On October 15, 2011 Richard Brodsky, age 59, ran his fastest marathon at the ING Hartford Marathon since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer back in 2002.
His time was 04:27:16 (the actual gun time, not the net time).
On January 29, 2012 Brodsky beat his time again by finishing the ING Miami Marathon time in 04:27:02.
On March 25, 2012, Brodsky, again ran his fastest marathon at the Ocean Drive Marathon starting in Cape May and ending in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. October 13, 2012, Brodsky ran a 4:05:44 marathon, beating his best post-cancer time for the 5th straight time. Says Brodsky, ’people can reverse their aging process, even those living with HIV and cancer.’
Says Brodsky, 'People can turn back their aging clock if they eat healthy, exercise, don't drink or smoke cigarettes, practice safe sex, and lead an upbeat lifestyle.
Having a great support system including my loving, marathon-running wife Jodi; massage therapist Kyle Olsen Walsh; acupuncturist Norman Swed; and Bikram yoga instructors Anne Hayes and Colleen O'Rourke (all from Long Beach) are largely responsible for my running faster.
For anyone reading this, please encourage a friend or relative afflicted with cancer or HIV to start exercising and they, too, will begin to see the pitcher, not half empty, not half full, but overflowing.
And to any politician reading this paragraph, people need affordable doctors and medicine so they can be there for their family.'
2006 - 2013 Marathons
HIVers & cancer survivors… we’re running marathons
…
I’m Richard Brodsky, the HIV-positive guy with brain cancer; and I’ll be running a marathon a month for as long as my legs, money and health hold out. Why am I running a marathon every month? I’ve been blessed that if I had to become HIV-positive, at least it happened in America where the AIDS medicine and medical care is accessible. It is my hope that society takes note of the absolute necessity that all AIDS sufferers are entitled to the lifesaving AIDS medicine and follow-up medical care. I’ve been further blessed by having a wife, Jodi, who has been so incredibly, loving and supportive that I had to write a book dedicated to her for keeping our family, loving and whole. Without Jodi, I would never have been able to continue being upbeat, and to share in the joyous times of family life, and even those times that were not so joyous.
Being HIV-positive had NOT taken away my energy as I ran my fastest marathon after I was diagnosed HIV-positive, 03:23 at age 46. What eventually slowed me down was a broken shoulder, age and brain cancer, probably in that order. Harvard and NYC doctors have confirmed that my cancer had nothing to do with my HIV. In fact, odd as this may seem, my T-cells now are 1,100, higher than they’ve ever been, so obviously running a marathon once a month agrees with my body. Sure the marathons are painful, there are no easy steps in the 65,000 mile +/- strides in a marathon, but at least I’m alive to feel the pain. I say to anyone who gives up on life because they are diagnosed with HIV or cancer, ‘yes, you’re right, your life is over.’ But dare to dream or visualize that YOU WILL be climbing that mountain or running that race; then surely your chance for not just surviving but thriving, will be a major component in your recovery.
I can no longer sit idle knowing that 12 people will die from AIDS in the two minutes it will take you to read this page. However, I’d like to think I can give people hope that just because they are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, they can still live a rewarding, productive life. My advice: love and cherish your partner and family a lot more, pay a little more attention to a rainbow, because Someone up there has given you the chance to see that rainbow. AND remember, the 12 people who recently died from AIDS in the past two minutes will never see another rainbow.
So many people, including relatives and friends have questioned me as to why I have chosen to give up my career as an Architect to undertake such an uphill fight to help others? To them I say, "Sometimes in life there are no choices."
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, www.richardmbrodsky.org,
a 501(c) 3 public charity, focuses on finding a cure or vaccine for AIDS, cancer research and improving the lives of people who have been affected by AIDS or cancer. Donations can be accepted by mail or online via the websites, www.richardmbrodsky.org
or
www.worldaidsmarathon.com
For your name or logo to appear on the T-shirt for all upcoming marathons, a $500 donation with your name or logo must be received two weeks in advance of an upcoming marathon. Logos must be sent electronically to
RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com Your contribution may also be used to fund my and Jodi’s running a marathon a month.
