John and Donna Swanson Story

Just Another Runner’s Story March 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

A Unique Running Journey

“Motion is lotion that soothes the body and soul.”

—-Jane Rolfe

Running has the potential to transform your life. Improved physical health and fitness is probably the benefit most easy to measure, but there are other positives that come to mind. Running can enhance one’s mental capacity with what it can do for brain health. It can boost confidence and provide an array of positive emotions that range from endorphin boosting excitement to sensations of calm and peace. Perhaps the most appreciated outcome of running that sustains over the long haul is the personal stories that are created. Each running journey grants a lifetime of memories. There are those runners that enjoy making these memories in isolation with the serenity of running alone but many of us share our journey through the years with others in the running community. Many individuals have played roles in the running journeys of Branch County runners, John and Donna Swanson, but what makes their journey special is they have enjoyed it together as husband and wife for almost a half-century.

Both John and Donna have savored their sport for years but John was first to get his feet wet with running. He had some experience as an endurance athlete while competing in long distance swimming in high school which helped some with the transition to running. “I started running in 1977,” he noted. “I was 25 at the time. Donna and I had been married for three years and were living in Chicago. One of my college roommates was a Golden Glove boxer. I wasn’t interested in boxing but I agreed to support him with his training and began running with him. We were doing short sprints about a half-mile each day. It wasn't the longer distances that I would enjoy running for many years but I still appreciated the daily routine. A few years later, another friend of mine convinced me to join him for a two mile run. Before attempting two miles I wasn’t at all confident that I could run that far but I was pleasantly surprised.” Half-mile sprints would turn into two mile runs and two mile runs would lead to even longer distances for John. The routine and consistency kept him going but running eventually turned into something much bigger than a daily activity for John.

Running had become a routine for John for two years before he finally convinced Donna to give it a try. “John took me to a 5K race in Northville,” Donna said. ”I decided to race as well and placed in her age group. I had done some running before the race in Northville. I saw how much John was enjoying it and I wanted to experience this also. I ran on my own initially. I had to work up to John’s level of endurance before I could run with him. After placing in my age group at the 5K race in Northville I was hooked.”

Once Donna built her endurance she and John began running some together. Sharing their joy for running with each other and with others helped to fuel their passion for their sport. Donna’s competitive drive kicked in after her performance at the 5K in Northville. “For the first fifteen years or so, we were comparable in pace,” John explained, “so we trained primarily together but also with others in the running groups we belonged to wherever we were living at the time.” Donna worked up to John’s endurance level and pace but eventually her speed surpassed his. 

Both John and Donna would progress to what many consider to be the coveted runner’s distance. “I ran my first marathon in 1979, with a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes,” John said. “Emotionally, it was very exciting because of the work put in to accomplish this milestone. Physically, I was exhausted and thought I would never run another, but a few days later, I was already planning for my next. Donna was a huge support for me and ran many of the training runs with me for my initial marathon.” 

Supporting John through many of his training runs may have planted the marathon seed for Donna but cheering him on race day is what pushed her over the edge. “I went and watched John run his first marathon and decided that I wanted to run one,” Donna noted. “I trained for my first marathon after this and ran Detroit in 1980, with a finish time of 4 hours and 29 minutes. I was very excited after doing my first. I was exhausted but knew I wanted to do another.” 

It seemed that Donna fell in love with the marathon immediately. Her desire to run more pushed her in making a few long range goals. One of these goals was to knock off a marathon in every state and become a member of the 50 State Club, an accomplishment that both she and John have achieved. “Donna first made a goal to run a marathon in every state,” John said. “Eventually this also became a milestone I wanted to achieve as well.”

The 50 State Club is an exclusive group of runners with a very small percentage in the running community belonging and a fraction of those who call themselves marathon runners are part of the club. Running a marathon in every state and having your spouse do the same is an even unique scenario. Through the years it has become a major part of the Swanson’s running journey. “I completed my 50th state in April of 2015 in Louisville,” John reflected. “My first one is right up there for my most memorable marathon, but probably sitting at the top of this list is the Leadville Trail Marathon, starting at 10,200 feet, climbing to 13,185 feet. This was the last marathon that I was able to finish ahead of Donna.”

