​Running the London Marathon has been a goal of mine!  I began the application process for a London Marathon bib number even before our family received orders to come to England.  The London Marathon is one of the six world major marathons (the other five being New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin and Tokyo), and in 2017 I made a goal to complete all of six world major marathons.
 
On cold afternoon in February 2021, 8 February to be exact, the Virgin Money London Marathon began the email notification process for ballot selections.  Many lucky applicants received fantastic congratulatory news of their entry selection to run the 41st London Marathon later in the fall. Unlike previous years where hopeful marathon applicants would receive a magazine in the mail, this year hopeful runners had to click a link in order to receive a notification if selected or not.
 
I was mid-run on the treadmill when I opened the email that read “You’re in!” I screamed with excitement, as this was my fourth attempt at trying to obtain a bib number for the London Marathon.   Several Stroller Warriors® members from SW Lakenheath also applied for bib numbers for London Marathon.  I instantly sent a message to Christina, Staci and Sarah to find out if they were selected.  After a few hours of waiting on results, it was looking as if only Sarah would be joining me.  I was thrilled that a SW friend and I both received numbers, yet disappointed that all four of us did not obtain the same news.  Staci and Christina both applied to run for charity.  After some wait time, they were both accepted to run for the Children with Cancer, UK marathon teams!  The four of us were training for and running the London Marathon!  This was our second marathon all together, with the Athens Marathon 2 years priors.  Even more exciting—, Andrea, also a member of SW Lakenheath, would be training with us as she geared up for the Manchester Marathon the week after the London Marathon! 
 
It was time to hit the ground running with training and fundraising!  Getting together for training was hard.  In true military fashion, there were many bumps and scheduling conflicts-- a deployed spouse, TDY’s, etc; however, we always tried to have a long-run partner each week.  We ran with members of Stroller Warriors Lakenheath ran during the week and it was lovely to have the company and support of fellow Stroller Warrior members.  The weeks quickly flew by, and we finally made it to the end after about 16 weeks of training.  Additionally, through posting on social media outlets and sharing our fundraising efforts with family and friends, we were able to raise over £2000 for Children with Cancer, UK! 
 
Race weekend had finally arrived.  The Saturday before the race we all took the train to London from Lakenheath to pick up our bibs, relax and run a Sunday morning victory lap! The weather was nice—with some rain mid-day during the run. The day of the race, the course was lined up the whole way with crowds of spectators cheering for us! Such an amazing experience! Never have I cried at a race until this day!   Prior to this race, I had completed 4 marathons and was always happy to finish.  But this race was different.  At around mile 8 of the London Marathon, I was overcome with joy and could not hold back the tears of happiness. So much time lost from the previous year during the hard lockdowns in the U.K. that it just felt so surreal to be running with so many people— as if life was as it should be! This marathon experience was one for the memory books!
 
London was truly amazing, if you get a chance do it! 

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​Emily L. left home of the Bay Area at 19 to join the Air Force.  After finishing a 6 year enlistment, she is now a military wife of almost 15 years. She has two girls ages 6 and 3. When not running, Emily enjoys travel, coffee and wine! Emily began running distance almost 10 years ago after getting out of the Air Force. Her favorite race distance is the half-marathon. She has completed 6 full marathons and 25 live/in person half marathons! This year she has set a goal of completing a half marathon every month! She is mid-streak of 10,000+ steps a day and 1 dedicated mile a day run or walk for over 565 days now! Emily is plans to get into the Chicago or New York marathon in 2022.  

As a native Bostonian, it is hard to imagine Boston without runners gearing up for and running the Boston Marathon on Marathon Monday, Patriots Day, a local holiday (the Massachusetts State offices even close on this day).  Marathon Monday is a jubilant day that always sports a tremendous amount of fanfare all the way from Hopkinton (where the race starts) to its finish on Boylston Street in downtown Boston.  Even months before race day, the course is electric— weekend group charity runs along Commonwealth Avenue, the 11-mile New Year’s Day training event that starts at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill and conveniently ending at a local pub on Boylston Street near the finish line, the 22-mile charity run on the Boston course flanked by charities and sponsors on the side-walks to providing fuel and swag to runners preparing for the big day, and of course there is the marathon race weekend with the pasta dinners, running expos with athletes parading around Boston, and scores of eager runners wearing their Marathon jackets!  On race day, the cool spring air often mixed with the scent of nearby grills at race parties, and the screams of thousands of fans (especially around Boston College)!  Spectators are lined 2-deep the whole way, both sides (that’s 52 miles), the Boston Red Sox even coordinate a home game so that fans can walk out post game and cheer for runners while offering enthusiastic encouragement to “run wicked fast” down that final mile! 
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Imagine all the excitement and work leading up to the Boston Marathon-- earning a qualifying time, the massive fundraising efforts by charity runners, the training, anticipation and excitement- then BAM…enter global pandemic…the marathon goes virtual SO CLOSE to Marathon Monday.  Though the pandemic stopped the actual Marathon, its spirit was very much alive- runners continued to fundraise for their causes, athletes ran virtually, and the tradition remained strong and was left unscathed.   

