Three members of the Akron Marathon relay team, Medical Misfits, meet to strategize their race day plans. Pictured left to right, Jessica St. Aubin, Lauren Lewis and Nicole Lehrer.
Marathon weekend is one of Akron’s favorite traditions of the fall. Taking place Sept. 27 – 28, the First Energy Akron Marathon, Half-Marathon, Relay Team event and the beloved Akron Children’s family fun run, is set to bring excitement to the streets of Akron while celebrating the spirit of community.
Joining the nearly 14,000 race participants are nine teams of five providers and staff. Five of these teams have been sponsored by the Medical Staff Services department. Leading the mix of physicians and advanced practice providers of the sponsored teams are these captains:
-Laura Abels, APRN-CNS. Team name: Tortured Runners Department
-Julie Eschbaugh, DO. Team name: Healthy Active Living Runners
-Nicole Lehrer, APRN-CNP. Team name: Medical Misfits
-Emily Martin, MSN, APRN-CNP. Team name: Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Wooster
-Sydney Zierden, MD. Team name: Legsaresaurus (Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Ashland)
Akron Children’s Ashland location staff members formed relay team Legsaresaurus, for the upcoming Akron Marathon.
In past years, other departments from the hospital have sponsored or supported marathon teams. However, this is the first year that Medical Staff Services provided marathon sponsorship opportunities. The effort was led by the sports and leisure sub-committee of the Provider Wellness committee. The sub-committee organizes activities to bring providers together, in-person for fitness and community events.
Criteria to be sponsored included having at least three or more providers (physician or advanced practice) rostered on a marathon team. Sponsored teams were selected by random drawing.
Co-chairs of the sports and leisure sub-committee, Cody McCullough (APRN-CNP, emergency department) and Marlene Thompson (MSN, APRN-CNP, rheumatology) believe this opportunity builds on the marathon tradition and motivates fellow colleagues to cheer on runners during the race weekend.
Below are insights from some of the teams that you may see as they navigate the roads of Akron marathon weekend.
Team: The Tortured Runners Department
Q: How did you select your team’s name and what makes the team unique?
A: This is the first year for our team, and we are running for fun vs. competitive time. One of our team members is a Swifty fan and we loved the play on words from the latest Taylor Swift album to create our team name. The team represents the diversity of APP certifications with our team consisting of a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, and nurse practitioners. On race day our team will wear purple shirts designed by Rubber City Clothing.
Team: Healthy Active Living Runners
Q: What keeps the team motivated during training?
A: Our patients. This team wants to set the example for those that we treat and what we teach during clinical hours. Our patients motivate us to push ourselves as we prep for race day.
Team: Medical Misfits
Q: How are the Medical Misfits preparing for race day?
A: Our team consists of providers from a variety of disciplines: burn, orthopedics, radiology, and newborn medicine. With each of us working different hours, we keep in touch with upbeat emails that update one another on how our training is going. Most of us love the sport and are familiar with running marathons. After forming the team, we coordinated which team member would run the different legs of the race. We have met in person only a couple times prior to race day and look forward to having fun and celebrating this achievement as we cross the finish.
Team: Legsaresaurus (Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Ashland)
Q: Who on the team has kept everyone going?
A: Our patient service representative, Connie Gorrell, is our tenured team member. She has participated in two past Akron Marathon relay teams. She helps us to understand what to expect which has been very helpful for our two staff members, Michelle Frank (MSN, APRN-CNP) and Ben Marhulik (DO), who are first time runners.
Team: Runderful APPs of Akron Children’s**
Q: What has this process taught the team?
A: As a team and positive mindset, anyone can do this! Prior to joining the marathon team some of the teammates may say they did not consider themselves “a runner.” The friendship and comradery of our team and knowing that we are representing Akron Children’s along with the advanced practice center, it has been easy to get hooked on the sport. Participants of our team hope to set an example for any staff member who may have considered but have yet committed to running a marathon. There is nothing better than Akron Marathon weekend.
**Please note this team is not sponsored by medical staff services but is made up of provider staff. Team captain is Marlene Thompson.
