10 Mile Rock

The Long Way Up: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to help find the cure for Parkinson's disease

2012-02-11T09:08:00.000-06:00

In August 2012, I will take on the greatest physical and mental challenge I have ever faced. As a Team Fox member, I will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease. I am dedicating my efforts to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF).

Team Fox is MJFF's grassroots community fundraising program. It is made up of thousands of people worldwide who raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease research. All funds raised through Team Fox go directly to MJFF to further its mission to accelerate the delivery of life-changing treatments, and ultimately a cure, to people with Parkinson's disease.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain rise in the world, rising 15,100 feet (4,600 meters) from its base. It will take six days trekking through an example of virtually every ecosystem on earth ... glacier, snowfields, deserts, alpine moorland, savannah, and tropical jungle to reach then descend from Uhuru peak at 19,340 feet (5, 895 meters), the highest summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Kilimanjaro climb will be one of the toughest challenges I've ever faced, but it pales in comparison to the challenges faced every day by those battling Parkinson's disease. I know, because I have fought my own battle with PD for more than nine years. That's why the challenge of reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a very special life event for me ... because it's something I didn't imagine possible not long ago.

I’m asking for your support in our race to put an end to PD. My personal goal is to raise $10,000. Please help me reach my goal by making a contribution now. Donations are tax‐deductible to the full extent allowed by law and can be made payable to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. You can visit my Team Fox fundraising page at TheLongWayUp.org to make a secure gift online or get the address to mail in a donation. I invite you to join me in making a difference in the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease.

Thank you in advance for your generous support as we strive together toward the finish line on the fast track to a cure.

Roger

Please visit and "Like" my Facebook page for this event: The Long Way Up: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to help find the cure for PD

By Decision

2012-01-25T23:06:00.000-06:00

In sports,what is the difference between winning and losing? Sometimes, the difference is as wide as theGrand Canyon; more often, the difference is as fine as a razor’s edge. Victory or defeat is determined by the score.

In life, victory usually isn’t as definitive. Rarely do we see a scoreboard or score card;life just isn’t that easy. Similar tomany epic boxing matches, victory in life is determined by decision. Such is the case in regard to life-changingillnesses or injuries that affect us or our loved ones.

When you find yourself on the floor, don’t give up. Get up.

The speed at which our lives change with an unexpected battle like disease or severe injury is akin to suddenly finding yourself lying on the mat in the first round of a fight, stunned by the blow, looking up with disbelief at seeing your foe standing over you. How do you deal with it? You can hope to get an advantage - that one, brief opening - to get a knockout, but it’s more likely that your best option is to win as many rounds as possible to win the fight by decision.

Rope-a-dope.
Use it to get through the initial stages of the disease or injury aftermath.

Once you’reback on your feet, the fight goes on. Ittakes some time for physicians to figure things out and get their treatmentplans in place. Meanwhile, you’re stillgroggy from the one-two punch that put you on the mat. So, what do you do to get through thisphase? You will have to take physicaland psychological battering that’s coming at you, but you can have a plan. It’s called rope-a-dope. Muhammad Ali used this tactic in the Rumblein the Jungle fight with George Foreman. Lean against the ropes – your family and friends – in a protected stanceto help you absorb the blows and conserve energy while allowing your body and mind to recover from theinitial injury or onslaught of the disease.

Every day ...

is another chance to win a round.

If we werekeeping score, you have lost most of the early rounds. Being knocked down and using rope-a-dopedon’t score many points. But, you mustremember the goal – win as many rounds as possible to win by decision. At this point in the fight, how do you turnthings around and begin to win rounds? At first, you survive. Then, youlive well by finding victories, big or small, in each day.

Go the championship distance.

Don’t allowyourself to be limited by your circumstances. Never quit. Live like you arecured while hoping for the cure. By notallowing disease or injury to dominate your life or define who you are, youwill win every remaining round. Yourultimate victory by decision is assured.

Freddie Roach got off the boxing mat and triumphed.

