30 Day Runner Countdown
On September 7, 2007, we kicked off the 30-day countdown to The 30th Anniversary LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with daily runner profiles. Get to know this year's inspiring field of athletes by reading the stories previously released.
Runner 29: Alesiah E. Wright
Runner 28: Rebecca Risley
Runner 27: Thomas Lanigan
Runner 26: Donna McCormack
Runner 25: Kevin Fetzer
Runner 24: Casey Wetenrieder
Runner 23: Kelly Marie Imus
Runner 22: Randy Burt
Runner 21: Rick Asselta
Runner 11-20
Runners 1-10
October 5, 2007
RUNNER 29: ALESIAH E. WRIGHT
Age: 43
Occupation: Administrative assistant, Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park
Hometown: Forest Park, Illinois
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Alesiah Wright needed a reality check to motivate her to run in her first marathon. After being a public safety officer for ten years, she took a desk job as an administrative assistant. The new job did not allow for much daily exercise and slowly her health began its decline. She found that she was gaining weight and the inconveniences were slowing her down. She experienced headaches, blurred vision and unusual pain in her hips and legs. Realizing that something serious was going on with her body, Alesiah reluctantly visited her doctor.
A series of tests proved that she had Type II diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis in her hips. The diagnosis explained her symptoms though she did not take the doctor’s orders to change her lifestyle seriously. She would have to face a greater disappointment to push her to alter her sluggish way of life. In 2006, Alesiah had the opportunity of a lifetime. She planned to travel to Egypt for an excursion that would take her to the peak of Mt. Sinai. She was accompanied by a group of eager climbers and quickly noticed her inability to keep up with her peers. She found herself out of breath and struggling just to keep up with an elderly couple who were also lagging. Yet, she pushed her way forward, determined to meet her goal.
When Alesiah was about 50 feet from reaching the peak, her body shut down. She rested and watched the others press on to the top. Alesiah was devastated. After spending more than 26 hours in the air, on three different airplanes, and being subjected to countless customs checkpoints, she would not arrive at her ultimate destination. On her journey home she dwelled on her frustration of not completing the full climb. She came to the conclusion that her weight was not only causing her health to dwindle, but it was holding her back from living her life.
Alesiah took the first step toward living healthier when she returned home. She joined the Elijah Running Club sponsored by her church to run in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. She began training with the group and together they have worked up to running 18 miles for their Saturday group runs. She is also proud of her personal discipline as she runs 5 miles on her own, twice per week, in preparation of the marathon. Her attitude for exercise has completely changed as she now looks forward to running rather than dreading it as a painful chore. She is particularly looking forward to being a part of the amazing event in Chicago and proving to herself that she can go the distance.
October 4, 2007
RUNNER 28: REBECCA RISLEY
Age: 32
Occupation: Warehousing
Hometown: Hobart, Indiana
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Rebecca Risley will be competing in her first marathon at The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in just a few short days. Though her prior experience in running is limited, she eagerly anticipates the opportunity to run in the special event and to be a member of a team to support non-profit organization Opportunity Enterprises, Inc. She has been surrounded by stories of inspiration of the race and looks forward to being a part of it all.
Nearly ten years ago, Rebecca enlisted in the Navy for a number of reasons. She was primarily seeking the educational benefits that the Navy was able to offer, however, she was also excited to serve her country and to travel to places she would not otherwise have the chance to see. After two months of special training, she was stationed in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan. There she was a member of Operation Iraq/Enduring Freedom. As a part of the Navy Customs Unit, she was one of the members responsible for personal gear and equipment inspections for troops on their way home to the United States.
While in the military, Rebecca had the opportunity to run with her friends, though she never participated in a race as long or demanding as a marathon. She enjoyed running the occasional 5K and decided she would like to attempt something more challenging. With a little help from her friend, Sonya Kaster, Rebecca has been training for The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. She will be running to support Opportunity Enterprises, Inc., a non-profit organization that focuses on helping disabled children and adults. The charity was founded nearly 40 years ago and has since expanded from helping disabled children to assisting all ages with technology and programs to make their lives easier.
Rebecca is proud to be able to assist such an important cause and at the same time represent all those in service of the US military. She is thankful to be back in her homeland and to be in better shape now than when she first left for Kuwait. Running has given her time to reflect on her life and goals. She hopes to complete the marathon while supporting her charity and accomplishing the difficult task of running the entire 26.2 mile road course.
