Freedom Marathon Races

Catching up from a fun Memorial Day Weekend? Here's what happened here:

• Carpe Diem
• Hurricane Season?
• Instagram Friday

Thanks to Tropical Storm Beryl my Memorial Day plans were slightly shifted.

I'm not complaining.  I got to spend a lot of QT with the other half of Fit2Flex and Central Florida got some much needed rain. What I missed out on, however was announcing a great 8k up near Jacksonville.

The plan was to drive up to Jacksonville after my Sunday workout to announce the Green Cove Springs 8k on Monday morning.  Enter Beryl and city officials cancelled the race.  I was already a bit leery about driving INTO a tropical storm so I felt it was the safest decision.

What makes me sad, however is that this great race didn't happen.

The Green Cove Springs 8k is part of 3 races organized by the Freedom Marathon Inc.  This is not a giant corporation a la Competitor Group, but a family. A family lead by a passionate, Navy man named Manny. Manny is still an active member of the US Navy, yet he spends countless hours organizing the three Freedom Marathon events.  Oh yeah, did I mention that proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and help support members of our military?

For all those reasons, I'm sad this great event didn't get to happen.  So often races are run by HUGE corporations....and I'm not saying that is a bad thing...no way.  It's just so refreshing to see a man propelled by a dream and a passion for running.

The Freedom Marathon series consists of three events:

• Memorial Day 8k near Jacksonville, FL
• Norfolk Freedom Marathon & 1/2 Marathon over Veterans Day (November 11) in Norfolk, VA (2011 blog recap here)
• Navy Marathon and 1/2 Marathon in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 23 & 24, 2013.

If any of those dates fit into your upcoming race schedule I encourage you take a look.  I get no benefit from people signing up. I just believe in the good this race does...and you'll get to see me there as I say, "Runners SET!"
Plus, their medals are awesome.

In lieu of a long drive on Sunday I got in a great workout at "The Jungle" aka our garage.  Kyle's sister Kelsey came over and all 3 of us sweated it out.  We heightened our post-workout vitamin D synthesis at the pool and then filled our bellies with delicious grub at Yellow Dog Eats.

Every time we go there I get the pulled pork BBQ salad.  This time I was determined to try something different, so I ordered an Asian inspired tuna salad.  No sooner did I order than I saw someone with my coveted BBQ salad. So I changed my order.  I'm a creature of habit.  Delicious habit!

Is there a certain restaurant where you always order "the usual'?

Love and freedom,

Carissa & Kyle