At 8:42 am this morning, Karl Keltner surpassed his goal of running 100 miles in 3o hours. He ran down the home stretch accompanied by two other runners. Cheers and clapping greeted the runners as they crossed the last of the intersections before reaching Gary Gribble's Running Store in Overland Park.
After a shower and a hearty portion of the delicious celebration cake and a stout cup of coffee, he shared stories of the run with the group. He shared the challenges and the funny things. More details in future blog entries...for now he is taking a well deserved rest and probably a soak in ice.
Check out the ABC Kansas City affiliate video interview with Koach Karl "on the road".
Sunday, September 7, 2008
100 Miles of Hope & Inspiration
September 7, 2008
While we sleep, he runs. He runs to raise awareness for the Touched By Cancer Foundation. He runs because…in his own words, “If I’m not dead, I can run.”
Koach Karl Keltner’s round the clock run began in the cool, damp, 6 am hour on September 6, 2008. His dedicated Runners in Touch teammates by his side for the send off, Koach Karl embarked on this incredible journey. This dedicated, driven and probably a little bit crazy, man has run through the silent, sleeping countryside, industrial landscapes, urban sidewalks and suburban paths around the Kansas City area. Mother Nature has proved fickle providing cool, overcast conditions and stillness punctuated with bouts of cold drizzle.
From Overland Park to Brookside to Independence to the Northland to Riverside back through Kansas City, Brookside, Waldo, he runs. On gravel and asphalt, over hills and bridges, past cornfields and shopping centers, he runs. Dedicated to bringing awareness to the mission of the Touched By Cancer Foundation.
In addition to rigorous physical conditioning, extreme endurance running requires a delicate balance of pacing, mental focus, hydration and nourishment and support. The athlete must be in tune with their body and be prepared to respond to its signals however subtle at any given moment.
A cancer patient’s wellness journey incorporates many of the same tools used by the endurance athlete. From the moment of diagnosis, the body, mind and spirit are called into action and challenged with preparing for and supporting the unique terrain of the individual’s journey to wellness. The Touched By Cancer Foundation was founded to provide inspiration, information and hope for those on a cancer journey. Patients can turn to the Touched By Cancer Foundation Wellness Center for subsidized complementary therapies, individually tailored information packets as well as free classes covering nutrition, reflexology, acupressure and other helpful topics.
For the cancer patient and the athlete, keeping the body healthy with good nutrition and exercise, making informed choices, seeking support, and staying focused and positive in the present moment reinforces the body, mind spirit connection.
As I write this, Koach Karl is 15 miles from his goal of running 100 miles in 30 hours. His wife Paula and supporter Beth are stopped, helping Koach Karl remove a rock from his shoe. The sun will find him running the streets of central Johnson County steadily closing the loop begun 23 hours ago. At 8 AM, I will be at Gary Gribble’s Running Store to cheer for him and thank him for all that he does. Words cannot convey my deep feelings of gratitude for his effort and strength. I am humbled by his selfless act to support those touched by cancer.
Thank you Koach Karl, Paula, all of your support crew, Runners in Touch and sponsors.
While we sleep, he runs. He runs to raise awareness for the Touched By Cancer Foundation. He runs because…in his own words, “If I’m not dead, I can run.”
Koach Karl Keltner’s round the clock run began in the cool, damp, 6 am hour on September 6, 2008. His dedicated Runners in Touch teammates by his side for the send off, Koach Karl embarked on this incredible journey. This dedicated, driven and probably a little bit crazy, man has run through the silent, sleeping countryside, industrial landscapes, urban sidewalks and suburban paths around the Kansas City area. Mother Nature has proved fickle providing cool, overcast conditions and stillness punctuated with bouts of cold drizzle.
From Overland Park to Brookside to Independence to the Northland to Riverside back through Kansas City, Brookside, Waldo, he runs. On gravel and asphalt, over hills and bridges, past cornfields and shopping centers, he runs. Dedicated to bringing awareness to the mission of the Touched By Cancer Foundation.
In addition to rigorous physical conditioning, extreme endurance running requires a delicate balance of pacing, mental focus, hydration and nourishment and support. The athlete must be in tune with their body and be prepared to respond to its signals however subtle at any given moment.
A cancer patient’s wellness journey incorporates many of the same tools used by the endurance athlete. From the moment of diagnosis, the body, mind and spirit are called into action and challenged with preparing for and supporting the unique terrain of the individual’s journey to wellness. The Touched By Cancer Foundation was founded to provide inspiration, information and hope for those on a cancer journey. Patients can turn to the Touched By Cancer Foundation Wellness Center for subsidized complementary therapies, individually tailored information packets as well as free classes covering nutrition, reflexology, acupressure and other helpful topics.
For the cancer patient and the athlete, keeping the body healthy with good nutrition and exercise, making informed choices, seeking support, and staying focused and positive in the present moment reinforces the body, mind spirit connection.
As I write this, Koach Karl is 15 miles from his goal of running 100 miles in 30 hours. His wife Paula and supporter Beth are stopped, helping Koach Karl remove a rock from his shoe. The sun will find him running the streets of central Johnson County steadily closing the loop begun 23 hours ago. At 8 AM, I will be at Gary Gribble’s Running Store to cheer for him and thank him for all that he does. Words cannot convey my deep feelings of gratitude for his effort and strength. I am humbled by his selfless act to support those touched by cancer.
Thank you Koach Karl, Paula, all of your support crew, Runners in Touch and sponsors.
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