First Summit: The Story of 10 Mile Rock

2012-01-01T14:06:00.000-06:00

So, it’s New Year’s Day, and you’re fired up about your resolutions for the New Year … or, maybe not. 2011 was one of the greatest years of my life. I learned a lot about life changes, and I’d like to share some insight that I hope will help my friends make 2012 one of the best years possible. I want to share the story of 10 Mile Rock, aka “the first summit.”

Don’t allow other people to define you;

you have the ultimate power to define who and what you are.

Most of my long-time friends know my personal history/story. Some of my new friends may not. So, a brief history is needed to understand where I’m coming from. For most of my life I was fairly fit, with a few periods where I was lax. When I was 36 years old, I was sucker punched by Parkinson’s disease. Although I kept a positive outlook on life, my physical health progressively deteriorated over the course of eight years. A multitude of meds helped with the symptoms of PD but, combined with a lack of exercise (all my energy went into fighting PD), caused all sorts of other problems. Weight gain and associated health problems only compounded the original problem. Into this toxic mixture, add the stressors of being forced to retire from a great job and the psychological impact of being labeled or thought of as “less than able.” I desperately wanted to be whole again, but couldn’t seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Then, my Alive Day happened. Most often, the term, “Alive Day,” is used by those in the military who survived a horrible event that left them with catastrophic injuries, but alive. In general, it can mean the day that one comes to a fork in life’s road – one path leads to death, the other to a new life. My Alive Day was September 22, 2010. That day, I began the process of not only reclaiming the life I had before PD and the associated problems, but a better life that included all of the lessons learned from eight long years of struggle. Late at night on the fourth floor of a hospital ward, I literally took the first steps toward “the first summit,” although I didn't quite understand the concept at the time.

Learn to embrace the suck.

My journey didn’t start at the bottom of the hill … it started at the bottom of a large hole at the bottom of the hill that took years to dig. A few days after those first steps in the hospital, just shy of 300 lbs on weak legs, underdeveloped from years of little use, I took a walk without the aid of the cane that had become part of me. Three quarters of a mile around a lake trail near my home took an hour to complete. It sucked. I kept repeating to myself a phrase that I once heard my older son (a Marine Corps veteran of OIF and OEF) say about doing something that he didn’t enjoy but had to do nonetheless – “embrace the suck.”

Learning to embrace the suck not only applied to making my body do things it hadn’t done in a long, long time, but also to lifelong habits regarding nutrition. God, how I had loved breads, sweets, and carbonated drinks. Gone. Hamburgers, pizza, biscuits, southern sawmill gravy, fried foods, fast foods – gone. Hello, “paleo diet.” It’s not really a diet, per se, but rather a guideline. Lean meats, fruit, veggies, little to no grains – whole, fresh foods without preservatives. Most folks accustomed to eating all their meals from a box, a can or a Styrofoam container may think of it as the “hippie living on an organic farm diet.”

I went back to the lake trail day after day for a week, adding a little distance each day. Just going in circles without a destination doesn’t suit me very well. I’m a goal-oriented guy. I had been so focused on the next step in front of me that I had noticed very little of my surroundings while on the trail. I finally stopped to take stock of my progress when I noticed a very large rock outcropping on the other side of the lake. I had walked past it a few times, but hadn’t really noticed it. It was the only natural part along the shore of a man-made lake. So large that it couldn’t be moved by the machinery that had cleared the valley and built the dam for the lake. I made my way to the other side of the lake to have a closer look.

When I came to the rock, I started to climb up on it for a better view of the lake and surroundings, but before I took the first step, I stopped. Men had cut trees and moved tons of dirt and smaller rocks to make this lake, but had been unable to move this large rock. I didn’t deserve to stand on this rock – not yet, anyway. There it was – the first goal – the first summit.

10 Mile Rock

Set goals that are significantly beyond your immediate grasp.

