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Tell Us About You >> Your 2007 Race Stories
Your 2007 race stories
I am a 52 year old former school teacher of 25 years, whose life switched on a dime in
2001. After two surgeries and a diagnosis of (brittle) diabetes, I soon saw my dreams of
teaching here in Ohio or in India lost to me indefinitely. Over the past 6 years I have
worked diligently with doctors to bring blood sugar under control with very minimal success.
My current endocrinologist has placed me at the top of his "I don't know what to do with
you" list. We continue to adjust insulin pump settings and change medications and diet
to find something that will bring stability and stave off diabetic complications. Along the
way I have also been diagnosed with asthma, sleep apnea, the beginnings of an enlarged heart,
osteoporosis, and degenerative discs in the lower region of my spine. There is often a great
deal of nerve pain and swelling in my legs and most recently an unexplained rash that is
painful enough to require emergency room ! treatments. Diabetes is ugly and not fair and is
quickly becoming an epidemic in our country. We must fight back.
Last fall my husband (a marathoner) and I decided to get a treadmill for home use.
Specifically it would take away my fear of walking regularly for gaining strength and health.
Prior to that time, I had been trying to walk outdoors and found myself struggling with low
blood sugar readings. Even though I carried glucose tablets with me, I sometimes would be too
disoriented to find my way home safely... only blocks from our home. Well, I started using
the treadmill as soon as it arrived. And although there were some days that my overall health
and pain threshold would prevent me for working out, my muscles began to tone up and I began
to feel stronger. One wintery day, as I treaded along to my favorite music, I began to
realize that I should consider signing up for the 2007 Columbus Distance Classic. My husband
was already registered to run, so I would already be there to cheer him on. Why not train to
walk in it?! Of course, much fear began to set in, but I prayed and continued to tread along
and get stronger. I began to realize that this fear was preventing me from reaching my
goals... and was beginning to steal my independence. How did I sink so low? What would be
the worst thing that could happen? I could lose control and go down on the course. I could
land in the hospital due to a myriad of issues. That was a very real possibility. But as
I continued to tread and pray, I realized that if I didn't aim at starting the race, I would
continue to live with debilitating fear. That would be worse than landing in the hospital!
So, I signed up and pressed harder to train to walk 13.1 miles on April 14th. If I didn't
make this goal, I would still benefit from the training. This was a win/win situation.
By early March I had worked up to 12 miles on the treadmill, checking and correcting blood
sugar levels every 2 miles. I had set my goal for finishing the race within 4 hours...
before the orange cones would be picked up. Training had gone well. In late march I walked
11 miles on our local Rails to Trails path within 3 hours!!! I was ready! But a week before
the race, a new episode of nerve pain be gain in my back and legs. Throughout the week I
could barely get up and down from a chair. How would I walk 13 miles? I continued to pray
and prepared to show up at the start line with my husband.
Friday afternoon we listened to John Bingham as he encouraged us and answered last minute
questions. At the end of his talk, I asked him how my husband would be able to find me if I
had a medical emergency during the race. He gave me the name of the doctor in charge on race
day. What a comfort to have that little detail. Like most distance racers, I slept very
little that night, dragged my aching legs out of bed in the morning and headed to the start
line. I would love to tell you how much fun I had....and it was fun to meet lots of other
crazy people who were passing me by on the course. But it was also work....one foot in front
of the other, I "waddled on". I prayed for strength from the beginning and
especially as the temperatures dropped, the rains began, and my muscles stiffened. I had no
energy to celebrate yet. But when I saw John's face and shook his hand at the finish line
(25 minutes ahead of my goal:)!, I knew it was time for celebration. It was also time to
begin encouraging others.
Today I am not just another of the many chronically ill statistics in Central Ohio. I am
also a Finisher of a 13.1 mile race. Now i am celebrating... and looking forward to seeing
others out on the race course with me. If you are a diabetic or suffer from debilitating
illness such as I do... please take up this challenge. Just take the next step!! I encourage
you to get up and walk....go for one mile, or two miles. Aim for a 5K race... or a half
marathon, if you dare! Is it easy?? Probably not. Will it be fun? Maybe not. Will the
benefits out way the hardships? Absolutely!! I don't intend to give my life over to diabetes
or to the fear of its complications in this race called life. I hope I'll see you out
there... because as John Bingham says.... "The Miracle isn't that I Finished... the
Miracle is that I had the courage to start." So, take courage and get started!
