Thousands of runners take to the streets this weekend for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon. One of them is a veteran of such races. He’s part of the event, despite his battle with stage four cancer.
When 30,000 people step off the starting line for the marathon on Sunday, they run for many different reasons. To win. To push their physical limits. To have a great time with friends.
Ed Nagle’s story, though, is unique. On any given day, you’ll find him training, pounding the pavement in his Castle Hills neighborhood. He’s running to celebrate life.
“I want them to look at me as hope,” Nagle said.
Nagle is battling stage four colon cancer. Since his diagnosis in 2001, he’s had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. He’s also run 30 marathons.
“If I can go out there and do it, then I can encourage other people,” he stated. “I don’t mean to run marathons. I mean to do, to fulfill their dreams, whatever they want to do.”
Nagle’s wife, Marsha, may not fully understand his passion for running, but she’s supported him through his journey, including a bearded time he calls his “Forrest Gump” era.
Despite losing the right lobe of his lung, he’s kept training for and finishing races, even going back to the high thin air of Pikes Peak, Colorado.
This weekend, he’s on a team called DetermiNation. 25 runners are raising thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society, and keeping hope alive for Nagle.
“When you’re battling cancer, you’ve got two choices: fight or flight,” Nagle emphasized. “I will not, will not let cancer defeat me.”
Nagle says he wants other cancer patients and their families to see there is life after diagnosis. He plans to be back at the starting line for next year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon.
