OK, this motivates the hell out of me. Motivates me to PT a little harder. Motivates me to motivate some of my young Marines half my age who seem to having a hard time passing the Airborne PFT. Motivates me to sign up for next year’s A10M.
I saw the story on Fox News yesterday, with reporter (and racer) Griff Jenkins being interviewed by (the jaw-dropping) Julie Banderas on these never-say-die runners. He quoted MAJ Mark Rozelle, who lost a foot in Iraq: “You can knock an American down, but you can’t keep us down.” Here’s MAJ Rozelle stretching:
Jenkins said that MAJ Rozelle had crossed the finish line in 90 minutes. Not bad at all, considering the distance he ran and the high temperatures during the race. (One man died 200 meters short of the finish.)
I hear the challenge. Have you?
(And good work to one Op-Forian who wrote in to say he crossed the line at 70 minutes!)
I only hope we civilians prove worth of these troops that are serving our nation. They are a magnificent bunch.
AWESOME POST!
I read a news article with Rozelle, will have to find the link. He had some money message for AQ “even though I’ve lost limbs, I’m still stronger than you.”
That’s the type of dude who strolls into the gates of hell and comes back holding a dry martini.
Yep, BR, very motivating. How about an OP-FOR 2008 Marine Corps Marathon? Is that motivating enough? :)
Sheesh, and I’ve been bitching about the tendonitis in my knee…….hangs head, slinks to the basement and laces up running shoes…..
I watched some footage from the race and saw several amputees and one DOUBLE amputee.
Amazing stuff… both their personal grit and the technology that enables them.
My dad is an amputee and his leg is NOTHING like what these guys have.
Motivating to be sure… but I’d take it one step further and say it’s nothing less than awe-inspiring.
I had the great privilege of meeting and running with MAJ Rozelle over a year ago. He is a Davidson College alumnus (which is where I went to undergrad) and while I was briefly attached to the AROTC detachment there he came back to his alma mater to give a talk… but first he did PT with us. After we were done with organized PT, he asked for any volunteers who wanted to go on a 5-6 mile run around town. So off we went, and after about two miles I started to pull away from the main group, which was MAJ Rozelle and about four other cadets. At that point, MAJ Rozelle calls to me, “Hey, where do you think YOU’RE going?” and breaks into a sprint to catch up with me. One of the most motivating things I’ve ever witnessed. One hell of a guy.
I saw them on t.v. They are stronger than people with two legs.
I actually ran in the same Army 10 Miler last sunday and passed a few of these guys. Real warriors. Most of the runners were military or related to military. Even more impressive were Gold Star Moms running..
And yes, even though I am in the Air Force I did finish the race :)