As Lee, Paul & Dave continue with their Wacky Goofy training, they participated in the Utah Marathon held last weekend in Salt Lake City.  Their training required a 15-mile run so they chugged on another 3 miles after completing the half marathon.  It’s disturbing.  I, however, bundled up with my trusty wagon, folding chair and blankets to head out to Kelsey’s softball tournament, cheering on the Bukoos while they clinched first place.  I didn’t even break a sweat.

Ashley, Paul, Lee & Dave before the race

After the race

Notice the new WACKY shirt?  I think they are awesome!

Saturday we will all be in Dallas (for the Honored Hero Run) co-hosting a pre-race awards banquet with a local division of Edward Jones.   It will be  our privilege to award the inaugural “Nick’s Wacky Warriors Courage Award” to Jennifer Olbrish, the wife of Michael James Olbrish, and to his daughter Preslie Rae.  Mike passed away in May, 2010 from lung cancer.   Mike’s co-workers in the Edward Jones community  have chosen the Olbrish family as their own Honored Hero. Click here for more information.

Sunday is race day: before you get too excited, I am only signed up for the 5k, while Lee, Dave & Paul – along with about 60 additional runners from Edward Jones – will run the half marathon.  We hope to update on Twitter throughout the weekend – I’m so excited!!!!! (for the food, not the running…)

In all seriousness, however, I’m humbled to see Nick’s legacy taking on such an endeavor to bring us all together to honor others that have passed on while we celebrate those that still remember.  Our daughter Carly wrote home a few weeks ago while having an enormous wave of homesickness and missing her brother so much it was crushing her.  I tenderly reminded her that missing him is what keeps him close to us – it’s a good thing to feel.  I will close with a posting from Nick’s blog:

“This is what passes for hope. Those we have lost invokes in us feelings of love that we didn’t know we were capable of. These permanent changes are their legacies, their gifts to us. It is our task to transfer that love to those who still need us. In this way, we remain faithful to their memories.”
Gordon Livingston, Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart

See y’all soon!

Lori