This Dad Ran To The Ends Of The Earth For His Family
Illinois --
Jan 2, 2006 --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***THIS DAD RAN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR HIS FAMILY ***
Just how far would a Dad go for his kids?How about 1,500 miles on foot and 100,000 miles in the air and by car? Or put another way: How about 50 marathons in 50 states?
Marlin Keesler is a marathon runner whose sport has changed the lives of every member of his family.“I take the whole family with me wherever I run my races—all across the country, in every state. But it’s what my running did for my two kids that’s been the key.”
The Keesler children have Asperger’s Syndrome, (www.aspergersyndrome.org), a form of higher functioning autism that makes learning and reasoning more difficult for them.
“Teachers have told us that my son Austin, 15, and my daughter Erin, 12, have benefited more from our travels than from any amount of specialized classroom instruction they’ve received. Hearing that makes putting in all the extra hours at work and training worthwhile,” says Marlin.
For Marlin, that translates into grueling sixty-hour-work weeks on top of his punishing training schedule—and still being a full-time Dad.But did he have any idea how far and in what direction this would lead him?
“I never would have dreamed that I’d run 50 marathons in 50 states.I started running simply to keep in shape so I could be around for my kids,” says Marlin, who is the author of the new book appropriately titled: Our Life on the Run: a Story of Running 50 Marathons in 50 States. A Family Quest
The idea for the book came after a six and a half year span that included 54 marathons—a total of 1,414.8 miles. “There wereso many different unexpected an unplanned things that happened during this adventure that I felt compelled to share the experience with others. There is muchothers will be able to relate to as a family as they read about our own moments of joy, pain, laughter, hope and travel tales,” says Keesler.
“Sometimes I look back to that first marathon I entered in Hawaii. When I told Jeanne of this ambition she simply said “that’s fine as long as you don’t expect me to run.”Those were the same words she used later on when I first considered running all 50 states.” notes Marlin.
“We went from merely waiting for Dad to cross the finish line, to learning how to research and plan educational and cultural excursions from state to state,” says his wife Jeanne. “We traveled the entire U.S. and discovered and experienced its many wonders first-hand. It has given our family the opportunity to travel, see things and experience so much.”
Marlin is also a member of the elite 50 States Marathon Club (www.50statesmarathonclub.com). & The 50 & DC Marathon Group.In order to join either one, a runner must have completed a marathon in at least 10 states.
The Keeslers are donating a portion of the sales from the book to raise public awareness of Asperger’s Syndrome.
(Our Life on the Run: a Story of Running 50 Marathons in 50 StatesA Family Questby Marlin Keesler; 256 pages; 5 ½ x 8 ½; ISBN: 09776223-1-2: $14.95 plus S&H; Soft Cover; 0-9776223-0-4; OUR LIFE PUBLISHING)