In January 2021, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) announced the Boston Marathon was postponed until October 2021.  The race was not canceled and even better— the BAA offered a virtual race option in celebration of the 125th Boston Marathon.  This was tremendously exciting news!  Shortly after this announcement, Stroller Warrior members from several chapters registered for the virtual Boston.  An captivating buzz spread throughout our Stroller Warriors community with members sharing their registration confirmations online and convincing others Stroller Warriors to join!  The exhilaration of registering for Boston was unicorn running happiness!  

The week and weekend leading up to the 2021 Boston Marathon was thrilling— after watching many of our Stroller Warriors share their Boston Marathon training journey, the race time was finally here!  Many members shared their running journey with their local chapter communities:

The City of Boston buzzed with happiness on the weekend leading up to the return of the Boston Marathon.  Virtual runners setting their courses in Boston seized the opportunity to run across the 125th Boston Marathon finish line through a massive crowd of people whilst taking pictures, enjoying the marathon fan zone/festival, and cheering for those crossing the finish line.  Imagine any previous Boston Marathon race day and amplify the excitement by 100— that was how the 2021 Boston Marathon will be recorded in the history books! Everyone from spectators to runners were ecstatic to be back— a bliss was in the air that I had never experienced before during a race!  Deafening cheers and screams rose from the crowd the entire time…so loud that the use of music with headphones was futile.  During the final half-mile, as I turned right onto “Mount Hereford” and left onto Boylston (after passing my kids, husband, mom, and all my brothers) the crowd’s roar was nearly disorienting…it jolted the inner-most fibers of my running soul!    

If this race is indicative of the running scene to come, I can only imagine how the runners at-large will feel when everyone’s favorite races are again open!  The 2021 Boston Marathon will forever be a joyous memory for myself and many members of the Stroller Warriors® community!  

Happy Running!
​-Rose 

In 2010, right before my husband and I were moving to Maryland, we decided to use a bunch of soon-to-be expired airline vouchers and go on holiday to Switzerland.  We booked the tickets online and two weeks later we were off!  It was an epic trip, despite my husband’s desire to make it a true backpacking adventure.  I’m all for backcountry hiking, but walking with our packs from the Geneva airport, through peoples’ backyards and through random fields in “the direction of downtown” (as my husband said) was a bit lackluster.

After our residential jaunt, some minor navigational “disagreements”, we made it by foot from the airport to downtown.  Soon thereafter, we spent most of our time hiking in the Lauterbrunnen area of the Swiss Bernese Oberland, roosting from what has become our now beloved mountain-hamlet, a small mountain village called Murren.  It is one of those places that will change you instantly- I was not ready to head back home and honestly considered buying a tent, a fondue pot, and starting a new life in Switzerland.  While waiting for the train to leave Murren, I saw an advertisement for the Jungfrau Marathon.  The pictures of the race looked stunning- waterfalls, mountains, so much green, hills!  I love hills- or shall I say hill (singular), the Eiger (summiting at 13,015 feet)!  This was the perfect race for me!

