Seven weeks ago, my friends encouraged me to sign up for the Memorial Day 50k. This was not a lot of time to train, but who can say no to running a 50k surrounded by friends for a good cause.

The race was to run the length of Marshall County (33 miles) in honor of our local hero, Army Sgt David M Hierholzer who gave the ultimate sacrifice July 24, 2006 in Peach Valley, Konar Province, Afghanistan.

We started at 5am north of Chapel Hill after the national anthem was sung and lined up behind three men from the military. They stayed up front for the majority of the ultra.

At times the highway seemed long and lonely and at other times you had runners all around you. The race organizer had a gentleman on a bicycle leading the runners and to protect from oncoming traffic and a golf cart at the back to pick up any stragglers and to keep the group moving.

We had aid stations approximately every three miles and at certain distances other runners joined so that they could finish their marathon, half-marathon or 10k. We ran through Chapel Hill, Henry Horton State Park, Lewisburg, and Cornersville before reaching the edge of the county at highway 65.

The aid stations as mentioned above were every 3 miles +/-. I tried to carry everything in my vest, but still needed my water replenished and it was hard to say no to the watermelon. The difficulty with the aid station was waiting for everyone to arrive before we all started again as a group. This meant you could be at the aid station for up to fifteen minutes if not more. Had to keep stretching.

For the last two miles runners were given the option to wear a vest. The weighted vest was to symbolize the weight of the families who lost a son or daughter that paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

I believe that we run most of the time to forget. Whether it is our bills, our work or our families, running provides that outlet to clear our heads and straighten ourselves. This race was to remember. To think about loved ones to think about friends to think about those that we did not know that paid with everything so we could have our freedom. To show support to those that came out to run for their loss. To donate to the community through this event is something I will consider doing again.

#ultratraining #memorialday #squirrelsnutbutter #skratchlabs