BCA! - Marion completes her 1st half marathon

Well the race started on time and on March 4, 2012 at 7:30 AM EST Marion started her first half marathon. This is a really big thing as many who know her is that she was never an athlete when she was growing up.
She talked to me about running during the summer of 2010. When I recall the conversation it was agreed that she would follow my directions and I would help her cross the finish line. Her first race was the Halloween 5K in Ocean City, MD. We ran that race together and it was a great feeling being able to share my running with my wife who was always at the finish line for me.

Over her first year would continue to run 5 & 10 K runs often times while I was running a longer distance. She even expressed an interest in cycling so I got her a hybrid bike and was quick to get 15-18 mph out of the bike. We rode the Ride for Sight 36 mile course and finished the ride an hour faster than she planned.

The training and all was going great and she even rode the bike part of the Assateague Assault Sprint Triathlon as I did the swim and our daughter Tesia was the anchor on the run. July 1, 2012 I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer as a result from a routine colonoscopy. Well our world was turned upside down and I had surgery in August and started my Chemotherapy in September. Marion continued to train and ran the 2011 Halloween 5K in Ocean City, MD. The weather was pouring rain and windy but she still laced up her running shoes and ran the race. Shortly after that she talked to me about running the B & A Trail Half Marathon in my honor.After our talk I signed her up and developed her training program. She was dedicated to the plan and doing great until she came down with an upper respiratory illness. She trained as much as she could and still laced up her shoes and went out to the starting line to run her first half marathon. 


The funny thing is that she still says that she isn't an athlete. My response to her is that only an athlete will go out there and run in the rain and cold weather. Join me in congratulating Marion for finishing here first half marathon and let her know that she is an athlete. Thanks Marion for all of your love and support.