Alan Rowe MBE was part of the Allied Forces Foundation Team in the US Marine Corps Marathon on 27th October. The team was 135 strong including many very special guys with varying injuries, some double and triple amputees. Alan felt privileged to make many new friends, especially those from the Danish Armed Forces who he will be keeping in contact with, maybe even running with them and a Baton in the Copenhagen Half next year.
The MCM course is by no means an easy one, with quite a few hills in it, especially the cheeky 300 metre steep incline to finish. The weather was beautiful, perfect for running, the race was brilliantly organised, the crowd fabulous with their genuine support and if all goes well Alan will be taking a team over for 2014's run.
Alan ran with a great guy and former Royal Marine Stuart Taylor, who has been badly injured in the past. As usual they stopped on their way round talking to the crowd handing out the Baton's message to them as they held the Baton. Alan also took footage from a Go Pro camera which has turned out to be quite useful, though had to stop three times to put in new batteries (a good excuse for a breather!)
Alan’s eldest daughter, who is a Baton Trustee, came with him for the trip and they were both taken to the National Guard HQ, The Pentagon and the Senate with the Baton - not the easiest thing to take something that resembles a stick of dynamite into a very security conscious place, but they managed it with a bit of friendly persuasion.
All in all Alan found it a wonderful experience!
The MCM course is by no means an easy one, with quite a few hills in it, especially the cheeky 300 metre steep incline to finish. The weather was beautiful, perfect for running, the race was brilliantly organised, the crowd fabulous with their genuine support and if all goes well Alan will be taking a team over for 2014's run.
Alan ran with a great guy and former Royal Marine Stuart Taylor, who has been badly injured in the past. As usual they stopped on their way round talking to the crowd handing out the Baton's message to them as they held the Baton. Alan also took footage from a Go Pro camera which has turned out to be quite useful, though had to stop three times to put in new batteries (a good excuse for a breather!)
Alan’s eldest daughter, who is a Baton Trustee, came with him for the trip and they were both taken to the National Guard HQ, The Pentagon and the Senate with the Baton - not the easiest thing to take something that resembles a stick of dynamite into a very security conscious place, but they managed it with a bit of friendly persuasion.
All in all Alan found it a wonderful experience!