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One must learn to walk before one can run
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
For former Girouxville resident Mitch Cunningham, the last 20 years have been a hard uphill battle.
The avid runner’s life was turned upside down when his vehicle was cut off by a semi-truck in November 1990.
Among many injuries, Cunningham suffered brain damage, a fractured C2 vertebrae, crushed pelvis, and crushed femur. With that much bodily damage, many of us would not have the courage to recover. But, with tonnes of determination and courage, Cunningham battled through rehabilitation, eventually becoming strong enough to run 23 marathons, 11 half-marathons, and two ten mile runs.
“My children were the reason I fought so hard,” says Cunningham, who is the father of two. “I was in the University of Alberta hospital for one month, and Grande Cache’s hospital for six months.”
Cunningham was the manager of an apartment in Grande Cache at the time of his accident. He chose to convert one of the apartments into a workout room to help rebuild his strength.
“Mentally you have to get everything back together,” he says of being in a traumatic accident. “With time and determination it all came back together.”
Cunningham has rebuilt his strength enough to tour the province and in various countries, running marathons out of pure passion.
His goal was to be the first Albertan runner to take part in every marathon in the province. This goal was achieved last year, when he was 43 years old. His last marathon was in Whitecourt.
Cunningham says he is unsure if he will ever run another marathon. He has run a total of nine marathons in Alberta, and has been as far as South Africa for a race.
“Run to have fun,” says Cunningham. “Enjoy yourself, your family and friends. That’s the whole meaning of life.”
Cunningham has authored a book called ‘To Run With the Angels and Walk with God.’
The novel is a biography on his life as a marathon runner. He explains the passion for running had many implications on his personal life, many of which he says he regrets. However; he is slowly learning to live for himself and is determined to be successful in all his endeavours.
“Be as positive as you can,” he urges. “Positivity rubs off on other people.”
Cunningham currently lives in Grande Prairie, but he says this region will always be his home.
More information on Cunningham’s illustrious running career will be available in next week’s Express.
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Mitch Cinningham proudly displays the novel he has written entitlrd "To Run With the Angels and Walk With God".
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