Written by Ai-Chi Tran

Saturday, December 13, was a very cloudy day in Huntsville, Texas. At 7 a.m. the temperature was 46 degrees. I arrived at the park at noon, where I met up with MJ (Jack's wife), who had been there since 5 a.m. and saw Jack off at the 7 a.m. start. Soon after, Tung and Tuan came down to join us. Poor Tung was so cold; he brought along his own hot cocoa and hid in the car.

The race was nestled in the heart of Huntsville State Park. There were people of all ages jogging, running or pacing themselves for the 50-K or the 50-mile endurance race.

The 50-mile participants had to run four 12.5-mile courses stretching through the woods, up and down hills and through various parts of the forest. Many fell or tripped over logs and wet grass, including our Jack (three times…ugh). Food and water had been set up at check stations along the routes so that participants could refuel and continue.

Like clockwork, Jack made the first initial lap at 9:30 a.m. and his second lap at 12:30 p.m. Then Jack made the crucial third lap before the cut-off time at 3:30 p.m. allowing him to continue towards his last 12.5 miles. Each time Jack finished a lap, he would take some Advil to ward off the pain. On his last lap, Jack carried a small flashlight strapped around his forehead.

Around 4 p.m., MJ's nephew, Trey, finished his 50K race. Their family celebrated with champagne as Jack trekked on somewhere on his course.

By 5 p.m., MJ and I had moved to the tents where a few heaters had been placed to warm up the finishers. We realized how dark the woods were-no lights of any kind, except for the ones near our tents. We weren't sure how the other runners could make out anything without flashlights. But one of the organizers assured us that the runners were all accounted for and that no matter how late they returned, they would not be left behind.

The temperature hovered in the low 40's but it felt like 30's. My toes had become numb by now.

At the finish line MJ waited patiently but I paced in expectant anxiety. Sure enough, at 6:56 p.m., after 11 hours 55 minutes 25 seconds after it all began, Jack finished!

Exhausted, sore, tired, cold, hungry and with a split toenail, Jack Hardison achieved a personal lifetime accomplishment and brought something wonderful to the children of Vietnam!

Folks, I wish you all could have been there!

By race day, $5,100 were pledged. After the race, pledges and donations kept coming, and in the end $6,700 was raised! THANK YOU all for your support.