Completed Marathon Schedules and Times, with Photos
(Click on the highlighted links for marathon pictures)
2013
April 15 - Boston Marathon - Jodi Brodsky completed the marathon in 4:03:04. Although Richard had an injury and could not officially run, he did join Jodi for a half mile at mile 4 to give his support, and of course was there in the family reunion area the to congratulate her. Photos include Jodi in group before the start (love what the guy’s shirt next to Jodi says, KEEP CALM and RUN ON), a jubilant Jodi about to finish her first Boston marathon and Jodi running, (calm, relaxed, determined, focused); Photos courtesy of MARATHONFOTO
Boston Marathon Bombings: Jodi and I were outraged that anyone would want to wreak havoc on a city, especially when a marathon is occurring which promotes good will from runners all over the world. Jodi crossed the finish line less than five minutes before the first bomb exploded and we were celebrating in the family reunion area when we heard that explosion. Now more than ever, I hope to be able to qualify for the 2014 Boston marathon. Anytime, you make it more difficult and challenging for a run, especially one that helps support a city where people suffered needlessly, count me in!
Jan 27 - ING Hartford Marathon - Jodi and Richard Brodsky completed the January 27, 2013 ING Miami Marathon in 4:07:49 and 4:36:18 respectively. I was hoping to run faster but I am recovering from posterior tibial tendonitis. Jodi placed 3rd in her age group. I placed 24th out of 73. We were on CBS news in Miami. Photos of Richard and Jodi (courtesy of MARATHONFOTO)
2012
Oct 13 - ING Hartford Marathon - Despite the cold, record breaking times are made again at ING Hartford: Richard Brodsky's time 4:05:44 (breaking his post brain cancer record by 17 minutes) and Jodi Brodsky's time of 3:56:06, breaks her record by 13 minutes.
Photos: courtesy of Brightroom: Richard and Jodi
May 6 - Long Island Marathon - Richard Brodsky's time 04:27:16 - Richard continues to run his fatsest marathons since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer back in 2002, tying his Hartford time of 04:27:16.
Jodi Brodsky's time 04:09:49 - After 32 years of marriage, Jodi has finally qualified to run the Boston Marathon. Another marathon run together; Jodi continues to out-run Richard, while they both look happy with their medals.
Photos: courtesy of Island Photography
March 25 - Brodsky, for the 3rd straight time on American soil, ran his fastest marathon at the Ocean Drive Marathon finishing at 04:23:22. Brodsky's wife Jodi never misses running a marathon with Richard. The marathon startedstarting in Cape May and ending in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. (Photos courtesy of Island Photography)
March 4 - Black Girls Run: Florence Hogan organized a local chapter in Queens, NY, and invited Jodi and me to participate in a Saturday run. The best part of the run was knowing that Florence organized the local chapter shortly after participating in the Brodsky Foundation's 5K FREE Run/Walk for HIVers, Cancer Survivors & Friends in Kings Point Park.
December 1 - World AIDS Marathon, Kisumu, Kenya, Brodsky completed the marathon in 06:20:00; tough course, high altitude, bumpy terrain, and hot.
October 15 - Richard Brodsky, age 59, ran his fastest marathon at the ING Hartford Marathon since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer back in 2002. His time was 04:27:16 (the actual gun time, not the net time). Photos: courtesy of Capstone Photography
August 28 - Quebec City: Richard and Jodi Brodsky completing the Quebec City half marathon in a time of 02:01:41. Double that and we were on target for 04:04 marathon. I could have run almost two minutes slower and still beat my fastest time back on August 28, 2011. Photos: courtesy of marathon-photos.com
March 27, 2011 Ocean Drive Marathon in a disappointing time of 05:55:23. I must have been asked a million times by the ambulance following me if I wanted to call it quits. Marathon runners, we never quit! Photo: courtesy of Island Photography
