Mission accomplished

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

For 10 of the 17 years the Valparaiso YMCA Ringing in Spring 5K has taken place, Kelly Asbell has wanted to participate.

And on Saturday, the 33-year-old Portage High grad and Chesterton resident did just that. But Asbell’s appearance in the walking portion of the event, wasn’t as simple as just sign-up and go. A limiting deterrent for her is the disease cystic fibrosis.

“For 10 years, I’ve been saying that I’m going to do this 5K,” Asbell said Saturday after having her picture taken among a group of people.

Not only does she have the disease, but she also had double-pneumonia and was hooked up on an IV at the race. And at race time it was a brisk 39 degrees.

“It’s just taking part of it, knowing that I’m sick,” she said.

Along with meeting her dreams, Asbell was also giving back to the rest of the cystic fibrosis community. She used a walker to complete the 3.1 mile course through the north side of Valparaiso. On that walker were pictures of other locals battling cystic fibrosis.

“It’s been the most amazing experience of my life and I’m just here to push through, for the people that couldn’t be here,” Asbell said.

Better weather than last year: Everyone knows the old adage that says April showers bring May flowers. But last year, rain was most certainly not a welcome factor for the 5K. In fact, 2010 overall winner Aaron Crague had to overcome his spill on a wet timing mat as the race began.

While Saturday’s temperature of 39 degrees could seem chilly to some, 17-year event director Mike Jones was elated about the sunny conditions.

“This is great, we’ve got sun,” Jones said with a smile. “Man, what a nice thing. This is perfect, this is the right temperature. Runners can’t ask for a better temperature.”

Also adding to Jones’ upbeat mood was the number of those who registered to either walk or run. Last year a record 1,650 (500 more than 2009) signed up. That number was nearly matched, when 1,558 registered this year.

Like drinking a cup of coffee: People often get together on the weekend to talk over coffee or breakfast. Identical twins Valerie Laniosz (61st overall, third among women) and Lisa VanderVeer (64th overall, fourth woman) do things a bit differently some Saturdays. The 29-year-olds lace up their sneakers and run while catching up. Perhaps that tactic allowed them to finish so strongly in their first Ringing in Spring.

Soldiers make marathon global event: The response from runners throughout the region truly surprised Crossroads of Indiana Marathon race director Frank Johnson. But one particular request caught him totally off guard. An e-mail sent to him from several soldiers serving in Afghanistan requested that they be included in the inaugural event.

Their request was to run a remote run in Afghanistan simultaneously to the event held in Lowell. Johnson was elated with the request and accepted the soldiers to be participants in the event.

“I thought at first that it was a joke, but indeed the individuals serving in the Army stationed in Afghanistan asked if they could come up with a course on base and run the event at the same time,” Johnson said.

Johnson indicated that he did receive an update from the runners and they indicated that they had five finishers, fourch of whom ran at least 8 to 10 miles.

Johnson also said that for their efforts, he was going to send each of them finishing medals, which were awarded to each of the participants here on Sunday.

“It meant a lot to me to know that individuals serving our country found time to participate in this event although remotely they showed their continuous support of all of us back home,” he said.

Correspondents Josh Lichtenfeld and Nick Nochevich contributed to this report.