GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) – Sunday’s Fox Cities Marathon will be a Greenville woman’s 100th.
Kelly Luther first started competing in 1987 and has participated in every Fox Cities Marathon since its 1991 inception.
Because of that longevity, as well as its proximity to her home, Luther says it is no coincidence that this is the race she selected for the milestone run.
“I had to check the race calendar schedule and make sure that I had my count in order so that Fox Cities could be the 100th.”
Luther, who has been running since her high school track days, credits the sport for an important find.
“I believe that I would currently not be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis if it wasn’t for running. My symptoms first started, and I noticed them, on my long-distance runs.”
Luther says MS has likely slowed her down a bit but certainly has not stopped her.
That’s not the only challenge Luther has had to face. There was also last November’s unexpected passing of her husband Gordy, whom Luther calls her ‘biggest supporter and fan.’
“He would kick me out of bed in the morning to go running, but he would also drop me off if I needed to start in a different location. He would pick me up. He would ride his bike along with me and support me when I needed that.”
Luther expects mixed emotions on Sunday, since Gordy passed less than two months after the 2016 Fox Cities Marathon.
“It will be bittersweet this year because he won’t be there, and that’s the last race that we got to share together.”
Luther says reaching 100 marathons doesn’t mean her career is over. She plans to compete in marathons both of the following two weekends as well.
