About Heroes

And I am not talking about the TV Show.

I am talking about real life heroes. And wow, did I ever see a lot of them this weekend.

This weekend, Jordan and I sent the kids off to hang out with Aunt Leanna on Manitoulin Island for the weekend because we were travelling to Ottawa to participate in the 5km Race of the 2nd Annual Army Run.

Early on in the summer I had mentioned to Jordan that I really wanted to participate in an official race, as opposed to the 5km fun runs I have always done. In an official race, you wear a timing chip on your shoe to clock an official time and there are a LOT more people.

It came down to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Race or the Army Run in Ottawa. I decided to do the Army Run because I think it is incredibly important that we support our troops. I am not pro-war, but I am definitely pro-troops. These soldiers do things that I would definitely not have the courage to do. That is not necessarily why they are heroes though.

The Army Run raises funds for a program called Soldier On. Its purpose is to assist injured soldiers with their unique and individual needs.

Both the 5km race and the Half-Marathon also had an injured soldiers component. 15 minutes prior to the start of each of those races, injured soldiers started their own race.

Wow. Just Wow.

We all have bad days,and many of us in these difficult economic times have a significant amount of stress, but it is events like these that put it into perspective.

Check this out.

These gentlemen are missing one of both of their legs. And they still participated. The weren't fast, but they were smiling. They were happy to be there. They are focused on what they have, not what they don't.

A pretty powerful lesson don't you think?

It is humbling to be running what would end up being my best race ever, and pass these men and women who aren't doing it for a best time, but are doing it simply because they can. Because other people may have thought the couldn't.

I passed a gentleman who had moved off to the side and was readjusting his prosthetic. No more will I be frustrated if I have to stop to retie my shoelace. Or be grumpy because my feet hurt. So trivial.

There were so many inspirational stories, some that made headlines, some that didn't. No matter, they are all heroes in my eyes.

I encourage you to take part in this event next year. You don't have to run, you can walk it too!

We all need a little inspiration in life. There was no shortage in Ottawa this weekend.

Jessica