I had two major bucket list items after we left Switzerland: (1) my husband and I swore that somehow, we would always come back Murren with each of our kids to hike the 9,744 ft peak of the Schilthorn; (2) run the Jungfrau Marathon.  Okay, one more for the bucket list: let no piece of cheese, nor drop of fondue, go uneaten!  After securing an assignment in Germany, we were thrilled that Murren was only 4 hours away.  So, we checked off bucket list item #1 summitting the Schilthorn with our now oldest, and a few years later, with our now middle child…rest assured, every morsel of cheese was consumed, now with competition from our cheese-eating kids!  As for bucket list item #2, it was still unfulfilled…until our return PCS to the U.S., a phone call with a dear Stroller Warriors friend (lucky enough to get back-to-back Germany assignments), and some surprisingly cheap direct flights to Zurich changed this…and changed me! 
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We arrived on an early, rainy, and chilly September morning.  After a quick brochen and “kaffe,” we got a workout installing three car seats in a small rental, playing tetris with our luggage, and hit the road.  Before we knew it, we were pushing through the jetlag, donning our rain-gear, and reuniting with some of our favorite trails.  We hiked, played, ate, soaked in the sun, and took carried our youngest well above the ridgeline, through and above clouds, in the baby-hiking pack, to the Schiltorn’s summit with our other two kids in-tow (checking bucket-list item #1 for the third time).    

​After a brilliant taper-week of hiking and altitude acclimation (which worked great for me), fueled by cheese, chocolate, and sausage, I soon found myself venturing out on mile-one of the Jungfrau Marathon as a cool alpine rain, accompanied by a crisp breeze, set the scene.  The first 13-14 miles are nice, rolling, and exciting as you enter the town of Lauterbrunnen, with 4,000 ft cliff walls (Murren sitting atop) on my right, and the Monch, Jungfrau, and Eiger on my left.  This first half was nice, arguably relaxing, before soon finding myself hitting a single-track trail with hundreds of other runners…all of which, doing a fast-hike and slow-jog hybrid up an endless switchback with a constant 10–15-degree incline.  On paper, this sounds terrible, but it was heaven.  The endless green foliage embraced us as glacial streams rushed and bubbled beside us, and below us- this magnificent nature welcomed us, taking away all pain and only leaving me eager to experience more.  At a few points, the course parallels train tracks that lead the way for sturdy mountain passenger trains…during the race, it seemed surreal, like the scene from The Sound of Music as they ascended into the high Alps- except the sound of music was replaced with yells saying “Jah” (yeah!) and “schnell gehen” (go fast)!  

​Around mile 18, I was passing through the town of Wengen…this was the designated rendezvous spot to refuel quickly with the family.  I saw my husband and kids and heard them yelling at me…words of encouragement- no.  Requests to eat and drink my fuel…yes.  My husband got two mini cherry-pies and a large Fanta to supplement my fading cheese, chocolate, and sausage pre-race meal.  This sounded great to me…and it sounded great to the kids too.  I cracked open the Fanta and my kids quickly requested to have taste before I could even take sip!  After our oldest asked why mom was “taking” their snacks, we conducted the world’s fastest resource-allocation negotiation settling on me taking one pie, and the Fanta, only after the kids each got a few seconds to guzzle it themselves despite there being a Swiss Bakery and grocery store being located within 30 feet.  I was excited to see the kids, but they were excited to see me leave with one less cherry pie.  As I accepted my fate in this negotiation, a polka bank started playing a Dropkick Murphy’s song…I am a Boston girl, so this was all the fuel I needed to summit to the finish!

​Before I knew it, I was back on the trail, the rain lifted some and the cloud-tops lowered…much of the course straddled a ridgeline to the finish.  I completed the race, checked this off my bucketlist (and then put it back on).  I planned to run the Jungfrau Marathon in 2020, but unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions decided otherwise.  Fingers-crossed I will have chance to run this again in the future! Next time, I will be sure to double my fuel order as the kids are guaranteed to hornswoggle at least half of it!  

​The 1st Lt David “MEZr” Schmitz Memorial 5K took place yesterday at Shaw AFB, SC.  Our family took part in this meaningful run on the base flightline, along with approximately 300 other Shaw AFB Airmen and family members.  There were runners, strollers, walkers, dogs, and a large group of kids on bikes and scooters leading the pack.  

​This morning included a full spectrum of emotions as fog blanketed the base and breaking immediately before the run began.  Like all 5K runs, there was the buzz of excitement as friends and families gathered near the start line, however this run displayed an added touch— all participants wore red race shirts representing the 77th Fighter Squadron’s official color (this was 1st Lt Schmitz’s squadron).  

