Mike was a three-time CRR Grand Prix champion, many-time race winner and record breaker, and part of the first inductee class into the Virginia Peninsula Road Racing Hall of Fame, last December at the CRR Awards Banquet.

Photo above is one of many taken at the Shamrock Marathon by Brightroom.com

Photo collage was prepared by Karen Corl

"Mike was a great runner, but also a great person. And his battle against cancer was inspirational to all of us. He was as stubborn in that fight as he was in his running and racing, ending every e-mail with the quote:"

"Don't give up...don't ever give up." - Jimmy V.

The Air Force Song

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

Michael Mann was inducted into the Virginia Peninsula Road Racing Hall of Fame. He was also recognized by the Tidewater Striders for the "Running Performance of the Year for 2006" after completing the Shamrock Marathon in less than three hours... just six months after completing chemotherapy to treat Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer. Master Sergeant Mann remains an active member of the Peninsula Track Club, the Colonial Road Runners, and the Tidewater Striders. He has an 18-year old daughter Nicole, and his son Anthony, who completed his freshman year at Bethel High School in 2007. Anthony is following in his father's footsteps earning "All District" cross country honors for his 15th place finish in the Peninsula District Cross Country Meet. Master Sergeant Mann is featured on the U.S. Air Force annual sports poster which is displayed in Air Force gymnasiums around the world.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems graduating with honors, Magna Cum Laude, from Saint Leo University in April 2007. Master Sergeant Mann hoped for a full recovery and planed to inspire the next generation of runners through coaching. Master Sergeant Michael T. Mann is retiring after 20 years of distinguished service with the United States Air Force. Sergeant Mann served as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Manpower Personnel and Exercise Manning at the Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Virginia during his last assignment. Born in Falls Church, VA, he moved frequently during his childhood, eventually finding his home in the United Kingdom where he graduated from Lakenheath High School in 1986. Sergeant Mann began his Air Force career in 1987 following a year of undergraduate studies with the University of Maryland Overseas Program.

After Basic Training, he attended the Administrative Specialist technical school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi where he was an Honor Graduate with a 100% average for his class work. Sergeant Mann's first permanent assignment returned him to Europe where he served as an Administrative Specialist at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. In May 1991, he moved back to Virginia for an assignment at Langley Air Force Base and he remained in Hampton Roads for the remainder of his career. Master Sergeant Mann's experience includes serving as NCOIC and Superintendent, Information Management Directorate at Langley Air Force Base; NCOIC, Directorate of Information Management, Joint Warfighting Center; and NCOIC, Personnel and Administration Branch, Joint Warfighting Center.

In addition to establishing a strong reputation for hard work and extraordinary professionalism, Sergeant Mann has achieved enormous success as a marathon runner. He finished 10th out of 15,238 competitors at the 1996 Marine Corps Marathon for which he received a special commendation from, then Virginia Governor, George Allen. He also represented the Air Force Marathon and Cross Country Teams at the Armed Forces Championships from 1999 through 2006. In December 2006, Master Sergeant Mann became the first inductee into the Virginia Peninsula Road Racing Hall of Fame.

United States Air Force Retirement Ceremony
The sequence of events included the arrival of the official party, posting of the colors by the Langley Air Force Base Color Guard, singing of the National Anthem, Invocation, Remarks by COL Bryan K. Stephens and Mark Cucuzzella of the All Air Force Marathon and Cross Country Team, and Jack Nussen, Director of St. Leo University, Awards and Certificate Presentations, Flag Folding Ceremony, Remarks by Master Sergeant Michael Mann, Presentation of the Certificate of Retirement, Benediction, playing of the Air Force Song.

After the ceremony, Mike e-mailed his friends:

Last Wednesday my oncologist decided to end all chemotherapy because he did not feel it was doing anything one way or the other. He knows that the disease will take my life but he does not believe it will be any time soon which is promising. He decided it was time to look at quality and chemo definitely does not improve quality of life. My major complaint right now is the immense pain and pressure in my abdomen and liver. It feels like something is constantly trying to push its way out. As I told everyone in my last update I will be going down to Florida to live with my parents in the hopes that a change in environment will improve my quality of life. We will be hitting the road tomorrow so please ensure that you update my e-mail address in your address book to reflect the following: marathonmann13@hotmail.com

I will see my new doctor on Monday after my arrival and get set up with hospice care.

For those of you who did not know or could not attend I had my retirement ceremony on Friday. It was an exhausting but wonderful event. Even though I do not have an official retirement event date yet, I felt it was important to celebrate my career with those that had been a part of it. The turn out was amazing. I was also awarded my Bachelors Degree in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University magna cum laude. I had been unable to attend the graduation in July due to a hospital stay, but it was something that was very important to me to set an example for my children. Please keep my family and myself in your prayers especially as we travel to Florida over the next few days. My body can not handle the entire trip in one day but we hope to complete it in two, so I will have time to settle in before my appointment I remain a strong believer that God will deliver a miracle to pull me though this horrible ordeal. As I continue to rise out of bed every morning I become ever more convinced that God has even bigger plans in store for me and that this is a fight I will not lose. As always I want to thank you all for your continued prayers and support as they are continually needed to win this war. Your support is a big part of what keeps me going every day and I appreciate it. I will send another update once I get settled in Florida. Until then please continue to pray for me and one another. Thank you.

Michael Mann "Don't give up...don't ever give up." - Jimmy V.

"I made it to Florida on Thursday. Address: 838 Plymouth Ct Orange Park, FL 32065 (904)272-8809 Sold the house in VA, but will stay in touch with all my friends."

Editor's Notes: Runner Rankings
Michael Mann was an amazing runner. His times always exuded strength. He was always confidant, yet quick to acknowledge the strength he gained from his friends and fellow runners.

I wrote for the winter 2006 rankings, "Michael Mann is on the way back." He started the year with a 16:31 runner-up spot for the Sentara 5K. He ended up ranked fourth in the sub master division for the winter. He was 15th in the spring with top finishes such as third overall at the Queens Lake 5K in 16:49. This was after finishing the Shamrock Marathon in 2:54:27 on a day when everyone ran slower than normal due to the weather. In the summer, he stepped up to 8th in the division with one of his last races the Warhill 5K as runner-up in 17:25.

For the whole year of 2006:

Special Note: Last year's runner-up in the division Michael Mann of Hampton, VA finishes tenth this year. Mann was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2005. He continues to inspire fighting back and continuing to run through it all. He started out the first day of 2006 with a 16:31 (10K = 34:27) second overall finish at the Sentara Days 5K.

Michael Mann's Racing in 2006

Race	                       Date	        Distance	Time	PL	AG
Sentara 5K	               01-Jan-06	5K	        16:31	2	1
TS Tune-up 10K	               28-Jan-06	25K	        94:46	5	1
TS Tune-up 20K	               07-Jan-06	20K	        75:15	2	1
Ford's Colony 8K	       22-Apr-06	8K	        28:30	2	1
Jamestown HS Swamp Run 5K      11-Mar-06	5K	        17:27	5	1
Queens Lake 5K Run 	       29-Apr-06	5K	        16:49	3	1
Shamrock Marathon              17-Mar-06        Mar             2:54:27 27      3
Yorktown Victory Run 8 Miler   25-Mar-06	8M	        46:30	3	1
Elizabeth River Run	       27-May-06	10K	        35:19	7	2
Warhill 5K	               03-Jun-06	5K	        17:25	2	1

Article from Military Newspapers of Virginia on Michael Mann.

Rick Platt's article from Virginia Gazette on Michael Mann and the Rock 'N' Roll Half marathon.