November 2025
by Mary Mannix Decker
I participated in the Bass Pro Shops half marathon in Springfield, Missouri. I rode in a running chair provided by Hoyt Running Chairs and was pushed by my daughter, son-in-law and son.
Several of my family members traveled to Springfield for the weekend. We enjoyed a pre-run pasta dinner on Saturday night before the run on Sunday morning.
I felt like I was running! I had the sensation of smoothly moving across the pavement with the sun on my face and a slight breeze. It was a beautiful fall morning and the hue of the trees was spectacular.
We had about 30 family and friends that cheered for us along the 13.1 mile route. My supporters and running chair were decked out with ALS awareness gear. As we were running, the spectators and runners shouted out words of encouragement.
As with many half marathons, the first 2 to 3 miles can be very congested. At times it was challenging to steer the running chair around and through the other runners.
I was deeply moved by the support of my family, friends and even strangers. A few weeks before the race, as word spread in our community about my adventure, I received an incredible amount of support.
By the time we reached the finish line, the group of supporters had grown to over 50 people, all shouting words of encouragement and cheering for us.
If that wasn’t emotional enough, tears rolled down my cheeks as my daughter placed my metal around my neck.
Our time was better than we expected, and I now have a new personal record.
I realize that none of this would’ve been possible without the dedication of my running team.
They trained for months prior to the race to guarantee my adventure would be all that I dreamed of and more.
They made my adventure come alive and full of joy.
I was able to run again and share the joy of this experience with my family and friends.
I love to run and this is one of many things that ALS has taken from me. On November 2nd, I felt like I was a runner again.
The excitement, encouragement and love from my friends is a memory I will always cherish.
Everything went smoothly. With the help of a sling,
my running team was able to transfer me from my wheelchair to the running chair and back again easily.
We took rolled up towels to help with positioning. We had to make a few minor adjustments during the run.
I appreciate Team Gleason for supporting my adventure and their commitment to improving the lives of people living with ALS.
A big shout out to Hoyt Running Chairs for developing the Blade Runner and their mission of making running accessible.