​This sea of red assembled in the grassy area between taxiways to hear remarks from 1st Lt Schmitz’s family, Wing leadership, close aviator friends, and to unveil a memorial stone located on the spot where he tragically lost his life when his ejection seat failed.      
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​As the fog lifted, the justifiably somber ceremony also lifted into excitement in celebration of 1st Lt Schmitz’s life and legacy as everyone positioned themselves at the start.  The kids took to their bikes and were busy boasting over who was going to win, while the parents watched this youthful peloton race down the runway just like the F-16s during takeoff!  Parents, Airmen, base personnel, and retirees tried to keep up with the kids; however, they were simply too fast.  Everyone still gave it their all nonetheless to commemorate the meaningful purpose of this 5K run.  
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​Though runways on Fighter bases are typically full of the thunderous roar of the jets, today was different—it included the rhythmic sound of feet striking the ground, the slight wind rustling through the tall grass, the chirping of crickets, and the happy chatter of friends running together, specifically, Stroller Warrior Elsewhere friends

Most interesting, though this race was designed to be a 5K, the race ended unintentionally a bit short at 2.77 miles…a poignant connection directly back to 1Lt Schmitz’s squadron, the 77th. 

​Proceeds from the 5K support the Lt David Schmitz Foundation which you can read more about through last week’s blog post: https://www.strollerwarriors.com/blog/running-to-honor-1st-lt-david-mezr-schmitz.  

In 2019, our family PCS’d to Shaw Air Force Base—home of the 20th Fighter Wing.  This is our first base with a Fighter mission…each day, we are treated to an airshow as the Vipers scream overhead.  The kids love it, and it is certainly plenty of motivation for us when exercising and hear the screeching sound of freedom through the sky. 

On June 30, 2020, a tragic plane crash at Shaw Air Force Base shook the entire community- both the base, and the local Sumter community.  1st Lt David “MEZr” Schmitz lost his life doing something that he loved- flying planes.   Immediately thereafter, the Sumter and Shaw AFB community responded with red ribbons on mailboxes to show support for David’s wife, Valerie, his family, and the 77th Fighter Squadron community.  Close friends and family in the F-16 community sprung to action to care for 1st Lt Schmitz’s wife, and to keep his legacy strong— they swiftly founded the Lt David Schmitz Foundation which fundraises to benefit those aspiring to be aviators, like Dave, who are “passionate, hard-working, and have a strong will to succeed!” 

A Memorial 5K on the Shaw AFB flight line, serves to honor 1st Lt David “MEZr” Schmitz, who gave his life in defense of the United States.  This run is important fundraiser for the Foundation, and more importantly, an incredibly meaningful experience for all participants.  A run on the flight line is a fitting way to remember Dave, as it combines his love for aviation and running. His wife, Valerie, shared that when they were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Tacoma, Washington), Dave was a member of Tacoma Runners- a running group that hosted weekly runs and social gatherings.  Dave enjoyed fitness—he competed in several races including a duathlon, many half marathons, 10Ks and quite a few 5Ks.  Overall, Dave enjoyed working out and he loved being able to measure his fitness progress— whether through completing more reps in a set, adding more weight during an OLY lift, or running a bit faster than his previous time.  Furthermore, Dave motivated and inspired Valerie to push a little harder and run a little faster.  Valerie and Dave ran their first half-marathon together; although finishing at separate times, Dave was there to encourage and cheer for Valerie as she crossed the finish line. 

The first 5K in 1st Lt Schmitz’s honor took place on a gorgeous and bright day on the Shaw AFB flight line.  I found out about the Memorial 5K run through a running friend that needed to borrow a double stroller.  Over the years, our family acquired many “wheeled items” in our garage— most of which consists of our running stroller fleet!  I was happy they reached out as I then learned about the memorial 5K.  Our whole family completed the 5K through a combination of running, biking, and stroller pushing/riding!  Though this became an event through a horrific tragedy, runners were incredibly motivated to run for 1st Lt Schmitz, and kids taking to the course were bursting with excitement as they raced their bikes along the same runways that the Vipers use. This was my first road race in South Carolina after running numerous trail Ultra-Marathons, and my first time running on a flight line.  I could see everything- from my friend over a mile away being the first across the finish line with his dog, my kids and their friends not far behind him on their bikes, and my husband about ½ mile away running with our daughter in the stroller.  As I ran, I saw a sea of red (runners wearing red squadron shirts) and thought about WHY we run. We run to remember. Every race is exciting, but this race was, and still is immensely powerful.    

