Nov 11, 2009 5:38 pm US/Central
Someone You Should Know: Runner Alan Robinson
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Alan Robinson has participated in 12 marathons, despite being technically classified as a quadriplegic, after he was severely injured in a car crash.
CBS
He's a man on the run and no one ever thought he could do it. But Alan Robinson proved everyone wrong. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says Alan is someone you should know.
Last Halloween, 56-year-old Alan Robinson ran up and down the lakefront four times, for a total of 50 miles. It took him 16 hours, and years of hard work.
In 1991, Alan was severely injured in a car crash. The doctors gave his parents the bad news.
"If I did live, I would only be able to move one side of my body, but they never told me that," Alan said.
But Alan, a Vietnam vet, was determined to get his feet on the ground.
"I would say a special prayer on Sunday, and then Monday, something would move, a wrist, an ankle or a foot," Alan said.
He began to recover a few steps at a time. He could walk. But he wanted to run.
"I wanted to be able to run because I was missing the bus," Alan said. "He would pull off and leave me."
He began practicing, and began racing.
Seven years ago, Alan ran the Boston marathon in six hours and 25 minutes.
He's participated in 12 marathons. But remarkably, because of where his spine is injured, he's technically still classified as a quadriplegic.
"It's really unusual for a quadriplegic to be able to walk without some type of help," Alan said. "They don't really have a medical explanation for that."
As far as his spare time is concerned, Alan doesn't have any. He spends nine hours every day, six days a week, working out at the Equinox fitness club on Michigan Avenue.
He pushes weights totaling 945 pounds.
"Isn't that something?" Alan said. "I didn't realize I could do that."
Every day, Alan works hard to strengthen his legs, and to give strength to other people with mobility challenges.
"There's so much that I'm so grateful for," Alan said. "When you get those types of blessings, it's better for you to share them than to keep them."
Alan dedicated his running to one of his doctors: Dr. Suzan Rayner at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Alan Robinson, a man on the run, and someone you should know.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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