Projo Running Blog

A spectator at last weekend's Breakers Marathon in Middletown, Rocky Graziano returned to his home in Santa Maria, Calif. after the race feeling quite touched by the warm reception he and his daughter received here in the Ocean State.

He felt compelled to write in and share his experience. Here is his letter:

I traveled to R.I. to watch this race because my daughter Martina Graziano was running her 9th race. She runs with a great group. Two of the ladies running, Mary Camire and a lady named Maria Casas. Maria came in first and Mary came in second in the ladies 50-year age group, great huh? There were two young guys running with them who came in 23, 24, 25 or 26th, not sure which, but one of them, Todd is his first name, [Todd Dewardener of Wakefield] was running his "first ever" marathon and finished in that group (23-26th). I thought that was great and so did the rest of the group.

The young man who ran with Todd was an Army man, just back from Iraq in fact and he finished just ahead of Todd. They are old friends but I could not remember his name, but I just thought I would mention it. I think he has been to Iraq a few times!

"My main reason for writing this is that I was so amazed and felt so good about the way the rest of the group waited around for my daughter to finish. She is a little slower than these "pros" she runs with (ha), about an hour to be exact, but these guys and girls waited outside with me (they could have gone inside to have clam chowder and lobster) for Tina to come in and then cheered her on to the finish. I thought that was just outstanding friendship among people, something you really don't see much of anymore. I just wanted to say a big "thank you" to this group and I hope they get to read this and I am so glad that my daughter has friends like this.

Thank you for the chance to write this and have a wonderful day.

ciao

Rocky Graziano
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA

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