05/19/2024
So 10 years ago today, I didn't know it, but I was about to take the first step of a journey that would forever change my life. I had re-connected to an old, dear friend of mine, Paul Michael Drew about 4 or 5 months previous and he told me about this thing called..."Spartan Race". We talked for a solid 2 hours that night and as we were wrapping up he said to me, "ya know...there's a Spartan Race in Austin this May. How about I come down and we run it together?!?"
Fast forward to May...and I'm there in the starting corral that Saturday morning. There's usually a 5' wall at that starting corral, and as i go over it, I landed awkwardly. I would find out later the next week that I tore my left groin muscle. The announcer did his thing (IIRC it was none other than Dustin Dorough Official) and we were off. I obviously had to favor my right leg and less than 0.5 mi into the Super, I slipped on a slick, wet rock and ended up with a high ankle sprain on the right leg...it was going to be a looong day...
My mental state from that point forward was pretty terrible if we're being honest. I was out of shape, WAY out of my league, and every step I took felt like a hot knife stabbing me in one of my legs. As we get just past about halfway, my left foot starts to throb with pain. (Again) later that week at my ortho's office, x-rays would confirm 3 stress fractures in the left foot...and one in the right for good measure.
The back side of the course that year would up the backside of Reveille Peak and went all the way to the old church up top. On the way there, we had a couple obstacle to navigate. One was the inverted wall. Now that particular day, the Race Director had placed that obstacle in a location where there was a thick line of trees to either side leading up to it. I had already decided I was just going to skip it...but...we were in a single file line and there was no way for me to get around. So I just stood in line with my head down, feeling sorry for myself.
And then I glanced up...
Directly in front of my was a guy wearing an Operation Enduring Warrior shirt. Being a veteran, I recognized it immediately! I thought to myself, "that is SUPER cool! Those guys and gals to amazing work for the veteran community!" I nodded to myself and as I started to look away, I noticed that he only had one leg. I didn't know it at the time, but that man was Earl Granville. That caught my attention. Then I noticed the guy standing in line ahead of him. He was also wearing and OEW shirt. And he only had one arm. Again, I didn't know it at the time, but that man was Jonathan Lopez. And then I noticed the man in front of him...also wearing the same shirt, and he only had 1 arm and 1 leg. All 3 of those men were probably just as tired as me. And all 3 of those men a helluva lot worse things that I was feeling sorry about in that moment. I honestly don't even recall it being a decision. I just said to myself, "there is NO WAY IN HELL I am going to disrespect those men by going around this obstacle. So I didn't.
THAT was literally the moment that Operation Valor was born. I wouldn't realize it until several months later. But that is the god's honest truth of the matter.
About 3 years ago we were setup at the Dallas Beast selling merchandise to raise funds for Operation Valor. And, it just so happened that OEW was there. After the race, Earl and I hung out and caught up. Near the end of the conversation he said, "I have an idea...why don't we set up an event where YOU are the veteran honoree and you run a Spartan with US?!?" I was incredibly flattered, but at that point I wasn't very far removed from 3 heart attacks, a lengthy coma, and multiple organ failure that by all rights SHOULD have killed me on at least 5 different occasions. I loved the idea, but in my physical condition, it would only ever be that...an idea.
So embarked on a personal journey to start reclaiming my health and well-being. I hired personal trainers, talked to specialists, did more physical therapy that I can recount, and even underwent some extensive surgery to try and make this ONE moment possible.
Well...I got that moment today. On the exact day and the exact place where it all started 10 years ago...
I know I'm damn lucky to be here and above ground. But I have to tell you all, I'm a million times luckier to know people like Earl and the team at OEW. I have been blessed over the years to get to work with and even become friends with hundreds of amazing people, veterans and civilians alike, thru Operation Valor! But absolutely none finer than OEW. I would very humbly ask that you please support this amazing charity! Their mission is incredibly impactful and their integrity is far beyond reproach!
If you read this far, thanks for allowing a sappy old veteran to get on his favorite soapbox one more time! But...I'm still here damnit. And I still have work to do here!
