Mark Wagner
Well-known member
Well I am less then one month out from the marathon now. Last month I ran 141.6 miles and if I stay on my training plan, I should step that up to about 150 miles for the month of June. This thursday I'll run my longest training run; 20 miles, then start tapering down for the marathon on July 10th.
It has been a wearing couple of months trying to train with so much going on around me. My daughter graduates from High School next Monday. Then the marathon is in July. Then my other daughter is getting married on the beach in Oregon on the 12th of July. And too top it off, one of my other daughters is going to have baby in November. Oh, and I almost forgot, my youngest daughter made the high school cheer squad and is going to camp in the next couple of weeks. Let's see, 1,2,3,4, that's all my daughters. (Now you see why I always keep my shotgun cleaned up and ready!!
You know my two boys are out and on their own. I use to hike and camp, now I have to go to the mall for entertainment.
This will be marathon number four, and my first one here in my home state of Washington. This year I will be running the marathon in rememberance of a one time very close friend of mine, whom was killed in Iraq by a sucide bomber around 2 months ago. I admit this one broke my heart something terrible. His name is Glen Watkins. He left a wife and four children. Glen was my assigned gunner on a tank crew around 7 years ago. He was a very strong Christian man, whom when the tank would stop rolling, and we would stand down for a period of time, you could find Glen off alone with his Bible open, or a head set on while he listen to Christian music. If you needed a volunteer he was the first to step up to the front. He did his tour in Iraq, then volunteered to extend for six additional months. He made it around 90 days. He died while manning a 60 cal machine gun on patrol. Four soldiers whom were with him were wounded. The next time you look at our flag, and you see the red stripes, please remember Glen, and the many brave men and women whom volunteer to serve, so people like you and me, can freely go about our lives; working, enjoying our famlies, and running marathons in peace. Sorry for my long explanation. I miss knowing I'll not see him. I just wish I could have told him how much of an inspiration he was to me. Please keep his wife Ann and their four children in your prayers.
Take care you all ... Mark
It has been a wearing couple of months trying to train with so much going on around me. My daughter graduates from High School next Monday. Then the marathon is in July. Then my other daughter is getting married on the beach in Oregon on the 12th of July. And too top it off, one of my other daughters is going to have baby in November. Oh, and I almost forgot, my youngest daughter made the high school cheer squad and is going to camp in the next couple of weeks. Let's see, 1,2,3,4, that's all my daughters. (Now you see why I always keep my shotgun cleaned up and ready!!
You know my two boys are out and on their own. I use to hike and camp, now I have to go to the mall for entertainment. This will be marathon number four, and my first one here in my home state of Washington. This year I will be running the marathon in rememberance of a one time very close friend of mine, whom was killed in Iraq by a sucide bomber around 2 months ago. I admit this one broke my heart something terrible. His name is Glen Watkins. He left a wife and four children. Glen was my assigned gunner on a tank crew around 7 years ago. He was a very strong Christian man, whom when the tank would stop rolling, and we would stand down for a period of time, you could find Glen off alone with his Bible open, or a head set on while he listen to Christian music. If you needed a volunteer he was the first to step up to the front. He did his tour in Iraq, then volunteered to extend for six additional months. He made it around 90 days. He died while manning a 60 cal machine gun on patrol. Four soldiers whom were with him were wounded. The next time you look at our flag, and you see the red stripes, please remember Glen, and the many brave men and women whom volunteer to serve, so people like you and me, can freely go about our lives; working, enjoying our famlies, and running marathons in peace. Sorry for my long explanation. I miss knowing I'll not see him. I just wish I could have told him how much of an inspiration he was to me. Please keep his wife Ann and their four children in your prayers.
Take care you all ... Mark
