Rylie’s Dog Days of Summer 5K: an emotional morning front to back
Brian Marrin would be the last Dalmatian in the Disney film 101 Dalmatians, except he is an Irish Wolfhound, the soda cracker in the wicker basket at the end of the bar.
Brian is a 75-year-old Vietnam vet rolling down the Thunder Road of his life relentlessly, enthusiastically and unapologetically.
Life has dogged Brian since he was diagnosed with cancer of the large saliva gland in his face in 2013. He is a rugby player who sometimes runs. Radiation treatment has ravaged him, but according to his longtime companion Kathy Tucker, the rare cancer didn’t spread after they knocked it out. “He just has trouble swallowing,” Kathy said.
Rylie’s Dog Days of Summer 5K and Kiddie K began with Rylie Maedler smiling, talking to the runners and thanking them for coming to her race. Rylie was also diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, giant cell granuloma, when she was 7 years old.
Rylie is now a junior at Cape. A very poised young woman with a great smile, she was instrumental in the passing of Rylie's Law, which establishes legal access to medical cannabis.
The horn sounded and 101 runners took off while a few began walking. Marrin was in the crowd, but few noticed; surely he wasn’t going to walk a 5K on a hot day.
Bryan David, 38, of Reading, Pa., railroaded the trails in 18:14, just ahead of the Harrington Harrier Matt Sparacino, 44, in 18:16, who won the masters competition.
Michelle Karsnitz, 37, ran her fastest time pushing a baby in a buggy with a binky, in 20:47. Jenifer Besten, 46, was second female and masters winner in 22:42.
Half a hundred runners ran 30 minutes or slower. There were nine men in the 70-and-over age group.
Marrin was last coming off the trail onto American Legion Road. He saw the finish chute, so he transitioned into a run. The muscles in his legs pulsated, he wobbled, then he fell forward. Brian is the avatar for “Kick Cancer’s Ass, F Cancer and Stand Up to Cancer.” There were five therapy dogs at the race, but it was human compassion that put Brian in a chair and poured water over his head. And Rylie Maedler stood behind him, strengthening him and everyone with her smile.
Tough times for tough people on American Legion Road.
