1,000 Miles for Chase: Sept. 1 - 14 Miles Ran

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Last Mile Details:

When:

Sunday, Sept. 1, last mile begins at 12:30-12:45pm

Where:

Monroe - Chalk Hill Middle School, 375 Fan Hill Rd. to the Orzechowski residence, 3 E. Maiden Lane

What:

On Sept. 1, I will be running from the Bethel High School track (site of Chase's first track meet) to Camp Tepee in Monroe (site of Chase's first baseball game) to Chalk Hill where I will join Race4Chase teammates and supporters to finish the last mile together.

Other Info:

-Race4Chase tent will be up on Chalk Hill grounds by 11:30am

-parking at Chalk Hill is permitted (per Monroe First Selectman)

-police escort up Fan Hill to 3 E. Maiden Lane

-kids welcome

-last mile will be at walking pace

-runners welcome to join me at any point of 14 mile course (route posted in July 25th post)

-all participants welcome to stay at the Orzechowski's Labor Day party which will be in progress when we arrive

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I completed the 1,000 mile journey in style, thanks to an estimated 100 supporters at Chalk Hill. (My sister Beth did a head count of the group photo and is sure we cracked the century mark). The entire day was perfect, especially the last mile with the Race4Chase team and the last 10 yards hand-in-hand with Becky Kowalski. I started out at Bethel High where I placed a running baton at the starting line of the Bethel High track. I then started my run back to Chalk Hill, with a stop at Camp Tepee where I placed the second baton near home plate on the baseball field. Many blog followers know the story of the batons-the locations were chosen because Chase first began running track meets on the Bethel High track and played his first baseball games on the Camp Tepee field. A message was placed inside the batons asking the finder to perform an athletic activity in honor of Chase and then pass the baton off to another to do the same. The instructions include a request that each person post a comment in this blog so that we can all share in these ongoing efforts to honor Chase.

I received a Facetime call from Greg Ruel and Steve Kowalski about 5 miles into the run. It was quite, er, inspiring to see them swigging water and talking about picking up donuts as I toiled away on the road! The run from Bethel included many rolling hills, but was no hillier than my Colchester routes. It was very hot and humid, and even though I went along at a very easy pace, I still felt pretty fatigued. I reached Camp Tepee where I met Steve, Becky, their daughter Brittany, Greg, Kevin Grimes and two guys from Steve's work (sorry fellas, brain freezing on names right now!). We took a few photos there and then Greg, Kevin and the two co-workers headed off for Chalk Hill. Scott Timmons, a Masuk grad who lived just off the route, jumped in with about 2.5 miles to go, and we all finished the 13 miles together before and incredibly enthusiastic crowd at Chalk Hill. My daughter, Shea (12), niece Annabelle (11) and nephew Kevin (5) sprinted ahead to greet me, and I high-fived my way to the 999 mile mark at Chalk Hill. After a few speeches, thank yous and a Race4Chase team photo, our group was off to cover the final mile up Fan Hill to the Orzo's house.

The Orzo's set up a ribbon to mark the 1,000 mile spot, and in an awesome moment for me, Becky and I joined hands and ran through the finish line together. Amazing. Made all those Day Pond Loops worth it x 100!

It has been a privilege running these miles for Chase and sharing my efforts with the Kowalski's and others who have cared to follow my efforts. I have so many thank yous to give out for yesterday's efforts and the the entire 1,000 miles; first, to my wife Ellie, who did a lot of extra heavy-lifting at home while I put in mile after mile--and for getting me to Bethel High on time yesterday so that I didn't leave a huge group of supporters wondering where I was!; to Becky and Steve, for warmly receiving me into their circle to pay tribute Chase and then become true friends; to my family, especially my sister Beth who supported me through out the entire 1,000 mile journey: begging me to expand my blog entries beyond the Day Pond Loop blah, blah, blah, being there at 12:30am on the New Haven Green when I finished leg two of One Run for Boston, and finally for handling most of the logistics in putting together yesterday's events at Chalk Hill; to Shea, Annabelle and Kevin Patrick (daughter, niece and nephew) for making 4 awesome signs to provide a pick-me-up at various points on my final route; to John Voket, who gave his time and provided music and audio on a moment's notice; to Vicky Pernek, who traveled from Florida to attend the Last Mile event; to Girls Gone Miles, who turned out in force to support Race4Chase; to Cathy Kost (Dawn Evanko's friend) who did the last mile yesterday after running 23 miles earlier in the day as part of her triathlon training; to Steve Vavrek, Monroe First Selectman, and John Salvatore, Chief of Police, for allowing us the use of Chalk Hill and providing the escort of Fan Hill, and to the police officers posted at Chalk Hill for their time and flexibility with our loosely-planned gathering; to Len Gutman, who has showed up from NYC for just about every Race4Chase event; to the Orzo's for allowing me to connect my last mile to their awesome Labor Day party and for handling the distribution of Race4Chase shirts, pins, bracelets, etc.

I know I'm leaving out many supporters--sorry, the entire effort and yesterday are still sort of a blur in my mind. I feel honored and humbled by the support given to me throughout the year and especially yesterday. It's hard to describe the feeling of seeing all the supporters cheering me on as I approached Chalk Hill and again at the Orzo's. All I can say is that in one small way, for a few brief moments, we were all together embodying the Kowalski's goal of turning tragedy into triumph. Thank you all.

I now continue my Race4Chase by training for the New York Marathon on Nov 3. I'm not sure what form this blog will take from here on in, but I will use it to track the baton effort, and perhaps make blog entries about my marathon training and the race itself. Whatever we do, let's keep Chase's pure spirit, competitive fire and zest for life inside us as we move forward and continue to Race4Chase!

Today's Line:

Date

DoW

ToD

Distance

Time

Min/Mile

Notes

Effort

Total Miles

9/1

10:30a

14.0