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Some people graduate from college with no idea what their next endeavor will be. That wasn’t the case for Sarah Emoto, who decided to run across the country. For fun.
Emoto, who graduated from the University of Redlands in California last spring, ran through College Park along Route 1 Saturday afternoon, marking day 125 of her coast-to-coast run from California to New York.
“Life’s short, I don’t have time to think about whether or not I have time to take a few months and run to New York. It’s a no-brainer. Plus I don’t exactly have a better plan,” she wrote on her blog in June. “Running 3,000 miles seems like a good use of time for my college-educated, unemployed self. The bad economy, the competitive job market, the ‘what do I want to DO with my life’ question, they’ll all still be there when I’m done. Right now I might as well lace up my shoes and live a little.”
University Police Capt. Robert Mueck, a family friend of Emoto, drove alongside her as she made her way from the University Police Station past the Beltway, and two of Mueck’s children — Jacqueline, 14, and Hunter, 12 — also ran with Emoto for a bit of the trek.
An officer from George Mason University had been keeping pace with her since she stopped by that campus the day before and also ran with her Saturday. Emoto said he was one of the many people she had met and who ran alongside her throughout her journey — some joining for one mile, others for up to 30 — who were the main highlights of her whole adventure.
“This is something I kind of always wanted to do, and I always thought I would do it when I’m old and have time, but then I decided I have nothing better to do right now,” Emoto said. “I also wanted to do this to honor law enforcement and just give a big thank you to them, because I think they often get forgotten and taken for granted.”
Emoto made stops at a long list of police stations across the country along her run, and Mueck said he was happy to have joined her for just a small part of that journey.
“She’s picked up a very daunting task. Running across the country is something I would never let myself do,” Mueck said. “That she dedicated this to law enforcement is very cool, but I just can’t believe that she was actually able to pull this off.”
Emoto said along with the people she met, this run has allowed her to see the whole country from a perspective she never had during her previous cross-country road trips by car, from basking in the view of the Colorado Mountains to taking in the sights as she ran through Washington D.C. However, having run between 35 and 40 miles every day for so long, Emoto said she is looking forward to crossing the final finish line.
“At the beginning it was all about the journey and the experience, but now my brain is so fried and my body so exhausted, I just want to get there,” she said.
Emoto has kept a blog up of her run at www.chasingasphalt.wordpress.com — it’s extensive, heart-felt and worth a look. She estimates she’ll reach New York this coming weekend on Dec. 3 or 4.
You can also check out Campus Drive on Facebook and on Twitter at @theDBK.
The original article was published by staff writer Leah Villanueva
I would like to pay tribute to my wonderful, loving husband of almost 49 years, Jimmy Harding Henson, Major, US Army, retired.
Jimmy was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division when we married in 1962. While there, he deployed to the Dominican Republic to help reestablish order after Batista was overthrown. From Ft. Bragg, he went to flight school and then served 2 tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded many medals. He received a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the Field Artillery, so it was off to Ft. Sill after 2 tours at Ft. Rucker as an IP after the tours in ‘Nam. Then we spent 4 years at Ft. Hood, TX, and then 3 in Hanau, Germany, before our final tour at Ft. Rucker.
After retiring from the Army, Jimmy went to school to learn HVAC and owned his own business for many years. Now he is retired from that, and has purchased land out in the country where he has built his own grass airstrip and a hangar. While working in the hangar in September, I was very seriously injured when 20 sheets of plywood we had leaned against a wall shifted and fell on me, crushing me beneath it and I had 19 fractures. Jimmy got me out from under it and rushed me to the hospital. I spent 2 months in hospital and rehab, and he spent most of his time with me. He slept in a recliner next to my bed for 5 weeks, and when I went to rehab, he was there every day. After I was released, Jimmy brought me home and took excellent care of me while I continued to heal.
Jimmy has always been my hero. When he was in the Army, I was so proud of him and his gallantry and have continued to be proud of the many things he has done to help others and especially the last 6 months the care he has taken of me. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband.
Mary Henson
My first hero’s are those who are fighting for our country and those who have given their lives to keep us all safe.
