This October was a very busy month for me. A few years ago Scott Dresden, a doctor from Wisconsin, saw me racing in Boston. Eventually he looked me up on the internet and found out who I was. He e-mailed me a few weeks later and told me he was inspired by me, and he decided to start running marathons himself.

The following fall we met just days before the New York Marathon. We all had lunch and got to know each other, and from that point on we became friends. In October 2006, he actually took a whole weekend and he guided me through two marathons in two days!

This past May I received an email from Scott asking me if I’d interested in coming to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to race in the Lakefront Marathon. He thought this would be a great way to inspire people in his own state. However, over time our plans became complicated. At first everything was going smoothly and everybody couldn’t wait for me to come out there. At first the race director was in favor of me participating in the marathon. After meeting with her board of directors her opinion changed drastically. She informed me that I would not be able to register officially, and told me she would be willing to give me a five-minuet head start…

I quickly responded to her e-mail and told her: I was coming anyway and I would do the race unofficially with my own support crew. So at 6 a.m., on October 5th my two guides and I began the 26.2-mile trek with Doctor Scott following close behind, escorting us in his truck which he fuels with used vegetable oil.
It was a little chilly but the racecourse was beautiful. To my surprise all the runners and volunteers were very supportive of us. I was feeling good until I hit the 10-mile mark. At that point my right hip froze up. For the next 16 miles I was forced to race with only one leg. At this point I knew that time wouldn’t be that great, however I was determined to finish. Nine hours and thirty-three minuets later, soaking wet and chilled to the bone we crossed the finish line, thus completing my 43rd career marathon. We all felt a sense of accomplishment.

Just 13 days later, I was at it again. On October 18th I raced in the Breakers Marathon in Newport, RI. However, this time I was in my home state and feeling more at ease. Don’t get me wrong at the beginning of my racing career, 16 years ago, Rhode Island races discouraged me as well. This year was totally different. There was a new race director and he gave me all the support and encouragement that he possibly could. I had a much better race in Newport than Milwaukee. I actually posted my best time ever on that course! My time was 8 hours 33 minutes 22 seconds and my 44th career marathon was in the bag!
Some people think I race for the attention or to get publicity for myself. I’m not saying I don’t like to be in the spotlight because almost all athletes do. However, I’d like to think of what I accomplish in my racing career, as well as in my life, as a testament of what determination and perseverance can do for a person. I hope my racing will inspire other athletes, disabled or able bodied, to never stop setting goals.

As Muhammad Ali said:, “Impossible is Nothing!”
For more information on my racing career or for speaking engagements go to Teampisano.blogspot.com

~Jason Pisano

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