NEWS
JANUARY 19, 2012
A Sea of Blue: 'Team Travis' Shirts Pump Up Runners at Charleston Marathon
By Tom Sileo
Communications Director, Travis Manion Foundation
Editor, The Unknown Soldiers
Anyone who visits Charleston, S.C., is impressed by the beautiful blue ocean. Indeed, blue was on the minds of many runners navigating the city's historic streets on Saturday, Jan. 14, but it wasn't because of the water. It was because of all those bright blue Team Travis shirts.
We introduced you to Navy Ensign Sean Fitzmaurice as the sailor was organizing a group of runners for the 2nd Annual Charleston Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K. After a wonderful weekend for participants in the South Carolina Lowcountry, ENS Fitzmaurice reflected on the special event, which he said was all about those blue Team Travis shirts.
"When meeting before the race began in the warm tent (it was in the 30s out - rare for South Carolina!), it was easy to tell how many people started to take notice as the congregation of blue shirts in the corner started to grow," the sailor wrote in an e-mail. "Knowing that people are watching you and are impressed by your organization adds more adrenaline to the pre-race atmosphere."
Fitzmaurice said 27 Team Travis runners participated in the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K. The spirit these Travis Manion Foundation supporters showed on Charleston's streets embodied the organization's mission: honoring the fallen by challenging the living.
"Many of the runners on our team ran for a charity for the first time, and I don't think this will be anyone's last charity run," the organizer, who was also one of the runners, explained. "It adds a new level of motivation and really takes your passion to the next level knowing that you are representing more than just yourself out there."
The heroic story of Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion and Navy SEAL Lt. Brendan Looney's brotherhood, service, and friendship motivated Fitzmaurice, a fellow Naval Academy graduate, to get a team together in Charleston, where he is stationed. By the end of the races, several spectators who may have been unfamiliar with this story of sacrifice were inspired too.
"Again, after the race, the growing flock of blue Team Travis shirts caught the eye of everyone in the vicinity whether coming in to finish or spectating," Fitzmaurice wrote. "When you put on a shirt with someone else's name on it, in this case Travis Manion, it brings your dedication to a whole new effort level."
After the race, Team Travis participants headed to a local sports bar to watch the NFL playoffs, tell stories, and make new friends. Throughout the weekend of fun, Fitzmaurice made sure to continue thinking and talking about the legacies of Travis and Brendan, as well as another fallen Naval Academy graduate, 2nd Lt. J.P. Blecksmith, who had a big impact on the sailor.
"Everyone has a story behind their connection to the Foundation," he wrote. "And being able to share that story is really something special."
As those blue Team Travis shirts are put back into drawers for the winter, the Travis Manion Foundation wants to thank Ensign Sean Fitzmaurice for his integral role in organizing such a wonderful weekend of running and remembrance. But we also want to remind the 27 participants to be ready to wear those shirts again soon. The 2012 9/11 Heroes Run and Marine Corps Marathon are right around the corner!
To see more pictures from the Charleston Marathon, please visit our Flickr page.
