Discovery Trail

This morning I continued my annual Thanksgiving tradition of running a 5K.  It wasn’t an official race, but I ran it anyway.   No cheering crowds or official timers, just me and the pounding of my feet on the trail.  There is a wonderful trail here in Clinton called the Discovery Trail.  It’s a running/biking trail along the Mississippi River.

 

The trail is dedicated to three astronauts from the Clinton area; Cmdr. Dale A. Gardner (U.S. Navy), Dr. George D. (Pinky) Nelson and Col. David C. Hilmers (U.S. Marine Corps).  I only ran 3.1 miles of the trail, but it stretches 14 miles along the riverfront. 

Often, we take for granted things that others have sacrificed greatly for.   As I was running, I thought about those who sacrifice for our freedom.  I was thinking about those astronauts who worked so hard to achieve their goal of becoming an astronaut.  They sacrificed and served our country in ways we may never now.  Likewise, many in my family have served in the military.  Whether in the US Army or the US Navy, my family has been well represented in this fashion.  They have made sacrifices that we may never know of as well.   

One of the lighthouses along the Discovery Trail

While running, I passed by other runners and walkers enjoying the trail.  It was quite chilly but everyone I passed had a wonderful smile on their face.   While running, I decided to research these three astronauts.  

George Nelson flew on Challenger, Columbia, and Discovery.  He received several medals from NASA for his work as an astronaut. 

Dale Gardner flew on the Challenger and Discovery.  He completed two space walks for a total of 12 hours.  His work helped salvage two satellites.  He received recognition from the Department of Defense and several commendations from NASA.

David Hilmers has logged over 493 hours of space flight on Atlantis and Discovery.  He was part of a classified mission and during other missions he completed at least 66 experiments while in space. 

These men dedicated their lives to something bigger than themselves.  Yes, they received commendations, awards, and had the experience of being in space, which very few people have done.  But they still dedicated themselves to serve a higher purpose.   

I’ve learned a couple of things.  One, when you commit yourself to something, go after it with all you have.  These guys reached the height of their careers because they made the effort to do so.  We can each accomplish great things when we set our minds to do so.  

Two, take the time to learn about your surroundings.  I have been aware of this trail for some time and have even ran it a couple of times before.  But I never took the time to research these astronauts.  There may be people from your hometown that have done great things that will inspire you.