Standing there looking at the rock, I decided that I would not stand on top of the rock until I reached the goal of walking 10 miles in one day. Thus, the rock became known to me as “10 Mile Rock.” Now, those ¾ mile laps around the lake trail had some purpose. I was going to achieve the goal or die trying. I began to wake each day excited about doing laps around the lake trail, adding distance each day. I kept record of every step I took, and the miles started adding up. Not only did each step benefit me physically, it allowed uninterrupted time to think – and, I had a lot to think about.

Find a reason for whatever you’re doing that benefits someone else.

Doing something for others is a stronger driving force than doing it just for yourself.

During the same period of time that I was embarking on my quest for the first summit, my older son was on the other side of the world pounding the ground as well. The main difference between my journey and his – as a Marine Corps infantryman in Afghanistan, each step he took could be his last. As the number of casualties grew, so did my fear that I would never see my son again. However, as strong as that fear was, the belief that I would see him again was stronger. Not only did I want to reach the first summit for my own benefit, I wanted to be ready for his homecoming, ready to go wherever he needed me to go with him. More about that later …

Reaching milestones became addictive; three miles in one day, then five miles, then eight miles. On January 4, 2011, three months after making the first lap around the lake, my younger son signed a contract joining the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program. That day, driven by feelings of pride for both my sons’ willingness to serve their country and the burden of debt and gratitude for the sacrifices made by my son’s brother Marines in Afghanistan, I decided that it was time to reach the first summit. For three hours and 16 minutes, I put one foot in front of the other. The thought of quitting never entered my mind, regardless of the struggle. At the end of the ten miles, I reached the first summit. I finally stood on top of 10 Mile Rock.

The view from the first summit enabled me to see the next summit - using my personal journey to help others. I had an idea that day; why not use the miles I logged in an effort to provide assistance for wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan? I gathered support for the effort from friends and family raising donations based on the number of miles I walked. Others joined and logged miles of their own. Three months and 255 hard miles later, we gathered around the lake and 10 Mile Rock to honor the fallen and in support of the wounded. The result - $5,700 was raised and donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. We reached the summit and brought several others along with us.

There will be small-minded people with either underdeveloped imaginations or

self-esteem issues jeering from the peanut gallery. Stay true to your vision.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” -- Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic," Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Some folks may think, “You walked ten miles … so what?” I know, because I’ve met and/or spoken with a few of them. They should serve to add fuel to the fire that burns within you. Let them think you are crazy for staying the course on your journey to the first summit and every summit that comes thereafter. They’re all about putting limits on others to lift themselves up. Think the guys in the photo below listened to the naysayers?

There will always be another summit to reach.

When you reach a summit, bask in the feeling of exhilaration. Enjoy it and savor it. Then, take a 360 degree look around and upward for the next one. Using the “Set goals that are significantly beyond your immediate grasp” principle, I set my sights on the next summit. Marathon. Run, crawl or walk; I started dreaming about that number. 26.2 miles in one day. Less than six months earlier, I had taken my first steps on this journey, and I was thinking about a marathon? It definitely met the criteria of “beyond my immediate grasp.” That settled it. A brief Google search gave me the first view of the next summit. The Bataan Memorial Death March is marathon-length march through the New Mexico desert. A few hundred run the course, but thousands hike it carrying weighted backpacks. The veterans in the photo above hiked the course in preparation for their Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, so why couldn’t I do it? I bought a backpack and started hiking every hill within five miles of my house. Many people in the area probably thought I was nuts – hiking the streets in overwhelming heat, rain, cold, and sleet/snow lugging a hiking backpack. I didn’t care; I had the next summit to reach.

The plan was to train up to the 26.2 mile distance, culminating with the Bataan Memorial Death March in March 2012. Plans are made to be changed. On a beautiful October day in the Smoky Mountains while training to reach one summit, I found myself standing on top of an unexpected one. I reached the 26.2 miles distance six months ahead of schedule. Let’s take a quick look back: In just a little more than a year, a journey that started with a few tentative steps around a hospital floor had reached the level of hiking the distance of a marathon, carrying a 25 lb weighted backpack, in one day. I have no doubt that I will start and finish the Bataan Memorial march. I’m excited about reaching that summit, then, looking for the next one after that.

