Grafton's Marathon Man Helps Raise $14 Million

When his mother was battling leukemia, Rick Muhr of Grafton gave her the medal he received for running the Boston Marathon.

“I wanted to bring her something to serve as inspiration,’’ he said. The medal was hung from her chemo dispenser.

His mother lost her fight in 1996 at age 57. But her courage and the Boston Marathon continue to inspire him.

He has run five Boston Marathons and has coached runners through 15 marathons.

The individuals he coaches are no ordinary runners. Many of them are new to running at all, let alone marathons. And all of them run to raise money for charity.

He hopes to inspire the 120 runners on his team this year to complete today's epic 26-mile run and raise money for seven separate nonprofit organizations, all related to education and mentoring. They plan to raise about a half million dollars.

Million-dollar achievements are nothing new to Muhr, who has become a nationally recognized coach. In the 15 marathons he has coached, runners have raised nearly $14 million for nonprofits. 

Every Saturday from late November through April, Muhr meets with his runners in Newton and coaches them as they run portions of the marathon course. He also provides advice on nutrition and exercise and moral support through the week.

He tries to coach in an “inspirational and spiritual way’’ by helping them dig deep and challenge themselves to be the best runners, and people, they can. “Once you get out of your comfort zone, that’s where life is lived,’’ he said.

As he attempts to motivate his runners, they inevitably inspire him, he said. He has seen a 250-pound woman and a man weighing more than 350 pounds with a 54-inch waist make the transition into marathon runners.

"The power of the human spirit cannot be overestimated,’’ he said.

Making these journeys represents a serious, life-changing challenge for novice runners. "I have a lot more admiration for people like that than I do for a Kenyan, or for myself for that matter.’’

As he trains them, he knows that the marathon will test them but also reward and enlighten them. “You learn more about yourself in four to six hours in one day,’’ he said. “You may never get such a glimpse of your soul and what you are made of.’’

And he hopes his years of coaching and inspiring others honors his mother’s memory

"I had a choice when my mother died,’’ he said. “I could have gotten angry, I could have gotten bitter. Instead, I got busy. I did things that made her proud.’’

Doing this “changed how I viewed the world and how I viewed myself,’’ he said. “That is priceless.’’

 Learn more about Rick Muhr and his coaching experiences and insights at  http://www.bostonmarathoncoach.com