October 3, 2007
RUNNER 27: THOMAS LANIGAN
Age: 52
Occupation: Assistant United States Attorney
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Originally from Chicago, Illinois)
Previous Marathons: 20
Runner Story: In 1977, Thomas Lanigan was challenged to participate in his first marathon at the very first LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. As the fastest runner in his class at the Chicago Police Academy, he thought taking on the marathon would be more fun than work so he happily accepted. He was honored to run with a group of other police officers from the city and can remember waiting at the start line for the race to begin. He still remembers the much smaller group of runners and the excitement of being a part of the inaugural race.
Though he cannot remember his exact finish time, he distinctly recalls the sensation of accomplishment when he crossed the finish line. He so enjoyed running in the marathon that he entered and finished in the race 15 additional times! Though he completed law school and took a job with the FBI which forced him to leave his beloved city, he managed to return to the marathon whenever possible. He also squeezed in appearances at the Marine Corps and Honolulu marathons along the way.
Over the years, Thomas found the benefits of running impacted his entire life. He learned the importance of discipline and endurance. He has taken the aspects of training and competing in marathons and applied them to his life. Whenever adversity crosses his path, he thinks of the miles he has put behind him and attacks the challenge with the same determination. He believes that anyone who truly dedicates the time and energy required to be a good runner can equally apply those qualities to other areas of their lives.
On a few of his return trips to Chicago, Thomas was unable to compete in the race and was forced to join the crowd on the sidelines. Though he was not able to run himself, he took advantage of the opportunity to absorb the marathon’s energy and excitement. This year marks the 30th anniversary of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and therefore of Thomas’ first marathon. He has tired of being a spectator and looks forward to returning to the race as a runner to celebrate this special occasion.
October 2, 2007
RUNNER 26: DONNA MCCORMACK
Age: 41
Occupation: Nurse Practitioner / Loyola University Chicago Nurse Educator
Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Donna McCormack is not a natural born runner. Yet just four years ago she found herself looking to running for help. After seeing herself in a recent photograph, she was disappointed in what she saw. She looked overweight and unhappy. She made a decision to lose weight and began a self-motivated diet. She easily lost the first ten pounds, but thinking she needed help to continue she joined Weight Watchers. With their system and her ability to stay on course, she lost another 30 pounds. Her success actually made her nervous. She was concerned that if she didn’t make some real changes in her life, she would constantly struggle to keep the pounds off her newly trim figure.
She happened to be sharing her concerns with her co-worker and friend, Margie. Margie took the opportunity to suggest running as a method to help Donna in her plight. Margie’s positive attitude inspired Donna to give running a try. They both signed up to run in a 2.5 mile turkey trot nearby. She had never regularly run for exercise so she began slow, alternating city blocks with walking and running. She found that it was somewhat difficult at first, but eventually became comfortable in her routine. With her friend by her side she was astonished at her ability to run the entire 2.5 miles. Needless to say, it was not long before Margie was pushing her into running a 5K.
Donna trained with her friend and managed to run a few more 5K races, building her up for a 10K. After completing the distance, Margie couldn’t resist the opportunity to suggest they run in a half marathon together. Once again, Donna succeeded in her goal and was finding that she was less surprised at her ability to perform so well. She decided she would take on a full marathon as a way of celebrating her 40th birthday. With Margie’s support, Donna looked into registering for the race. Unfortunately, the slots had already been filled and she took it as a sign that maybe she was not as prepared as she had thought.
Donna put her thoughts of running in a marathon aside until this past October when Margie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Donna was devastated to hear that her friend was about to embark on the fight of her life. She felt helpless and scared. As she meditated on what she could do to support Margie, the most obvious idea popped into her head: it was time to run the marathon. As Donna began her training, her dear friend began chemotherapy. With every step she took, Donna thought of Margie. Though she cannot fight cancer for her friend, she knows that she can do the one thing that made Margie so happy; she can run in her place. Donna will run in The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon as a tribute to her running partner. Though she is frightened of possible injury or failing to finish, she is determined to press on to the finish line for her friend.
October 1, 2007
RUNNER 25: KEVIN FETZER
Age: 24
Occupation: Medical supply sales
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Kevin Fezter was gearing up to run in his first marathon in Tampa, Fla. when he noticed he wasn’t feeling well. He visited his doctor and went through a series of tests to determine what was causing his abnormally poor health. The results were not immediate, but they explained what was going on in his body. Kevin’s doctor diagnosed him with testicular cancer. His first reaction was fear and it only escalated when he was informed that he would need to have surgery to remove the tumor the next day. He went from preparing for a physical challenge to preparing to fight for his life in just a few moments.