Live like you’re cured.

For a long portion of my journey to better health, I didn’t know what to call it. Living right? Living healthy? Then one day during a discussion with my son about leaving yet another medication behind me, he became agitated with concern and said, “Dammit, Dad, you’re acting like you’re cured or something.” Booom! He had hit the nail on the head, describing my new lifestyle in a nut shell. “Live like you’re cured,” has become my motto. Affliction is a mindset that severely limits our potential for greatness. I see people who have all their body parts griping about this malady or minor ache/pain, saying, “I can’t” over and over again. Then, I see double amputees climbing mountains or walking a marathon, and a paraplegic winning handcycle races. Which is living without limitations? Which is afflicted? Which is living like they’re cured?

The following are the results thus far of my journey toward better health; this is but one example of the change that can happen in one year with exercise, proper nutrition and a positive attitude:

Nearly 1,100 miles walked and/or hiked in 15 months (920 miles during 2011)
151 miles hiked in one month (Dec 2011)
26.2 miles hiked in one day (October 14, 2011)

90+ lbs lost
Zero medications
Diabetes - gone
Sleep apnea - gone
Reflux - gone
High cholesterol – now in normal range
Parkinson’s disease - from being symptomatic and needing multiple medications to a state of near “remission” without medication

You are the only one who can make the decision to change your life.

Earlier, I mentioned that part of my motivation for change was to be able to go wherever my son needed me to go with him once he returned from Afghanistan. All the miles, all the hills, all the trails prepared me to be ready when called upon. He needed me in November 2011, and I was ready. We took a trip to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. He needed a demarcation line, a summit from which to see his future, his military service behind him and the beginning of college life and a civilian career ahead of him. I was physically ready and able to walk beside him toward that summit when the time came, both literally and figuratively. At 9,500 ft elevation on the Barr Trail leading to Pikes Peak, we found that much sought after summit – the stillness and the total absence of the sights and sounds of civilization that he needed - an experience that I was privileged to share with him.

My son. Barr Trail. Colorado Springs, Colorado

I don’t share my story with you for the purpose of a “look at me" moment or an “attaboy.” I’m sharing it with you as an example of what you are capable of doing. If you want to call it a New Year’s resolution, that’s fine by me. I think a better term is, “New Life Commitment.” Think about what you want to accomplish in 2012 in regard to your health. What life events do you want/need to be physically prepared for? No matter where you’re at right now, you can see tremendous changes if you commit to it, accept no limits, and chase your goals like a man with his hair on fire.

In one year, or 12 months, or 365 days (however you want to measure time), I worked/fought /struggled for and achieved a new life. You can, too. It all starts with the journey to the first summit. Now, get up from the couch and go find your 10 Mile Rock.

Me. Overlooking the Canyonlands. Moab, Utah

1,000 miles

2011-12-18T15:59:00.000-06:00

For the first eight years after receiving the Parkinson’s diagnosis and the grim prognosis that accompanied it, I never looked to the Heavens and asked, “Why me?” However, I did wonder how I was supposed to use it. Looking back, I realize that it humbled me, and gave me perspective I wouldn’t have otherwise. It taught me, and gave me compassion for others that I was lacking. It toughened me, and taught me how to fight. Once I learned how to fight, I became consumed with the burning desire to win.

So, what did I need to do to win? Tough question. I had a positive attitude, but I had reluctantly accepted what doctors and society said was my fate. I thought, “Just make the best of the situation.” Winning, though, would require selling out - I refused to accept the labels “disabled” or “handicapped.” Instead of accepting “I can’t do,” I said “I can do.” Winning would require acting and living like “I am cured.” Granted, it’s easier to say it than to do it. On wobbly legs, underdeveloped from years of lack of use, I took my first steps toward winning.

A journey that started with a few laps around the hospital floor on my Alive Day and a milestone reached yesterday with a 12-mile hike. In between, I have hiked roads throughout the Southeast; from the beaches of the Carolinas to the streets of Manhattan; from the mountains of Colorado to the canyons of Utah. Along the way, I left disease and brokeness behind, and found new life. May each of you find yours.