Donna shared some of her highlights in part of her 50 state accomplishment. “I finished my 50th state in 2014 in Vermont. My fastest marathon was 3 hours and 13 minutes in Las Vegas. I have run Boston three times. John and  have run 35 of the states together. My most memorable marathon was when I ran Detroit with a time of 3:14. I was the third female in the master division and I won $500. I have also crossed the finish line for the Running Fit Trail Marathon three times as the first female.”

The memories created for 26.2 miles in all 50 states are truly amazing but it is more than the running that has made this journey one to cherish for John and Donna. “We have lived in Michigan most of our marriage, but we were in Montana for five years,” John explained. “It was helpful, living there to complete some of the states out west. I have loved running with Donna through the years.The running has been great, but trying to knock off 50 states has created great memories with the traveling, the things we have seen and the people we have met.” Donna shared similar sentiments. “When we moved back to Michigan, John retired for a year, so we decided to buy an RV and travel, running races wherever we went,” Donna said. “One of these memories from traveling came near the end of my 50 state journey. My second-to-last state marathon was in Little Rock, Arkansas. A big thunderstorm came in, with about six miles remaining for me, and there were threats of the marathon being canceled, but fortunately I was able to complete it with an official finish.” 

Running a marathon in every state wasn’t the only long term goal that Donna made for herself. “I decided that I wanted to run 100 marathons, a goal which I was able to accomplish just a few years ago,” Donna noted. “My 100th marathon was in 2022 in Detroit. This will be my last marathon. My knees and hips have held up pretty well considering all the miles and marathons I have run. Now that I have reached this milestone I have no desire to run another marathon.”

The marathon has been the go to distance for both John and Donna, but they also have some experience in the ultra marathon world. “John and I have both run the Big Horn 50K in Wyoming once and the Big Horn 30K once. I have also run a 50K in Allegan, Michigan. John has also run the Big Horn 50 miler.”

John and Donna’s running journey has played a major theme in their life journey. Donna reflected on what running has meant to her. “It has been awesome running with John for much of our lives together. I can’t imagine anything better. Every place we have lived, we have joined a running club. Running friends have been a huge part of our lives. We have always been actively involved in each club we have belonged to. What running has taught me most is that I am capable of doing anything, even things that are hard.”

The miles run for John and Donna for the last 50 years have blessed them with good all around health. Now in their mid 70s both are able to remain active. John no longer runs but has implemented a walking routine into his life. Donna continues to run but has added walking to her routine also. The enhancement of physical health that running provides is much appreciated by all in the running community but perhaps the biggest payoff for John and Donna is the shared journey that running has created for both of them as husband and wife.

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.

Mike Huber Story

Just Another Runner’s Story February 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

Game Changer

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

—Jimmy Dean

Capturing the stories of members of the running community for the last two decades has been a privilege. Each of us has a unique running story, but I have also discovered that a similar thread for each story is how running enhances life. I’m sure that reading each story in print can inspire, but what I have come to realize is that sitting down across the table to interview each runner whose story I have written is equally, if not more, uplifting. No one is immune to setbacks in life and adversity. Running has helped many to navigate these roadblocks. This month’s featured runner, Mike Huber, experienced a traumatic accident and injury as a young adult many years ago. He is grateful, despite being an amputee, to be able to enjoy running.

Mike began running back in the mid-eighties as a student athlete for Comstock High School. “I ran track my sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school,” Mike recalled, “participating in the open 400, the high jump, and in the 1600 meter relay. I also ran some local 10K races during my teenage years, but nothing serious. I often call this period of time my first running career.” Mike spent much of his time outside as a child and also enjoyed cycling.

Mike graduated from Comstock High School in 1989 and began a career in the military ten months later.  “I joined the Air Force almost a year after high school and continued to enjoy running to stay in shape and also participated in some races and triathlons,” Mike said. “I was stationed up by Marquette at KI Sawyer Air Force Base and also loved cross-country skiing during the winters there.”

Mike’s faith and patience would be tested after an auto accident. “I was involved in a minor car accident near Petoskey in December of 1993,” Mike explained. “While inspecting the damage to my car, I was hit by another car and jammed between the car and a tow truck. I remained conscious, and initially I thought maybe it was just a broken leg, but I quickly realized it was more serious when I noticed my foot turned the opposite direction. Doctors did some reconstruction surgery, but after less than a week, the left leg had to be amputated below the knee because of gangrene.”  

