When I entered my 25^th Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Lakefront Marathon, I had visions of training hard and racing the guys in my age group for a win. Over the years, I had taken my share of age group awards away from the lakefront and thought it would be nice to take home, not only a finisher’s medal, and a second one to make it special.

Two days after submitting my entry application, I received an email suggesting I join a group of runners in support of Jenny Crain’s continuing physical therapy.

Jenny and I go back some time. She was an outstanding collegian runner when I first met her at a Milwaukee race. She was full of vigor and enthusiasm and always mindful of her “duties”, as an emerging elite athlete. She always made time to talk to those with questions, looking for advice, or just wanting to talk running.

Together we served on the Athlete’s Advisory Committee for USA Track and Field. USATF requires 20 percent of all its committees to be composed of athletes and the AAC requirements are more stringent. To serve, one must have competed on an international team or placed high in a national championship. Jenny met both of those requirements.

Then one day, in August of 2007, as she was finishing up her training run along the lakefront, where the marathon we would run for her finishes, she was hit by a motorist who fled the scene, resulting in brain trauma, paralysis and coma. She was gearing up for the Olympic Marathon Trials, then, suddenly she was an invalid. Read her story at http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--13329-0,00.html.

Jenny’s battle cry was “make it happen”. She meant, don’t just sit there, do something to get the results you are looking for. A fund was set up to help with the enormity of medical expenses and her expression to make it happen became the Make It Happen Fund.

Her friends with the local running club, the Badgerland Striders, took note and began hosting an array of fund raising events. Jenny’s friends knew what she would have done for them and they in turn supported every effort and event to help raise those much-needed funds.

Over the next several years, she showed marked improvement, not only as a result of the monetary help, but some of her friends donated their time as professional therapists and worked diligently to give her every chance to recover. She eventually regained some of her speech and mobility.

Of all the fundraisers, this one would set the standard. A goal was set at $75,000, the cost of one year of therapy. The event would be an unforgettable one. At its peak, 85 runners signed up to run the marathon, linked together, each committing to raising a minimum of $500.

I asked Wigwam for their support in this effort and they readily and eagerly came on board as one of the sponsors. Each runner was given a pair of running socks to get them started and to get them to the finish line. On race day, they passed out hundreds of their quality running socks to those assembled at the finish line, to watch the Jennipede, as the team became known.

As the weeks drew closer to race day, there were injuries, people moving to other areas and other reasons, so the numbers dwindled to 62. Part of the reason the event was chosen, was to chase a Guinness World Record for most runners linked together to complete a marathon that stood at 53.

Although the record attempt was secondary, to raising the money needed for her continued therapy, it became an integral part of bringing attention to the event and thus raised awareness. Before we knew it, the original goal was broken, reset and broken and reset several more times, bringing in over $100K prior to race morning!

Novice and veterans tethered to a rope, slipped through a carabineer, found their position, printed and signed their name showing their designated position and gallantly approached the back-of-the-pack at the start line on October 2, 2011.

Veterans stated how doubts had entered their thoughts, while first-time marathoners shook, not from the cold, but nervousness. Anyone could be the one to end the race. A misstep, a bad day, muscle cramps all entered the reality and enormity of what was about to take place with the crack of the starter’s pistol.

The first bathroom break took 15 minutes. Not acceptable, I thought. The next time, the gals entered the portable toilets and the guys discreetly provided “urine samples” in cups, which were accidentally spilled on the lawn, before we quickly returned to running.

A couple of sprained ankles, as runners stepped in potholes, a couple of falls as a trailing runner could not see a hazard, and one runner with severe muscle cramps. Any of these could have ended the record attempt, but the team survived and power walked for nearly 10-kilometers (6.2 miles).

At mile 26, the Jennipede received a most unexpected and cheerful welcome, by spectators two-deep on each side, carrying us through the final two-tenths of a mile in the finish chute. Once we all crossed the finish line, we were immediately surrounded by paparazzi, spectators, family members and friends taking photos of the historic accomplishment.

Before removing ourselves from the cord, we once again were required to print and sign a document showing our finishing position, to meet the requirements set by Guinness.

My Maltese friend, Victor Vella of Italy, and I purchased 100 Grand Bars and a race volunteer passed them out as we completed the necessary paperwork.

Robin Gohsman, the team organizer then went from supporting the line from the rear, to center stage as the master of ceremonies. In quick order, two proclamations were read from the Mayor of Milwaukee and the County Executive, proclaiming October 2, 2011 Jenny Crain Day. Then the most important presentation of an oversized check in the amount of $100K was presented to Jenny and her brother Peter Crain. Peter accepted on behalf of his sister and thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart, as one who had also endured the day tethered to a rope.

Lastly and unexpectedly, each person was called up individually, and presented with a commemorative medal to mark the success of the Jennipede. I realized running was more than winning medals, but this one was really special, engraved with our name on it, along with Jenny’s.

If you would like to support Jenny’s future care, please visit: http://www.active.com/donate/jennycrain/roypIrRUNg to donate. Thanks!