Peter Kirkwood

13 years ago with a toddler reaching at my knees, I was inspired to make the decision to once and for all give up smoking after 17 years. I turned to running for a lifestyle change. I pulled a pair of sneakers out the bottom of the closet and got started on the treadmill at the YMCA. “15 days to form a new habit” is what I told myself. I was feeling the strains and pains of overuse injuries by day 10, but pressed on. Recovery and a major work assignment sidelined me for a while, but I was committed to the change.

It was around this time that a flyer for the Beyond Monumental Marathon caught my eye at the Fishers YMCA. The images where of the beaming faces of runners, each of whom could be the person next door. Now, I realize they were surrounded by cheering fans as they ran around Soldiers and Sailors Monument at mile two of a twenty-six mile race. None-the-less, I said “If they can do it. I can do it.” I hopped on the information superhighway and found out that in fact there was enough time to train and besides having a long term goal would keep me on track. So having never registered for a race before I signed up for a marathon and headed straight to Kohl’s for a new pair of “running” shoes.

One day shortly after starting my training as I was looking for inspiration, I came across “The Spirit of the Marathon.” A movie about runners from beginner to elite, running in the Chicago Marathon. One story that caught my attention was about a guy, that could be the person next door, trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. So I said “If he can do it, I can do it.” So I stayed up that night looking at what it would take and researching and rewriting my training plan. As a 35 year old male, I would need to run the 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes or 7:15 minutes a mile. An audacious if not crazy goal, in deed.

Race day came and I was ready to toe the line. Except, I was way too hydrated and was standing in a port-a-potty when the gun went off. When I finally jumped into the corral, my pace group was long gone. I settled in and by the time we headed out of downtown, I was running my race. Having put faith in the system, I had done a lot of speed work, but my long runs were slow (11:00+ pace) and sometimes I felt I could barely finish them, at mile 18, I was on pace and got a pick me up from my family. 2 miles after that, I was down to a 10K. 2 miles after that, I was still on track. 2 miles after that, the wheels fell off.

My first race ever was a 3:16 marathon! Now, I ran cross country in the 8th grade, played all kinds of sports in high school, and even did a stint in a Marine Corps ROTC program in college, but I never fancied myself as a runner. But I did now. And I was a marathoner. So I figured my next race should be the 131 Event Productions Winter Night Trail Marathon.

As those of you that were in Central Indiana during the Winter of 2014 recall. It was a cold one. On such a winters day, I snuck out the house during the Polar Vortex and pumped out a 5K at a 7 minute pace skimming across the ice covered barren streets. When I returned home like all dedicated runners do, I posted the feat to Facebook along with a selfie with icicles hanging off my beard and eyelashes. No sooner had the post gone out, I received my first comment. It was from my big brother. “You is Loco Bro!” he wrote.

Those were his last words to me. He passed away the next day unexpectedly from cardiovascular disease. He was a great guy full of life and a dedicated family man with a big heart. As June 21st approached, what would have been his 41st birthday, we hatched a plan to commemorate and celebrate his life and maybe for a few moments forget the loss of Tal.

We called it 58 for 58. Supported by family and friends I would run from his home in Fishers, Indiana to the Anderson University football stadium where he played on an undefeated team wearing jersey #58. And back. For a total of, you guessed it, 58 miles. All to raise money and awareness for the causes of the American Heart Association.

With long stretches of country road on the course I had laid out, I clad myself in safety orange from head to toe. I set out to the cheers of “Run Loco!” with a bible verse on my back. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” Isaiah 40:31.

In the twelve years since 58 for 58, I never tire of telling this story. When I here people say, “You are crazy!” I tell them, “No, I am Loco.” On this day and every chance you get, tell your story. You just might be someone’s inspiration to make a lifestyle change.

This year I will carry on the tradition of “running my age” as well as what would have been my brother's age on my birthday by taking on the Hennepin Hundred to once again commemorate my brother Tal and raise awareness for the American Heart Association.

Please join me in celebration for “48 for 48 + 52 for 52: The Hennepin Hundred”.

And if you would like to make a contribution to an organization that truly makes a difference in people's lives please consider making a donation to the American Heart Association at

http://www2.heart.org/goto/48for48.

¡Run Loco!

Peter "Loco Bro" Kirkwood