NEW YORK CITY – A noteworthy addition hailing from Chenango County will be joining the expected 47,000 entrants lacing up their running shoes for the famed 26.2 mile New York City Marathon. Recent stroke survivor Kelley Octigan of Sherburne will be running the grueling, yet extremely popular race, which annually receives an estimated 100,000 applications. Despite Hurricane Sandy, the marathon is still scheduled to step off Sunday, according to the marathon’s website and early reports from the New York Road Runners organization.
Octigan was in the best shape of his life when he switched a light on in his home and felt a shock run up his arm, leaving him dizzy and confused. “I had no idea what was happening, but my first thought was to sit down,” he said. “Then it occurred to me, that if I sat down, I might never get back up.”
In his early 50s, after years of exercise and healthy living, Octigan was having a stroke. Shortly before, Octigan had suffered from a misdiagnosed transient ischemic attack (TIA), often referred to as mini-stroke. After the TIA, Octigan had gone to his doctor and was recommended to a heart specialist for an Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) which had plagued him in the past. He never made his appointment though, because before he did, the real stroke struck.
Although some 75 percent of all strokes are misdiagnosed, Bassett Healthcare providers almost immediately recognized Octigan’s stroke for what it was. “The information I got from National Stroke Association was amazing ... I learned people who have strokes are prone to have another debilitating one in the next five years,” said Octigan. Enamored with the national association, Octigan was compelled to apply for the special opportunity to fly the association’s colors during the world's largest annual marathon held in New York City.
Having made it through the selection process, Octigan will be joining 30 other Stroke Association runners Sunday who will be flying in from all over the nation to take part in the marathon. They will meet face to face for the first time the night before the marathon at a banquet held in the city.
Due to his stroke, Octigan will most likely spend the rest of his life on stroke preventive medications, making the marathon training twice as hard. The Metoprolol and Lipitor Octigan takes, in conjunction with his A-fib, causes him to tire easily and have constantly aching muscles. When Octigan consulted his doctor about running the marathon, he was told although it would strengthen his heart and be good for his A-fib, the medication would make it tough because he would have good and bad days.
“If I can get my blood pressure down, I might be able to go off of some of the medication,” he said, the thought lighting up his face even while he admitted he would have to take blood thinners for the rest of his life no matter what happens.
Though a runner since high school, Octigan had never run anything as long as the 26.2-mile marathon and said training for it was like starting from scratch. He began his training by running three to four miles at a time, though he said he struggled with it and was scared he wouldn’t be ready for the marathon in November. Nonetheless, he kept pushing it, obtaining a training schedule from the Road Runners Club of America to help him get on track.
“Aim Fitness was also amazing. They helped me, not only through my training, but also when I was injured,” Octigan said, referring to a bout of tendinitis he suffered from during the course of training. By August, however, Octigan was running intervals of 13 to 14 miles when the crippling tendinitis struck. “I thought I was done, but with Aim’s help I was able to keep my lung capacity up,” he said. Still when he was able to hit the roads again and run, he felt as though he was starting from scratch once more.
A few weekends ago, in preparation for the marathon, Octigan ran the 21 miles separating Waterville and Sherburne. “It was a Sunday and there wasn’t much traffic, it was so desolate and lonely,” he said. “My wife came out with the kids at certain points to cheer me on; she’s been taking the brunt of it, but has remained really supportive and there is no way I would not have gotten as far as I have without her.”
Although he admitted he’s worried about the marathon, adding he’s not much of a city person, and though he is not quite where he wanted to be training-wise, Octigan expressed confidence he will be ready for the marathon.
“The National Stroke Association has been amazing,” he said. “I have also been lucky to have had Aim Fitness, a supportive wife and family, as well as a community full of businesses willing to stand behind me,” Octigan said. He has been pleasantly surprised at the amount of help he has received from local businesses such as Aim Fitness, Golden Artist Colors, Lowe’s, as well as the Sherburne Big M and Gilligan’s Island. “It has been so awesome and definitely a huge motivator for me.”