Running tribute: New Philadelphia police officer completes half marathon in full uniform
New Philadelphia police officer Jennifer Horner cannot remember the last time a member of the Tuscarawas County law enforcement community died in the line of duty.
But she ran half a marathon in full uniform to honor the 20 officers who have fallen since 1935 while in the service of their fellow citizens.
She took part in the Peace Officer Memorial Run in Modesto, California, on Oct. 2 while wearing her full uniform, which meant she carried an extra 15 to 25 pounds for 13.1 miles. The only item she didn't wear was her Taser because she didn't have the two lockboxes required to take it on a plane.
At the start of the race, a ceremony featured bagpipes, drums, a band, sirens, a helicopter and a videos about the fallen officers. Signs displaying their photos, their agencies and their end-of-watch date were placed at the start line, finish line and each mile of the race.
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"I didn't even know anybody, and it was so sad," said Horner, who works in New Philadelphia schools as a resource officer. "It was very honorable to do."
The race coincided with a family trip to visit to relatives in the area. Horner was accompanied by her mother, Marilyn Keffer, 83, and sister Laurie Keffer, 58, who also ran the half marathon. Horner and her sister were the participants who traveled the farthest.
Horner paid extra to run in full gear, but won two medals: one for finishing the race, and another for doing it in her uniform. Registration for next year's full-gear challenge will be $90, compared to the $55 for others running the half.
The 24-year law enforcement veteran completed this year's race in three hours, 18 minutes, which she said was not far off her usual half marathon time. She previously finished the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Run for Home half marathon in less than three hours.
She passed runners 13 years younger
"There were 22 officers who did it, and I actually passed four of them. I couldn't believe it. And I was 13 years older than any of them," said Horner, 60.
Horner recalled that the temperature was in the upper 50s when the race started at 7 a.m. in the San Joachim Valley, just east of San Francisco Bay area. The terrain was flat, unlike hilly Tuscarawas County.
Horner said she started feeling hot a mile into the race. She discarded a T-shirt, wore a cooling towel and poured water over her head to cope.
She recalled how the finishers helped each other hobble onto the stage for a post-race photo. One participant said, "'This is what crazy is like.' But we want to never forget our fallen officers and always keep them ... in our hearts. This just shows the support," Horner said.
She recalled walking with a man who needed nearly four hours to finish.
"You just cheer each other on and help each other," Horner said. "We had four hours. I'll walk if I have to, the whole time. I jog and I walk and I jog and I walk. So I'm not fast. I finish. I just keep going."
Horner doubled back a mile after crossing the finish line to help her sister complete the race.
"Mostly what hurt was my feet. I still have two black-and-blue toes and a blister on one foot," Horner said. "On my side, I ended up getting a sore from my vest rubbing. I still had a good time. I love the racing community. I love the people I meet and talk to."
Horner is planning to run a half marathon next year in Alaska. She's raced in Florida and West Virginia. She often runs in costume locally.
She's run in tutus
"The reason I like to do tutus or something fun is because I'm not fast," Horner said. "I figure if I'm almost going to be last, I may as well come in looking good. I just love having fun. I love color. I love positive stuff. I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't have a perfect time."
She's planning to appear at an upcoming Halloween-themed race as a jester, pushing a 2-year-old grandson costumed as a clown in a stroller.
She said the Modesto race was well-organized, with water, sports drinks, energy-boosting snacks and encouragement throughout the route. A fire department ladder truck waved a 50-foot American flag over the finish line.
The next Peace Officer Memorial Run is Oct. 1, 2023. It is organized by the Peace Officer Memorial Group of Stanislaus County, a nonprofit that seeks to educate the public about officers who die in the line of duty, to support and assist the families of fallen officers, and to raise public awareness of the Stanislaus County, state and national memorials for fallen officers.
Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.
On Twitter: @nmolnarTR
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia police officer runs half marathon to honor the fallen
