Sep 30

Sep 30 One year later, man collects medal from the race he nearly died running

I want to take a moment to share with you a brief, yet uplifting, update to a story we first reported on this time last year.

If you recall, we published a story last fall about a group of Mayo Clinic nurses who revived a runner who had suffered a cardiac arrest during the Med City Half Marathon. The nurses, who were also participating in the event, were able to perform chest compressions on the man until paramedics arrived.

"They saved someone's life," race organizer Peg Arnold said at the time.

Well, according to a race volunteer, the man who had the cardiac arrest was back running again this year. And not only did he finish the 13.1 mile event, he also went back to the point where his heart failed — and proceeded to run a second time through the finish line to collect his 2015 medal.

"The look in his eyes as he told me the story was priceless," the volunteer told me. "He said, 'I died at mile 12 last year.' He just stood with us for a few minutes at our water stop, clearly taking in the moment. After gathering himself, he said, 'now it's time I go get the medal I never got last year.'"

We were unable to track down the gentleman. But if you're reading this, sir, know that your story brought a smile to my face, and I'm sure many others.

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