Sometimes there are finish lines that, once you cross them, you are no longer the same person. Sometimes that finish line provides more than a medal or a PR; it provides a journey of healing. That finish line for me was Salute Red, White, and Blue.
Years ago, I was excited about the opportunity to run with friends and soldiers at Camp Shelby. This was a moment I had been waiting for; unfortunately, that race was canceled, and I was devastated. Heartbroken.
Fast forward several years, and another opportunity came up to run at Camp Shelby in a race called Salute Red, White, and Blue. I followed social media and set an alarm for when registration would open. The day came, and when I registered my family and myself, there were tears. I cried because I knew this race was going to be special.
I even messaged my friend Rhonda, who was helping put this race together, and thanked her for this opportunity. It meant everything to me.
My family and I counted down the months and days until the event. I even had my friend Suzanne Clarke make me a special shirt for the occasion. We talked often about how healing this run would be.
And it was.
Race day arrived, and it was the first time I had ever stepped foot on Camp Shelby. The first thing you see when you approach the start/finish line is two massive tanks with our beautiful American flag hanging between them. It was absolutely picturesque.
A special banner had been created for everyone who submitted the names of heroes they wished to honor or remember. The moment I found my dad's name, it hit hard. Before I knew it, I was in tears.
What I didn't expect was my son being affected by seeing the name of a man he had never met. My heart broke for him, and this was all before the race had even begun.
Before the race started, there was a special presentation by the students who benefit from our race entries. It was incredibly impressive.
Then it was time to run.
Let me take a moment to say how thankful I was that I wore sunglasses because I cried...a lot.
Running where my dad spent years training to protect this country meant everything to me. I never got the chance to thank him in person for all of his sacrifices. I wasn't there when he was deployed, but my older siblings were. They lived through those difficult moments without our dad.
I cried for them.
I cried for the moments we never got to have as a family. I cried for being robbed of the opportunity to truly know my dad.
There is a building at Camp Shelby where I stopped for a moment. I paused to say "thank you" to my dad and to my family because I knew this was more than likely the very building where they shared their final hugs before he deployed.
I talked to my dad throughout the run. I thought about him with every step.
With every step, there weren't just hills to climb—there were healing tears.
I even had a conversation with my dad about not being able to forgive the woman who kept me from him. Somewhere in the middle of working through those emotions, I finally let it go.
As we passed lakes, barracks, and various buildings, I pictured my dad in those places, and the tears continued to fall.
As I approached the finish line, my son, who had already finished, saw me and shouted, "Mom, Grandpa is proud of you!"
The tears came flooding back.
I crossed the finish line, and my husband and son were there waiting to embrace me. We stood together for a moment and simply cried.
Then came the awards.
Wow.
Those awards were incredibly unique. Placing in the Top 3 of your age group earned you a military bag from Camp Shelby. Yep—you read that right.
Our son also placed in his age group, and with tears in his eyes, he simply said, "This is for Grandpa."
It was such a sweet moment.
What made the day even more special was when my dear friend Rhonda told me to come see her after the race. She surprised me by gifting me one of those military bags.
I treasure that bag to this day.
Every time I see it, I think about Salute Red, White, and Blue. I think about my dad.
As we left Camp Shelby, my family all agreed:
"We will be back every year to run this race."
Why should you run Salute Red, White, and Blue at Camp Shelby?
The answer is simple.
It is an opportunity to run where our troops have trained for their missions. Camp Shelby is rich with military history, and you are literally running in the footsteps of legends.
I encourage you to run this race because it is full of hills. It is definitely not flat. It is challenging, but every mile is worth it, and it is excellent training for a marathon.
One practical tip: bring your own water. I'm not going to lie—Mississippi water has a pretty strong taste, so having your own water bottle is a game changer.
The after-party is fantastic. There is actually great food, plenty of bottled hydration, and a variety of vendors.
I also highly recommend visiting the Camp Shelby Museum. It is well worth your time. There is so much history there, and it gives you an even greater appreciation for the ground you just covered.
I look forward to Salute Red, White, and Blue every year because it takes me back to my roots.
It gives me a connection with my dad.
It gives me a way to honor his memory.
It gives me a way to honor E7 Sergeant First Class Task Master Gunner Ronnie Glover.
Some races give you a medal.
This one gave me healing.