As you might imagine, the realization of losing a leg was a crushing blow for Mike. “Initially, it was tough to deal with,"  Mike recalled. “I went to my Air Force Base to continue my rehab. I had a support system there that helped. I eventually went from a woe is me attitude and why did this happen to what can I do now to live a quality life.” 

This transformation from self-pity to hope and gratitude didn’t occur without intervention from others. “I was surrounded by some amazing people at rehab who inspired and helped me,” Mike said.  “The chaplain at rehab helped to restore my faith.” Mike’s greatest source of positive influence came from an unlikely source. “There was also an 80-year-old double amputee polio patient there. She taught me a lesson about believing in myself. Her words of advice were to never be discouraged by those who try to tell me what I can’t do. She was at the rehab facility with me for only a few days, and I have never had contact with her after this, but her influence was huge. I still think about her to this day.”

Mike would eventually find the joy of running again after his accident, but this would take some time. There were many factors in play for Mike to run long distances again, consistently with advancements in medical technology being a part of this equation. He reflected on the process of a return to a normal life as an amputee. “I was twenty-three years old and still young at the time of the accident. My medical team helped me lay out a plan to eventually equip me with a prosthetic. Because mine was a traumatic accident, I started with a plaster cast, a metal pole called a pylon, and a simple, solid foot. This was the first step to build proprioception. I was restricted to very little weight-bearing during this time. It allowed my leg to heal while preventing flexion contracture.” 

Mike’s leg responded well to this initial stage, which lasted five weeks, and he was ready to continue the progression back to normal activity. “From there, I was given a plastic socket that was shaped for my leg. The foot remained simple, but this allowed me to bear weight on my left leg. For the next seven years, my socket remained the same material, but the foot technology would change. For the first five or ten years, I would have to be measured for a new socket a few times a year because of shifts in muscles and bone structure. Now I only have to have a new socket every two to five years. My body changes less than it once did.”

Mike worked his way through each stage of recovery and normalcy as an individual with a prosthetic leg, and a moment early on fueled his desire to keep progressing with steady patience. “I hiked five miles up the Vernal Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park with family six months after surgery,” Mike said. “I had not really trained for it, and it was definitely a huge challenge. There was a lot of blood and blisters at the base of my leg. Completing this was a defining moment. I realized that the sky was the limit for me.” 

Completing the Vernal Falls was a defining moment for Mike. It was a game-changer. “I wanted to become more active, and I began making goals,” he noted. “I started mountain biking because at the time, this was an activity that was more accessible and created less impact on my lower leg. I started running two years after my accident again, but nothing serious.” The foot that Mike had at that time allowed him to run on a limited basis. He wanted to run more but was grateful for the activities he was able to enjoy. He remained hopeful and patient. “At this time, I had a carbon fiber high-activity foot, but it wasn’t necessarily designed for long-distance running,” Mike explained. “It wasn’t the intensity or the higher mileage that I can participate in now, but when I started running again, even on a limited schedule, it was great. I had run before the accident and enjoyed it then, but this was extra special experiencing it again.”

The technology for running blades had already been developed at the time of Mike’s accident, but he would have to wait for his opportunity to get his blades. “Running blades were available to higher-level athletes, but it wasn’t until 2015 that technology made running blades accessible to most everyone,” Mike said. “At this time, I finally got a running blade. This is when I became a serious runner again. I started putting races on the calendar with an end goal of a half-marathon. I ran my first half-marathon, the Portage Winterblast Marathon, in 2016. My goal is to push myself today, to do my best, and to grow, but my mantra is to run tomorrow and into the future, so I am always careful. I am always paying attention to how my leg and socket feel.”

Mike felt blessed to be able to ride his bike, hike, and run on a limited basis, but having running blades transformed his life. One might think that going from running with two legs to returning to the sport years later with a prosthetic leg and running blade might take some time to adjust, but Mike said that there wasn’t that big of a learning curve. “I do have to pay attention to the running surface that I run on, but I’m not sure that I do this more than any other runner.” Mike noted, “I am always cautious on ice and snow and on trails with rocks and roots.” 

