Resident
to run 120 mountainous miles to support foundation.
Editor's
Note: Brian Hetzel, associate director of admissions at Cheshire Academy,will
participate in the six-day Transrockies Run in
What
made you decide to take on this challenge?
After reading about
Dr. Petit and his family, I felt like I needed to do something. I started
running marathons for the Petit Family Foundation in 2008, and have run a bunch
since then.
When I would get tired,
I would remind myself of why I was running, think of Dr. Petit and his girls,
and keep going. This is what got me through my first marathon, for sure. I came
across the Transrockies
Run website.
Now, at first, I
laughed it off, thinking I wasn’t capable of running that far. I eventually
reached out to my best friend from college, a talented endurance athlete who
lives out in
How
are you training?
I did a lot of
research online, reading up on folks who have run the race in the past. I talked
to a lot of coaches, as well, and got a great training plan from my Transrockies
running partner and and Petit Family Foundation running team member, Spencer
Newell.
I used the Boston
Marathon in April as a fitness test, and I felt fine, despite the crazy seasonal
high temperatures. From there, I started doing long hill repeats at Sleeping
Giant down the road in
What
do you think will be the toughest part of the run?
Without question it
will be the altitude. I have never trained at elevation, as
But, the variable I
can’t account for is the thin air we will be running in. There are 6 stages
(days), each one no lower than 7,500 feet. Our highest point will be right up
around the 12,500 foot mark, and that is smack dab in the middle of the race.The
fact that I will have a teammate out there running with me will be huge, and we
know each other’s running styles very well. Add in the motivating factor of Dr.
Petit and his family, and I know we will make it to Beaver Creek on August
20th with smiles on our
faces.
How
much do you hope to raise for the Petit Family
Foundation?
I chose a figure of
$15,000 to raise by November (the date of the New York
City Marathon, which I will also be running along with 4 other team members). An
ambitious number, for sure, but there is a reason; the two perpetrators who
broke into Dr. Petit's house, who killed his two daughters and his wife, wanted
$15,000. They forced Jennifer to go to the bank and withdraw the money, knowing
her family was being held captive at home. She did so with grace and courage,
knowing what was at stake. $15,000, to Spencer and I, is more than just a
fundraising goal. That figure carries so much behind it, so much tragedy and
heartache. We want to do our part to help turn the tide. The money may have been
taken out of hatred, but it will be given back through kindness, generosity and
love.
The Foundation
honors the memories of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit and Michaela
Rose Petit by continuing the kindness, idealism and activism that defined their
lives. The Foundation's funds are given to foster the education of young people,
especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by
chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by
violence.
Anything
else you'd like
I didn’t know Dr.
Petit before I started running in 2008, but I knew I wanted to do something to
help. Since then, folks from all over the
Those in the area get
together for various races, which are always a great time. It’s been an
incredible experience to watch this team grow, to meet like-minded people who
just want to help Dr. Petit and his family. We are always looking to add new
members, so if there are others that are interested in joining, they can go
to www.petitrunningteam.com to find out more.
We welcome people of all
abilities, runners and walkers alike. If anyone would like to help Spencer and I
reach our fundraising goal, they can go towww.crowdrise.com/120forthepetits and make a donation. For information on
the race and to track our progress, please visit www.transrockies-run.com.
For more information on the Petit Family Foundation and the good work they
continue to do, please visit www.petitfamilyfoundation.org
http://cheshire.patch.com/articles/cheshire-runner-takes-on-rockies-for-petit-family