​Additionally, during the entire month of June 2021, Valerie created and challenged herself to complete the “MEZr Challenge” in honor of Dave:

• Pick a workout, any kind of workout, as long as you can measure progress, and complete the workout 4 times improving on each.  4 times represents Dave’s time in the 4th Airlift Squadron️.
• For an endurance boost, choose an activity (running, walking, hiking, cycling, etc.) and either complete that activity for a total of 77 minutes or 7.7 miles (or km if that is your preference). 77 minutes or 7.7 miles to represent his time with the 77th Fighter Squadron ️
• This challenge can be done in a day, or over the course of a few weeks, or even a month. Each “MEZr Challenge” is unique to each individual’s personal goals ️ 

 
For Val’s “MEZr Challenge” she gave herself the month of June to complete the "Manitou Incline" 4 times in the month of June, each time improving upon the last. She has done it 3 times so far and next week she needs to beat 1 hour, 14 minutes. #FlyFightLiveProudforSchmitty
 
Many will have the opportunity to run the Memorial 5K race on 30 June 21.  Anyone can run this race as it is also being offered virtually, for more information please visit the following link- https://www.ltschmitzfoundation.org/5krun .  You can also create your own “MEZr Challenge” in honor of 1st Lt David “MEZr” Schmitz.

Happy Running!
-Rose 

2020 was a year unlike any other.  This past Christmas, a family member gifted me with an ornament that said: “2020, the year we stayed home.”  This is certainly an accurate way to describe how 2020 unfolded! 

​On New Year’s Day 2020, our family had a laundry list of travels, races, travels for races, and travels with Stroller Warrior friends for races.  Travel excursions and races always gave me something to look forward to.  However, COVID-19 decided otherwise.  This was tough, but difficult endeavors yield meaningful outcomes. 

Quickly, my running and strength training shifted, my fitness plan quickly included the kids in every workout.  At times, this resulted in frequent interruptions, but it also resulted in the kids becoming interested in completing their own workouts- taking the initiative to run on their own, and to complete a few functional fitness workouts.  Difficult?  Yes.  Frustrating?  At times.  Beneficial?  Absolutely…not only did they have more opportunity to witness our Warrior ethos, but to further develop their own Warrior spirit. 

Live-racing was suspended and replaced with virtual races, and though my race scheduled took an unanticipated turn, I tried to make the best of it (albeit, this wasn’t always easy).  I was able to focus more on distance trail running, and I had the opportunity to visit many local and wonderful state parks I wouldn’t have visited otherwise.  I was able to run through tall pines miles on end, while breathing the fresh wintergreen air; I also learned that I could jump as high as a gazelle after nearly striding onto a copperhead! 
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After a few months of virtual races, the local trail-race circuit slowly opened up to limited attendance races.  Before I knew it, I was back on my beloved trails in August, but with the welcomed addition of a running-friend and race bib.  Although it was hot and humid, and pre/post-race festivities were much different, my friend and I raced 11 glorious miles through the pines!  It was so refreshing to run alongside a friend, chat, and laugh (with 6-feet separation of course)!  After this trail race, a 15 mile trail race in October soon followed.  These races gave me hope that perhaps we can again resume travel, races, and reunions with SW friends in 2021!  

Much like our “dream sheet” for the next assignment, some of our SW leadership had some great insight and wish lists for races to come!  Here are some race ambitions and favorite local races shared by some of our Stroller Warriors Fearless Leaders. We’ve organized them based on location to better help you hone in on races in your area and help you set new goals for the future!

Asia:
In Okinawa, Japan, Kelly M says that the Shouhashi Half Marathon in Nanjo is a must-do race. She said it’s very challenging making the finish-line cross something to be very proud of.  Another favorite for her is the Ayahashi Half Marathon, 10k or 3.8k.  This race is one of the flattest in Okinawa, and it is a beautiful run that leads racers over a series of bridges and back to the finish.
Mary Beth H.’s dream race is the Great Wall of China race where half and full marathon distances are offered.  When the COVID-19 pandemic ends, she dreams of traveling to China for this once in a lifetime destination race.

Middle East:
Christie L’s dream race is the Jerusalem Marathon.  She traveled to Israel on a mission trip 20 years ago, staying for 6 weeks, explaining that it was one of the best experiences of her life.  She would love the opportunity to run a race there again!

Europe:                                        
Though Christie dreams of racing in Jerusalem, she currently lives in Germany. She says the must do local races for her are the Berlin Marathon, Frankfurt Marathon, and a tri-country marathon traversing through Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.  Deb E. Agrees with Christie having both the Berlin Marathon and 3 Countries Marathon on her list of must do races.
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South America:
Hannah I. hopes to run the Patagonia International Marathon someday, specifically for the stunning views!  This race navigates through Western Patagonia, near the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and also offers half-marathon and 10k races.

