Joints in Motion: Hawaii Bound!

Say "aloha" to Doug and Linda Martin.

The Groton couple is not traveling to Hawaii to snooze on the beach and work on their tans. The husband and wife duo, who have a daughter Ashley and two dogs, will be running the 28th annual Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 10 as members of the Joints In Motion training team, which completes a 26.2-mile event to honor children who are suffering from the pain of arthritis, and raises money to help fund arthritis research and patient services.

According to the Central New York chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, nearly 43 million Americans have the disease, which is not just limited to the elderly. Count Doug, 49, and Linda, 40 -- very athletic individuals, with a passion for running -- as two of those statistics. Three years ago, Linda was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis, and she has had to learn how to function with the pain and debilitation that so often accompanies this type of the disease which affects the immune system.

"Since I was diagnosed with the disease, I've never given up the hope I could do another marathon," said Linda, who had run the Wineglass, Marine Corps and Boston marathons prior to her diagnosis. "It's just been a matter of getting to a healthy place to be able to train and do fundraising. Joints In Motion is a good way to show people who have or do not have arthritis that they can still do things, and lead a normal life -- if they're lucky. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to live with arthritis."

Eight years ago, Doug was diagnosed with spondyloarthropathy, a condition that can be very painful and limits a person's ability to walk, bend and do all the things most of us take for granted.

"I have a localized kind of arthritis in my back, but my medication makes the difference," said Doug, head of the narcotics investigation unit in the Ithaca Police Department. "Running doesn't bother me, especially if I train on soft surfaces. But it has been difficult to see Linda, someone who is so athletic, having trouble getting out of bed. I thought I'd give Joints In Motion a try because it's a good way to raise money and awareness."

The Martins give their current physician, Dr. Lawrence Endo, the credit for making their upcoming adventure possible.

"My first doctor said, 'I don't think you'll ever run another marathon,' but Dr. Endo knows I have not given up hope," said Linda, a former law enforcement officer. "He has give me his blessing. I used to dwell on what could have been, but now I'm able to see that I'm at least out there running. I just have to regroup, and readjust my thinking. I may have to walk a bit (during the marathon), but I have an outstanding chance of finishing it."

Each athlete on the Joints In Motion team bound for Hawaii must raise $4,500, and the Martins have set a goal to collect a total of $10,000. Their motivation to complete this task is not just inspired by their own health problems. Linda is running in honor of two of her "nieces" from New Jersey, Christin and Caitlin Conkelton, who both suffer from Lyme disease-related arthritis. Doug is running in honor of co-worker John (Roy) Earl's daughter, Staci Earl, 29, who at the age of 4 ,was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

You probably didn't know the struggle the Martin family has endured the past few years, but you should recognize their names. Linda is vice president of the Michael A. Padula Scholarship Fund, and both Linda and Doug have been instrumental in helping to organize Ithaca's best feel-good memorial road race: Pud's Run 5K. Although Linda and Doug have given so much of their personal commitment to that community event, they were extremely careful not to allow Joints In Motion to take away attention from Pud's fundraising efforts.

"It's difficult because our (Joints In Motion) fundraising involves common resources," said Doug, a veteran of two marathons during his military career. "We got a late start because we didn't want to take any time away from the Pud's Run."

"Both Pud's and Joints In Motion deserve our full, but separate, attention," added Linda. "We look at $10,000 and ask, 'Can we do this?' It's going to be hard, but we're about halfway there and we have four months."

It's obvious why they selected Hawaii over the other two travel options -- Dublin, Ireland (Oct. 30) and Vancouver, B.C. (May 2001). But aside from the Hawaiian paradise, both say they didn't want to train through the winter's cold or summer's heat. Ultimately, it's about the journey, not the destination.

"Our plan is to run together, although we have different running styles," said Linda, who will continue working for the Arthritis Foundation . "My knowledge of the sport will help Doug, and his running ability and inspiration will keep me going. We have a good partnership."

"Our goal is to finish and not be last," said Doug, who has high praise for the local Joints In Motion training program and coaches. "It's a great feeling to combine running and a good cause. We'll be raising money for Linda, and others who can't run or walk at all."

If you'd like to help the Martins with their fundraising, consider sending a tax-deductible contribution to Linda and Doug Martin, 798 North Wood Rd., Groton, N.Y. 13073. For information, call them at 898-5032, or e-mail: linmmar@aol.com.

What a wonderful way to say thank you to the Martins for all they've have done for our running community.

-- Diane Sherrer