Connie Runyon
West Jefferson, Ohio
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Thank you for hosting this event! I recently started running to get back in shape not
realizing how much fun I would have doing so. I started off a few miles a day and the next
thing I knew I was running a 5k race with friends in Kentucky. A few 5k races later, I found
myself running more often and for longer periods of time. A friend of mine mentioned this
race and for some strange reason, I decided to begin training. I had some trouble staying on
track with my busy schedule, and thought about bowing out several weeks before the race. But,
as I was reading some information on the web-site I noticed the slogan again "The miracle
isn't that I finished, the miracle is that I had the courage to start." I took that to
heart and decided the worst thing that could happen is that I would never try.
I was psyched on Saturday morning not expecting to run the entire race, but hoping that I
could at least finish. 2 hours 9 minutes and 32 seconds later, I found myself holding that
penguin medal in tears at what I had accomplished. I just want to thank you for making this
such a great experience from beginning to end. I can't think of a better way to see so much
of Columbus. Seeing TBDBITL (The Ohio State Marching Band) and strangers there right behind
you cheering you on even in your weakest moment was such an inspiration.
I look forward to seeing you again for years to come!
Cheers to you!
Kevin M. Doll, MS, CFP®
Financial Advisor
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I walked the half marathon with my boyfriend and men from his army unit. We had an
incredible experience everyone was so wonderful here is our story. Thanks, Christina Gladysz.
On Saturday April 14, 2007 I participated in my first half marathon in Columbus. During
that day something amazing happened, something that had nothing to do with how well I did, or
how fast I completed the race, something that had nothing to do with me at all. I was
participating in the race with my boyfriend SSG David Kirker and some men from his unit Alpha
Company 1-148 infantry out of Walbridge Ohio. They were voluntarily road marching in the race
in order to help raise money for a young girl with cystic fibrosis. As I watched all the men
arrive in full uniform, I felt a sense of pride. As I watched them load 35-40lbs rucks on
their backs, I felt a sense of honor and gratitude. I wondered if others along the course
would feel the same sense of pride and gratefulness that I was feeling. I would come to find
out the answer very soon. From the very beginning children were coming up to the soldiers and
asking them for pictures. Men and women were congratulating them, thanking them and asking
them in amazement if they were really going to walk the whole 13.1 miles with their rucks on.
The soldiers enthusiastically obliged to every photograph, to every inquiry from curious
racers and shook the hands of all the men and women who wanted to share their gratitude with
them. During the entire 13.1 miles onlookers, volunteers and participants showered the men
with positive encouragement. There was an almost constant outpouring of 'Thank You', 'Go Army!'
and 'Thank you for all you do'; I also heard several 'We support you', 'We believe in you',
and 'Thank you for your service'. There were high fives, handshakes and stories shared by men
who had served in the past. As the race continued it began to feel more like an army homecoming
than a half marathon. Not one word of discouragement or one negative comment was heard all day,
only an outpouring of gratitude and support. I began to realize this course symbolized so much
more than traveling 13 miles. Every step SSG Kirker and his men took seemed to echo words of
bravery, self-sacrifice, honor, courage, and most importantly freedom. And with every step the
people echoed back a resounding 'thank you, we believe in you and what you are doing.' As we
neared the end of the course I was overcome with emotion. The answer to my question was yes;
they were feeling the same sense of pride that I was feeling. The support did not end when the
race did. The men were greeted with a hero's welcome and people continued to come up to them
thanking them, asking them for pictures and showing their support. As I stood by as an observer
to this wonderful experience, I then wondered if the media would capture this incredible
journey. Would they be there to report on this and portray the military in a positive light?
I already knew the answer to this was most likely a no, but it didn't really seem to matter to
the men. They were not doing it for publicity or recognition. Like everything else they do,
they were doing it out of selflessness, to help their fellow man. In that moment I came to
realize something I had always believed in my heart, that the average American not only
supports the troops, but believes in them and what they are fighting for. I knew then that I
would always remember this day. When I turn on the news and hear negative remarks about our
military or when I read articles in the newspaper saying that 'the American people want the
troops pulled out' I will know the truth. I had experienced the truth on that chilly Saturday
morning. Before the walk began, a man walked up to SSG Kirker, put his hand on the SSG's
shoulder and whispered in his ear "Thank God for you". To me, this represented our
experience on that course. So thank God for you SSG Kirker, SGT Davis, SGT Roy, SGT Browder,
SGT Holbrook, SGT Townsend, SGT Berlin, Pvt Phipps, Pvt Passamore, Pvt Hernandez, Pvt Taylor,
SGT Manning, SPC Wallace, and Pvt Groves, thank God to all the men and women who have
selflessly given of themselves to protect our freedom. I hope that no matter how it may appear
in the media, that they know the truth that I learned that day. The people they are fighting
for support them, believe in them and deeply Thank God for them. I write this simple story to
thank them and to illustrate what the military is really about.
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