Determined to Finish the Race
By Parimal M. Rohit
Monday November 5, 2007
Those are Samy's legs, not Nancy's!
"If it is to be, it is up to me."
Those are the words at the top of Marc Richards' Web site. Those were also the words in everyone's ears at the Westfield Valencia Town Center on Sunday morning as Richards, 48, walked past the finish line at the Santa Clarita Marathon amidst a generous ovation of cheering and tears.
Nevermind that Richards took nearly an hour to complete a 5K race, even though he confessed that he is in "much better shape this year" than in years past.
Most average people who run in a marathon usually do not evoke high emotion or praise when they walk the final 400 feet of a 5K run. Then again, Richards is not your average marathoner, let alone your average man.
Richards is paralyzed from the chest down - has been since 1998, when he suffered a grand mal seizure. Experiencing numerous health issues since, including a brain tumor and chemotherapy overdose, Richards still makes every effort to live the life he wants to live - including participating in the 5K run of the Santa Clarita Marathon.
As he did at the Los Angeles Marathon for consecutive years, Richards was the only paraplegic to get up from his wheelchair and walk across the finish line under his own power Sunday - with a little bit of help from leg braces and forearm crutches.
Do not be mistaken, though. Even though he has leg braces and a pair of forearm crutches, extreme will is the theme of the day - and it showed as Richards indeed walked across that finish line as his wife Nancy and daughter Samy stood by him in support.
"I've been told I am inspirational, and that makes me feel good," Richards said. Yet, he does not do this to merely to inspire. Instead, Richards says he wants to "make the statement that there is therapeutic benefit to exercise."
Specifically, his inspiration stems from his clinical exercise physiologist, Taylor-Kevin Isaacs, the only physiologist of his kind to work with disabled persons.
It is Isaacs who is helping Richards get back on his feet. Indeed, walking across the finish line Sunday was symbolic of the long-term physical rehabilitation program Richards began with Isaacs almost five years ago to get back on his feet, after being confined to a bed and wheelchair during the first few years of his disability.
Now on a life-affirming path, Richards has come a long way since he lost use of his legs. After his participation in the Santa Clarita Marathon, he plans on participating in the upcoming 5K run at Griffith Park. He also wants to get back into one of his life-long passions in ballroom dancing, while also picking up kayaking.
"Always do the most productive thing in any moment," explained Richards, who said that such words were spoken to him by Isaacs as motivation to keep active despite his disability.
Richards was definitely productive yesterday, as he crossed yet another finish line at a marathon. In the marathon of life, however, there may never be a finish line for Richards' inspiration. He will continue to be an inspiration to all about overcoming all obstacles to live life to the best of one's ability.
For more information about Marc Richards, please visit his website at www.spinalman.com.