Blog - Running to Remember: Seeking to Find Meaning in Sacrifice
Running to Remember: Seeking to Find Meaning in Sacrifice
It was the fall of 2007 and I was a freshman at the Air Force Academy in cadet squadron 20, the Tough Twenty Trolls! One of the seniors in my squadron was a tall slender young man, he had a “runners build” if you will. He noted that I was a decent runner and at age 17 he somehow convinced me to join the Air Force Academy Marathon Team. Chris and I would log a lot of great miles together my freshman year and I always enjoyed those miles because as we ran, Chris did not treat me like a lowly freshman but instead treated me like a friend, a runner partner. The following Spring we did the Boston Marathon and Chris ran a solid 2:42:47, besting me by 13 minutes! Later that spring Chris would graduate and the Air Force would take us our separate ways and despite the fact I can no longer run with him, Chris always finds a way to join me during the miles of trials.
Chris and the many others who have given all are a great reminder that every day we have is a blessing. Thus any time I ever think about skipping a run, I remember there are those who no longer can. So I lace up, head out the door, and press start on my watch.
Brandon Hough
Director, Air Force Marathon
Why I run (or in my case walk and run), is because I can! AND for those who gave everything 
for us and for those giving, each day for us.
I’m not a “runner”. I’m an old basketball player and official. I use “running” to be ready for basketball. My son played soccer and started running in middle school, joined a local running club and continued into high school. Before he could drive to events or club running, somebody had to drive him, that was me.
So I ran a bit and walked some instead of standing around doing nothing. He went to AFA, was on the marathon team and ran Boston a couple of times before graduating. One summer, he was home and ran in a half. I took him there and got caught up in the moment, and with little or no training, signed up. As I was finishing the last few miles, he came back for me to help to finish, and I did. We ran together one or time in that event a year later, and I was a bit more prepared, but he still came back for me.
“As I was finishing the last few miles, he came back for me to help to finish, and I did.”
After graduation and flight school, he became a HH-60 CSAR helicopter pilot and still kept running along with his new wife. They would run when they would come to visit. But life happens, and it is not always wonderful.
“But life happens, and it is not always wonderful.”
On an evening in Jan 2014 in England, he and his 3 crew members were on a training mission. That mission or run ended tragically taking all 4 of them when they struck a flock of geese.
He was and still is a member of the Search and Rescue community. We should have figured that out back when he came for me many years ago. Through many deployments and rescues that physically ended, we try to keep his memory and spirt alive.
I guess I run to see if he’ll come back to run with me.
“Through many deployments and rescues that physically ended, we try to keep his memory and spirt alive… I guess I run to see if he’ll come back to run with me.”
While I won’t set any records or any recognition, but I’ll still feel his presence as I finish up.
This is why I run…or walk because everyone needs a little rescue.
Thanks for the committee for recognizing the work of the members of CSAR and the HH-60 helicopter!
Jolly 22
These Things We Do …That Others May Live
Written By: Rick Stover, Father of Capt. Chris Stover
Photos By: Nancy Bamford
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