A "must read" for Bataan Memorial Death March participants

2011-11-25T12:39:00.001-06:00

As a newly registered participant for the 23rd Bataan Memorial Death March, and as someone who has logged over 600 miles of hiking with a weighted backpack in preparation for the march, I wanted to know more about the Bataan Death March. In fact, I feel obligated to know more. After reviewing several books online, I ordered two of them.

I just finished the first of them. Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides is one of the best historical reads I have ever undertaken. It reads like a fiction novel. An historically accurate, emotional roller coaster, it dares anyone with even the slightest patriotic stirrings to finish it's pages without feeling the despair, bravery and hope of the Bataan marchers / Cabanatuan prisoners while also telling the story of the 6th Rangers who took on the perilous mission to liberate them.

I highly recommend Ghost Soldiers to anyone planning to participate in the memorial march and anyone who has an interest in a well-written account of WWII history.

Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission

Registration for the 23rd Bataan Memorial Death March is now open

2011-11-22T17:37:00.001-06:00

My son and I are all in.

Bataan Memorial Death March Home Page

Active.com - Online Registration

race for the sun

2011-10-16T19:23:00.001-05:00

I'm gonna race for the morning sun

I can't wait for the day that's on it's way

I gonna race for the morning sun

And it's gonna shine on me

Oh, it's gonna shine a light right down on me

And I swear I'll find where I wanna be

And I'll live the day like it's the only one

I'm gonna race for the sun

-- 3 Doors Down --

Cades Cove

Great Smokey Mountains National Park

I'm ready for Bataan

2011-10-05T21:56:00.000-05:00

Support the Semper Fi Fund - Get Your USMC-themed Survival Bracelet

2011-08-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

Help support Team BMDM 2012's effort to raise funds for the Semper Fi Fund. All proceeds from the "sale" of these USMC-theme survival bracelets goes to support Semper Fi Fund's mission. A donation in the amount listed as the sale price to the Semper Fi Fund through Team BMDM's donation page is all that's required to "purchase" a bracelet. To obtain your bracelet(s), contact me at: usmcdadx2@gmail.com.

Team BMDM 2012 - HFOT online donation site: http://www.active.com/donate/teambmdm2012-hfot

The bracelets are made from industrial grade 550 parachute cord, otherwise known as 550 cord or paracord. Each survival bracelet includes 7-9 feet of paracord.

Click HERE to see the collection.

Top 10 Tips for Exercising with Parkinson’s Disease

2011-08-05T10:56:00.000-05:00

Great advice for the battle with PD.

While on the way to Bataan ...

2011-07-25T08:02:00.000-05:00

A simple thank you

2011-07-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

"A simple 'thank you' to a servicemember, the uniformed services, is the best they could get. It's totally rewarding. Medals and stuff are great, but when you get that pat on the back, a simple 'thank you,' it's immensely rewarding to us." -- Sergeant First Class Leroy A. Petry, Medal of Honor Recipient

Thank you, SFC Petry, for your service and your acts above and beyond the call of duty. Here's a 'Thank You' to all servicemembers who have served and those who serve today. May you never be forgotten.

Going 26.2 with a purpose

2011-07-13T19:15:00.003-05:00

In my last post, I described what it means to me personally to make the 26.2 mile journey through the NM terrain. Now, I want to share what it can mean for many others.

At this point, there are seven others who are committed to participating with me in the 2012 Bataan Memorial Death March as an unofficial team. Our team includes current and former active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, law enforcement representatives, and regular Joes. In addition to our personal reward for finishing the March, we believe that our efforts should benefit others. We have agreed upon four charities for which we want to raise funds through our participation, and have created online donation sites for each charity, specific to our efforts. For purposes of fundraising, we have created Team BMDM 2012. Our fundraising goal is $2,500 for each charity, for a total of $10,000. Please help us help our wounded troops and those who are fighting a different battle with Parkinson's Disease.

The charities and the links to the online donation pages:

About Homes For Our Troops: " Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004. We are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is our duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently."

