Running News Daily

Andrew Oberle runs marathon nine years after being mauled by chimpanzees

He was told that he would never be able to run again after the chimpanzee attack.

On the tenth anniversary of his first marathon in 2011, Andrew Oberle of St. Louis, Mo., returned to the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon eager to complete his second. This year’s marathon was meaningful for Oberle, as his athletic ability was set back nine years ago while volunteering with animals in South Africa. Oberle was viciously mauled by chimpanzees and was left in critical condition, fighting for his life.

Although Oberle has always shown an interest in running, he was told he would never be able to run again. At the 2021 San Antonio Marathon, he redefined the odds finishing in 5:57:55, with the help of modern-day prosthetics.

The attack shredded parts of his nose, ears, hands and feet, requiring him to be put in an induced coma for two weeks and endure 26 surgeries. Oberle now sports a collection of carbon-fibre prosthetics on his hands and legs to assist him during exercise.

During his rehabilitation process, Oberle was inspired by Paralympians at the London Olympics. In a 2017 interview with Men’s Health, Oberle said that he was lying there after his accident feeling sorry for himself, but seeing Paralympians doing incredible things with far worse injuries motivated him to get back to his active lifestyle.

Oberle began running again three years after his surgery in 2015 at a local 5K, where he placed third in his 25-29 age category in 31:50. He also ran the half marathon at the 2020 Rock ‘n’ Roll race weekend, finishing in a time of 2:42:07.

 

(12/08/2021) Views: 1,663 ⚡AMP
by Marley Dickinson

Organizers of San Antonio’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon have decided to postpone the 2020 events due to concerns about Covid-19

Organizers of San Antonio’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon & Half Marathon, scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6, have decided to postpone the 2020 events due to concerns about Covid-19.

World Triathlon Corp., which does business as Ironman, operates the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon series in cities across the U.S. and abroad.

Its officials said there were indications from meetings leading up to the San Antonio event that regional health and safety authorities were “satisfied” that the marathons’ participants, staff and the public would have been “sufficiently protected” from potential Covid transmission. 

Yet, after further conversations with city and health officials, and following a recent spike in Covid cases in the area, the decision was made to call off the event.

Thousands of runners from across the U.S. participated in the 2019 San Antonio marathon. The plan now is to bring the event back to the Alamo City on Dec. 4 and 5 in 2021.

(11/13/2020) Views: 1,497 ⚡AMP
by W. Scott Bailey

Paige Marg will run her first marathon after losing 150 pounds

"Everything hurt," Paige Marg describes when she weighed over 300 pounds.

“My feet, my hips, my knees. Everything hurt all the time," she said. "To be honest, I didn’t realize how much pain I was really in until I didn’t have the weight on me.”

Marg says she was overweight her whole life. At 35-years-old, she tipped the scale at 321 pounds. She had type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was taking a lot of medication.

Marg knew she had to do something for her health that was spiraling out of control, she said. It’s why she decided to get gastric sleeve surgery. “I knew that it was going to be something that I could really turn my life around,” Marg said. And she has. In two years, she lost 150 pounds and looks unrecognizable.

She credits not just her diet, but her exercise too. After her surgery, she made the goal to be able to run a 5K without stopping, and that goal quickly escalated. “I started training and very quickly hit that 5K mark,” Paige said. “And thought I think I can do a half marathon.”

Last year, Marg ran in her first half-marathon at the San Antonio Rock and Roll marathon/half-marathon race. Now, she has made it her goal to run the full marathon this year. In order to get there, she gets up every morning at 5 a.m. to train with her running buddy, Sophie.

Marg and Sophie met through San Antonio’s downtown run group a year ago.  They are now both training for their first marathon.

“Every time that I hit another mile or hit another major milestone it felt very self-empowering,” Paige said.

She says it hasn’t just been Sophie who has supported her along her journey, but also her family and husband of 18 years. She says her new life has drastically changed and improved how they both live together now.

