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AKRON, Ohio - (August 29, 2007) - At least 12 runners in the 2007 Road Runner Akron Marathon on Saturday, September 29 will be thinking about more than the praise and free goodies awaiting them at the finish line. The runners, ten of whom had open heart surgery and two spouses of open heart patients, have formed three relay teams to participate in the fifth annual race.
Organization of the three relay teams started in early 2006 when Mark Siwik, a lawyer and business consultant from Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Paul Hobbs, a structural engineer from Burlington, Vt., organized their first relay team. Siwik, an avid marathon runner, and Hobbs, a former state cycling champion, wanted to bring together fellow athletes to celebrate their recovery from open heart surgery and to trade experiences about what it's like to recover both psychologically and physiologically from a life-threatening heart condition.
The three relay teams, named Valve-O-Lenes I, Valve-O-Lenes II and Cardiac Athletes are comprised of runners of both genders, a variety of ages, a range of heart problems and hometowns spanning the country.
The team members of the "Valve-O-Lene" relay teams met through an internet support group for heart patients known as ValveReplacement.Com. The oldest "Valve-O-Lene" and the runner traveling the farthest is Mel Pugliese from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Pugliese, 69, began running 28 years ago as a New Year's resolution and completed 50 marathons before undergoing aortic valve replacement in October 2006.
The "Cardiac Athletes" team represents the internet support group started by Lars Andrews, a cardiac physiologist in Portsmouth, United Kingdom (CardiacAthletes.org). Andrews' call for stories of athletes overcoming heart-related health issues was heard by New Yorker Dave Tuttle, 54, who took up marathon running after heavy smoking led to quadruple bypass at age 46. Tuttle's teammate in the Road Runner Akron Marathon relay is Mark Collier from Gilbert, S.C. Collier, 61, almost died from cardiac arrest in September 2006 from an irregular heart rhythm known as Long QT Syndrome. Collier has set his training so that he will run his 10,000th running mile upon completion of the Akron Marathon, just 370 days after his initial cardiac arrest.
"Something we are very excited about is that two spouses of heart patients are also participating in the race," said Siwik. "Michelle Hobbs and Pam Bonner both faced the challenge of supporting their husband-athletes before and after surgery. They've worked very hard to see this day as well."
"The spirit of the group is captured by Laura Fucci, a 47-year-old physical therapist from Mendham, N.J.," Hobbs said. "In January 2005, Laura underwent open heart surgery to replace her aortic valve and to repair an aneurysm. She's thrilled to able to compete again, and she serves as a living example to her patients that life should be lived to the fullest."
The Road Runner Akron Marathon, which will hold its fifth annual race on September 29, offers the full marathon, the new half-marathon, a 5-person relay or a 2-person relay. Through the array of available events, runners are able to choose their distances from 3.1, 6.2, 7.6, 10.7, 13.1, 15.5 or 26.2-miles.
For the second year, all runners who complete the full marathon will receive a free pair of running shoes. This year, Brooks Sports will be offering a number of male and female shoe styles from which runners can choose.
Visit: AkronMarathon.org or call (330) 375-2786 (2RUN) for more information.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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