30 Day Countdown: Runners 11-20
Runner 20: Perry Romanowski
Runner 19: Carrie Dietiker
Runner 18: Jenn & Jon Gregory
Runner 17: Ludivine Gilli
Runner 16: Edward Curry
Runner 15: Joseph Britain
Runner 14: Jeff Gertz
Runner 13: Deanna Arnold
Runner 12: Rick Balian
Runner 11: Benita Johnson
September 26, 2007
RUNNER 20: PERRY ROMANOWSKI
Age: 38
Occupation: Scientist
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Previous Marathons: 22
Runner Story: Perry Romanowski brings a special goal to this year’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Not only does he hope to help raise money for his selected charity, Global Business Assist (GBA), but he intends to do it with guts. Perry will not walk, but run the entire marathon …while juggling! Many might envision him slowly making his way through the course while concentrating on not dropping the three bean bags he tosses, but he will do no such thing. With a prior personal best of 3:24 he is sure to have spectators in awe.
Perry’s unique sport is better known as “joggling” and he has been doing it for years. He loves training for the marathons and finds himself using little techniques to help him through. He is always looking for new ideas whether it’s resolving to outrun someone who has passed him or developing tricks to help him forget about his aching lungs. Each mile seems to disappear under his feet a little quicker when he is not entirely focused on one thing.
His focus for The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will be inspired by GBA and the goals they seek to achieve. Global Business Assist is best known for its aid to the poverty-stricken people in Sudan, with their center of attention surrounding the Darfur area. They do not just send supplies and hope for the best. Rather, they seek to provide the residents with professionals and materials which will provide long-term assistance. As part of the team supporting this charity, Perry hopes to bring attention to the cause and importance of sharing resources internationally.
Perry’s goals are similar to many of the other runners, the only difference is in the way he executes his goals. He has a passion for competition and he hopes to raise awareness and, of course, money for the charity he chose. He also enjoys adding a little extra something to entertain the crowds and hopes to turn heads with his speed. Of the twenty-something marathons he’s run, Chicago holds the title of Perry’s favorite. He adores the city and the unparalleled excitement that this marathon radiates.
Websites: www.justyouraveragejoggler.com; www.gba.org
September 25, 2007
RUNNER 19: CARRIE DIETIKER
Age: 25
Occupation: LaSalle Bank Commercial Lending Officer
Hometown: Elburn, Illinois
Previous Marathons: 1
Runner Story: The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon has a special meaning to Carrie Dietiker. As an employee of LaSalle Bank she looks forward to participating in the event for the second time. She has enjoyed living and working in Chicago for the past three years and views the race as a method of connecting with the city and all it has to offer. She will be running with Team Tiara to support Girls on the Run - one of 85 charities associated with the Marathon.
Carrie began running as part of her regular exercise when she was in high school. As a devoted volleyball player, she complimented practice with a daily five mile run. She was pleased with the benefits that resulted from running. It helped her to stay in a routine to ward off unnecessary pounds and gave her an overall upbeat attitude. She found that missing even a few days would affect her demeanor and she resolved to set aside time to stay with her program.
She ran her first race while in college. Carrie partnered with her Dad for a 5K on Father’s Day. She immediately found herself in love with the sport and took pleasure in the friendly competition with her Dad. She has since run 3 half marathons (Highland Park, Nashville, and Virginia Beach) as well as her first full marathon in Chicago a few years ago. She was aggravated in 2006 when she missed The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon due to injuries. Despite her withdrawal, she still came out on race day to cheer for her friends from the sidelines. She was now motivated to aggressively attack her physical therapy and begin training for this year’s race.
Her exceptional story earned her the special honor of being depicted in the LaSalle Bank mural which can be seen by travelers on the Kennedy Expressway. She was thrilled to be included in the photo shoot and has found the mural to be a source of inspiration for her training. Meeting the other runners featured in the mural allowed her to connect with people who share her passion and have unique stories of their own. She couldn’t ask for a better environment to train in than the path running alongside breezy Lake Michigan in the summer.
September 24, 2007
RUNNER 18: JENN & JON GREGORY
Age: Jenn, 35: Jon, 37
Occupation: Jenn, stay at home mom; Jon, high school principal
Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Jon and Jenn Gregory have never participated in a marathon. They intend to make their first appearance in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with a very special goal in mind: to help poverty-stricken families in Sudan. With the support from Global Business Assist (GBA), one of 85 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon charity partners, they are hoping to raise awareness for their cause as well as generate money to fund special programs.
Their inspiration comes partly from being active in their local Sudanese community and partly from their desire to make a change in the world. While many people see changing the world as an overwhelming and likely impossible task, Jon and Jenn see it as a challenge for success. They wanted to discover a way for individuals to reasonably contribute to a cause that would generate substantial results. When they came across GBA, they knew they were half way there. GBA is known for its efforts to provide economic assistance to Sudan with the goal of reducing poverty and suffering among its population.
