13 PGA Sections have members competing in Marine Corps Marathon

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Thirteen PGA Sections, represented by some whom had never run any notable distance in their lives, will participate Sunday among an anticipated 30,000-plus in the 34th annual Marine Corps Marathon, "The People's Marathon," in Washington, D.C.

Bill Shriver, PGA General Manager at Arcadia Bluffs GC in Michigan, helped some of his fellow runners train.

Their mission: to raise funds to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation along with Section charitable foundations.

The PGA of America contingent of 26 runners features 16 PGA Professionals, the result of a suggestion of South Florida PGA Executive Director Geoff Lofstead of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

During the 2008 PGA Annual Meeting, Lofstead approached Folds of Honor Founder Maj. Dan Rooney of Broken Arrow, Okla., with the idea of providing a different fundraising path for the Foundation.

As a result, the Folds of Honor Foundation Marathon program was born.

Each runner took upon the challenge of not only preparing for a marathon -- 26 miles, 385 yards -- but also raising a minimum of $3,000 in donations while fitting the rigorous training into a typically exhaustive PGA Professional's daily routine.

"It is impressive for me to see how much energy and funds are being raised to date, and the time commitment made by our PGA Professionals," said Lofstead, 36, a native of Morgantown, W.Va., who will compete in his fourth career marathon, but who didn't run competitively in high school or college.

"This marathon seemed the right fit for our Association's efforts to support Folds of Honor. I know I got my inspiration to run in this marathon from my father, who ran in it in the past. The first marathon is always the hardest. You have doubts about yourself, but the others after get easier. What is so impressive about the PGA Professionals who agreed to compete is that they have had to get up at 4 a.m. to do their training runs."

The Folds of Honor Foundation, originated in 2007, provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our Great Nation. The Foundation's principal national fundraiser is Patriot Golf Day, which was conducted this past Labor Day weekend. Through 2008, more than $3 million has been raised and more than 550 scholarships distributed.

Rooney, a PGA Professional and F-16 fighter pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, is a veteran of three tours of duty in Iraq.

He will be joined in the marathon by his wife, Jacqy, a mother of four daughters.

Among the PGA Professionals entered in the marathon are Carolinas PGA Executive Director Ron Schmid of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Carolinas PGA Vice President Karl Kimball of Durham, N.C.; and Kyle Heyen, PGA head professional at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo., and recipient of the 2009 President's Plaque for exemplary contributions in player development and support of Play Golf America initiatives.

Kimball and Schmid have together raised more than $14,000, with additional donations still arriving daily.

Kimball, 52, the PGA director of golf at Hillandale Golf Course in Durham, has recovered from knee surgery performed in March. He had no previous road race training before accepting the challenge of the Folds of Honor Marathon program.

"I don't even run to the bathroom," joked Kimball. "I began training once I was cleared in the recovery of the knee and completed a 14-mile run the end of June. I was laying on my front yard after that!

"You know, this is a great cause that we believe in and I am proud of the other PGA Professionals and their representatives and family members who have committed to this. I never served in the military, but had a stepfather who did. I never slept in dirt, dug a hole with my hands, but I am going to run for the red, white and blue."

Kimball said that he and Schmid have made five-mile runs together to get acclimated to the challenges of running and have each stepped up their training in intervals.

"I have a route near my house that I go out and uphill, and I run that eight times in each outing," said Kimball. "That isn't a long track, but it does build up endurance."

Schmid, who turns 60 on Oct. 27, said that he has had to overcome various injuries during the past several months of training. He had never run any recorded distance in his life prior to his current race commitment this Sunday.

"I've found myself logging plenty of miles, but I have also had to fight the injury bug," said Schmid, who began his training on March 10. "The time commitment is the biggest hurdle you have to deal with. I don't think I had appreciated how much time it takes to prepare. I feel very strong about the cause and our Section has always been extremely supportive and pro-active when it comes to supporting Patriot Golf Day.

"I'm hopeful that I can keep up with Karl. I find that every seven strides I can catch up to one of his. I think we can pull each other along."

Kimball said that he will ensure one thing takes place this Sunday in the nation's capital.

"I will make sure that Ron Schmid and I cross the finish line ... even if we have to crawl," said Kimball.

About the Marine Corps Marathon
Begun in 1976, the Marine Corps Marathon is the fifth largest U.S. Marathon and 10th in the world, which doesn't offer prize money. It was founded by Col. Jim Fowler, who wrote a memo in 1975 to his superior, Gen. Michael Ryan, outlining his idea for a Marine Corps Reserve Marathon, to promote community goodwill, showcase the Marine Corps, serve as a recruiting tool and finally, to give local Marines an opportunity to qualify for the legendary Boston Marathon.

About The Folds of Honor Foundation
Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission to empower deserving military families with educational support and opportunities. The Folds of Honor provides post-secondary educational scholarships to the spouses and children of service members disabled or killed as a result of their military service to our great nation.

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