Team BMDM 2012 - HFOT online donation site: http://www.active.com/donate/teambmdm2012-hfot

About Semper Fi Fund: "The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit set up to provide immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. We direct urgently needed resources to post 9-11 Marines and Sailors, as well as members of the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard who serve in support of Marine forces. The Semper Fi Fund (SFF) provides relief for financial needs that arise during hospitalization and recovery as well as assistance for those with perpetuating needs."

Team BMDM 2012 - SFF online donation site: http://www.active.com/donate/teambmdm2012-SFF

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: "The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today."

Team BMDM 2012 - MJFF online donation site: http://www.active.com/donate/teambmdm2012-MJFF

About the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's: "The Foundation provides essential information, practical tools and inspiration to people living with Parkinson’s and funds research closely aligned with our mission – improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s."

Team BMDM 2012 - DPFP online donation site: http://www.active.com/donate/teambmdm2012-DPFP

26.2

2011-06-28T10:45:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen one of the 13.1 or 26.2 stickers on someone's car, truck or van? They represent having completed a half marathon (13.1 miles) or a marathon (26.2 miles). Even before beginning my battle with PD, when I saw one of those stickers on an auto I would think, "yeah, right, like I'll ever have one of those on my truck." Not because I thought it silly - just beyond my reach.

Since deciding a few months ago to take on the 2012 Bataan Memorial Death March, the "26.2" means something different and much more important to me. Often, our deepest thoughts occur while drifting off to sleep or when we wake. During these times, the image of the 26.2 sticker is among my thoughts more often than not. I wouldn't call it an obsession, but reaching the goal of covering that distance on foot (walking/hiking, not running - yet) has become very important.

Everyone who reaches the goal and puts the 26.2 sticker on their ride has a different story to tell. However, all of their stories have common threads - dedication, perseverance, doubt, struggle, pain and, most importantly, victory. I look forward to placing the sticker on my vehicle - for my personal victory, and for what it represents for my brothers and sisters fighting their battles with PD.

"He bit off more than he could chew"

2011-06-26T08:08:00.001-05:00

Ever heard the sayings, "eyes too big for his stomach," or "he bit off more than he could chew"? During this morning's hike, I finally had to admit this to myself.

I've been training for several weeks for the Bataan Memorial Death March, heavy division (a 26.2 mile hike through the New Mexico desert carrying a pack weighing at least 35 lbs). This is as tough as it gets and, by nature, I usually go straight for the most difficult tasks. My friends who have agreed to take on this challenge with me (or as my older son says, he was "voluntold") have been busting their rears training on their own.

I have tried several packs in an attempt to make this work. Although I have made great strides (pun intended) in regard to walking distances with a normal gait, each time I am at the full weight my legs begin to fade after 5+ miles. As great as I have felt recently, a part of me has been denying that I still have PD. The toughest part is admitting to myself that my foe is still alive within me and can sometimes keep me from doing what I want to do.

So, I have reevaluated the goal. What is more important? Finishing the 26.2 miles (light division), or not finishing (heavy division). Victory or defeat? Kind of a no-brainer, huh? Teammates ... feel free to put down your packs and focus on finishing the march.

Cades Cove Hike

2011-06-21T12:15:00.001-05:00

On the Saturday before Father's Day, I hiked the 10 mile loop around Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park (Tennessee) with a friend who is also preparing for the 2012 BMDM. I'm up to 32 lbs total pack weight with another 13 lbs to be added over the course of training. The hike began with beautiful weather, but ended with a thunderstorm including pea-sized hail over the last two miles of the hike. We saw several deer and came within 50 feet of a mama Black Bear and her cub. All things considered, it was a great day.

Click the link below for some photos of the hike in one of the most beautiful places east of the Mississippi River.

Cades Cove Hike

Upping the Ante

2011-06-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

First day training with 25+ lbs in the ruck (big jump from 10 lbs - probably too big). 5.2 miles on a 90+ degrees day. Immediately following the hike, I was sore, tired and so thankful to God Almighty for restoring my body, enabling me to do such things.

