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This was the first year that I attempted to join the Roadrunner Akron Marathon. It was in part because I love one special characteristic of the Rubber City Radio Group and in part to prove something to myself.

One thing I am uniquely qualified to say is that of all the media in Northeast Ohio, ours is the only one with community service as a serious part of our mission. I will go a bit further. I have worked for the largest media company in our area and out-of-town-owners. I have competed with the people I now consider family, friends and co-workers. Those other companies are (were) good companies and good corporate citizens. When it comes to being a trustee of the public airwaves, there is the spirit of the regulation and there is the letter of the law.

1590 WAKR, 94.9 WQMX and 97.5 WONE are unlike any other media because we actively pursue community service. Where there is a need and no leadership, we step up and make things happen. At the risk of sounding immodest, it is what we do. So joining the 5-Person (mixed) Relay Team as part of the Roadrunner Corporate Challenge was a natural.

It took no time at all for the good natured ribbing to begin. My friends Ed Esposito and Joyce Lagios led the way by pointing out my 40 extra pounds and "advanced age." Paul Christopherson, the WQMX VP of sales had a briefcase full of CPR jokes. None of them would even entertain the thought of participating, not for a second. But I was no stranger to road work and knew that with about 6 weeks to train, I could do this!

In the beginning converting from a fat guy on a power walk to a fat guy trying to run was daunting. I moved with the grace of a sluggish bulldozer around a course that included the high school athletic fields and a fairly hilly distance to and from my house in Hudson. I managed to overcome the initial newness of the activity and actually started to see and feel some progress. I dropped a few pounds and the pain was less severe after a workout.

On race day I was beginning to understand what I had committed to. It was big, very big. These people were not your average Americans. They were fit and active and serious about staying that way. The Health and Fitness Expo on Friday at John S. Knight had a collective Body Mass Index of about 12! Mine is still in the high 20's. At the relay staging area for my leg, the 4th leg of the race, there were lots of different people and lots of camaraderie. We all knew that the course we faced was loaded with hills and curves and a few surprises. And it was tough. Remember to breathe right, don't panic, ignore the pain, one step at a time, don't worry about who is passing, who you aren't passing, don't even think about stopping, remember your training, the hills don't matter, keep on going.

At the finish there was nothing short of elation; not only from me for completing the leg, but from the great volunteers and other runners. Not being an athlete, ever, the feeling was new and well worth the pain and effort.

Next year I will be back on the Parkway, hills and all. I will be the best suited for this leg and the preparation starts this week! Thanks Roadrunner and RCRG for the reason to believe!

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