There are 1000 different stories that deserve to be told from this past weekend, but the 2 facts that matter the most are this: together we ran 1810 miles upon the track at Yukon High School, and together we have raised $25,000+ (donations are still coming in!) for the Wounded Warrior Project.

What’s your story?  Why did you join the 24 Hour Brigade?  Send it to me at david.swanson100@gmail.com.

Please feel free to look me up on Facebook.  David Swanson from the West Point network…

More pictures will be posted later.  For now, I’ll leave you with a shot of sheer victory.  Indeed, some pictures really are worth more than words.

This morning on Fox News 25 I made a reference to the bracelet I wear with Tom Martin’s name etched on it.  I called Tom and his platoon of Cav Scouts “real endurance athletes.”  I mean that.  Tom’s platoon walked nearly 1000 miles in full kit in the year before he was killed in Iraq. 

Guys like Tom who have done heroic things over there - things far more heroic than running in circles on a track - are the motivation behind the 24 Hour Brigade.

Audio:  http://www.jpamerica.com/pg/jsp/charts/streamingAudioMaster.jsp?dispid=302&headerDest=L3BnL2pzcC9tZWRpYS9mbGFzaHdlbGNvbWUuanNwP3BpZD02MTIzJnBsYXlsaXN0PXRydWUmY2hhcnR0eXBlPWNoYXJ0c3RyZWFtaW5nJmNoYXJ0SUQ9MzAyJnBsYXlsaXN0U2l6ZT0zMA==
 
Video: http://www.news9.com/Global/category.asp?C=116601&clipId=3561455&topVideoCatNo=112037&autoStart=true
 
 Hooah.

Friends -

While my friends are cruising in the tropics and backpacking around Europe, there is no place I’d rather be this Spring Break than in Oklahoma getting ready to run for 24 hours!

I think that maybe the only thing crazier than running or 24 hours is trying to organize an event like this in only 3 months! I didn’t know what to expect for this inaugural year, but friends like you have melted my heart time and time again. Mingling with people who care for soldiers like I do will never cease to choke me up.

It’s hard to believe that this Friday is finally the day! I’ll start running at 5pm Central Standard Time at the track at my alma mater, Yukon High School. And I won’t stop, of course, until 24 hours later. The goal is to complete 135 miles in that time.

If you’re going to be in the metro Oklahoma City area, I want to invite you to come out and run a few steps with me. I keep joking that my real friends are the folks who will show up at 1, 2, and 3am in the wee early hours of Saturday morning.

I covet your prayers. For my body, for my mind, for the entire event…

Faith, hope, and love to you all. Beat Navy - always!

David

Joshua 1:9

“Man was made to hunt sabertooth tigers and run 40 miles a day.  Not sit behind a desk.”  -  Arnold

Need Motivation?  Watch this video.