Big news day.
While I try to keep my site’s central message consistent, I find myself over-the-top INSPIRED by our nation’s President. President Obama spoke from Havana – from a Communist nation isolated & ostracized by the U.S. since the 1950’s, a failed policy.
I’m not a Democrat, I’m a registered Libertarian. Not a believer in big Government. Sincerely & fervently, do not believe a centralized D.C. think-tank solution is the same best answer for all Americans – confident the people of Colorado know best how to solve the problems of Colorado.
…but unlike our nation’s government, crippled by divisive politics, I have the ability to look beyond party politics & applaud our President’s actions today in Cuba.
Today I applaud Peace. Thrice this year I’ve brandished a Peace tat marathoning #2016whyIrun
During a time when opposition candidates are surging on a platform of hate – building a Mexican border wall, restricting rights of Muslim-faith Americans – today’s message: PEACE, uniting peoples.
I have come here to extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people.
…in many ways, the United States and Cuba are like two brothers that have been estranged for many years, even as we share the same blood. We both live in a new world, colonized by Europeans.
Cuba, like the United States, was built in part by slaves brought here from Africa. Like the United States, the Cuban people can trace their heritage to both slaves and slave owners. We’ve welcomed both immigrants who came a great distance to start new lives in the Americas.
And I always believed in what Martin Luther King, Jr. called the fierce urgency of now. We should not fear change, we should embrace it.
Failed diplomatic efforts & mega $$ have been spent, generation after generation, to secure a working relationship with Israel & the Arab Middle East – yet we isolate our Cuban brothers, only 90 miles from Miami.
We in the Americas share a similar heritage. Our people share a common culture & geography.
We should expand NAFTA (North American Trade Agreement), expand trade with our brothers in Canada, Mexico & the Caribbean. We should strengthen these relationships – not build barriers to distance one another.
While governments create differences, our peoples – our inner core – are the same.
I travel to Moscow this September to marathon AND visit friends I worked & lived with 15 years ago. Russia’s a mere 55 miles from Alaska. Brother from another mother. Find a solution, find a commonality.
We’re stronger when we stand together.
330am – woke early, left early, arrived early. No civilian processing delays this day (better safe than sorry). Parked, kicked the front seat back & caught extra zzz’s. Looking left & right of me, appeared many others had the same idea 🙂
Somber, inspired remembrance before today’s March. Taps & roll call – only 3 lasting survivors returned a response. National Anthem, a Black Hawk flyover followed. Proud I chose this race, marching with our Armed Forces – proud to be an American.
Beautiful weather ALL day, temps never topped mid-70’s. Shed my double layer early.
Only 2 weeks ago, I trail ran in nearby Las Cruces – same desert, same scenic Organ Mountains. LOVE LOVE this landscape.
No 50K trail adventure today; this Sunday we marched. Marched with my Maniac buddy, Stacy & two Lincoln, Nebraska-natives, Laura & Dennis. Laura’s uncle helped design the course; Dennis is active (full-time) Air National Guard. AMAZING inspiring people – I’m better in life, having spent 8 hours with these three.
Med tents, military ambulance, helicopter flyover, Jeeps…and a whole lotta camo. Not coming from military, snapped lotta pics – kinda felt I was on the set of M.A.S.H.
Surprise Highlight: Mile 15 mess hall. $5 bought a hamburger, hot dog, chips & Coke. No sub-4 finish today, LOL> SAT & ATE – during a MARATHON. Bataan’s set the bar HIGH for all future races. Burgers & dogs grilled to order – YUM!
Memorable End: Shook the hand of a Bataan survivor at mile 25.
After a day marching, felt I still had a lotta gas left in the tank. Dennis & I said goodbye to the ladies & sprinted the remaining distance – clocking a 7:30 finish pace. Awesome end to an amazing day.
Snapped finish pics (& ate again – LOL>) Today we finished 4 STRONG.
