Physician Assistant Eyes Marathon Record
Ohio physician assistant Ryan Desgrange will run Toledo's Glass City Marathon dressed as the movie character Rocky Balboa to try to set the Guinness world record for fastest marathon run in a film character costume. Desgrange won the marathon in 2006--not in costume.
Guinness just gave the green light for his world-record attempt, an effort being coordinated by his father, Doug, of Liberty Center. Doug used to run circles around Ryan. That lasted only until Ryan dug in his heels, picked up the pace, and left his Dad in the dust.
Ryan dreamed of competing in the Olympics. He won the Glass City Marathon with a record time of 2 hours and 27 minutes in 2006, but fell short of qualifying for the 2008 USA Olympic Trials.
Mr. Desgrange will be the first costumed "film star" to compete in the Glass City Marathon, race director Clinton McCormick said.
"Ryan is kind of a local guy. He decided he wants to do the record here in a hometown race," Mr. McCormick said yesterday.
Desgrange isn't the race's only PA connection. The marathon will also benefit Honor Flight, which was founded by PA Earl Morse.
An increased interest in the marathon this year could be linked to Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio. A portion of the marathon's proceeds will go toward Honor Flight, which has a lengthy waiting list of veterans who want to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington.
The Guinness world-record attempt will take place on Toledo streets in part because of Mr. Desgrange's running history here and in part because the marathon is honoring veterans, a flag-waving salute that Rocky would wrap himself in.
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