Monday, March 26, 2001
Runners show support for fallen friend
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cold hands, warm Heart. The Humana/ChoiceCare Heart Mini-Marathon, an annual fund-raiser for the American Heart Association, was warmed Sunday by a second spirit of support.
More than half of the estimated 11,000 participants wore yellow ribbons in honor of runner Kent Enzweiler, who has been in a coma since being struck by a car March 11 while jogging.
“The running community is very close-knit,” said John Sence of Milford, who won the 15K race in 46:07. “Today is one that everyone wanted to do for him. The energy out there was amazing. Seeing all the yellow ribbons ... I think it puts running in perspective on a day like today.”
Temperatures in the low 30s and a biting wind slowed the runners, especially on the return trip west on Columbia Parkway when the wind was in their faces. But the yellow ribbons and “Kent” wristbands were omnipresent reminders of their mission.
Among those running for Enzweiler was his sister, Mary.
“We thought the least we could do to show our support,” said Jill Tranter of Florence, who repeated as women's champion in 55:12. “Running a 15K seems mild now compared to Kent fighting for every breath.”
Enzweiler, 34, of Mount Lookout, remains in serious condition at University Hospital. Sence, one of his training partners, said Enzweiler suffered head trauma and had both legs broken, and is undergoing further tests on the severity of his brain damage.
Enzweiler and Eric McBride were struck while jogging on Madison Road in O'Bryonville. The driver crossed the double-yellow pavement markings, police said. McBride was treated for minor injuries.
Enzweiler, who had a few top-10 Heart finishes, has been one of Cincinnati's top distance runners. Though specializing in duathlons — events that combine running and bicycling — Enzweiler had qualified for and planned to run the Boston Marathon this spring, Sence said.
He was one of a group of about 10 top runners, another of whom is Sence, who train shorter distances on Wednesdays, and of a larger group, which also includes Tranter, who train longer distances each Sunday.
Sence, who won this event in 1998 and '99 but did not run it last year, wore two bands of yellow tape on his tank top in place of a ribbon. Sence said he has visited Enzweiler about every other day since the accident, and that several other teammates have seem him daily.
“It's really tough, seeing him in a state you never expected anybody at that age to be in,” Sence said.
Said Tranter: “Cincinnati's such a nice running community, so if you go to a couple races you feel like you know everybody. But everybody knew Kent. He's a very well-established runner and just an overall wonderful person.”
Tying a yellow ribbon around this race seemed fitting for friends hoping Enzweiler will come home. “It's not about winning or losing,” Sence said. “It's about the camaraderie, the city bonding together for one of its own.”
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Runners show support for fallen friend