Army officer and Iraq War veteran Scott Sunday is running 50 marathons in 50 states before he turns 50 to raise awareness for the sacrifices of veterans and their families
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Scott Sunday is a hero. In his 24 years of active duty as a soldier, Scott earned 21 medals for bravery, valor and service, including a Bronze Star, an Iraq Campaign Medal and Kuwait Liberation medals. Retiring from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 3, it would have been easy for Scott to slide into a high powered civilian job with his Summa cum Laude Master’s Degree in Information Technology. Scott chose a different route. Scott Sunday has chosen to honor fallen comrades by running fifty marathons in all fifty states before he is fifty.
Upon retirement, Scott was slapped in the face. In his own words :
In February 2010, my body was feeling the full effects of 42 years of hard living and unhealthy choices; but I hadn’t realized how bad my health had deteriorated until I went in for my annual physical at the Veterans Affairs medical center. My doctor told me that I was borderline obese, had dangerously high cholesterol levels, and increasingly high blood pressure. As I was leaving the doctor’s office, I realized that I had to make changes in my health and fitness. Otherwise, I would leave my wife, who had stood by me throughout my military career, as widow just years into my retirement. I decided, then and there, that I was going to start working out, get back in shape, and regain my health and fitness.
Scott discovered Tony Horton’s P90X. He discovered that he liked to run. Most importantly, Scott Sunday discovered that while he might have left the service, he carried the memories of fallen comrades with him. The memory of his comrades gave him strength during his races. He found that running with a greater purpose gave him the sense of peace and honor for which he was searching. He put together an organization- Running to Honor a Hero. As befits a military officer, he put together a mission – “I will complete Fifty Marathons in Fifty States Before Age Fifty.”
Military rule number one? Complete the mission. His mission: to ensure that our Heroes are never forgotten.
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This is a story of honor and remembrance. Scott runs to honor and remember SSGT Javier Ortiz Rivera, killed in Afghanistan. He runs to honor CW2 Scott Coulter, killed in Iraq. He runs to honor Army SPC Brenden Salazar-Nelson, killed in Afghanistan. He runs for Gold Star Families:
“At the conclusion of World War II, Congress established the Gold Star Lapel Button to provide an appropriate means to identify widows and widowers, children, parents, brothers and sisters of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives in the defense of democracy and freedom during the World Wars I and II; and any subsequent armed hostilities in which the United States became engaged.”
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This is a story of awareness. How aware is Scott? Scott frequently trains and competes in his Fifty in Fifty by Fifty marathons wearing a weight vest. The vest serves to raise awareness for his organization. He says it is a reminder to all of the burdens that our military families carry. Scott also runs wearing an altitude training mask which hampers his breathing; a reminder to himself and others that those who have lost loved ones in the military can’t breathe deeply without thinking of their family members.
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This is a story of discipline. Scott’s journey: A 45 year old pudgy retired serviceman is in search of his next niche in life. By bringing his military discipline to bear on his civilian life, he turns himself into a muscular and lean hero.
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Four, it is a story of humility. Don’t be astonished but Scott Sunday truly does not view himself as a hero. As a combat vet, he lived, every day, the credo “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Scott Sunday runs to honor his colleagues. Sunday runs to remind everyone at the Fifty Marathons that all who serve are heroes. Scott runs to remind us that all who have fallen, and the families of the fallen, are the greatest of heroes.
Take a moment. Visit Scott’s Facebook page “Running to Honor a Hero.” If you’re a runner, and Scott’s coming to your state for a marathon, take a few minutes to look him up. Share your story with him. You might run faster because of it. Especially around mile 21, when you need a bit of inspiration.