East Coast:
The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) tops the list for numerous Stroller Warriors, either as their favorite race in the VA/MD/DC area, or the race they dream of completing one day.  Christy M says, “my dream race is MCM.  It was the first one I watched my husband run and I had said to myself ‘I could never do that’.  Now that I’ve got one under my belt, it’s on the schedule for 2021 (I’ve had to defer 3x now due to injury/surgery/2020).”  Desiree H’s dream races are the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (DC) and the MCM. She says, “I was selected for the Cherry Blossom race, but got injured and had to transfer my bib.  The race ended up getting canceled.  Must do races in the area include MCM, Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, National Women’s Half in DC, Across the Bay 10k, where you get to run across the Bay Bridge, which is awesome”.  Gabi P. recommends the Seashore Nature Trail 50k — “the course is through the First Settler’s Landing in Virginia Beach and is absolutely amazing.  The people who put it on are incredible and it’s a great first 50k race”.  Kelly M. tried to signed up for the Seashore Nature Trail 5Ok in 2019 and was 148th on the waiting list. So if you’re interested in that race, be sure to sign up the day they open registration. Hannah I. noted that most runners come to Virginia Beach for the VA Beach Shamrock Marathon.  However, she also recommends the Harbor Half, the Wicked 10k, and the Surf n’ Santa 5 Miler.

Moving north up the East Coast, Emily L. highlights the NYC Marathon as a dream race!  She fell in love with NYC immediately after she got out of the Air Force visiting for the first time.  Hannah I. shares the same interest explaining that the NYC Marathon would be an amazing race, especially since she would be running alongside some of the greatest runners in the world! 
Deb E. would love to run the Boston Marathon.  This marathon is the world’s most-storied and pinnacle running race!  Runners must meet qualifying race times in a previous marathon before gaining entry into the Boston Marathon. If you’ve ever heard a running talking about “BQing” or “Did you BQ?” They are talking about getting a Boston Qualifying time that will gain them entry to the Boston Marathon.

Southeast U.S. and Texas:
Christy M. suggested running the Navy 10 Nautical Miler (which equates to approximately 11.5 standard miles) in TN and the Little Rock Marathon (which includes huge finisher medals) and is also a relatively flat Boston Qualifying course. 

Chelsea L would love to witness the Barkley Marathons in TN.  Although running the race herself is not her dream, she is amazed by those able to complete this true feat of strength that navigates a four-lap 100-mile treck through TN’s rugged backcountry.  Even those completing a single lap of 25 miles are typically bruised, bloody, broken, yet accomplished and proud (even when not completing the entire 100 miles)!  Perhaps the Barkley Marathons intrigue her due to her cross-country roots, or possibly it’s creative approach/requirements for participant selection, or maybe it’s the amusing host- whatever it is, the Barkley adventure is quite special to her and many others. There is even an Amazon Prime Video featuring an entertaining documentary about the Barkley Marathons if you want to learn more about this unique race.   

Katie P. said the Beaufort Twilight Run is a local favorite for her.  She also mentioned that the Savannah River Bridge Run in Savannah, GA is super popular too!  Mary Beth H. added that the Super Hero 5k in Beaufort, SC, is a favorite of hers.  The Super Hero 5k was extra special to Mary Beth because it was her first time placing in an off-base race, and the first time she had her family at the finish line!  As a bonus, there are many cute Bed ‘n Breakfasts nearby if you decide to make it a destination race. 
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Virginia A. explained that the Cowtown Marathon weekend is a must-do in Fort Worth, TX.  This 2-day event offers a 5k, Children’s 5k, 10k, Half, Full, and Ultra Marathons. However, the race takes place in February and the weather can be temperamental.  

Mountain West:
Debbie E. is interested in Colorado’s Leadville 100.  This race’s lowest altitude is 9,200 feet and it rises to 12,600 feet! It is an iconic ultra marathon that many hope to tackle and conquer.
Roselyn B. loves Montana’s Snow Joke Half Marathon.  This bone-chilling February race takes runners around Seely Lake on packed-snow roads through forests of pine- it’s simply gorgeous!  

