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Below is an article from Gold’s Gym online - Star Power Articles
about the wrap-up of 2000 IN 2000
Run Over
Jerry Dunn's year of marathon running ended the same way it began
By Ron Matejko
The warm Tampa sun beat down on Jerry Dunn's weary body, which was slumped in a wheelchair not far from the finish line he had crossed just a few moments
earlier. While the king of endurance running soaked in the rays and caught his breath he contemplated the completion of his remarkable feat of endurance.
However, at a time when Dunn should have been
reveling in the fulfillment of achieving his goal of completing 200 marathons in the year 2000, he was instead experiencing a wide range of emotions-beginning with disappointment.
Where were the ESPN and Fox
Sports crews? A couple newspaper writers were on hand, but he figured his achievement would garner more attention than some local headlines. His snub extended to the race itself when even the announcer who calls out
the name of each runner as they cross the finish line was silent when Dunn completed his final 26.2-mile trek of the year.
He wondered why a 54-year old man who just completed a 12-month, 5,240-mile run into
the history books was being largely ignored. The search for the answer initially weighed heavily, but after mentally reviewing his early-morning treks from around the country, Dunn realized the one constant.
Himself.
"It was not what I expected," said Dunn, of the minimal fanfare. "It would've been cool if there were more cameras waiting. But it was mostly a solitary journey, so I found it
appropriate that I finished focused on the goal and myself. Perhaps it was fitting it ended quietly."
Dunn traveled to Florida at the beginning of December to run the final 10 marathons on his schedule.
Ironically, it was at his 200th run of the year at the inaugural Hops Marathon on Dec. 10 when he ran his fastest time of the year.
He encountered some physical hurdles in the final days, but was relatively
pain free at the end of the year-physically at least. The effects of the busy year extended beyond sore quads and extended into emotion pain. His frequent two-week excursions to Anywhere, USA took a toll on his
marriage. Although his wife Elaine ran 22 marathons with Jerry this year, the absence of each other's companionship took its toll.
"It's been tough on Elaine and me and we still have stuff to
resolve," said Dunn. "I haven't destroyed our relationship, but it has been damaged. That would make me think about doing this again."
Now that Dunn has completed the project that consumed him
for the last two years, he is faced with yet another challenge. What will fill the hole left by his not running five hours a day, for two weeks straight anymore? After developing a strict morning routine on days he
ran, Dunn still finds himself waking up at 5 a.m., even though he doesn't need to.
"The transition will be interesting because I don't know how different it will be learning to relax," said Dunn.
"There's definitely a sense of loss because I dedicated two years to it. But I still have the memory of the experience, even though I've lost the activity."
America's Marathon Man will continue to
pound the pavement with other projects associated with marathon running. Dunn is planning on writing a book and hopes to enter public speaking to not only spread the message of how he accomplished his feat, but also
help people change their lives by making healthy choices. He's also recruiting runners for "Run For Lungs," an organization that raises money for lung cancer through marathon running.
"I'd
like for these people to use me as an inspiration and get their lives in order," said Dunn. "Maybe someone can look at me as a role model to begin exercising if they aren't."
How about that, an athlete who wants to be a role model.
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