Jon and Jenn aligned themselves with GBA and quickly became an integral part of the “Sudan Challenge.” From there, all they needed was to organize their ideas to ensure their goals would be met. They did the research on the marathon and found the results they were seeking. After running the numbers, they estimated it would take each of them 46,000 steps to complete the 26.2 mile race. They moved onto the next phase and set the bar at $1.00 per step. If they could find donors to sponsor each step Jon and Jenn would take, they would be able to raise $93,000 for GBA.
They now look forward to meeting all of their goals. Between meetings, sending out flyers, collecting donations, and their daily work routines, they still manage to find time to train for the race. They wish to meet their goals associated with the charity and simultaneously look forward to being part of such an amazing event. They are eager to be surrounded by a mass of people also seeking to achieve a variety of different personal goals. They hope to spread their message that, “one person, one step at a time can and will change our world.
Website: www.stepwithme.com; www.gba.org
September 23, 2007
RUNNER 17: LUDIVINE GILLI
Who: Ludivine Gilli
Age: 26
Occupation: PhD student/Project manager with IRSN
Hometown: Paris, France
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Ludivine Gilli had hoped to make her marathon debut at the Marine Corps Marathon with her father. She was looking forward to training and competing with her father, but her goals were shattered when she was involved in a destructive car accident. She suffered severe injuries to her legs preventing her from being able to walk without assistance. Her tibia and fibula were broken and she sustained fractures in both ankles.
Ludivine was heartbroken that she would not be able to run in the race. She still wanted to support her Dad so she traveled to Washington, D.C. with the hope of watching him cross the finish line. When she realized the completion of this task was unavailable to her she decided she would have to find another way to be a part of the race. Her determination to be with her Dad brought her to the start line. She decided to attempt to hobble along on her crutches for as long as she could stand it. The miles passed under her feet and the task became more painful with every step. Amazingly, Ludivine managed to endure 13.2 miles before she had to withdraw! Though she had not crossed the finish line, she had won an important mental victory.
She was ecstatic to have accomplished such a feat considering her injuries were still unhealed and her ability to maneuver on crutches was far from athletic. She was now filled with the desire to compete in another marathon. Once her legs and ankles were fully healed she began her training routine again with the hope of proving that she could in fact go the full distance.
Ludivine selected The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon as the race to feature her first, healthy attempt in competing. She has always enjoyed running and is looking forward to finally being able to meet the goal she set for herself so long ago. She anticipates another personal conquest as she glides through the beautiful city of Chicago
September 22, 2007
RUNNER 16: EDWARD CURRY
Age: 31
Occupation: Bond Trader
Hometown: London, England (Currently resides in Chicago)
Previous Marathons: 5
Runner Story: Edward Curry runs for fun. It sounds like a line straight out of a children’s book yet gives a simple insight into this runner’s life. He is not running to raise money or establish a personal best. He simply enjoys running and the unique and intense atmosphere that surrounds marathon race days. His childlike attitude is what motivates him to arrive at the starting line.
Edward possesses a respectable athletic background as a former member of the British International Crew Team. With the team he brought home victories at the European Junior Championship in 1994 and at the Henley Royal Regatta in back-to-back appearances in 1997 and 1998. He also had the honor of competing against some of the best in his sport at The World Cup. This impressive résumé certifies his ability to compete in team sports. There is no doubt this man understands the training and discipline required to earn titles. Yet his daily routine consists of avoiding anything close to qualifying as training. He makes sure he registers on time and just shows up to the race.
While Edward does little to prepare his physical status, he actually works quite diligently to prepare himself mentally. He seeks out the most ridiculous accessory he can locate to wear in the race. In The 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, he donned a golden, horned, studded hat made of leather. He was more than pleased with the response he received from his silly display. At every step he was greeted with smiles and cheers. With every shout and whistle, Edward knew he was a source of entertainment and that made him want to run more.
The positive response he received has inspired Edward to run in this year’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. He plans to run alone but not to be alone. He is currently in the process of locating an even more outrageous costume to put on display. He hopes to once again turn heads and contribute to the energetic mood that accompanies the marathon. To-date he has competed in five marathons but he promises to unveil his best effort in the city of his new home.
September 21, 2007
RUNNER 15: JOSEPH BRITAIN
Age: 46
Occupation: Director of Music Ministries, Mountaintop Community Church
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Joseph Britain is half the man he used to be – literally. Since his weight loss surgery in July 2004, he has lost an amazing 252 lbs! Joseph had spent over 40 years standing on the sidelines watching life happen to other people. He eventually concluded that he was tired. He was tired of avoiding stairs, tired of missing out on social events, and physically tired from simple daily activities. When he elected to undergo the surgery, he made a promise to himself to change his lifestyle and not be tired anymore.
