The fast lane: Runners inspire, unite as they prepare for 2018 Carmel Marathon

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By Desiree Williams

Life has never been easy for Andrew Peterson. He was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and was found alone as a baby. He lived in foster care until age 5 when Craig Peterson of Indianapolis adopted him and his two younger brothers.

Fetal alcohol syndrome results in brain damage, growth complications and intellectual and cognitive disabilities.

“You can try to work around (fetal alcohol syndrome),” Craig Peterson said. “You can minimize the symptoms, but the damage is permanent and irreversible.”

However, those challenges didn’t stop Andrew from becoming a star athlete. In November 2017, he qualified for the 2019 Boston Marathon after finishing the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in 2 hours and 57 minutes, which is 8 minutes faster than the qualifying standard for his age group. He is only the second Special Olympics athlete in history to qualify for Boston.

Andrew, 25, will participate in his sixth marathon, the Carmel Marathon, at 8 a.m. March 31. The starting line is at The Palladium. He said his goal is to complete the course in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Early steps

Andrew started running at age 8 as a way to keep busy during recess. While in elementary school, he ran a 3K “family run” with his father each fall at Westlane Middle School in Indianapolis during its cross-country meets, and the event turned into a tradition.

“By the time he was in fifth grade, I told Andrew, ‘Run ahead, Andrew. You don’t need to wait for me,’ because he just had some real ability there,” Craig said.

Andrew joined the cross-country team in sixth grade and continued into high school. Craig said Andrew kept running and getting better, which is why he pursued longer distances.

“(Running) just makes me become better, and maybe (I can) help kids out someday,” Andrew said.

After running six half-marathons for practice, Andrew participated in his first full marathon, the Monumental Marathon, in 2016. He has participated in four more since, including the Carmel Marathon in 2017, where he was 44 seconds shy of qualifying for the 2018 Boston Marathon.

Andrew started to get noticed as he improved, which led to him becoming a sponsored athlete with 361 Degrees, a shoe company, and the first ever elite running ambassador for the 500 Festival.

Craig said he and Andrew wanted to continue receiving opportunities, so they set their sights on the Boston Marathon, the pinnacle of running.

“(Andrew) wanted to keep making a difference and be a voice for the disability community,” Craig said.

Eyes on Boston

Andrew runs six days a week, totaling 75 miles per week. Besides working out on his own, he also trains with Personal Best Training, Special Olympics Indiana and the November Project.

The November Project is a national, free fitness community development organization. The Indianapolis “tribe” meets Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Jason Shaw, co-leader of the Indianapolis tribe, has worked with Andrew since May 2017. Workouts include bodyweight exercises in a circuit that utilize different muscles than running, which Shaw said Andrew took to very well.

“From the time (Andrew) has come and the time he’s been there, almost a year now, he’s grown from somebody who is following the workouts to leading the workouts,” Shaw said. “(He is) motivating other people to accomplish their goals, get through one more lap and get through one more set.”

The November Project connected Andrew with Justin Dyszelski, a marathon runner from the Madison, Wis., tribe, who became Andrew’s pacer during the Monumental Marathon to keep him on track. Dyszelski also will be Andrew’s pacer in Boston.

Andrew’s goal is to finish in 2 hours and 40 minutes at the Boston Marathon, which he will run April 15, 2019.

MEET ANDREW PETERSON

Age: 25

Favorite food: Crockpot dinners

Favorite hobby: Acting, home videos

Favorite actor: Denzel Washington

Favorite runner: Steve Prefontaine

Favorite place to run: Eagle Creek

Night owl or early riser: Both


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