Mike understands that if his accident had occurred at a time when today’s prosthetic technology was not present, his life would be much different. Modern medicine has allowed him to live life as normal. “I think that the technology for myself and other amputees allows access and engagement as there has never been before,” Mike said. “I believe this is a good thing. Being able to be active keeps all aspects of my life functioning well, including physical health and wellness, mental health and wellness, and interacting with others in the community who are healthy. Being able to be active definitely helped to get me over that mental hump after losing my leg. The mental struggle that came into my life as an amputee is similar to the struggles in a run. Technology for running has not been restricted to amputees. We have seen technology with shoes, other running attire, and watches, and I feel technology for amputees has followed a similar trajectory.”

In the past, losing a leg would have drastically limited one’s mobility and independence in life, but in Mike’s mind, although his accident was very traumatic, his injury today is not necessarily more debilitating than many more common medical issues. “What makes my injury different from many injuries is that it is a visible injury,” Mike explained. “It is easily seen. There are many in our community and our run group who have dealt with other struggles, including cancer, broken bones, and other disabilities. Like these individuals, the running community has helped me through these struggles.” 

Mike’s accident may seem to others like a major life bump in the road to navigate before returning to normal. In essence, it was a blip in his life story. He has led a normal life for many years with a leg amputated, but this does not diminish the example he is to others. “I think seeing how I have been able to handle my disability has taught my kids some life lessons about not letting things get in your way,” Mike reflected. “It may not have been natural for me to lose a leg, but my life eventually circled back to normal.” Mike continues to provide this example for not only his kids, but for his peers in the running community, as well as others who know his story. “I’m not alone in dealing with life issues,” Mike added. “All of us need to make a mental shift when struggling to change the Why did this happen?  to the What can I do to make my situation better?”

Mike has enjoyed the support he has gained from the running community. He has stepped in this winter as a team leader for the Kalamazoo Area Runners Beyond Marathon and Half-Marathon training program, something that has enhanced his running experience. Although being an amputee does not limit his independence and ability to function as an athlete and a productive member of our society, his story still remains one of inspiration.

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.

Do I Look Like a Runner

Just Another Runner’s Perspective February 2026 Written by Gale Fischer

Do I Look Like a Runner

“The benefits and opportunities of running are available to anyone. A life-shaping experience is there for the taking.”

—Donald Buraglio

10/19/1997: Feelings of amazement, inspiration and disbelief consumed me as I stood along the streets of Chicago watching runner after runner pass by. I had never been part of a marathon as a participant or as a spectator and I knew very little about covering a distance of this length or running in general. My wife Kathy and I had traveled to Chicago on this mid October weekend to watch Clay, a friend of ours run his second marathon on this chilly Autumn morning. With each checkpoint I noticed the same runners clustered in a small pack with Clay. I kept anticipating that  some would fade, but they remained on pace mile after mile. In my mind I had envisioned what a runner looked like but what I saw contradicted this image. Some were tall, others were short. There were skinny runners and stocky runners. Different generations were represented from young adults to middle aged and also senior citizens. I was awestruck that anyone could run 26.2 miles but what stunned me more than anything else was the different sizes, shapes and ages of these individuals. I learned that day that in the world of running a book cannot be judged by its cover. I have observed this concept thousands of times over the last three decades as a member of the running community. There may be physical traits or genetic factors that heighten one's potential in our sport, but what truly defines a runner is not what appears on the outside. It is what lies deep inside one’s soul that defines each of us as a runner.

In this my 25th year as a teacher at the school that I call my work home, I am one of the few runners on our staff. Over the years I have remained consistent with my craft. There have been some of my peers at my workplace who have tried running for shorter periods of time but not leaned on it as a go to activity over the long haul. They don’t understand running the same way that I do. My routine during this time has involved an hour run a few days a week after work through the neighborhoods surrounding our school. My co-workers have observed me running on their commute home many times and understand that it is a big part of my life. Some admire my running routine, others are impartial, and I feel most find it difficult to understand my motivation. I typically refrain from bringing up running but periodically this topic will come up in general day to day dialogue. 

