Kids' health gives marathoners push to keep going

On Saturday night, thousands of runners will feast on pasta in their last carb load before the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday morning.

The Marathon Web site highlights the profiles and stories of the 40,000 runners in the 31st annual race. It also features runners' blogs that detail their training routine and their reasons for running.

Two North Aurora marathon newcomers have trained for different marathons this year not only for their own achievement and accomplishment, but for their children.

Kerri Branson just completed her second Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota last Sunday. Branson runs because her 10-year-old twin boys, Zach and Luke, cannot.

The boys were born prematurely and have cerebral palsy. Branson and her family dress, bathe and help the boys in and out of their wheelchairs every day.

Branson said that she is feeling much stronger and healthier since she has taken up the sport 18 months ago.

"I'm a lot stronger to take care of them. You know, they are half my weight now. They're getting big," she said.

Unfortunately, Branson said she did not meet her goals at either one of the Minnesota marathons.

She completed the Chicago half-marathon in 1 hour and 56 minutes and was targeting a 4-hour 8-minute full marathon but struggled to come in at 4 hours and 29 minutes.

"It was 48 degrees and raining out on Sunday. I was on my target for the first 13 miles and then my legs cramped up and it was a pure struggle," she said. "I need a do over. I am looking into running in Indianapolis in two weeks."

Branson said she never considered quitting. One thing that kept her going through the hardships of the race were the socks she chose to wear.

"I wore funny black and white socks up to my knees," she said. "Whenever I got down somebody along the route would yell out, 'Hey, nice socks!' and that would cheer me up and keep me going."

Marathon motivation

I talked to another North Auroran, Carl Brazendale, before his first marathon in Nashville back in April.

He is running with Team in Training raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The Brazendales set a team goal of raising $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. "We reached that goal a long time ago and my Australian football friends in Chicago just donated another $1,000 this week to get us over $13,000," he said.

Brazendales's three-year-old daughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2007 and she has been in a maintenance program since June that will last until January 2010, according to her mom, Jennifer. All her treatments have been at Children's Memorial Hospital at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Carl is also looking to redeem himself for his time in Nashville. He was aiming to run the race in under four hours but came in at 4 hours and 14 minutes in April.

"I really wanted to break the four hour mark. But it was a hilly course and the last six miles really broke me," Carl said. "This weekend, I just want to enjoy the day and get it done."

He is expecting to have more fun this time around since his family will be there to cheer him on.

On Saturday, the family will attend a pre-race expo and get Carl's race packet with his number and timing chip.

He said that the Team in Training group of about 2,000 people from across the country will have a pasta party and listen to leukemia survivors and speakers to motivate the runners and remember why they are doing the marathon.

"We'll be hearing testimonials and remembering the people who have lost their struggle," Carl said.

Hannah, brother Luke, a kindergartner, and mother, Jennifer, will station themselves near the middle of the race and near the end of the 26-mile course to cheer on Carl.

After Carl finishes the race Sunday he said that Jennifer's turn is next.

"I'm going to work with Hike for Discovery and choose one of their hikes for next year," she said.

The organization puts volunteer fundraisers on a 14-week training schedule with a team in the Chicago area. Jennifer said that one of the group's hikes this year was in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

"I've never been to the Grand Canyon so if that is a choice next year I think I'll choose that," she said.

Carl wanted her to try a marathon also but Jen wanted to go her own way.

"I have always liked hiking and I know it will still be a real challenge for me to train for a three-day mountain hike," she said.

Kerri and Carl are just two runners with two inspiring stories. Think about the 40,000 other men and women and their stories when you see the Chicago Marathon on television this weekend.

Good luck to all the runners and their cheering families this weekend.