RAMMS Detroit Marathon, Half and 5K - October 2018
During my 7 marathons on 7 continents adventure in 2016-2017, Hanger Clinic and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society promoted my story through TV, newspapers, magazines and social media. Because of this, I was lucky to virtually befriend so many amazing people around the world with Multiple Sclerosis who are like-minded and passionate about exercise. They sent encouragement via posts and emails to keep pushing me along my marathons and they also inspired me with their personal stories of success in sports despite having a disease that affects mobility.
After my adventure, I hit a lull. Post-marathon blues is what it’s called. Not only did my year-long journey end but I also felt like I would become disconnected with the great people I met via social media. So, I dreamed up another goal to gather the biggest group of people with MS to participate in the Detroit Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay and 5K on October 20-21, 2018.
I sent out the first email about Detroit on October 10, 2017 and within 24 hours 11 people committed to the run. We became team “Run A Myelin My Shoes” and in the short span of one year, we grew to 96 teammates — 49 of us with MS and 47 MS supporters. Our mission was to show the world it is possible to move forward despite MS and by our actions, we hoped to encourage others to never give up and to never lower their expectations in life.
The growth was possible because I have a talent for kindly harassing people. Also, my friends helped me promote the team. In particular, Gary Pinder planted the seed that started the idea of “virtual teammates.” Gary invited Susan Simmons from Canada to join us. Susan is an ultra-swimmer and said she could swim in solidarity with us as we run in Detroit. It grew from there and it was Mike Benning at Hanger Clinic who suggested I recruit from all 7 continents to continue the theme from last year’s adventure. Gary helped me recruit from all over the world and within two weeks we had participants from all 7 continents, including Antarctica! Of the 96 teammates, 41 were virtual participants who did their own events from all over the world.
Our virtual teammates ran distances ranging from 5K races, 10K runs in the neighborhood with friends, half marathon relay with family, all the way to full marathon. For some, it was their first half marathon or full marathon. Some walked anywhere from half a mile on the track to run-walking 3 miles with ankle-foot orthotics and trekking poles. A few athletes coordinated biathlons (either swim-bike or bike run) with their MS supporters. We had teammates who swam half a mile in a pool to 6K in open water. I am in absolute awe of our virtual teammates. The drive to commit to an activity that is not a formal event takes a lot of fortitude and I hope part of that motivation came from the positive vibes we sent from Detroit!
Virtual Teammate Stats:
- 41 virtual teammates participated on all 7 continents: Antarctica, Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and North America (8 continents if you count Zealandia!)
- Virtual teammates represented 16 countries: Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Singapore, Bahrain, South Africa, Belgium, Italy, a German in the Netherlands, England, Argentina, Canada, an American in Mexico, and USA
- Detroit runners and virtual teammates represented 25 states: AL, CA, CO, HI, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NJ, NY, NC, ND, NH, NV, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
For most of us, Detroit was the first time meeting each other face-to-face. But we were already familiar with one another because we had spent many months sharing experiences on our secret Facebook page. We discussed typical runner topics like the best socks for preventing blisters, runners’ trots, and training plans. Plus, deeper conversations like overcoming numbness, spasticity, pain, and heat sensitivity in MS while exercising. I lived vicariously through the teammates who were training for their first marathon (Nora and Brian Gocking) and was inspired by teammates who were participating in Run the US for MS that summer (Amy Wirtz and Robert Moore). Our group was and is a safe environment for teammates to post about exercise and MS without negativity from naysayers. So, it was wonderful to finally hug everyone and thank them for joining the team and trusting me on this journey.
Marathon day was quite difficult but I always try to put on a smile and stay upbeat.
Nine of us stayed at the same hotel and I arranged a hotel shuttle 10 months in advance, and confirmed three weeks prior, and again one day prior to marathon morning. The hotel shuttle normally does not start running until 7:00 but we needed the service at 5:15 and the hotel was very accommodating. My teammates were ready to go right at 5:15, but the shuttle driver had to get gas. He didn’t come back for us until 5:30 but I was not too worried since the marathon was only 4.5 miles away. I told him the cross streets to drop us off, but he was not familiar with the area. He made a couple of wrong turns and I had to turn on Google maps. Sheri Paulson and Heather Siefers, were panicking because they were on relay teams and had to catch another shuttle bus to their relay exchange station in Canada. Their shuttle was to depart at 6:15 and was a half mile walk from our drop off spot. Had they missed the shuttle, their entire relay teams would have to forfeit the race.
Our photoshoot was set for 5:50 at the team tent and it was already 5:50 when we got out of the van. We rushed directly to the meeting area but no tents were to be found. There was only gear check and people milling about setting up other tents. I called Steph Ford from the MS Society since she was the person organizing our team tent. She said she was one or two blocks away, however, it took 15 minutes to find each other because it was still so dark that morning. More teammates eventually found us and we were able to take photos around 6:20. Unfortunately a few of our relay participants missed the pictures.