(11/25/2019) Views: 1,765 ⚡AMP
by Sarah Acosta

I would rather drop dead running a marathon than die in a hospital bed says 85-year-old Moon Fahel

A retired mechanical engineer, Moon Fahel was the oldest runner this year at the Humana Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon. “Another 26.2 Mile Run by Mr. Moon at Age 85.5” read the back of his running shirt, perhaps offering inspiration to weary stragglers. Fahel didn’t break any records. But he has been in the news lately as the marathon’s oldest runner.  As Fahel warmed up Sunday among the thousands of other runners, strangers stopped by to chat. “I’ve seen him somewhere. He’s very encouraging. I just started about a year ago, and this is my second race,” said Jody Steinman, 53, of Fort Worth. Also on hand Sunday was Lee, Fahel’s wife of 61 years, who is torn by her husband’s late-life passion. “We all have our fingers crossed. I worry about him every time he leaves the house,” she said. Moon, however, runs without fear or worry about how the grueling race may end. “I’d rather drop dead running a marathon than die in a hospital bed,” he said. Born in Syria, educated at the University of Texas at Austin and an executive for H.B. Zachry Co. Fahel started running about five years ago. Before that he was a speed walker and did some kickboxing. In 2013, he ran his first and only half-marathon and was hooked, despite hot weather. “People were falling like dead flies,” he recalled. He now runs more than 1,000 miles a year in training and does only full marathons. Over those same five years, he has been treated for three kinds of cancer. “Cancer survivors can draw some strength from my story. I am a three-time survivor. I enjoy a full and healthy life, and running is part of it,’ he said. Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds, Fahel has a runner’s build. By running marathons, he has come to know his body better. “Usually, around mile 19 to 21, your mind begins to wonder why you are doing this. Your body starts asking, should I continue or stop,” he said. “At that point you should take some nourishment, typically a small bar of candy and some salt pretzels to prevent cramping,” he added. Fahel said that thinking about those he loves also gives him strength to continue. “I say, ‘I need to finish. They are waiting for me. They will greet me with joy.’ And that will get me through the next few miles, and then it’s a joy ride to the finish,” he said. After the race, Fahel usually goes out for dinner with his family, and the next day he wakes up feeling good. “I do not run for anyone else or to compete with anyone else. My objective is to have that moment of inner silence. And when I finish, sweating, gritty and tired, it feels good,” he said. (12/03/2018) Views: 1,600 ⚡AMP

Tirunesh Dibaba wants to win the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Half Marathon

Ethiopian champion, Tirunesh Dibaba, is all set to try her hand on the half marathon course at the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll® San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon on December 2. In addition, 2018 Boston Marathon Champion, Des linden, and 2014 Boston Marathon Champion, Meb Keflezighi, are set to participate in race weekend festivities. Keflezighi will pace the 1:40 half marathon group while Linden will run alongside the winners of the Brooks Run Together contest. All three will make appearances throughout the weekend’s festivities including the press conference on Friday, November 30 and Saturday’s 5K and 10K on December 1, as well as meet & greets with runners and spectators. Widely regarded as one of the best female distance runners of all time, Dibaba is a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist representing Ethiopia. Dibaba won gold in 2008 games in Beijing, China in the 5000m and 10,000m distances as well as in 2012 games in London in the 10,000m race. She is a nine-time World Champion and holds the World Record in the 5000m with a time of 14:11.15. Dibaba was the 2017 Chicago Marathon Champion winning the 40th edition of the race. She has a personal best in the marathon of 2:17:56 which is the fifth fastest of all time and boasts a 1:06:50 personal best in the half marathon. (10/26/2018) Views: 1,736 ⚡AMP

Humana RnR San Antonio celebrates 10 years running

The streets of Texas’ second-largest city are going to be rocking this weekend as thousands of competitors don their running shoes to take part in numerous events that comprise the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon weekend. At the front of these races, that include the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon will be some fast runners including the defending champions. (12/01/2017) Views: 1,668 ⚡AMP

New RnR San Antonio Marathon And Half courses

The Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon and 1/2 Marathon got a revamped course for 2017. Course changes were made to accommodate downtown construction while keeping iconic and historic sites on the race path, according to a press release sent Tuesday morning. (11/28/2017) Views: 1,881 ⚡AMP
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