Running the mile was one of my least-desirable experiences in elementary school. At the former Arlington Heights (now Memorial High’s English wing), we’d run around the old ball field fences, through “the chute” and back to the playground. Pudgy fifth grader that I was in the late 80s, I always wheezed my way to last place in my gym class, usually timing out at around 14 minutes or so. Running and athleticism were far from my strong suits.

“Things change dramatically. Some call this the wall. Some call it bonking. Whatever you call it, you have to find a way to overcome it.” – Ryan Burr, on the opposite of the “runner’s high”

The years have been kind to my running ability. I have seriously slimmed down, and while the change may not be as dramatic as Jerry O’Connell’s evolution from Stand By Me to Sliders, it has afforded me the ability to run a couple blocks and keep steady momentum. Running is no longer a hard obstacle for me.

Running was an obstacle for Ryan Burr. Seven years ago, the Chippewa Valley CPA found himself unable to run around his block. That’s when he decided to change his life and sign-up for the Walt Disney World Marathon. In one year, he lost plenty of weight and got himself in shape, and accomplished what was the unthinkable: 26.2 miles of running.

How about doing that 11 times in one year? Ryan is about to do just that. Throughout this year, Burr is running in 11 marathons throughout the country in an effort to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, through a project called “11 in 11.” 

He got the basic idea in 2010 while traveling to a marathon in Las Vegas. Eventually he thought of using the project to raise money for St. Jude, which, as Ryan notes, “treats children from around the world who are suffering from cancer, sickle cell disease, and genetic disorders. Care is not dependent upon the family’s ability to pay. In order for the hospital to continue to function in this regard it relies on donations for a large portion of its daily expenses.“ Thus far, $6,200 has been donated through the project. After 11 marathons, he will have run 288.8 miles.

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The 26.2 miles in a single marathon are hard enough. We have heard of the “runner’s high,” but Ryan notes the feeling is fleeting: “After 5 or 6 miles a runner usually settles into a groove where the pace is comfortable and the race is enjoyable. One hopes that ‘groove’ lasts until the finish line, but it never does. Sometimes it ends at mile 10. Sometimes it ends at mile 25. But when it does end, things change dramatically. Some call this the wall. Some call it bonking. Whatever you call it, you have to find a way to overcome it. At Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth I was literally shouting at myself to finish strong. I received some strange looks – but it worked!”

Running 11 marathons in a year has afforded Ryan opportunities to see our nation in ways most of us never will: “I’ve run past national landmarks in Washington, DC, mountains in Salt Lake City, the lakefront in Milwaukee, the hills of northern Wisconsin, my house in Eau Claire, Lake Superior in Duluth, skyscrapers in Minneapolis. … I’ve run through Lambeau Field in Green Bay and the Civil War Memorial in Hartford, CT.”

As you read this column, Burr will be about to finish “11 in 11” with, appropriately, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon on December 3. Ryan knows it will be special: “The race itself runs directly through St. Jude’s campus. I’m sure this will be an emotional run for me.”

You would think 11 marathons would change a person. Such is the case with Ryan: “Back in March, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to complete 11 marathons in 10 months without seriously injuring myself. Here I am, three weeks away from my final race – and I feel GREAT! There were times where I was really tired, especially during the spring and fall ‘clusters’ of races. I’ve definitely learned perseverance. 11 in 11 has taught me to quit limiting myself. And I hope people hear this story and decide to do something they don’t think they can do.”

For more info, go to 11in11.org.

See  entire interview between Luc and Ryan on Page 3!

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What were the motivating factors to making you want to run marathons?

I didn’t start running until January of 2004. I weighed more at that point than any other in my life. I decided to sign up for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January of 2005. At that point I couldn’t even run around the block —but I knew I had 12 months to get it figured out. I’ve been running for health ever since. Up until this year, I’d only been running for me.

Most people have never run a marathon. Describe the changes your body feels as you run a marathon, and what you do to maintain your endurance over the 26.2 miles.

The marathon is really as much mental as it is physical. People keep asking me if they get easier—and honestly, I don’t think they do. Even if my body gets stronger and more able to run the distance, my mind tries to make it run faster. The net result is doubt, fatigue, and pain in the late miles.

