Endurance run raises funds for scholarships

They kept on running through the muscle cramps, through the cold, through the night and into the next day. Participants in the Howard L. Aslinger Foundation's 24-Hour Endurance Run at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau came from as far away as Texas, running to raise money to provide scholarships to students with disabilities.

Kim Kelpe, one of three daughters of the late Cape Girardeau civic leader Howard Aslinger, said her father always referred to his disability not as a handicap, but as an inconvenience.

"We said, let's inconvenience ourselves for a while. Let's go through a little bit of pain for 24 hours. He did it his whole life," Kelpe said.

Aslinger contracted polio at age 11, spending the rest of his life using a wheelchair. The condition didn't stop him from leading a successful career as an insurance agent, serving as president of the Rotary and Jaycee clubs and taking an active role in youth sports, including helping to found the Cape Area Youth Soccer Association.

Runner Tommy Doias, 38, of St. Louis said he planned to run about 100 miles during the 24-hour race.

Runners began at 7 p.m. Friday and continued through 7 p.m. Saturday along a one-mile course through Arena Park.

"I like the challenge. There's nothing like crossing the finish line," he said. Doias is a member of the St. Louis Ultrarunner Group (SLUGS) and typically runs 50 to 60 miles each week to train for events like the Aslinger Foundation's Endurance Run.

The key to success in endurance running is finding the right pace, said runner Lee Dougherty, 59, of Swansea, Ill., another of about 10 members of the SLUGS organization taking part in the event.

"You always fear going out too fast. If you do that you can never recover," Dougherty said.

Runners may take food and bathroom breaks and visit the aid station to find sports drinks, pretzels, bananas and cookies.

"I won't be doing any sleeping," said Dougherty. "I'll pretty much just run through it. Rain isn't a problem. It usually just feels good."

For those who aren't into running as an extreme sport, the event offered a 12-hour and one-hour category also.

For 12-hour race participant Kevin Orr, 49, of Cape Girardeau, the Aslinger Foundation Run is about more than just the physical challenge.

"I knew Mr. Aslinger. He put a lot of time into this community and I wanted to come out and show my support for the group," said Orr, who is a sergeant with the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Organizers expected 80 to 100 people to take part in the event. This is the first event sponsored by the recently formed foundation.

"We wanted to get our name out there and see what kind of help we could get from the community," said Shelley Kirchhoff, Aslinger's daughter. "It's been an outpouring."

The foundation will award scholarships based on applications received. Funds may be used for any type of education, from university courses to vocational training to special needs education.

For more information, visit the foundation's website at www.howardaslingerfoundation.org.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address: Arena Park, Cape Girardeau MO