Trek Relay for Veterans - Hyannis to Boston

 "Scot, what are you doing on May 23rd?  We need you and your van." -- Becca Pizzi

This past week I participated in a relay run from Veteran's Park in Hyannis to the Boston Common to raise awareness and funds for Homebase, an organization that provides clinical care to Veterans and their families.  

Similar to the Mass Dash, this run was a Dave McGillivray Sports production and lead again by Ron Kramer.  Additionally, a couple of "Dave's guys" tagged along and helped out including my old neighbor Ken who always keeps it fun and entertaining.  

The run consisted of 2 teams, primarily veteran's, plus a few of us who are generally up to run any distance, anywhere, at anytime. 

Team Miles for Military Pre-Run

Our team was known as Miles for Military and consisted of the following cast of characters. 

• Becca: our fearless leader, fresh off a 9 minute marathon PR, 50k outright win, and her 100th marathon
• BJ: veteran, world marathon challenge finisher, police officer, and someone that I generally, just wouldn't mess with (His shirt says it all.  "Die first, then quit.")
  
• Kris: veteran, multiple marathon finisher and active duty Air Force member
• Paul: veteran, lieutenant with the Belmont Police and guy with a great story about getting shot in the knee ... sort of, ask him, he likes to tell the story   
  
• Johnny: veteran, runner, and our team dentist (every relay team needs a dentist).  Also, husband to Kelly.
  
• Kelly: another 2X world marathon challenge finisher (funny how these are the people Becca is friends with) having completed 70 something marathons with a ton of energy and always ready to cause some trouble.
  
• Zee: fairly new member to the Best Friends Club who is recently off his first marathon at Boston and 50k at Watuppa. 
  
• Ken: our driver, wise guy, and not a runner but who ran the last 1/4 mile with us
  
• Me: the guy with the van, ego, and always up for pretty much anything and fresh off 40 miles in the White Mountains 2 days earlier. 

We left Becca's around 5:30 Tuesday evening to head down to Hyannis.  Kris sat up front with me and we got to know each other a bit as we talked about everything from running marathon's for charity (he ran the Boston Marathon representing Boston Children's Hospital in 2021) to his time in the military.  He is also currently stationed at Hanscom, where I used to work during my time at MIT Lincoln Labs, which gave us some cool topics to bond over.  

The Route

After arriving in Hyannis just before 8, we walked over to the Veterans Memorial Park and met the other team which was a number of activity duty and veteran's that had all signed up directly through Homebase. This was the beginning of us starting to mess with them as they were told they had to go head to head with an "elite running team." 

Before we got started, Ron gave us a safety briefing in which I am nearly 100% sure he just talked to me.  "Scot, do you have the route on your watch? Scot, we are going to stay together.  Scot, we are going to stay with the pace car."

The Start

BJ ran our first leg which took us from Hyannis to Centerville.  As the first runners left, Kelly yelled "See you in Boston" which became our on going joke throughout the run and repeatedly yelled to every runner until about 4 in the morning when I think Ken got tired of yelling it.   

After we arrived at the transition, Zee pulled out a water bottle and had a big smile on his face and said "Take a sip of this." He had brought a Plumb Brandy, named Slivovica, back from the last time he was in Slovakia and demanded that we all try it.  

Sagamore Bridge at 11pm

Also during this transition is when we started to got to know the other van a bit more.  They were a bit jealous that we a Mercedes kitted out as a camper while they were just in a Ford passenger van.  They were all pretty cool guys and it is awesome to see how a bunch of people who don't even know each other can become friends so quickly, simply by bonding over their military service.  

Kris ran our second leg before handing off to Kelly for the third.  We had deal with a slight detour as we entered East Sandwich. 

Sleeping off the Slivovica

It was already after 10pm and we still hadn't left the cape yet.  Johnny, was our 4th leg and he would take us down to the canal and then up and over the Sagamore Bridge.  A few of us went up onto the bridge to greet the runners while some others slept off the affects of the Slivovica.  

While we were up there, a State Trooper pulled over and told us there were reports of"Juveniles" causing trouble on the bridge.  As he got out of his cruiser, he quickly realized none of us were kids and after we told him about the relay, he laughed and got back into the cruiser and left. 

Next up, Paul took us to Buzzard's Bay and then Zee brought us to the outskirts of Wareham.  Becca and I were next up and decided that we would join each others legs.  It was now 1:40am and it had been nearly 19 hours since we had last run and we were going a bit stir crazy.  

