Tedy’s Team members took their running shoes to Arlington, Virginia, and the nation’s capital last month to participate in the historic Marine Corps Marathon.
Each year, Tedy’s Team offers a different destination marathon opportunity for runners. This year’s race was the 42nd Annual Marine Corps Marathon, also known as, “The People’s Marathon” and the “Marathon of Monuments.” Together, the team, which consisted of seven runners, raised more than $25,000 for the American Stroke Association, each running for their stroke heroes as well as honoring the true spirit of the Marine Corps Marathon.
Tiffany Dahlstrom post-race
First-time Tedy’s Team runner, Tiffany Dahlstrom of Fairfax, VA, participated in the race and received a warm welcome from fellow Tedy’s Team members upon their arrival in Virginia at the team’s pre-marathon dinner.
“It was a great experience running my second marathon with such a great group of people,” explained Dahlstrom. “Although I do not live in the Boston area, everyone from Tedy’s Team made me feel like a part of the family.”
View of U.S. Capitol from race route
On Sunday, Oct. 22, Tedy’s Team hit the streets for a journey through some of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States. The Marine Corps Marathon starts between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery and ends with an up-hill run to the finish line at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Throughout the course, 30,000 participants run through Arlington and D.C., passing landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, the Kennedy Center and more.
“Race day was much warmer than I’d like when running 26.2 miles, but the scenery is always beautiful here!” said Dahlstrom.
One of the more iconic and emotional moments of the course is at mile 11, which is better known as the, “wear blue Mile,” that honors the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country. Along the mile stretch, there are 225 “Faces of the Fallen” posters with a photo and name of each fallen military member, and an American flag draped with black ribbon held by a fellow military member or families of the fallen military member.
Michael Lawrence post-race
Michael Lawrence of Natick, who has raised over $50,000 for Tedy’s Team since he joined the team in 2015, was humbled by the experience.
“The ‘wear blue Mile’ was a sobering reminder that freedom is not free,” said Lawrence. “It was an honor to run alongside and to be supported by those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy daily freedoms as simple as going for a run.”
This month, Tedy’s Team will kick-off their 2018 Boston Marathon season with a team of 37 runners working together to raise awareness of stroke and $500,000 for the American Stroke Association. To learn more about Tedy’s Team or to donate, visit www.tedysteam.org.