Last weekend, my hometown held the 4th annual Gusher Marathon. I originally planned on running with my dad again, but obviously pregnancy put that on hold. However, I am really bummed to have missed and witnessed an amazing story that unfolded that day.
The Gusher Marathon is a Boston Qualifying course, which means there are no strollers or dogs allowed on the course. However, a few weeks prior to the race they received a request that proved that there is more to racing than rules, regulations, and Boston Qualifying times. The Gusher Marathon made a bold decision to allow one man to run with a running stroller, even though they had denied several other requests previously. This decision was one that was unequivocally a life changing decision, and one that makes me so proud of the Gusher Marathon for bending the ‘rules’.
The request came from a 32 year old single dad who has inoperable brain cancer. He asked to run the Gusher Marathon pushing his 6 year old daughter. He told the Gusher that he had already been turned down by 5 other marathons and that the doctors are just hoping to keep him alive until 40. He wanted to run this marathon with his daughter as a memory for her.
If that’s not enough to make you cry, not only did they allow him to run with his daughter, but he WON! HE WON!!! Cue the tears. What an awesome story.
Wow. Wow. I’m in tears!