Joseph started from the very beginning to work at improving his health. He began taking short trips around his house. His poor health prevented him from going long distances without having to sit and rest, but gradually he was able to increase his stamina. He began walking with his wife and joyfully recalls the first time he was able to celebrate walking a half mile without stopping. Charged with his accomplishment, Joseph lengthened his trips. With his wife in tow, it was not only his exercise time, but it was also becoming quality time with his family. He decided to enlist his 10-year-old foster daughter to join them. Even in the winter, when the weather was far from ideal for outside activity, the Britain family walked together. By January, they were running one lap out of every eight at their health club’s track.
The daily workouts were becoming routine and Joseph began to feel that he needed to set new personal goals for himself. He desperately wanted to continue on his path to good health and did so by setting distance goals and eventually planned to compete in a triathlon. His ultimate goal would be to prepare for a full marathon. As time passed, Joseph met his goals. He competed in 15 sprint triathlons and proudly boasts his completion of the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville. Again with his wife at his side, he was setting and completing his goals – each one pushing him to excel.
The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will be Joseph’s first attempt at a full marathon. The 26.2 miles he’ll have to face are certainly intimidating for a man who once weighed 442 lbs., but are certainly not outside his ability. He doesn’t plan on breaking the finish line ribbon and has no thoughts of a glorious placement in the top 100. He has a much more significant idea in mind: finish the race. He looks forward to beating out everyone who chose to grow roots in their couch on race day.
September 20, 2007
RUNNER 14: JEFF GERTZ
Age: 28
Occupation: Litigation Examiner
Hometown: Wauconda, Illinois
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Jeff Gertz will be running alongside his wife, Lindsay, and a few other close friends and family members in The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. They will be running to support the Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago and dedicating their performance to their daughter, Hailey. Jeff and Lindsay have taken on this difficult task as a method of honoring their firstborn’s fight for life.
Hailey Colleen Gertz was born on July 7, 2004 – three months premature. She weighed a meager two pounds and nine ounces. She was immediately admitted to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and placed on a ventilator. The machine prolonged her life while she struggled to do what any other baby does: grow, play, interact, and develop. As devoted parents, Jeff and Lindsay spent each day visiting with their child. They showered her with love, affection, and a wealth of toys. They shared every moment they could offer with Hailey and staying overnight at the Ronald McDonald House ® allowed them to never be farther than two blocks away.
Hailey’s doctors had warned the Gertzes of all the possible obstacles Hailey might face being born so early. One of their primary concerns was her lung growth, development, and capacity. Hailey regularly underwent a series of tests to monitor her condition. In April 2005, one of the tests revealed devastating news. A chest CT scan discovered that Hailey failed to possess any healthy lung tissue. Her lungs were comprised of dead tissue and suffered many lesions. Her frail body ruled out the possibility of receiving a transplant as she would not be able to recover from the stressful surgery. Just 24 hours after hearing the news, Hailey’s short life ended.
Jeff and Lindsay were blessed to have the support and compassion of the hospital’s staff. They were so touched by all the efforts made to create a comfortable environment for their daughter that they are now running to raise funds for future families that may be enduring a similar situation. Jeff is inspired by his daughter’s fight for life. She managed to survive 10 months with crippled lungs when she should not have lasted 10 days. He and his wife have been training this year and while the goal they strive for has been difficult, they feel there is no comparison to what little Hailey went through. After watching some of their friends and family run across the finish line in the past two Chicago Marathons, they now feel it is their time to honor Hailey. They look forward to experiencing the intensity and excitement of crossing the finish line for themselves and for their little girl.
September 19, 2007
RUNNER 13: DEANNA ARNOLD
Age: 38
Occupation: President & Founder of "Dare to Be Alive Foundation, Inc."
Hometown: South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Previous Marathons: 4 (3 Boston, 1 Marine Corps)
Runner Story: Deanna Arnold and her family were stunned in December 1992 when she was diagnosed with liver failure. She had suffered a rare reaction to an over-the-counter medication which caused her liver to be rendered useless. Her doctors explained that without an immediate transplant, she was certain to die within the next 48 hours. Fortunately for Deanna, the family of an organ donor agreed to allow her to be the recipient of a healthy liver. The surgery was a success, but something was still not right.
As a complication of the events, Deanna had suffered a traumatic brain injury causing her memory to be depleted. She was struggling to remember simple events for more than fifteen minutes at a time. She went from maintaining a 4.0 GPA at a local college to reading at a 5th grade level. Her life would never be the same. For Deanna, this was unacceptable. She was not ready to give up everything she had worked for throughout her life. She resolved to utilize every resource she had available, starting with the staff at Hartford Hospital. There she completed a variety of daily exercises to relearn simple tasks such as how to tie her shoes and regain her ability to read and write at a college level.