A few weeks ago a conversation with some of my co-workers centered on this concept of the perceived physical make-up of a runner. Two of my peers had noticed me running on the roads a few days prior on a frigid February afternoon. Our conversation included inquiries that are common from a nonrunner to a runner. “How can you breathe when running outside in the cold air? Aren’t you frightened that you might slip and fall on a patch of ice or snow?” I offered plausible explanations but still it was difficult for my co-workers to understand. Although most of these non-runners still had no desire to try running, the dialogue sparked curiosity. “Could you see yourself giving running a try?” One teacher asked another. “Have you ever tried running?” another teacher asked the others. One sarcastic reply to this question caught my attention instantly. “Do I look like a runner?” one of my co-workers replied. Her comment summoned an immediate response from me. “You will find many runners who look like you on any marathon course, in any pack of runners on a training run, or on occasion a solo runner out on the road logging miles by themselves,” I interjected. 

My body type has experienced changes since becoming a runner nearly thirty years ago, but this just tips the surface of how my life is different now than it was then. Running has transformed my life mentally and emotionally leaving a far bigger impact than how my body type has evolved. I feel blessed to be a part of the running community. I love being around people who share a common interest and passion with me. Perhaps what I like most about the running community is the diversity of its members. We come from different careers, religions, political affiliations, age brackets, and we represent many body types. The nonrunner may perceive that some of us look more like runners than others but one’s physical appearance does not determine if they are a runner. 

For the nonrunner who possesses a curiosity to join the running movement, we welcome you. I have heard the same story from many experienced runners that fear and embarrassment made it difficult for them to start running. Concern of being observed by others when running and not having the appearance of a runner is common. These runners eventually tried running and in time this embarrassment and fear faded away.  There are many reasons to begin a running routine. Running will improve physical, emotional, and mental health. It will provide a network of peers, some becoming lifelong friends. What running can do more than anything is provide one with confidence to become comfortable in their own body, whether or not that body is perceived by others as a runner’s body. Brian Schneider, a local runner and good friend of mine has often mentioned to me that his level of fitness and his physical makeup provide the perfect scenario for a bar bet. He can walk into a bar and challenge a patron of his choice to a 10K race. I would agree with Brian that he has a good chance of winning this challenge.

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.

Des Case Story

Just Another Runner’s Story February 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

Finding Your Sweet Spot

“The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more than life.”

—-George Sheehan

Running offers its participants an array of  emotions with thrills, misery, and feelings that fall somewhere on the spectrum between these two extremes. Agony and adventure can occur simultaneously  but also at times in isolation. Each runner experiences the runner’s high with varied elements of the sport. Locking into a fast pace is what works for some. Others find the ultimate joy completing a slow pace for a longer distance. Running bliss can come from a certain pace, a given distance, or preferred weather conditions and terrain for running. Some experience running euphoria traversing a sunny beach on a  warm summer day while others find this sensation on a wooded trail with a fresh blanket of snow. Running can provide positive vibes under all circumstances. Each of us finds a sweet spot with specific scenarios, which can offer the biggest source of individual satisfaction. Coldwater runner, Des Case has found her sweet spot in running as an ultra-marathon runner.

Running has become the sport of choice for Des, but other activities satisfied her athletic palette as a child. “Growing up I came from an athletic family,” Des said. “My siblings and I all participated in sports at a young age, and our mom and dad coached the little league teams we were a part of.” Des excelled as an athlete in high school but not as a runner. “I played varsity basketball and softball for Coldwater High School,” Des added. “The cross-country and track coaches always wanted me to run, but I wasn’t interested in doing this. I graduated from high school in 2008 and went on to play college softball for two years at Glen Oaks Community College. I continued with rec slow pitch softball after college.”

Des gave running a try nearly five years after graduating from high school. “I started running some local 5ks starting in 2012,” explained Des. “Initially I never trained much but just liked to go out and participate in local races.” Des started without any expectations of where running would take her or how it might fit into her life. “Not long after starting, however, running began to grow on her,” Des recalled. “I became a vegetarian and also was going through a breakup.These two things triggered a surge in my running. Running became my me time. I always feel so much better after a run.”

