Run for 32

Most of you know that I ran as part of the "Run for 32" team in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon this weekend. It was a unique experience that I wanted to share. So here is my recap of the event from a Hokie perspective.

First and foremost, hats off to Joel Kelly for outstanding organization, and amazing passion for what he pulled off. The Run for 32 team was one of the most prevalent charity groups in the race. I felt like I saw as many maroon Run for 32 shirts as I saw purple Team in Training (TNT) shirts. It is not easy to match the most successful charity group in all of road racing. The spirit of Virginia Tech was strong before, during, and after the race.

Our family went to the football game on Saturday. Before kickoff, we visited the memorial for the first time. It was tougher than I thought it would be to walk past 32 stones etched with the names of those who we lost. The game was also an emotional event for everyone there. We left with two minutes to go in the game and flew out of Blacksburg trying to beat the traffic. Even leaving early, we did not get to our hotel until after 9:30 pm the night before the race, with two kids still to put in bed. Thankfully Scott was able to pick up my race packet which saved me time and frustration.

Knowing I had to be up at 4:00 a.m., I had a bad night of sleep and had low expectations for the race. I was not able to start with the main Run for 32 group, but proudly wore my race shirt, and had a name pinned to my shirt that I was running for. I tried to start slow, take things easy, and enjoy the bands and the crowds. I received lots of cheers from fellow Hokies, and just the general population. It made me feel great.

At mile three I joined up with another Team Member, Glenn. Glenn is a Marlyland Terp, but felt the desire to run for our cause. We talked football and ran together for about the next five miles. At this point in the race you are one block away from the finish, but you now run 2+ miles AWAY from it before turning on the boardwalk and running back to the finish. In the past two years I have crashed at this part of the course. It is mentally very tough to know that every step you take away from the finish line, you will need to run again just one block away. The last two miles are without any shade, and when the temperatures are the warmest as well.

This year, something was different. I knew I was NOT going to fail. I knew I was going to break through any walls that got in my way. When I felt tired, I pounded the Run for 32 printed on my shirt. That gave me strength. I would put my hand on the Brian Roy Bluhm name pinned to my shirt and remind myself what and who I was running for. I thanked God for me being able to run the race. I pushed through the tiredness and pain, because I knew I was lucky just to be able to run.

My fastest two miles were my last two. I spent those miles pointing at my shirt for the fans to see. Encouraging cheers from the crowd, and holding my arms up high as I crossed the finish line. I ended up running a PR by more than two minutes, and knocked over 12 minutes over last years Rock n' Roll time. I honestly believe I would not have been able to do either without the strength of Brian Roy Bluhm and the Run for 32 to push me through.

Everyday you wake up friends, remind yourself how lucky we all are to be alive. It has become too easy to say for us all, but we must truly never forget those we lost of April 16, 2007.

• Ross Abdallah Alameddine
• Christopher James Bishop
• Brian Roy Bluhm
• Ryan Christopher Clark
• Austin Michelle Cloyd
• Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
• Dr. Kevin P. Granata
• Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
• Caitlin Millar Hammaren
• Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
• Rachael Elizabeth Hill
• Emily Jane Hilscher
• Jarrett Lee Lane
• Matthew Joseph La Porte
• Henry J. Lee
• Dr. Liviu Librescu
• Dr. G. V. Loganathan
• Partahi M. H. Lumbantoruan
• Lauren Ashley McCain
• Daniel Patrick O'Neil
• Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
• Minal Hiralal Panchal
• Daniel Alejandro Perez
• Erin Nicole Peterson
• Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
• Julia Kathleen Pryde
• Mary Karen Read
• Reema Joseph Samaha
• Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
• Leslie Geraldine Sherman
• Maxine Shelly Turner
• Nicole Regina White