Mom Takes On NYC Marathon for Son With Heart Disease Who Wont Be Able to Run One – Runner’s World

Though Allison Longest had a normal pregnancy, soon after she gave birth to her son, Zachary, on December 16, 2013, she and her husband noticed that something was wrong.

He wasnt eating very well, and after looking into it, the doctors at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health discovered that he had a heart murmur, the 39-year-old from Indianapolis told Runners World. But it was minor, and no one was that worried about it.

Two weeks later, Zachary was brought in for a heart check-up on Christmas Eve. To the surprise of his parents, the doctors diagnosed him with heart valve diseasea congenital heart defect that can require surgery depending on severityand recommended immediate heart surgery.

Since having the cardiac operation as a baby, Zachary is now 5 and thriving. He plays sports and lives a relatively normal life, though every six to nine months, he has to visit the hospital to undergo an echocardiogram and EKG to monitor any changes to his heart as he grows.

Allison Longest

Whats unique about kids with heart disease is that they dont look sick. They look normal and healthy, besides the scar on their chest, said Longest.

While Zachary is currently able to be active and do almost everything a healthy kid can do, that will change as he gets older.

When he hits puberty, his heart will grow, and he will have to get valve replacement surgery, said Longest. We really encourage him to play sports, and go all the things now, that he wont be able to do later.

As Longest has learned more about heart disease over the years, the most shocking thing shes found is that one in 100 kids is affected by the disease. While many children with congenital heart defects dont need treatment, others require medicines, catheter procedures, surgeries, or even heart transplants.

I had no idea that it was so common, said Longest.

So in order to raise awareness for the common diseases, and do something to help other families with children who are also affected, she decided to lace up and run for them. Shell be taking on her first marathon this weekend.

On November 3, 2019, Longest plus a team of 10 others will be running the New York City Marathon to raise money for the Childrens Heart Foundation, which supports congenital heart disease research. Each member was required to raise $2,500 to join the team, and together, they raised a total of $42,196.

A lifetime runner, Longest has taken her training seriously to prepare for the race. I followed the plan to a T, she said. But it was definitely challenging to fit it in around two kids, their sports, and a full-time job.

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A few weekends before the race, she completed a 20-miler with Zachary riding beside her on a bike for the last few miles. She hopes to complete her marathon in under 4:50.

I live for the challenge of racing and fundraising, said Longest. When it gets tough, I think about Zachary, about how much he has struggled and everything he has gone through. I know he wont be able to run a marathon himself down the road. That keeps me going.

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Mom Takes On NYC Marathon for Son With Heart Disease Who Wont Be Able to Run One - Runner's World