Kevin was instantly faced with a decision on how to handle his battle with cancer. He could either dwell on why he was being faced with the disease or he could attack it by finding out what he had to do defeat it. Between his surgery and the start of his chemotherapy treatment, he decided to attempt the half marathon. Despite his inability to continue his training, he still managed to complete the half marathon in 1:35. It gave him the boost he needed to begin the treatments that would weaken his body while it fought off the life-threatening disease.
Surrounded by his family and friends, Kevin was never at a loss for support. He was in awe of the other cancer patients he met and their strength to win the battle of survival. Their positive attitudes inspired him to seek a way to support cancer research that would result in improvements in prevention and more importantly, a cure. It didn’t take him long to find his method. He contacted the Lance Armstrong Foundation and told them his story. He wanted to be a part of The Livestrong Army – the team that runs to support the foundation. He requested to be a fundraiser in The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and was overjoyed when he received the news that he was selected.
Kevin will be one of the eight runners to be a part of The Livestrong Army and hopes to reach his goal of raising $15,000 for his team. He has recruited his siblings, Brittany and Blake to participate in the marathon as well. Though neither has a history of running such a long distance, they were inspired by Kevin’s enthusiasm to join him. Kevin is looking forward to the opportunity to compete in his first marathon as a cancer survivor and to have a supportive team alongside him. He looks at the marathon as a way of showing off his return to health and hopes to raise awareness about cancer.
Website: www.livestrong.org/grassroots/kevinfetzer
September 30, 2007
RUNNER 24: CASEY WESTENRIEDER
Age: 38
Occupation: Freshman English teacher for a Dallas inner-city school
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Casey Westenrieder is running in The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon for one reason: he promised his son that he would. As a veteran of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, he is no stranger to hard work and is well aware of the benefits of honest exercise. This will mark his first marathon ever; though he had intended to participate in marathons previously, misfortune got in his way.
For some time, Casey’s son has been encouraging him to get involved in racing. He initially pushed Casey to prepare for 5K runs. Though he reluctantly agreed, he found that it was not a chore, but actually something he truly enjoyed. When his son started pushing for a marathon, Casey could not help but concede and give it a shot. He began training for the 26.2 mile excursion and on two occasions registered for marathons he thought he would enjoy. Yet both times he was unable to arrive at the start line. In one case it was an obligation to his job and in the other it was due to an untimely injury. Though it seemed that a marathon was not in his future, Casey pressed forward.
This year Casey wholeheartedly intends to make good on his long overdue promise to his son. He will race on October 7 with the goal of finishing and hopes to have his son run alongside him. As a teacher he has always been aware of the importance of setting a good example for his students and he knows following through with promises is one of the best ways to execute it. By running in this race he will be doing what he set out to accomplish so long ago and will be ready to take on new challenges.
As a Texas resident, Casey is looking forward to making the trip north to visit the Windy City. Chicago has become one of his favorite places to visit whenever he has the opportunity. He looks forward to returning to the city’s friendly community and being part of an event that unifies over 45,000 runners and 1.5 million spectators! He hopes that the energy of the people around him will provide an extra push in the event he has the slightest thought of surrender.
September 29, 2007
RUNNER 23: KELLY MARIE IMUS
Age: 35
Occupation: Health Education Specialist
Hometown: Greeley, Colorado
Previous Marathons: 3
Runner Story: Kelly Marie Imus has a great respect for the importance of physical wellness. She runs for many reasons, but primarily to promote her own health and to raise awareness about its role in the quality of life. She has an important role as a health education specialist with a primary focus in diabetics. The majority of her patients are Latina women in her community and she is perpetually reminding them of the benefits of a balanced diet and a regular exercise routine.
Kelly’s profession provides her with two motives to run in marathons: to set an example for her patients and to keep her own health in order. Due to her chaotic schedule she forces herself out of bed at 4:00 a.m., six days per week to train. She then comes home and prepares herself for the rest of her day. While she does not expect everyone she crosses paths with to take on such an aggressive approach, she hopes her commitment toward serving as a good role model will encourage copycats. After all, if she can hold a full-time job and keep in shape, anyone can!
When Kelly began running for health she decided to set a goal for herself. She prepared for her first marathon in 2004 at the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. She did not have high expectations for the race and was both surprised and elated to find out that she had managed to qualify for the Boston Marathon on her first try! Since then, Kelly has made a promise to run in marathons in all 50 states before she turns 50. Though she will be just 35 at this year’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, she will also be able to check off New York and Hawaii by the close of the year.