Des enjoyed what running was doing for her mentally and physically. She wanted to build on the momentum and run longer and more often. “In 2013 I ran my first half-marathon,” Des said. “I hit my goal, finishing in just under two hours.” The half-marathon distance seemed to keep Des satisfied for a few years, but eventually she would take on the next logical step as a runner. “My first marathon was the Kalamazoo Marathon in 2016,” she explained. “At this time I still wasn’t following a training plan, but I was still able to hit my goal, crossing the finish line in just under four hours. Finishing a marathon was fatiguing but also gave me an adrenaline rush.” 

The marathon distance was a new type of high for Des and something that satisfied her running fix for a few years, but eventually another type of racing experience presented a fork in the road for her running journey. “I ran the Yankee Springs Half-Marathon, a trail race, in June 2021,” Des recalled. “After completing this race I was hooked on trail racing.” Becoming a part of the trail racing scene also introduced Des to ultra distances, something that seems more common in the world of trail runners. She wanted to run farther. “In October of 2021 I completed the Pinkney Trail Weekend 50K, finishing first among females,” Des noted. “I was sore but the entire experience gave me an adrenaline rush. It made me feel like I could accomplish anything that I wanted. After running the 50K with a first place finish I became more serious about making goals. I wanted to race on trails and continue to increase the distance that I could run at one time, and I also wanted to increase my speed on the road for the marathon distance. I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon.”

Des had experienced some success as a runner prior to her first place finish at the Pinkney Trail Weekend without following a scripted training plan but with the goals she had made for herself it was time to change this. “I started getting more serious about training and hired Lorretta Toboskie Horn as my running coach,” Des said. “I qualified for Boston with a finish time of 3:24 in April of 2024 at the Carmel Marathon. I ran Boston in April of 2025. Running Boston was amazing. The weather was perfect and there were so many runners and spectators. To date I have completed four marathons.”

In the midst of qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon, Des was also gaining more experience as an ultra marathon runner. “In September of 2022, I ran the Woodstock 50 miler and finished as second overall female," Des noted. “I felt great after this and felt like I could have run 100 miles. I bumped up to 100 miles in June of 2023 at the Kettle Moraine 100 Mile race in Wisconsin. I was third overall female. To date I have completed two 50 milers and just one 100 miler. I would like to run another 100 miler, a 200 mile race and a Backyard Ultra.” A Backyard Ultra is a last man standing race in which participants must cover a 4.2 mile loop on the hour every hour. Participants keep going with the winner being the final runner who has met the cut-off each hour. 

Although Des is working with a coach and following a script, her weekly training runs are not ideal for trail racing. She would prefer to log the bulk of her miles on trails, but circumstances make this a challenge. “There aren't any trail running options near Coldwater,” Des explained. “My schedule does not allow time to travel to a trail system to run. I am a single mom with four children, a twelve-year old, a nine-year old, a six-year old, and a two-year old, all of whom I have adopted. I also home school my children and work nights and weekends as a nurse. Much of my running is done on a treadmill with some miles completed at a local cemetery.”  Des loves the trails and would love nothing more than to run more on trails, but she has made due with her circumstances and excelled in the world of ultra trail running despite not training on trails. She is a great role model for her children with her dedication to her sport and flexibility in getting her running in while being a mom first.

Des has learned from other ultra runners, especially her coach on how to prepare for races. “For my long races and long training runs I have implemented walking intervals with most of my walk breaks on inclines,” Des added. “I have struggled with nutrition for these long runs, but am starting to figure out what works for me. I take an energy gel every thirty minutes. I hit the aid stations for races using the nutrition offered. Watermelon and pop sicles have become my go to. I also carry a handheld water bottle with an electrolyte drink. When training for an ultra I typically complete a double day long run each week.” 

Running requires a strong mental resolve. Ultra distance puts this mental resolve on high alert. Des relies on her mental focus to get her through the rough patches. “Being an ultra runner has shown me that I can do more than what I think I can,” Des shared. “As endurance athletes we experience physical pain but our minds quit long before our bodies. We can accomplish so much more by remaining physically tough.Whenever I think of quitting, I break things down mentally into manageable segments. I tell myself that I can run another mile and repeat this process for each mile.”

Des’ current sweet spot in her running journey centers around the trail racing ultra marathon scene. The allure of nature that comes from a wooded trail, the confidence that comes from completing distances of 50K to 100 miles and beyond provides her with that thrill. Locking into the mental focus required to run for hours at a time is a task that she craves. 

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.