By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

• Flying Pig Marathon special section

Cincinnati resident Jim Goetz and his sister Janice Graphenthien had planned to run the Chicago Marathon together when they got into running a few years ago - until a 40-foot fall from the roof of his house forced Goetz into a wheelchair and Graphenthien to run without her brother.

But Graphenthien wouldn't let the goal, or her brother, sit for long. She gave Goetz her finisher's medal from Chicago, and said, "I'm going to do it with you."

Today, three years later, the sibling duo is running in their second Flying Pig two-person relay, halfway back to the marathon, which Goetz said he hopes to be ready for in a year or two.

"She pushed me to get back running, I think partly to get me psychologically back and partly to help in my rehabilitation," said Goetz, 48. "I wasn't doing much of anything, and she pushed me. It was pretty difficult."

It was July 4, 2001, when Goetz slipped on his roof and broke a leg, an arm, a hip and some ribs and shattered an elbow. A rod was placed in his leg and a plate put in his hip. He spent a couple months in the hospital and a few more in a wheelchair. With rehabilitation at two hospitals and help from a physical therapist, Goetz learned to walk again. He eventually could get outside to walk down the block. Running hadn't crossed his mind, but his sister pushed.

"We still have this goal that we never completed, and she keeps reminding me that we promised," Goetz said.

It took about a year and a half, but Goetz finally started running again. He said he has a lot more pain and stiffness, but otherwise, he's getting back to normal.

Last year, the duo finished the Pig relay in 4:34:51. This year, Goetz's goal is to finish his half in less than two hours. But Graphenthien hasn't eased up on him just because he has recovered - she will still make him run the hilly half.

"It's a great event," Goetz said. "There's a real sense of accomplishment in getting through it."

E-mail ckane@enquirer.com