Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k is Part of Recovery Process for Salem Runner and His Family
A serious health scare motivated Kevin Nicholson to take up running to lead a healthier lifestyle – and to make sure he didn't miss out on major family milestones.
By: Kayla Young
With the blink of an eye, things can change, and Kevin Nicholson knows that better than most. When the Salem, Virginia, resident was hospitalized in 2008 for five days after suffering a massive deep vein thrombosis, also known as a blood clot, in his left leg, it was a big reality check – for him and his family.
“You think you are healthy and then things change,” he said. “It was a big wake-up call.”
Prior to being hospitalized, Nicholson was not very active. He would lift weights from time to time, but he did not follow a regular fitness routine. Leaving the hospital knowing that he had to learn to walk again made Nicholson realize he was going to have to make some serious changes.
“After seeing the look of worry in my eight-year-old daughter’s eyes as I lay in the hospital bed, I vowed to never again put her or my family through this again,” Nicholson said. “I wanted to see my daughter grow up. I did not want to miss out on graduation, prom, and her wedding.”
Kevin Nicholson and his daughter
The health scare helped shift Nicholson’s whole perspective on his health habits and led to major changes. ”I was determined to get myself back into a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
With a swollen leg, even getting off the couch was a challenge, so Nicholson slowly began to walk around the house to regain his strength. From there, he set short-term goals like walking to the end of his street and back. Before he knew it, he was able to walk around his neighborhood without any trouble.
“Something just as little as walking I took for granted,” he said. Eventually, Nicholson was able to work his way back into better shape, slowly building up to being able to jog three miles.
Nicholson’s sister, who lived in Richmond, was very impressed by the progress he had made. She worked for the YMCA and suggested that Nicholson try the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, and after some persuading, he agreed to sign up. To show her support, his sister registered, too. The siblings ran the race together in 2009, and after enjoying the event, Nicholson has been running ever since.
“This race serves as a great chance for first time runners to get some experience,” Nicholson said. “The race helps to embrace running and makes it seem like less of a task.”
After many trips to the doctor, Nicholson found out that his condition was hereditary, but may have been triggered by his poor health habits. By this point, though, he had already been taking the right steps to manage his condition through exercise and diet.
Now that he is more informed about his condition, Nicholson serves as a resource for many people. He reassures those close to him that the power of faith, family, and community can help weather any storm.
“Thanks to the love and support of my family and friends, and the passion for running that the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k sparked, I am a better and healthier person at age 42, than I was at age 22,” Nicholson said.
This year Nicholson will participate in the 10k for the third time, and he'll be bringing a coworker along with him to enjoy the event.
“I love the atmosphere and how it brings everyone in the community together,” Nicholson said. “The race helps you to embrace running in a great social environment.”
Registration for the April 13 Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k and Virginia 529 Kids Run is available at www.sportsbackers.org. The 2013 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k will accept the first 40,000 entries.