As Zee, the runner from the other van, and Ron (in the support car), arrived at the transition (at a Cumberland Farms), they were tailed into the parking lot by three Police cars.  I guess the combination of relay raising awareness and funds to support veterans and a professional hockey player, piqued their interest.  They volunteered their support over the next 15-20 miles which was really generous and helpful as we ran through the night.  

Best Friends Club Token Photo

For our first leg, Becca and I ran with both a guy named James, the token Tahamurra sandal runner (every group has one), and Zee who decided to tag along for a few more miles.  Before the run started, Ron told us that he planned for us all to run 10 minute mile pace, but more importantly that we stay together with the other runners.  

Becca and I joked before we started the run on how much pain we should inflict on the other runner.  In response, Kelly said, "I wish I had that super power."

We started off the leg in the low 7:30 range.  We were both feeling pretty good considering it was 2 in the morning.  We dropped James and Zee off at 4.7 miles in and picked up a 22 year old named Christian.  Christian said he does a lot of biking, but very little running.  The next 7.5 miles would be the longest of his life.  Long story short, he kept up with us at 7:45 pace for the whole thing and said that he is excited to start running more. 

Kelly getting
some shut eye

Becca and I handed off to BJ in North Carver where he started his second leg.   At this point a majority of the group was napping and trying to get a bit of shut eye before the sun came up.  Our next transition was another Cumberland Farms and this one was a 24 hour one.  While we waited, Ken and I caught up having not really hung out much over the past 10 years since he lived above me.  

Next thing I know, the group has come back out of Cumby's with oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches and coffee for the whole gang.  It is amazing how good a hot coffee can taste after being up for 23 hours. 

The next few legs were on the uneventful side as we worked our way up to Weymouth.  We were all eager to make it to Castle Island where we would meet up with Dave McGillivray and get our police escort to the Boston common.  

While waiting at a Wendy's (that was depressingly not open at 7am), I recounted some of my adventure in the White's from the previous weekend to BJ.  As I went into detail about running along the Southern Presidential Ridge in 45 degree rain with 60+ MPH wind gusts, he just shook his head and said "You're insane.  You're tough." At which I smirked looking back at him and retorted with "Nobody was F*@*king shooting at me."  As someone who has made friends with pain and pushing through the unknown in recent years, I really don't know how members of the military deal with being in the situations they are put in.  In that moment, I really did laugh at BJ calling me tough and it made me really think about and be thankful for what our service members do us and how most of us never have to be in any of those situations.  

Becca and Kelly getting
footprints on my windows

After everyone in Weymouth got Zee's autograph (really, I swear someone must has be posted something on Twitter or something) and picture, he ran us up to Quincy where Becca and I would run together for the final three legs / 13 miles.  We had a really beautiful route that took us around UMASS Boston and Castle Island.  Similar to our previous legs, we ran again with Christian and James from the other van, this time in the opposite order. 

We arrived at Castle Island just after 11:30 and had nearly an hour to kill before our Police escort arrived.  Becca and I had run 22 miles so far and had just 3 to go.  

During this break the topic of ultra marathon running came up again and what ultra runner to talk about with a bunch of military members than David Goggins.  He is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance athletes ever with a resume both from the military (retired Navy Seal and Army Ranger) and ultra marathons to back it up.  As soon as I brought the topic up, all I heard was "Who's gonna carry the boats ... Son, you don't know me." My response again to this topic of conversation, "I'm not that tough ... or insane."

The final three mile run to the common was really cool.  As someone with no overt attachment to military, it was really awesome to be part of a team with veterans out to raise awareness and funds to support other veterans.  We arrived on Boston Common to a standing ovation just before the flag planting ceremony where 37,000 flags were being placed to remember those Massachusetts service members who have lost their lives in the line of duty. As we approached the common, the mood began to get a bit more serious.  In an effort to break the silence, I said "Who wants to run back to Hyannis?" In which I got more than one chuckle.   

Boston Common Finish Line

The day ended with a group photo including both teams, Dave, Mayor Wu, and Brigadier General Hammond (Homebase's Executive Director). Perfect way to end an epic journey with an epic crew.  

Thank you to everyone joined, supported us, serve and have served.  Until the next text from Becca, "Scot, what are you doing on ..."

- Scot

Disclaimer: The above story is recounted from the memory of the storyteller.  In overnight relays their are times memories may become fuzzy.  Every effort was made to keep the story truthful and accurate.