International Elite Runners Trade an Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon Race for a Servicemember’s Smile

By LTC (Ret.) Sue Bozgoz, Guest Blogger

Note: The expressed comments and views of guest bloggers do not reflect the views of WTC or the United States Army

The "irun4god" running team intends to donate their awards from the Marine Corps Marathon and Army Ten-Miler to the wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

It’s not easy to understand why a group of world class runners who live half way around the world would compete in a 10 and 26.2 mile race with no prize purse waiting for them at the finish line.  What I’ve learned over the years is that money is good, but you can’t take it with you to the grave.

As a former All-Army marathon runner and founder of the “irun4god” running team, I am well aware of the hard work these men and women accomplished last weekend, running the Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon. It’s work that has a high pay-off, even more so for someone who thought they could never run again.  

I used to run every day until on September 21, 2006, I was riding in my van in Atlanta, GA and was hit by a semi-trailer truck. I vividly recall sitting in my van and looking in my rear view mirror yelling the words, “Oh good Lord, not today. I haven’t said goodbye to my son, Austin!” 

Hours later and still in shock after my accident, I realized that the semi-trailer truck totaled my vehicle while pushing it into oncoming traffic. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to run again.

I stopped running in 2006 until I heard WO1 Johnathan Holsey, an Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Soldier, speak at the 2008 Army Ten-Miler in Washington, DC. I recall Holsey explaining to the audience how he lost his leg in a road side bomb explosion in Ramadi, Iraq. For him, he wasn’t going to let an injury hold him back. He returned to his training regime with the help of a crank bike and started training for the New York City Marathon.

Continuing to tell the audience his story, Holsey shared with us that obstacles continued to follow him into the race. While crossing mile 13, his crank bike tire blew out as he attempted to make a right turn. He shared with us that he was immediately approached by an assistant who had pleaded to him, “Let’s take you back to the start.”  In response to the assistant, Holsey told him, “No thanks. I‘m going to finish this race–it may not be a world class time, but I am going to finish what I started.” Finish, he did.

AW2 Veteran Johnathan Holsey (left) coached LTC (Ret.) Sue Bozgoz (right) on how to overcome her injury and continue pursuing her passion for marathon running.

His story was exactly what I needed to hear in order to inspire me to run again. It inspired me so much, that in 2008, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon with Holsey and other world-class runners by my side. Holsey’s story helped me build the determination and courage to overcome my own obstacles. He is an inspiration to both wounded warriors and civilians.

This year, the “irun4god” running team launched an outreach program that included visiting the Warrior Transition Brigade located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. After visiting the brave war Veterans and Soldiers at Water Reed, we immediately understood the meaning of the words, “Freedom is not free.”  As a team, we agreed that we would run the Army Ten-Miler and Marine Corps Marathon not for ourselves, but as a team to honor wounded servicemembers. Turns out the “irun4god” running team won several trophies at the two races and although it was an honor to win, it was a greater honor to donate these awards to the servicemembers at Walter Reed.

In light of November being Warrior Care Month, our only hope is to inspire servicemembers to walk, run, or bike with us next time we hit the pavement.

Everyone needs a helping hand, but it takes self-assertion to take the first step in the right direction.