What to say? What to say? I am beyond excited that I was able to make it back into the historic Marine Corps Half Marathon in Fredericksburg!
I've done this race twice before and it is stellar! The course is ALWAYS challenging. It's all downhill until mile 10, and then the next one and a half miles are a BIG uphill next to the hospital. The course takes you past several historic landmarks like Mary Washington College, the Sunken Road, and the Kenmore Plantation. The start and finish are officiated by Marines, and you'll also find scores of actors dressed in Colonial garb.
Believe it or not, it was because of this event that I got started as a runner. It was maybe 7 years ago when my daughter Karen invited me to see her run this race. So I drove up to Fredericksburg and cheered her on. Later, she invited me to run a 5K with her and the rest, as they say, is history. It's a reminder that all big things in life have small beginnings. This fact also holds true in my career as I'm sure it does in yours. From the depths of my ineptitude as a language student, I found the inspiration to go on to become a Greek prof for 45 years. What if???? What if I had never taken Greek in college? What if I had never spectated at a half marathon? Life delivers plenty of struggles, so we need to be grateful for every serendipity God sends our way.
I could not be more grateful for the Marine Corps Half. The race will always have a special place in my heart. Go ahead, take a risk with your life. You never know where it might lead.