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Southwest U.S. and West Coast:
Amanda H. is a fan of the Monterey Half Marathon.  After multiple deferrals due to wildfires and COVID-19, she hopes to take-on this race in 2023!  Virginia A. looks forward to running any race in California’s wine country.  She says, “You can’t beat a good race with some post-race vino!”
Kelly M. invites the challenge of the Rim-to-Rim Race through Arizona’s Grand Canyon as her must-do race.  Runners begin on one side of the Grand Canyon, descending onto its floor, then ascending 4,400-feet to summit the other side of the Grand Canyon.  This race also offers the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim Race where you double the distance and retrace your steps back to where you started.
 
U.S. Virgin Islands:
Gabrielle P. is interested in the St. Croix Scenic 50.  The course is absolutely gorgeous as it guides through tropical-terrain and alongside seaside overlooks. I don’t think many would complain about getting to race in the Virgin Islands!

​Take a moment to investigate and explore these races!  Hopefully a few of these events will find a way into your calendar in 2021 and beyond! 😊 If you have more must-do races you want to share with your team, feel free to add them as a comment for us all to read and learn about.
 
Happy running!
-Rose B.

The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) has always been “The people’s marathon,” but this year it is even more so due to its virtual nature. Anyone and everyone is able to register and run this year- there wasn’t a lottery, nor a 1775 race qualifier completion. Stroller Warriors from all over the globe have risen to this virtual challenge. In true Stroller Warrior fashion, my friends motivated and encouraged me to join in on the “fun.” The race medal is the cherry on top.  This year’s race medal contains black sand from Iwo Jima. How could I pass this up? 

So here I am on the other side of the world in Okinawa, Japan, roughly 7,600 miles away from Washington, D.C., and training for the MCM Virtual. This will be my fourth Marine Corps Marathon (I’m well on my way to the 5 MCMs required for the runners Club! A lifetime goal I have for myself). I find it ironic that while it is still “The people’s marathon,” due to the COVID restrictions, many, if not all of us, have been training solo and will also be racing solo. My friends who convinced me to run this race are stationed in Hawaii and Virginia- not exactly a hop skip and a jump away. For many of us, we will need to dig deep and find our mental resolve on race day.  There will not be aid stations every few miles, cheering crowds, friends to look for at specific mile markers, hilarious signs that remind us to laugh and keep trucking on, and no fancy photo finish.  It will just be us, the pavement and our steely determination.

I recently ran my first 20 miles solo. I have been a runner for 10 years and have 13 marathons/ultras under my belt. This is the first time in 10 years I’ve ever had to complete a 20 mile solo training run. In the past, I always had Stroller Warriors by my side. Yes, I really have been a Stroller Warrior for a decade! This specific training run was mentally and physically tough, but I persevered and finished! I convinced myself to run even when I wanted to walk. I convinced myself to keep going even when no one was around to watch me. I felt incredible for having finished this solo-accomplishment. I wasn’t fast, but I had battled my inner demons and I had WON. 

This year, I know that Stroller Warriors and fellow runners all over the world are facing the same inner demons. The little voice in your head that tells you “UGH, just stop.” The voice that says, “No one will know.” The temptation to go back to sleep or call someone early for a ride home. I think this year of 2020, there has been an insane number of excuses to not get up and run-  kids need help with their schooling, I’m in ROM (Restriction of Movement), I have to go to work, I have to do EVERYTHING now, plus more! 

This race may not look the way we want it to, we may not get the time we wanted, but we will put one foot in front of the other and complete this race knowing that we can accomplish hard things. This year has tested us a lot. It has forced us to slow down. It has flipped our world upside down. It has even changed the way we run and possibly changed how often we get to run.

Life isn’t perfect. I think 2020 has taught us all that. Yet, even in the midst of hardship, even in the midst of anxiety, and maybe even tears, there is an opportunity for growth.  When you put one foot in front of the other, especially when you are feeling unsure, that’s when you are able to dip deep, find your inner strength and persevere. With hardship comes a sweeter reward when you come out the other side victorious. 

This likely has not been a perfect training cycle for any of us. WE ARE HUMAN. We stumble and fall. We trip along the way. But must remember that we are military spouses, we are runners, we are Stroller Warriors!. We’ve been adapting and overcoming since day one. 

MCM 50kers, Marathoners, 10Kers, as you lace up your shoes and set out to accomplish your race distance be sure to listen for me in your head! I’ll be cheering for you! So get out there, if only to show yourself and 2020 how incredible you are! 

As they say in Japan, Ganbatte! (Do your best!)

Happy Running!
Kelly