Sunday afternoon marked the second annual Miles for Meso 5K Run/Walk. Although timed, the majority of the participants just came out to support friends and family who have suffered from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The race was organized by Jill Waite last year to commemorate and honor her father who passed away in 2003 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Bruce Waite was a father, a teacher, and an inspirer. His most remembered quote could be found on the backs of all the marathon’s shirts: “The road to mediocrity is heavily traveled; the path to excellence, seldom traversed.” These words were his compass, and could be found on the chalk board in his classroom every day.
“He was an amazing man. I’m not just saying that because he was my father; he truly was an amazing human being. His death affected many,” said Jill Waite.
Many of the participants on Sunday afternoon were Bruce Waite’s past students. He taught English at Mansfield Senior High from 1959 to 1989. He taught much more than English, however. He inspired and empowered his students to excel and to strive for excellence. He did this by example.
He ran every day for 33 years and kept a journal to log his miles. In that time, it is estimated he logged nearly 76,000 miles in various states. His runs stretched as far as Wyoming, as did his impact. Family from Texas flew in for the race on Sunday. There were others from Colorado.
Jill Waite became inspired to organize this event because of a similar marathon in Illinois. She ran that race with her sister last year, which gave them the idea to start something similar here in Richland County. Last year’s race attracted exactly 200 participants, this year: 280. She hopes that number keeps growing in the coming years.
Among the top finishes was Dave Rader with a time of 0:18:55, Dylan Schluter with a time of 0:20:16, Cody Boebel with a time of 0:20:54, Dylan Hunter with a time of 0:22:06, and Kylie Bittner with a time of 0:22:38.
Ribbons and trophies were handed out to the top placers. There was also an auction for some donated prizes. One of the prizes was a year-long membership to Twin Lakes Golf Course. Also, Two Cousins Pizza was one of the sponsors of the event. According to Waite, around 40 volunteers from various communities contributed to the hosting of the marathon.
For more information on Bruce Waite and the legacy he left behind, visit the website or simply wait until next year to register for the marathon.
“He was an amazing man. I’m not just saying that because he was my father; he truly was an amazing human being. His death affected many,” said Jill Waite.