Thuasne USA, the creator of my new SpryStep AFO, was also at the marathon to film and create a promotional video. They did an interview of me inside a studio two days prior to the marathon then met me again on marathon morning. They filmed a few more quick questions before Brian and I took off for the starting corrals. This was the first time for a SpryStep AFO to aid a person running marathon, so there was a lot of excitement and some nerves to see if the brace could withstand 26.2 miles of pounding! (By the way, the AFO performed wonderfully!)
It was a very cold morning in the low-30’s, but wind chill made it feel like the mid-20’s. I wore a long sleeve, my short sleeve team shirt and shorts. I was very cold at the start but I always overheat so I just gutted it out until we started running. Sheri provided hand warmers and Paul Josephson brought extra heat blankets and that helped. I did worry for Steph, Tammy Willis and Sam Weeks who manned our team tent for 8 hours in the cold but I understand they kept warm by dancing!
I loved that we ran over the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Canada. Since this was a two-country marathon, they sang both “O Canada” and ‘The Star Spangled Banner” at the start line. I proudly sang both national anthems out loud!
Also, since there was an international border crossing, we were required to provide passport information at registration, as well as present our passports at packet pick-up. Runners were also told to run with their passport in case of random checks. The marathon director and all email communications were very clear about this. As we approached the Ambassador Bridge into Canada, there were rows of police cars with flashing lights and lines of border patrol officers scanning the runners. Brian’s bib was under one of his long sleeve layers so he lifted his shirt to ensure his bib was clearly visible. One girl directly in front of us, running with her head down and wearing earbuds, was apparently oblivious to the scene and did not hear the cops shouting at her to show her bib. An officer grabbed her arm and actually yanked her off the course. Hopefully she was carrying proper documents!
Running in Windsor was really nice. There were spectators along the way and we could see the pretty skyline views of downtown Detroit. I was particularly excited to run past a Tim Horton’s until Brian said it was recently bought out by Burger King. The desire to stop for warm coffee was dashed.
We returned to the USA via the one-mile long Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. I thought it was really cool to run inside a tunnel under the Detroit River! But at the same time, it was not cool. In fact, it was about 10 degrees warmer inside the tunnel and it was stuffy and crowded. A lot of MS patients are sensitive to heat, which can leave us feeling weaker and more tired. It is not new disease activity, but a temporary worsening of symptoms (see Uhthoff syndrome) and the patient returns to “normal” once they have cooled down. Brian observed I slowed down a lot while in the tunnel and one friend said, “The tunnel did me in.” and he had to walk to the finish line.
We ran through several charming neighborhoods and Brian especially enjoyed the cheering spectators with their tailgate parties. He stopped 5 times for beer samples. The best unofficial refreshment stop was a house blasting polka music with a sign that read, “Beer and Polka.” I was able to snap this picture of Brian in the middle of his half-pivot dance move! Yes, my husband is so amazingly fit that he can dance at mile 18 of a marathon!
Sing a song of good cheer
Cause the whole gang is here
Roll it out, roll it out
Let’s do the beer barrel polka
We had to walk most of the last 5K. The streets in Detroit were mainly concrete and that was harsh on the joints. Running on the sidewalks on the Detroit River Walk was particularly punishing at mile 24. Some of my teammates with and without MS suffered from ankle, knee and hip pain. I had terrible knee pain in both knees. We determined a fast-paced walk was way better than a super-slow run. I did regain motivation to run again, though, when I turned the street corner and saw the finish line banner. It wasn’t my best time and it wasn’t the best run but I was so thankful to finish another marathon and happy to smile for the Thuasne cameras!
Detroit Teammate Stats:
- 55 met in Detroit
- 18 Marathon, 15 Half, 19 Marathon Relay, and 3 5K.
- Detroit runners and virtual teammates represented 25 states: AL, CA, CO, HI, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NJ, NY, NC, ND, NH, NV, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
All of this organization could not be done without the help of many players.
Hanger Clinic sponsored our Adidas Climalite team shirts. When I approached Hanger Clinic last January 2018 for high-quality running shirts I projected a dozen teammates. Hanger Clinic may have been getting nervous as I approached 40 teammates, then 60, then over 90! But they stuck to their promise and delivered premium shirts. It is so greatly appreciated! We were certainly the best-looking team out there on race morning… and around the world for that matter!
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society not only sponsored our team dinner and our team tent but they supported me with planning and execution. Since March 2018, we have met at least once per month via teleconference (Racheal Nuwash, Vice President Endurance & Other Events; Michele Ludlow, Sr. Director Endurance Events; Sam Weeks, Manager Endurance Events & Development; Tammy Willis, President NMSS Michigan; and Steph Ford, DIY and Special Events NMSS Michigan) to discuss logistics and how MS Society could support our team.
