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Michael
McBride pounded his way through the 13-mile half marathon, a black metal cart
hitched to a harness he wore trailing behind him like a rickshaw.
Four small gray oxygen cylinders
were suspended between the cart's bicycle wheels and green tubing pumped air
through his nostrils to his battered lungs.
"As long as I'm moving,
they can't bury me," said McBride, 55, who was diagnosed with emphysema
three years ago.
He was one of more than 2,400
runners who registered for the half-marathon, the most popular event of the
Colorado Colfax Marathon, Half-Marathon and Relay today. A total of 5,216
people registered in all three races.
It took McBride and his
100-pound load three hours and 50 minutes to make the run from City
He runs with his cart, built by
an engineer friend who designed a suspension system that keeps it from pushing
him downhill, 3 to 6 miles a day Monday through Friday. He takes longer runs on
the weekend.
The event was McBride's 25th
half-marathon. "It is always hard. But it gives me a reason for my
training. If you have lung disease, (running) is the best thing you can do for
it."
The barrel-chested McBride has
always been physically active, but didn't start running until he was diagnosed.
"I was one of those people who go to the gym three days a week and smoke
on the way home."
Despite his illness, he had more
success than some. At least one man collapsed, falling in a heap beside a sound
system blaring
Supporters lined the path toward
the finish where tents beckoned sweating runners into the cool shade, and
volunteers handed out sports drinks and water.
For some the grueling run was a
family event. Peggy Panzer, 46, started the half-marathon with her husband,
Keith, 49.
The pair met 10 years ago at a
race in
The Colfax event was Keith
Panzer's 221st long-distance race. He has competed in marathons in all 50
states.
But on Sunday, he dropped out at
10 miles. "I wasn't feeling very well. It is just a challenge, but it is
discouraging as I get older."
Peggy, who had a time of three
hours and 17 minutes, won second place for women in her age group.
Sean Clifford, 36, was a member
of a five-member relay team, "Wheels of Justice," made up of present
and former members of the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.
His wife and children met him at
the finish line. As he pushed a stroller toward a spot where his teammates were
reliving the race, he said he was feeling wrung out.
"Hopefully my wife will let
me take it easy this afternoon," he said.
Tom McGhee:
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9303303