This evening, I feel like someone cut my right side trapezius muscle with a knife. Ugh. For my friends training for the Bataan ... don't use plate weights in the ruck as the weight isn't evenly distributed (it rides too low in the pack). This afternoon, I bought four 10 lb bags of rice at Sam's for less than $20 - the weight can be added in 10 lb increments and is more evenly distributed.

Remember

2011-05-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

May God bless and may we never forget those who serve and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and country.

The Next Challenge - The 23rd Bataan Memorial Death March

2011-05-29T11:49:00.002-05:00

For my friends who have expressed interest in joining me to take on the challenge of a lifetime ... The Bataan Memorial Death March. The 23rd BMDM will be held on March 25, 2012, at the White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

This blog has been dormant since the Wounded Warrior Walk a couple months ago. The focus now shifts to providing relevant info regarding preparation for the 23rd BMDM. See the following link for specific info (books, gear, schedules, etc.): http://marinedadx2.blogspot.com/p/23rd-bataan-memorial-death-march.html

I have been training for a few weeks now (after taking 4 weeks off to allow a stress fracture in my foot to heal). I wear a back pack each time I walk/hike, as I plan on entering the "civilian heavy" category (35 lbs in the pack, plus the pack weight and any drinks, supplements, etc.). I have walked carrying the required weight ... it definitely takes some getting used to. Please, don't feel obligated to "go heavy," especially if you have a history of back problems. For me, the choice to "go heavy" is because I want it to be the most difficult and challenging - I don't want to wonder if I could have ...

I am currently at 10 lbs in the pack and will increase by 10 lbs each time the current weight becomes comfortable, working up to the 35 lbs gradually. I have also tried a couple different packs: an ALICE pack and the Camelbak Max Motherlode (the same pack my son, USMC Infantry, used in Afghanistan). Although the ALICE pack is much cheaper, the Camelbak is the most comfortable in my opinion.

Check back often for more info. I welcome any info/suggestions as we prepare for this challenge.

Fundraising Update

2011-04-21T07:44:00.002-05:00

http://marinedadx2.blogspot.com/p/miles-walked-for-wwp.html

TWWWP - A Great Day

2011-03-26T21:27:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all who participated today in the 5 mile Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project. Appx 40 people came out in the cool, cloudy and sometimes rainy weather to benefit Wounded Warrior Project in honor of the memory of the one Sailor and 14 Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice during their most recent deployment to Afghanistan. We were fortunate to have three active duty 2/9 Marines and one former 2/9 Marine in attendance.

Almost $1,000 in donations were contributed today. Combined with previous donations and pledged donations, our efforts will exceed the $5,000 goal.

Thanks to all who have given, both those who were able to attend and walk with us today and those who were with us in their hearts and minds.

Indebted

2011-03-26T06:04:00.007-05:00

Today is the date I have had circled on the calendar for almost three months.

I have walked thinking about the fallen and the wounded - around the lake trail near my home in Alabama; on the beaches of North Carolina; up and down the hills of East Tennessee; around Ground Zero and Times Square; and, through the historic streets of Charleston, SC. A few times I have felt a small measure of pride for my efforts, but just as quickly I chastise myself for feeling that way.

Although I believe that I have given my best effort, it's not enough. I could walk the streets, roads and highways of the United States every day for the remainder of my life and it wouldn't be enough to adequately express my gratitude for the service and the sacrifices that have been made by the brave young men and women of our Armed Forces on my family's behalf. I am forever indebted to them - including my own son - and am grateful that I feel the burden of the debt. It drives me to live each day to the fullest because so many have put themselves in harm's way and sacrificed their bodies or their very lives for our freedom as Americans.

What about tomorrow and the days that follow - after the group walk and our memorial for the fallen of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines? What do I, what do we as a grateful nation, do to attempt to repay the debt? Pray for those in harm's way. Care for the wounded. Honor the fallen. Appreciate the freedom we have been given. Be involved. Never forget.

