Two cable vets are on the verge of completing a rarity: finishing a marathon in every U.S. state.
Jim Lynch, the founder and co-owner of MDU specialist Lynch Cable Resources Inc., and David Zonker, now the SVP for Jones Media Group, plan to complete their 50-state journey on Oct. 21, 2006, when they run the Breakers Marathon in Newport, R.I.
Once they cross the finish line, they will become just the 5th and 6th Coloradans to complete the feat and to be certified by the 50 States Marathon Club. They will be among only 100 to be certified for it nationally.
“It has been an incredible journey, and we both have gone through several changes in our lives throughout this adventure,” said Lynch, 49.
Zonker and Lynch met in 1997 while employed at Colorado-based MSO Jones Intercable (now part of Comcast), and started running during the lunch hour in order to stay fit.
Lynch is closing in on the goal despite having to overcome a severe back injury. He has run 19 marathons since the injury, and is about to complete marathon No. 65. For Zonker, this will be marathon No. 56.
“It was devastating and I thought it was over,” Lynch said of his injury, “but the support of my wife Debbie, David and the help of the running community pulled me through.”
And speaking of marathon-related feats…
The Run For Roger crew is closing in on their goal to raise $40,000 for a trust fund for the family of Roger Brown, the former editorial director and publisher of CED, who died October 5, 2006, following a battle with melanoma cancer. At last check, the group had raised more than $36,000. They are set to run, run and run some more on Halloween weekend in Washington, D.C.