The weather may have been a little cold the morning of Oct. 30 before the start of the 47th annual Marine Corps Marathon which began in Arlington, Virginia but it soon warmed up to 65 degrees by the time it finished in the District of Columbia.
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| Windham Police detectives Eugene Gallant, left, and Brandon Ladd pause for a photo during activities surrounding the Marine Corps Marathon in the District of Columbia on Sunday, Oct. 30. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Every year, individuals from the United States and over 50 countries in the world participate in the Marine Corps Marathon. People run for loved ones, a friend or family member who was killed in active duty or just because they want to run in a beautiful part of the country.
The Marine Corps Marathon is a 26.2 mile run from Arlington, Virginia and ends in front of the Marine Corps Memorial.
Gallant signed up in March 2022 thinking he would get on a wait list but was surprised when he got in right away. Gallant made a pitch to Ladd encouraging him to sign up. Ladd did so and got right in.
According to Gallant, the Marine Corps Marathon was phenomenal. He’d run in a few other marathons before – Maine, Quebec and Boston – and the Marine Corps Marathon blew the others away. The people and the support were incredible.
Ladd said it was amazing.
Both runners finished in a little over five hours. Gallant’s time was 5:04.32 hours and Ladd finished with a time of 5:10.43.
Around the 12- or 13-mile marker is an area called “The Blue Mile” where the road is lined with pictures of fallen service people every five to 10 feet. It gave them goosebumps.
“The Marine Corps Marathon offers a chance for people for a lifetime experience on an iconic course while having a connection with our U.S. Marines,” said Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations Coordinator Kristen Loflin. “Participants of the Marine Corps Marathon are able to interact with Marines while learning that they can truly accomplish the physical and mental mission that they set for themselves through dedication to their training, resiliency and perseverance to push through any obstacles that may happen before and on event day. Their strength has pushed them to succeed in accomplishing a lifetime goal. We are honored and blessed to be able to showcase the organizational skills of Marines by bringing this amazing event to so many.”
Ladd said running the race was all about the ‘why.’ He said your body wants to stop way before the finish line. And you have to get your mind right. It was determination that made Ladd want to push through. He said he has a weird association with marathons; he loves that they make him train but hates the way his body feels after completing a marathon.
According to Gallant it’s a no-quit thing. When he looks at the Marine Corps Marathon, there are people who would like to run it, but are unable to, or may have run it and are no longer able to still do so. It’s about fallen service members and their families. Gallant knows there are people who would really like to run this marathon but cannot. He’s not going to give up for them.
“The Iwo Jima memorial is pretty breathtaking ... so to finish there and have that as your backdrop is incredible,” said Gallant.
Ladd saw people with backpacks that said “running for” either a friend or family member.
“It’s hard to not get caught up in that,” said Ladd. “It’s pretty sobering; it just adds to the [mentality to] keep going, keep going, keep going. That amount of support was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
They both agreed they would do it again. They have at least one more Marine Corps Marathon on deck as Ladd’s sister had to back out from one for health reasons. She’s better now and whenever she decides to run the marathon again, Ladd and Gallant will be right beside her.
Both Gallant and Ladd have been with the Windham Police Department for over 15 years. They said it’s an interesting line of work that never feels like work and where no two days are the same. <
Both runners finished in a little over five hours. Gallant’s time was 5:04.32 hours and Ladd finished with a time of 5:10.43.
Around the 12- or 13-mile marker is an area called “The Blue Mile” where the road is lined with pictures of fallen service people every five to 10 feet. It gave them goosebumps.
“The Marine Corps Marathon offers a chance for people for a lifetime experience on an iconic course while having a connection with our U.S. Marines,” said Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations Coordinator Kristen Loflin. “Participants of the Marine Corps Marathon are able to interact with Marines while learning that they can truly accomplish the physical and mental mission that they set for themselves through dedication to their training, resiliency and perseverance to push through any obstacles that may happen before and on event day. Their strength has pushed them to succeed in accomplishing a lifetime goal. We are honored and blessed to be able to showcase the organizational skills of Marines by bringing this amazing event to so many.”
Ladd said running the race was all about the ‘why.’ He said your body wants to stop way before the finish line. And you have to get your mind right. It was determination that made Ladd want to push through. He said he has a weird association with marathons; he loves that they make him train but hates the way his body feels after completing a marathon.
According to Gallant it’s a no-quit thing. When he looks at the Marine Corps Marathon, there are people who would like to run it, but are unable to, or may have run it and are no longer able to still do so. It’s about fallen service members and their families. Gallant knows there are people who would really like to run this marathon but cannot. He’s not going to give up for them.
“The Iwo Jima memorial is pretty breathtaking ... so to finish there and have that as your backdrop is incredible,” said Gallant.
Ladd saw people with backpacks that said “running for” either a friend or family member.
“It’s hard to not get caught up in that,” said Ladd. “It’s pretty sobering; it just adds to the [mentality to] keep going, keep going, keep going. That amount of support was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
They both agreed they would do it again. They have at least one more Marine Corps Marathon on deck as Ladd’s sister had to back out from one for health reasons. She’s better now and whenever she decides to run the marathon again, Ladd and Gallant will be right beside her.
Both Gallant and Ladd have been with the Windham Police Department for over 15 years. They said it’s an interesting line of work that never feels like work and where no two days are the same. <
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