The Run4Life

Founder and Leader:

Vin Gleason

"People underestimate their capacity for change.

There is never a right time to do a difficult thing.

A leader’s job is to help people have vision of their potential."

~John Porter~

Although Vin says “I’m not the fastest, I try to bring the most heart.” Vin is a 2007 bronze and silver medalist of the Washington DC Presidential Fitness Award. He is also a 2008 gold medalist recipient of the same award.

Humbly, Vin gives credit to becoming a better runner after working with Don Miller and Kevin Collins, Olympic Qualifier and Syracuse native. Vin’s community and organization will tell you that his personal, unquenchable commitment to hope is what places him ahead of the pack.

TheRun4Life : A Conception of Battle Scars

According to Vin, “my life hasn't been all that different from yours.” He grew up a small kid who had to work twice as hard as the next guy to get ahead.  Though Vin is open about his faults, he’s always striving to change his future ways of thinking.  Times Vin needed to place his thoughts above his circumstances were when his children’s illnesses consumed him.  Vin was very stressed and turned to running for release and hope.  In the Our Story section, you can read about his children’s remarkable journeys and comebacks that began nine years ago.
           

You see, the Gleasons spent their early years of parenthood fighting for each of their children’s lives at University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, and then at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland for their son.  Vin was forever changed by son, Braeden, and daughter, Kaylei.  It was a rough road, one filled with many obstacles, leaving him to daily battle that “little ones do not deserve this.” Vin found this period of life extremely difficult, but he found a release and strength in running.  During that first year, Vin could not run a mile without tiring.  Then, a car accident in 2007 changed his family’s lives again.  Victoriously, a year later, the Gleasons were back again to help the community. Today, Vin runs 26.2 mile marathons.  There are days Vin “can’t believe I’ve made it this far!”  But you’ll understand more about his inspiration if you read on. Vin’s conception of The Run4Life is best expressed this way: “if it were not for my kids I would not be here.” His children engraved in him that “no matter how many times you fall, you always get back up!”

Strangely, many think running came easy for Vin, but even in his first race he tore an IT band.  He was sure that was the end of his running days.  He came back the following year and started running even better.  In 2006, he fell in the Vets Run tearing out his right knee by falling right at the start.  He says at that moment he heard someone say, "that must suck!"  This was when he got up and ran again, finishing in the top ten! Then, in July 2008, he suffered a fall over a cliff-side that gave him lacerations and a stress fracture in his foot. Again, instead of giving up, he decided to get up and try again.  Vin lives by the following quote: “Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength” (Anonymous).

True strength emanates from Vin’s dedication!  Vin feels that sick children need someone dedicated to them, and Vin is that someone.  Everyday Vin runs “for someone out there.”  Everyday there is a purpose to his running. Today, and everyday, Vin works and runs for “the little guy, the forgotten people who deserve a chance at a happy life.” 

Miles For Miracles : The Boston Marathon

Last spring, Vin ran for such a chance, finishing the Boston Marathon.  In this race he hurt himself at mile six, yet plodded on 20 miles more with a swollen leg. He discovered after the race that he had finished on a partially torn PCL!  He thanks Landers Chiropractic care for his quick recovery. Vin continues to prove if he can do it, “you can do it,” too. 

Tragically, in December, 2009, Vin was in a car accident where he broke his rib and obtained a clot on his right knee. He was ready to quit. Thankful to many great supporters he stood up again. Receiving support from the Summit School in Florida, and many local schools, was overwhelming to the Gleasons.  It took only four weeks after the accident to get back to running. Vin worked out hard, three times a day, doing anything he could to get back to a 15 mile run week. In February, 2010, the Run4Life held its first fundraising dinner celebrating past accomplishments, looking forward to future events. In a nutshell, Vin will tell you that he could have easily quit but, “I decided I have a story to tell, and I believe in FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!”

So, here’s to the fight!  Here’s to change in our communities!  Over the years Vin has created fun runs, marathons, walk-a-thons and 5k runs in Central New York communities.  Vin would love to help you as well!

Please lend support to his cause in any way.  Vin wants you to feel free to “call me night or day! Thanks for spending five minutes with me!”

Warmest Regards,

Vin  

Contacts: runforlife@verizon.net

Cell Phone: 315-209-5044

on Facebook Type in Therun4life

Picture of my son Braeden and I after the Fillmore 5k in 2009.  We won our age groups and Braeden ran a 10:30 mile at 5 years old to win a medal!  I am very proud of my children!