One of the biggest regrets that I have is that I never told my pap that I started to run. I started to coach Girls on the Run in the fall of 2015. Girls on the Run is an organization that helps girls be healthy and confident using fun lessons and running. At the end of the season, the girls and coaches run a 5K. I never told Pap that I was coaching Girls on the Run, I don't know why; maybe I didn't think it was important.
In the summer of 2016, I registered for my first ever half marathon. The Disney Princess half marathon would be my first one I ever ran. Knowing my grandfather, he would have made fun of the fact that it was a Disney race but still would have been proud I was going to run 13.1 miles.
My grandfather was a runner. He ran hundreds of races. My brother was lucky enough to catch the running bug early. They ran races together and Pap was always on the sidelines of Zach's track meets, cheering him on, yelling, "He's gonna catch you!"
I was lucky enough this year to find the app, Athlinks. It's a great app. You can look up yourself or anyone else's name and see all of their race stats. This was really exciting for me because I was able to look up all of my grandpa's races. It was so cool to be able to look at his times and his distances. The Marine Corp Marathon was his favorite marathon he ran and I could see his stats for that race. How cool.
My pap passed away on October 16, 2016. When I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon with tears in my eyes, Pap was the first person that I wanted to call. He would have been proud, no doubt. He would have also asked if I won the race and probably told me I ran too slow. What I would have given to hear him tell me I ran too slow.
All of my runs and races I do are in honor of him. I think about him every time I run. I run for him and I run for myself. Running has been my therapy. Last year, on October 16, 2017, I decided that I was going to run 7.9 miles in memory of him. This year, tomorrow, I'm going to do the same thing except this year it will be 8.0 miles. He would be 80 years old.
Pap loved to run. He loved to run with his friends and he loved to celebrate after a race by drinking a beer (or two) with his running buddies. Sometimes, I think he may have run just for that.
This year, I'm asking all of you to join me. Run, walk, hike, bike, whatever. Get outside, do it on a treadmill. Alone or with friends. One mile or eight.
I have learned that you should never take anything for granted, including the time you have with people in your life.
Go for a walk with your mom.
Run a mile with a friend.
Hike through the woods with your dog.
I would love to see how many of us can run in Pap's memory and honor tomorrow. If you're one of those social media people, hashtag #thisonesforyoupap & #meetyaatthefinishlinepap. If not, let me know if you get out and moving.
Tomorrow will always be a hard day, remembering the day I lost Pap, only a bit more than a month after losing my paternal grandpa, Pap Pap in September of 2016. Fall is always a difficult time for me. Running makes it a smidge easier.
#meetyaatthefinishlinepap
#thisonesforyoupap