Three wounded warriors tell their stories

2011-03-11T18:57:00.002-06:00

Three young men - all severely wounded in either Marjah or Sangin, Afghanistan, within the last six months tell their stories. Like all wounded warriors, their stories of courage and struggle are the inspiration and the reason for the Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project event.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/03/10/wounded-warriors-2/

2/9 Echo, Afghanistan Deployment: 2010-2011

2011-02-22T01:49:00.003-06:00

YouTube Video of photos from USMC 2/9 Echo Company's deployment to Afghanistan, July 2010-February 2011.

Trussville Walk for WWP - Fundraising Update: 20 FEB 2011

2011-02-20T18:12:00.003-06:00

Thank You to the Howlin' Mad Smith Detachment of the Marine Corps League

2011-02-19T12:54:00.001-06:00

Thanks to the Howlin' Mad Smith Detachment of the Marine Corps League, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, for allowing me to speak at their monthly meeting regarding the Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project. It was my honor to be in the same room with these great people, and their generosity is greatly appreciated.

In addition, I had the honor of standing in the presence of four United States Marines who were part of the U.S. invasion of Iwo Jima, which began 66 years ago today. Semper Fi, Marines.

USMC 2/9 Echo Homecoming

2011-02-09T18:28:00.007-06:00

2/9 Returns From Marjah, Afghanistan

Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project - Fundraising Update

2011-02-04T10:07:00.001-06:00

Fundraising Goal = $5,000

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines Regiment - Job Well Done

2011-01-31T20:43:00.001-06:00

2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment leaves Northern Marjah a safer place

Thanks, Trussville Tribune!

2011-01-27T19:56:00.006-06:00

The Trussville Tribune published an article in today's edition to help raise awareness about the Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project.

Although the goal is to raise donations for WWP, the event on March 26th is open to anyone who wants to walk in memory of the fallen of 2/9 and in honor of the wounded warriors who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. Donors can either sponsor a walker they know, or me, on a per mile basis or make a specific donation in any amount.

Join the Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project and make a donation online.

At the end of the 5 mile walk, we'll meet at the "10 Mile Rock" beside the lake trail for a reading of the names of the fallen. I hope my son will say a few words about his injured brothers and how our efforts support their recovery and what it means to them.

Wounded Warrior Project videos on facebook

2011-01-24T12:44:00.002-06:00

Some short videos that tell just a few of the stories of how the Wounded Warrior Project is fulfilling their vision of fostering the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation's history.

New WWP commercial w/ Trace Adkins

WWP - I'll Stand By You

TRACK Student Profile: Steven Miner

Soldier Ride

Restore

2010 Breezy Point Adaptive Watersports Festival

The Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project is "official"

2011-01-17T19:02:00.009-06:00

The Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project
is now an officially sanctioned WWP fundraising event!

I walk because I can. When I get tired, I remember those who can't walk,
what they'd give to have this simple gift I no longer take for granted, and
I walk harder and farther for them.
I know they would do the same for me.

Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project - Team Page

2011-01-16T08:19:00.001-06:00

Join our team! Go to the links below to become part of the fundraising effort to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project in memory of the fallen Marines and Sailor of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

For online donations, go to:

Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project - Team Page

To print a donation form and mail a donation, go to:

Trussville Walk for Wounded Warrior Project - Google Document

Walk for WWP Sponsor Update

2011-01-11T20:11:00.003-06:00

Several friends have committed to sponsor the Walk for WWP Project. The goal I have in mind is to raise $5,000 in donations for the Wounded Warrior Project. As of today, pledges are estimated to be $2,000 - a great start, but more sponsors are needed to reach the $5K goal.

Walking for the Wounded Warrior Project

2011-01-09T15:55:00.004-06:00

The capstone event, a 5 mile walk/run, will be held for walkers and sponsors on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at the small lake in the Carrington Lakes subdivision, Trussville, Alabama. We'll meet at the clubhouse, and begin the walk at 10:00 a.m.

I'm looking for sponsors and other walkers. If you want to participate and donate to a very worthy organization, please send me an e-mail.