Running in all 50 states has offered Kelly a fantastic opportunity to travel and meet new people. She is most excited about running in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon as it is the first time her parents will be able to watch her. Being from Peoria, Ill. will allow them to make a short journey to see their daughter bolt across the finish line. As with every trial, she hopes to improve her finish time so that she can continue to improve her endurance and speed for her next mission.
September 28, 2007
RUNNER 22: RANDY BURT
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired safety professional
Hometown: Antioch, Illinois
Previous Marathons: 59
Runner Story: Randy Burt attacked his first long distance race in 1962. Impatient for track season to begin, he joined the high school cross country team. After competing in just one meet as a sophomore, Randy was bumped up to varsity status and never looked back. He continued to run cross country in college, but after two years found that he needed to devote more time to his studies. In 1969, he was drafted into the Army and served as a Ranger in Vietnam. At the time of his discharge he had earned a Bronze Star and declined an opportunity it become an officer. He instead elected to return home to complete graduate school. He continued to run for pleasure, though not as often as he would have liked.
Feeling that he was missing his old pastime, Randy pushed himself to train for his first road race. He entered the Bay to Breakers Race in San Francisco; his longest race at the time. He was disappointed at his performance and his lack of preparedness for the hills. Determined to make his next run more respectable, he began a routine that he thought was sufficient to prepare him for his first marathon. He entered the Mayor Daley Marathon in 1977, but was once again disappointed with the results. He felt he did not have enough information about the training and proper attire, so he went back to the drawing board.
The path to success was not an easy one and it actually took Randy quite a few tries before he felt he had earned the right to call himself a marathoner. He was never able to break the three hour mark, but came close with times under 3:10. He is now a veteran of all 29 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathons and has qualified for the Boston Marathon 19 years in a row. The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will mark his 60th marathon and in November he will celebrate his 60th birthday by running 60 miles. He ran 50 miles ten years ago on his 50th birthday to mark that milestone. Though he anticipates having to walk a few miles this year, his eyes are set on completing the full 60 miles.
Randy is in a privileged class as one of just nine runners who can boast running in every Chicago Marathon. Despite nagging injuries that make running a little more difficult each year, he refuses to let go of the sport. He enthusiastically shares that his inspiration for running in Chicago comes much from the spectators. He looks forward to seeing the crowds and joining the elite runners who are attracted to the energy and flow of the race.
September 27, 2007
RUNNER 21: RICK ASSELTA
Age: 64
Occupation: Coordinator of “Roots & Shoots” Caribbean Programs, Jane Goodall Institute
Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut and Maunabo, Puerto Rico
Previous Marathons: 20
Runner Story: Rick Asselta does not have an easy life. In the 1960’s he was exposed to chemical warfare which caused a number of life-threatening results. He has survived both cancer and the dangerous operation to remove his damaged esophagus. While most people might spend their recovery time lounging in front of the television or in bed with a stack of reading material, Rick chose a more aggressive approach. He began running to help strengthen his muscles and speed his body’s healing process.
Rick found that running cleared his mind and kept his attitude positive. He went on to compete in 20 marathons including two ultra marathons! Sadly, his body could not keep up with his ambition. It continued to deteriorate and injuries slowed his progress. He eventually had to begin relying on a pacemaker which forced him to slow his activity. Rick persisted and continued to train even when he found himself in the need of crutches. When he eventually required the assistance of a wheelchair he simply adjusted his training to focus more on his upper body. He has since competed in five wheelchair marathons and is proud of his two 1st place victories at the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, Penn.
Considering his past, Rick could easily claim that his motivation for competing is purely for himself. He could say he is trying to prove to the world that he is an athlete who is capable of championships. However, that’s not why he does it. While he certainly enjoys the side effects of exercise and excitement of the races, he has a special cause in mind. After meeting Dr. Jane Goodall, he was convinced there was a cause worth supporting. He traveled to Tanzania and helped develop a national sports program for disabled adults and children. Most of the people requiring wheelchairs are polio survivors and are capable of using chairs that look much like a bicycle; the only difference being that it’s operated using hands instead of feet.
Since his return, Rick has sought to lengthen the reach of the program and hopes to raise enough money for 200 wheelchairs! The chairs will enable adults and children to live normal, healthy lives. Without them, they are restricted from leaving their homes, but with them they can go to school and help their families with simple tasks. He has set his goals higher than ever before and looks forward to achieving success at The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
Website: www.wcsu.edu/cyberchimp