Upon release from Hartford Hospital, Deanna aligned herself with the Easter Seals. Known for their specialty in assisting people suffering from brain injuries, they were able to work with her in continuing her therapy. Their help and her determination resulted in the completion of her college degree with an astonishing 3.8 GPA. With so many amazing accomplishments, she now yearned to thank the people who helped her to heal, recover and ultimately reach her goal to regain her life. She has since founded a non-profit organization known as “Dare To Be Alive Foundation, Inc.” with a goal of raising organ donor awareness and assistance to transplant donors, recipients, and their families.
This October, Deanna will run in her 5th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. She previously competed three times in the Boston Marathon and once in the Marine Corps Marathon. Her Foundation is looking forward to sponsoring an entire running team called “Pre Owned Certified Running Parts” as part of a fundraiser and as a method to raise awareness for their cause. As leader of the team, Deanna inspires other transplant recipients and families to endure the traumas from surgery and to never give up the fight to succeed…no matter what their goal may be!
Website: www.daretobealive.org
September 18, 2007
RUNNER 12: RICK BALIAN
Age: 47
Occupation: Information Technology Architect
Hometown: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Previous Marathons: Debut
Runner Story: Rick Balian is heading up a special team of runners for The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. As a member of the 101st Airborne based out of Fort Campbell, Ky., he and a group of fellow soldiers are on a mission to honor their friend Todd Drobnick. As servicemen often do, Rick developed strong connections with the men serving in the 101st during their time in the Gulf War. When the group returned to their base, they welcomed new recruits into their circle of friends. As time went on, many of the men moved onto new responsibilities either in civilian life or within the military.
The group lost touch with each other over time, but through an effort made by a few of them, they were able to reconnect. Thanks to the vast information the internet provides, many of the men were able to reunite. They enthusiastically shared stories about themselves in an attempt to catch up on each other’s lives. After hearing about each other’s joys and trials, the news spread to them that one of their dear friends had fallen. Todd Drobnick was killed in November of 2003 while serving in Mosul, Iraq. He had been assigned as a translator to a civilian company. The group was naturally deeply saddened and felt a great sense of loss upon receiving the information.
Each man who knew Todd came forward with stories about him. They took turns sharing their memories of him. In all of the tales, there was always one common denominator about Todd, he was an athlete. He was constantly pushing the men to improve their hiking skills and turn in quicker bike times. He enjoyed trekking through the caves of Kentucky and competing in two Eco Challenges. Todd was always there motivating each of his friends to achieve their best.
In memory of their fallen friend, Rick and his buddies will dedicate their performance in this year’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon to him. Since life has separated the men from training together, they each take time out of their busy schedules to run at home, but they are not alone. Rick nostalgically thinks of his dear friend Todd whenever he trains. Whether it is a sunny day or there is a foot of snow on the ground, Rick trains with the hope that Todd is watching him and pushing him to once again achieve his best.
September 17, 2007
RUNNER 11: BENITA JOHNSON
Age: 28
Occupation: Professional Runner
Hometown: Mackay, Queensland, Australia (Currently resides in Melbourne, Australia and London, United Kingdom)
Previous Marathons: 3 (ING New York City, Flora London, LaSalle Bank Chicago)
Runner Story: Benita Johnson’s competitive drive began at an early age when she engaged in every sport possible with her brothers in the backyard. In her hometown of Mackay, Queensland in Australia she began playing hockey and was driven to be the best. She enjoyed the aggressive training and skill required for the sport and at 16 earned a place on the under-18 national team. As much as she enjoyed the team sport, Benita’s true love sided with individual sports. She packed away her hockey gear and started training as a long distance runner.
She was offered a scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport where she trained to compete in organized races. She earned her first victory by making the Australian Olympic Team and won her heat at first trial in the 5000m at the Sydney Olympics. She went on to break a number of Australian national records including the 3000m at the World Indoor Championships and the 5000m in Berlin. She was proud of her success, but wanted more. She persisted with a bronze medal at the IAAF World Championships Half Marathon in 2003; once again setting a new national record.
In 2004, Benita entered her first marathon in New York City and placed 14th with a time of 2:38:03. She followed that performance with an exciting finish of 2:26:32 at the Flora London Marathon in 2005. She had cut nearly 12 minutes from her original marathon debut. She continued to compete in a variety of long distance races and set the bar for future runners with yet another national best at the Crescent City Classic 10K (31:28).
In 2006 she attacked The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon – her third World Marathon Major - with everything she had and it paid off nicely. Her 2:22:36 finish earned her third place, established a new personal best, and broke the Australian record previously held by Lisa Martin for 18 years. Benita is now preparing to race in the marathon at the Olympics in Beijing. In an effort to prepare, she ran the 10K in The 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka taking 17th place with a time of 32:55.94. She will also be competing in The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and eagerly hopes to finish with a personal best.