Bataan Memorial Death March
White Sands Missile Range, NM
CIVILIAN Male
K R HAGA (Bib 2203)
from Louisville, Colorado
Finish
08:34:42.8
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.
The race is open to all members of the public, though a significant portion of the participants are members of military units of the U.S. and foreign armed forces and their families. Several surviving Bataan prisoners usually await the competitors to congratulate them on completing the grueling march. Many injured veterans including some amputees attend to march as well.
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- civilian coral start
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- roll call, taps, somber remembrance of Bataan troop (3 remaining survivors)
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- desert sunrise
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- not just another 26.2
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- strange but true: Gemsboks (Oryx) released in White Sands (WSMR) have become an invasive species
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- today’s WOW shot — desert landscape enveloped by the region’s Organ Mountains
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- yucca
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- once a year, spring POPPIES
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- US Marshals (Border Patrol)
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- devil’s claw
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- Mile 15 bargain
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- FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- feeling STRONG at Mile 17
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- funky trail mix & a cookie – nice idea but not so tasty
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- 4 STRONG — AWESOME friend-share day!
Bataan 2016 Start
March 2016 Maniac Newsletter
Road trip delay: woke Friday to heavy Spring SNOW – 7 inches…much more than the inch forecast.
Weekend bucket list destination: Bataan Memorial Death March on the White Sands Missile Range.
Sunday’s marathon has been on my wish list for a year – signed up opening day. More than a weekend 26.2 – this is a military March, replicating the WWII trek US & Philippine POWs took in 1942.
We honor these men; we remember their service. 3 remaining Bataan survivors would attend tomorrow’s opening day ceremonies – including 98-year old Ben Skardon.
Invisible Symbols – The Ben Skardon Story
Started my journey mid-week, self-tutoring on everything Bataan via YouTube videos. Unfortunately, much of WWII history studied in school is limited to Europe & Pearl Harbor. Battles in Asia generally only receive a single paragraph in the best of textbooks. My Grandfather served in the Pacific.
The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes. These brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.
The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power.
On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard.
They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces.
they were beaten and starved as they marched. Those who fell were bayoneted. Some of those who fell were beheaded by Japanese officers who were practicing with their samurai swords from horseback. The Japanese culture at that time reflected the view that any warrior who surrendered had no honor; thus was not to be treated like a human being.
To avoid Friday night metro traffic, didn’t leave Boulder ‘til 7 – overnight’d in Trinidad, 15 miles from the New Mexico border.
7am Saturday start – 6 hour drive remaining; boring all-highway trek.
Gas tank odometer bottomed ZERO 10 miles outside of Santa Fe. Would have never fueled in tiny Eldorado had I not been desperate but rewarded heartily with homemade green chile chicken tamales. surprise breakfast YUM – the gods were a smilin’ 🙂
BIG weather change.
Freezing rain iced my windshield first 2 hours of New Mexico – but from there, high mountain desert. Sunshiny skies, temps jacked up almost 50 degrees. Shed my sweatshirt, opened the windows & took in desert – no stopping ‘til the Mexico border.
Reached White Sands Missile Range 2pm. Whole lotta folks arriving today. Hour-half (long 90 minutes) to get processed. Without a military ID ‘speed pass’, just gotta take it in stride. Security of our bases is paramount – no argument here.
Parked, asked for directions. Quickly jetted to the PDC (fast learned military folk only talk acronyms – LOL>), listened to two Bataan survivors recall their experiences. It just got real.
Bib pick-up at Bldg 501, soaked in the atmosphere. Crazy proud to be an American!
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- road trip delay — Friday SNOW — much more than the inch forecast
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- Bataan Death March Statue
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- without a military ID ‘speed pass’, just gotta take it in stride
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- propane powered rocket
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- on base — crazy PROUD to be an American!
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- 98-year old Bataan survivor, Ben Skardon
New Mexico Car Karaoke, 10-hour road trip