Generally the first struggle is at the start line. “What am I thinking? I know how much this is going to hurt!” After 5 or 6 miles a runner usually settles into a groove where the pace is comfortable and the race is enjoyable. One hopes that ‘groove’ lasts until the finish line, but it never does. Sometimes it ends at mile 10 (Hartford Marathon). Sometimes it ends at mile 25 (National Marathon). But when it does end, things change dramatically. Some call this the wall. Some call it bonking. Whatever you call it, you have to find a way to overcome it. At Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth I was literally shouting at myself to finish strong. I received some strange looks—but it worked! Crossing the finish line is such an emotional experience. Even if you’re not interested in running a marathon, do yourself a favor and stand at the finish line sometime. Months of training, getting up at 5am, overcoming doubts, defeating personal demons—it’s all on display at the finish line.

Tell the readers something about running a marathon that the average person doesn't know.

A marathon is 26.2 miles. All of them. Always. (So many people ask me and fellow runners ‘how far is this marathon?’)

What prompted your decision to do "11 In 11" and, in particular, to select St. Jude as a charity?

My wife and I were traveling to Las Vegas for the Rock and Roll Marathon in December of 2010. It just so happened that the race would be my 10th marathon since 2005. Tara asked me what I would do next—even though I didn’t vocalize it at the time, the thought of doing 11 in 2011 popped into my head. I presented my idea to her a couple weeks later when the thought of including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital came about. The goal—to raise $11,000 by running 11 marathons in 2011

St. Jude’s is a pediatric research hospital that treats children from around the world who are suffering from cancer, sickle cell disease, and genetic disorders. Care is not dependent upon the family’s ability to pay. In order for the hospital to continue to function in this regard it relies on donations for a large portion of its daily expenses.

The final marathon is the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. Through the St. Jude Heroes program we’ll be able to tour the hospital and perhaps even meet some patients. The race itself runs directly through St. Jude’s campus. I’m sure this will be an emotional run for me.

Blessed as a father of 3 healthy children (with another on the way next spring!) I know there are those not as fortunate as me. While parents stand by their children during their sickness—someone needs to stand by those parents. I feel that St Jude’s affords us this opportunity and we need to be sure to seize it.

What was your favorite/most interesting marathon to run this year, and why?

This is a tough question. Having completed 10 of the 11 so far I have a large pool to draw from. The most ‘interesting’ marathon was probably Paavo Nurmi in Hurley, WI. The race has a sort of cult following. It is much smaller than most marathons because it’s run in August (a month most marathons don’t mess around with). It is also the longest running marathon in the state. Most of the runners I met were in their 50s and 60s and had been running the Paavo annually for decades. The course was very challenging and the medal is a badge of honor of sorts .

Any interesting anecdotes that stand out from "11 In 11" and the marathons you've run in 2011?

There really aren’t any textbook anecdotes that come to mind yet (I’m sure that will happen in the coming months as I have time to reflect back). I do think it’s interesting that during these marathons I’ve run past national landmarks in Washington, DC, mountains in Salt Lake City, the lakefront in Milwaukee, the hills of northern Wisconsin, my house in Eau Claire, Lake Superior in Duluth, skyscrapers in Minneapolis, and soon the reason I decided to do this—the St. Jude campus. I’ve run through Lambeau Field in Green Bay and the Civil War Memorial in Hartford, CT. Running affords us the opportunity to see our surroundings in ways we normaly can’t.

You're approaching the final marathon. How have you changed as a person over the course of the previous 10 marathons, and what, if any, perspectives and lessons have you learned over the prior months?

I’ve learned many, many things about myself. Most of all, I’ve learned that we only limit ourselves mentally. Back in March, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to complete 11 marathons in 10 months without seriously injuring myself. Here I am, 3 weeks away from my final race—and I feel GREAT! There were times where I was really tired—especially during the spring and fall ‘clusters’ of races. I’ve definitely learned perseverance. 11 in 11 has taught me to quit limiting myself. And I hope people hear this story and decide to do something they don’t think they can do. 7 years and 30 lbs ago I couldn’t run around the block.

I’ve also learned that I like to write. I’ve kept a running record of some of my experiences during this journey on a blog. The address is www.11in11.org. My blog also links to the St. Jude donation site under the ‘donate’ tab.

What's next after you're done? Working with another charity, or starting a different project, or something else?

There are a lot of IOUs that need to be cashed in with my family. They’ve stood behind me through the 1,200 miles I’ve run this year. I’ve been gone many weekends for races, and portions of many more for long runs. Without their love and understanding this never would have happened. I hope my kids have learned something from it as well—they’re aware of what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.