Among the crowds participating in the Flying Pig Marathon are individuals and families who have overcome incredible hardships in order to make it to the starting line.Such is the case for the Soller family.Richard Soller is 95-years-old and still runs in races. Soller started running when he was 50 years old and ran his first marathon at 83-years-old. Soller estimates he has 1,500 racing medals. With every passing year, Soller sees it as an opportunity to gain more mileage in his white tennis shoes, not to slow down.”In fact, I’ve won my age group in the Flying Pig in the 10k and the 5k already in the last five years. So I’ve done pretty well but as I age, I find there is less competition,” Soller said laughing at his own self-awareness and humor. Often, Soller’s daughter, Mary, joins him on races with wife, Jean, frequently cheering from the sidelines. That family tradition began to shift three years ago when Jean Soller was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.”I feel like we never have any barriers,” Mary Soller said while reflecting on the effect that Alzheimer’s has on her family’s strength and unity. “We always try to figure out things. We certainly have positives in our family. We don’t have a lot of negativity, so we try to figure out things and work around and make things happen.”Not wanting to succumb to negativity, Soller continues to fight and advocate for the care of her parents. This year, with the Flying Pig returning to its intended date and schedule, Soller wanted to find a way to include both of her parents in the 10k race. Soller told WLWT she doesn’t feel comfortable leaving her mom on the sidelines to cheer while she and her dad aren’t near enough to care for her. To solve this problem, Soller started hunting for answers and solutions. After checking in with nonprofits and her own research to find a way to bring her mom along the race, she finally settled on a jogger to push her mom while she ran alongside her dad.For weeks, the family has been trying out Soller’s new Amazon purchase at parks and around the North Bend area where Richard and Jean Soller live. Jean Soller told WLWT she feels like royalty when her family pushes her in the navy jogger.”Makes me feel like special. I’ve never done anything like this before,” Jean Soller said with a smile.Richard Soller said the ability to compete together as a family is deeply meaningful as one of the only members left in his extended family.”It’s just it’s indescribable,” Richard Soller said. “So we don’t have any other relatives anymore. We’re down to the three of us almost. And just to have this family cemented together in a place like this, in an event like this is just, wow!”Soller said the goal for Saturday’s race is to finish together and be a beacon of opportunity with other people struggling with mobility issues due to health challenges.”We’re up against this disease and age,” Mary Soller said. “We may be a little bit off of the norm of a regular family. Maybe some families don’t do running, you know? So this just works for us. But you know, with the chair and being able to just really get out there and just enjoy, enjoy each other. But hopefully, it inspires. again, other people to do the same thing.”To sign up for Flying Pig races, click here.
Among the crowds participating in the Flying Pig Marathon are individuals and families who have overcome incredible hardships in order to make it to the starting line.
Such is the case for the Soller family.
Richard Soller is 95-years-old and still runs in races. Soller started running when he was 50 years old and ran his first marathon at 83-years-old. Soller estimates he has 1,500 racing medals. With every passing year, Soller sees it as an opportunity to gain more mileage in his white tennis shoes, not to slow down.
“In fact, I’ve won my age group in the Flying Pig in the 10k and the 5k already in the last five years. So I’ve done pretty well but as I age, I find there is less competition,” Soller said laughing at his own self-awareness and humor.
Often, Soller’s daughter, Mary, joins him on races with wife, Jean, frequently cheering from the sidelines. That family tradition began to shift three years ago when Jean Soller was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
“I feel like we never have any barriers,” Mary Soller said while reflecting on the effect that Alzheimer’s has on her family’s strength and unity. “We always try to figure out things. We certainly have positives in our family. We don’t have a lot of negativity, so we try to figure out things and work around and make things happen.”
Not wanting to succumb to negativity, Soller continues to fight and advocate for the care of her parents. This year, with the Flying Pig returning to its intended date and schedule, Soller wanted to find a way to include both of her parents in the 10k race. Soller told WLWT she doesn’t feel comfortable leaving her mom on the sidelines to cheer while she and her dad aren’t near enough to care for her.
To solve this problem, Soller started hunting for answers and solutions. After checking in with nonprofits and her own research to find a way to bring her mom along the race, she finally settled on a jogger to push her mom while she ran alongside her dad.
For weeks, the family has been trying out Soller’s new Amazon purchase at parks and around the North Bend area where Richard and Jean Soller live. Jean Soller told WLWT she feels like royalty when her family pushes her in the navy jogger.
“Makes me feel like special. I’ve never done anything like this before,” Jean Soller said with a smile.
Richard Soller said the ability to compete together as a family is deeply meaningful as one of the only members left in his extended family.
“It’s just it’s indescribable,” Richard Soller said. “So we don’t have any other relatives anymore. We’re down to the three of us almost. And just to have this family cemented together in a place like this, in an event like this is just, wow!”
Soller said the goal for Saturday’s race is to finish together and be a beacon of opportunity with other people struggling with mobility issues due to health challenges.
“We’re up against this disease and age,” Mary Soller said. “We may be a little bit off of the norm of a regular family. Maybe some families don’t do running, you know? So this just works for us. But you know, with the chair and being able to just really get out there and just enjoy, enjoy each other. But hopefully, it inspires. again, other people to do the same thing.”
To sign up for Flying Pig races, click here.
