter this year struck a chord with me. While I will have climbed 4 of the national 9/11 events this year to help firefighters everywhere, equally as important was running for a local Brother, Captain Rusty Thompson of Granville Fire Department. I couldn’t pass it up, he lives a county away and is battling Glioblastoma Multiforme, which is an aggressive brain tumor.

A mid-day race was a little change of events for me, because primarily I’m a morning runner. I love the coolness, and the predictability of a few things and know my plan well for nutrition and hydration leading up to it. I was well rested and well stretched before the event. I got to the event an for a brief while doubted my choice of running in a singlet versus one of my UA tees…when the sun came out in full force it changed my mind.

After all the selfies, the big group, and hearing the families, including Torres speak it was time for business. As I took off, I kept a very steady and solid pace. Some downhills on the way out and flats were awesome. Titled a “Trail” run there was nothing trail to it, however when I heard bike trail I was thinking flat…ERRRRR WRONG!

Gentling rolling areas and a nice wooded park challenged all that came out. Where I felt a burn before on some of the inclines, this time I trotted but kept going up strong. I was watching my times, but there were no milemarkers to see my splits. When we circled back I passed back and forth with some much younger runners before outlasting them. Having seen the route on the way out, on the way back I knew areas where I could turn it up and be careful where I wouldn’t push too hard. Again, checking my watch I knew it could be close to a PR if I didn’t do anything too crazy or if nothing happened.

The final eighth or quarter mile was on me and I turned up the gas, my time was running out and I reached deep down inside. The final turn came and I broke into a dead sprint and punched the accelerator because it was going to take everything. I heard every sound in my body, my pulse, my feet on the pavement, a solid song came on the headphones, and I could see Rusty at the finish line. Its moving, to me at least because its what drives me. The sounds, the sights, the meanings move me as an individual. Seeing him, knowing why I was running, and fighting the battle for others, pushed me. The tears were flowing behind those sunglasses as I high fived him and blew through the finish line.

I won’t say I collapsed about 30 yards from the finish line along the road, but I made it to ground fast before finding the yoga childs pose. I try to run all out every time, but this truly was all out nothing left in my tank. I saw no clock, I had no idea until my wife came over and told me it was 23 something as I got a partial bottle of water. It was the longest time waiting for official times ever. We were sitting at the pub waiting for food when the website updated showing a 23:45. It wasn’t a small difference to make a PR, but a HUGE difference of 1:02 and the fastest miles I know I ever have ran. Now that I know I can do that, how much better can I get, how fast, what ARE my limits, and what can I tell my body and mind that they can do?!

It was GREAT event, PR aside, it was awesome! Surrounded by firefighters and their families along with those in the community it was a very family friendly event. Great looking shirts and swag, pre/post race massage, great raffle items, excellent sponsors, and an excellent post race party place. Best of all is seeing over $10,000 raised for a Brother in need.

This is what we are called to do. Get out, make a difference and PAY FORWARD!