Underwriting support from:
Sue and Al Kaczanowski
On May 8 at the Fifth Third River Bank Run there will be more than a few people who have run the race more than one time. According to race organizers, there will be 18 runners who have completed 32 consecutive races and all 18 are planning to run this year. While Al Kaczanowski hasn't run quite that many races, he has finished ten 25k River Bank Runs. Al lives in East Grand Rapids and is the Americas Sales Director at EP Minerals.
Which race are you running and why?
I’m running the 25k River Bank Run for Team Gilda’s Club because my wife Sue has been through breast cancer twice. Gilda’s is a great place for information and support. We need Gilda’s Club to fill the gap that exists between the doctors and the patient. You don’t always get all the answers to your questions from the doctors like “how do you communicate this to your kids?” or “did insurance cooperate?”
Gilda’s helps connect past and current patients together so that we can freely talk with others that have gone through the process.
Are you a repeat racer, if so, how many races have you run?
Yes, around 10 times.
Describe your training program.
Swim, bike, run, yoga and eat! I like to mix it up and do a lot of cross-training. I believe the biking helps get me through the hilly section of the course.
What is appealing to you about running?
When running alone, it is a great way to clear your mind and get focused. When running with a group, it is a great way to build long lasting friendships. I’ve been running with the same group of runners every weekend for about 10 years or so. We’ve solved a lot of world problems on these runs. I still need to convert one more runner from Democrat to Republican…so it looks like we’ll be running together for another 10 years!
What animal do you run like?
Maybe like a dog sneaking up on a squirrel…I like to start out slow and pick up speed as I get closer to the finish line.
Music or not? What kind and why?
Yes, when I'm running on my own. I like all different types, from country to rock to rap. It can be very motivational!
What is your biggest fear, if any, with running the RBR?
No big fears, I just prefer warm and dry as to cold and wet.
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