The most important people in my life have been my mother and father they were heroes to me because they brought me up teaching me right from wrong, teaching me to never give up and giving me confidence and to show me how much faith is part of our every day life.
My two brothers are also my heroes. They both fought tough battles with cancer and never complained. They were so strong, showed so much character even though it was such a hard battle.
For these people I feel so blessed . They were such a big part of my life. I miss them every day, but always feel their presence with me.
They are my heroes because they are single moms but they take care of their children on their own. They both have jobs. They get up in morning and get their children off to school so they can get an education. After they come home from work, they cook, clean their house, help the children with schoolwork and then get the children ready for bed. They hardly have any time for themselves. I try to help as much as I can to give them a break.
I love them with all my heart and wouldn’t trade them for the world. God blessed me with two wonderful angels. I’m proud of you both. Keep up the good work Girls!
Love,
Your mom, Billie May
My hero is very dear to my heart. Her name is Tina. She is a nurse, a mother, a partner and a friend. She gives her heart to her patients. She looks after them like they are her children. She has raised her own child, mainly by herself, and has shaped him into a wonderful young man that truly cares for those around him. She has beat the odds time and time again. Always showing courage and the strength to carry on, no matter what it took.
She has sacrificed her needs and wants for the needs and wants of others….never begrudgingly but with her heart. More than once I have seen her do without so that someone else could have something. When I met her I knew I had met an angel. She looked past all my faults and saw the person inside. I feel blessed to have her in my life and pray I always will. Although I don’t think I deserve her. She is my hero and I love her.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Babe.
Forever yours,
Sheilah
I am giving tribute to two of my heroes, They are Officer James Bragg of the Philadelphia Police who now serves his community after being in Afghanistan for two tours with United States Marines, and Corporal Joseph Bragg who is now with United States Marines, on his second tour of four years.
It has been sometimes hard for both of them but they have offered themselves to serve our country even though there is danger in both areas. I could not be prouder of either of my sons. They deserve to be recognized for their courage.
Proud Mom of Two US Marines
Sincerely, Joan Bragg
I want to post a valentine for my son DJ. He served two tours of duty in Iraq Operation Iraqi Freedom, US Army 2nd ID (1st TOD), a tanker in the 1st Cavalry (2nd TOD). He took a sniper bullet in the back for his country. He survived, thank God and was awarded the Purple Heart!
He was my hero then, and still is.
I love you,
Mom
I am lucky to have two heroes: my husband, Nick (1944-2007) a 3 tour Marine Vietnam Veteran and our son, Nicky, a Persian Gulf Veteran Pennsylvania Army Natl Guard. Their service , and that of all veterans and current service members, makes me proud to be an American.
They are all HEROES.
I would like to pay tribute to my hero and son, SPC C.Hunter Conrad,Jr, now serving with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. He has served in Seoul, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and is due to return soon to Afghanistan. He is a tremendous example of what makes our Army great!
Anne Conrad, mother
 A hero is someone most think as a military serviceman who has fought for this country, or a person who has rescued someone from a burning building. Well, in my case, my hero is a different kind of person. My Aunt Terri came into my life when I was very young. She married my dad’s brother, and she has been a very important part of the memories of my growing-up years, as well as now.
Terri married in her 20s and completed nursing school. She had dreams of being a nurse in the delivery room. She got her dream and did that job for quite some time. She’s always had such a giving heart, so being a “baby nurse” always seemed so fitting. From the view from my eyes, she has always helped to make holidays fun, she has always been a shoulder to lean on, an ear for concerns, a comforting voice in times of trouble. She gave up her nursing career to help with her husband’s business, and over time, she gave him 4 beautiful children.
Sacrifices along the way, to me, have been the story of her life. Now as the kids are grown and moved away, and the business, which she has started to remove herself from, but is keeping everyone so busy, often makes me wonder if somehow she is feeling left behind. She is such an inspiration to me, even in these years, because even though she may not realize it, I still look to her for advice, laughter and guidance. She is a pillar, to me, and I will always consider her my personal hero.
Kristine Kiedrowski
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