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John Orenchuk stood on the outskirts of InfoCision Stadium with his direct support professional, Chad Palmer, debating what pose to strike once he crosses the finish line of the Akron Marathon one-mile race.
“Should we do the Rocky pose?” Palmer asked, who lives in Plain Township. “Or are you going to do the Myles Garrett?”
Wearing Garrett's Cleveland Browns jersey (the NFL star was recently traded to the Los Angeles Rams), Orenchuk, 38, demonstrated a third option — a grizzly bear pose — flexing his arms and making a bear sound.
Later on, the duo decided they might just celebrate with all of them. After all, preparing to run the mile portion of the Acme Fresh Market Foundation 8K & 1 Mile Race on June 27, which is part of the Akron Marathon race series, has been a long time coming.
Though Orenchuk, who lives in North Canton and works at Pegasus Farm in Stark County, participates in the Special Olympics, the Acme 1-mile gives him the opportunity to be a part of an inclusive event with the general Akron community, Palmer said.
Palmer, a retired Canton-area high school teacher and current direct support professional through Community Integration Inc. in North Canton, developed an exercise plan for Orenchuk and many of his other clients — something he said helps them sleep better and feel calmer and stronger.
“I feel like this is a niche that gets overlooked because people are like, ‘Well, they can’t do that,’ but this is also a niche that they really need,” Palmer said.
The first mile Orenchuk ran took him about 19 minutes, he said. Recently, he set a personal record of 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
Orenchuk, who has been involved at Community Integration for about 20 years, said he wanted to start working out to get in shape. At first, he had to learn how to run and develop muscle memory, Palmer said, as he had never run before.
Now, Orenchuk said he feels confident while exercising, and Palmer said he is excited about the progress he’s seen him make since they began working together in August.
Currently, Orenchuk beats Palmer in the weight room on the leg press, bench press and shoulder flies. He’s also built his way up to spending around 20 minutes on the bike after starting out at around five minutes.
The pair spends anywhere between six and 12 hours together each week, going out into the community and exercising. They’ve become close, with Palmer describing their relationship as that of brothers.
“I could be having a bad day, and then once I get with him, we joke around all the time,” Palmer said.
This will be the Akron Marathon’s 24th year and 12th year of its race series, said Laura McElrath, vice president of operations and race director.
Presented by Summa Health, the whole city gets involved to prepare for the events, she said. The Akron Police Department makes sure traffic continues to flow, and the city provides information about construction projects and safety so the course design can be created. Hundreds of volunteers are also there to help along the way.
McElrath said it’s important that everyone can be involved in the event, which is why this year, there is a separate family one-mile wave start so that younger kids can participate.
There is also a push team and wheelchair division for each race, with bike escorts provided for each athlete who uses a wheelchair, she said.
“The community as a whole really comes out, does a community-wide celebration, cheering on the runners, having block parties along the course, standing with cowbells,” McElrath said.
The Goodyear Half Marathon and 10K will take place at the Goodyear World Headquarters on Aug. 8 and begin at 6:30 a.m. The FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay will take place throughout downtown Akron on Sept. 26 and begin at 7 a.m.
Orenchuk said after this race, he’s going to keep running. He already plans to run another mile race with Palmer in October.
“He pushes himself,” Palmer said. “He’ll go after it.”
To register for the Akron Marathon Race Series, visit akronmarathon.org/register.
Lauren Cohen is a community reporting intern for the Akron Beacon Journal. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Marathon race series returns with inclusive 1-mile run
Continue reading...
“Should we do the Rocky pose?” Palmer asked, who lives in Plain Township. “Or are you going to do the Myles Garrett?”
Wearing Garrett's Cleveland Browns jersey (the NFL star was recently traded to the Los Angeles Rams), Orenchuk, 38, demonstrated a third option — a grizzly bear pose — flexing his arms and making a bear sound.
Later on, the duo decided they might just celebrate with all of them. After all, preparing to run the mile portion of the Acme Fresh Market Foundation 8K & 1 Mile Race on June 27, which is part of the Akron Marathon race series, has been a long time coming.
Though Orenchuk, who lives in North Canton and works at Pegasus Farm in Stark County, participates in the Special Olympics, the Acme 1-mile gives him the opportunity to be a part of an inclusive event with the general Akron community, Palmer said.
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Palmer, a retired Canton-area high school teacher and current direct support professional through Community Integration Inc. in North Canton, developed an exercise plan for Orenchuk and many of his other clients — something he said helps them sleep better and feel calmer and stronger.
“I feel like this is a niche that gets overlooked because people are like, ‘Well, they can’t do that,’ but this is also a niche that they really need,” Palmer said.
How exercise shapes Orenchuk and Palmer’s relationship
The first mile Orenchuk ran took him about 19 minutes, he said. Recently, he set a personal record of 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
Orenchuk, who has been involved at Community Integration for about 20 years, said he wanted to start working out to get in shape. At first, he had to learn how to run and develop muscle memory, Palmer said, as he had never run before.
Now, Orenchuk said he feels confident while exercising, and Palmer said he is excited about the progress he’s seen him make since they began working together in August.
You must be registered for see images
Currently, Orenchuk beats Palmer in the weight room on the leg press, bench press and shoulder flies. He’s also built his way up to spending around 20 minutes on the bike after starting out at around five minutes.
The pair spends anywhere between six and 12 hours together each week, going out into the community and exercising. They’ve become close, with Palmer describing their relationship as that of brothers.
“I could be having a bad day, and then once I get with him, we joke around all the time,” Palmer said.
Akron Marathon Race Series details
This will be the Akron Marathon’s 24th year and 12th year of its race series, said Laura McElrath, vice president of operations and race director.
Presented by Summa Health, the whole city gets involved to prepare for the events, she said. The Akron Police Department makes sure traffic continues to flow, and the city provides information about construction projects and safety so the course design can be created. Hundreds of volunteers are also there to help along the way.
McElrath said it’s important that everyone can be involved in the event, which is why this year, there is a separate family one-mile wave start so that younger kids can participate.
There is also a push team and wheelchair division for each race, with bike escorts provided for each athlete who uses a wheelchair, she said.
“The community as a whole really comes out, does a community-wide celebration, cheering on the runners, having block parties along the course, standing with cowbells,” McElrath said.
The Goodyear Half Marathon and 10K will take place at the Goodyear World Headquarters on Aug. 8 and begin at 6:30 a.m. The FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay will take place throughout downtown Akron on Sept. 26 and begin at 7 a.m.
Orenchuk said after this race, he’s going to keep running. He already plans to run another mile race with Palmer in October.
“He pushes himself,” Palmer said. “He’ll go after it.”
To register for the Akron Marathon Race Series, visit akronmarathon.org/register.
Lauren Cohen is a community reporting intern for the Akron Beacon Journal. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Marathon race series returns with inclusive 1-mile run
Continue reading...
