Brian Connolly has circled July 24 on his calendar for four straight years, not just because it’s Pioneer Day in Utah, but because it’s marathon day. This year, like the three before it, his younger brother Danny will push the 55-year-old retired physician’s assistant 26.2 miles through the grueling Deseret News Marathon course. It’s an early morning tradition of sheer will and unbreakable family bonds, showing the entire league , scratch that, the entire world , what real heart looks like.
The 5:30 AM Grind Is Real
Getting ready for this isn’t some casual jog. Brian, who weighs 170 pounds, starts his day early, needing a motorized lift to get from his bed to his wheelchair. Then it’s a van ride to Mountain Dell Golf Course in Parleys Canyon, about 16 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City, where the race kicks off. From there, Brian’s dad, Danny, and sometimes a nearby runner, hoist him from his wheelchair into the custom-built “chariot.” This isn’t just any racing chair: brother-in-law Jared Madsen, who owns a bike shop, engineered it with an elongated metal frame, tall handle bars in the back, a hammock-like seat, a steering system, foot pegs, and brakes.
The starter’s gun goes off at 5:30 a.m. in the morning darkness, and Danny grips those handle bars. He’s pushing his brother for the next 26.2 miles, climbing those brutal early hills toward Big Mountain in his running shoes. When the course dips, Danny jumps on the foot pegs for the downhill stretches through Emigration Canyon, grinding all the way to the finish line at Liberty Park. It’s a full marathon effort, every single step.
His “Lifeline” Is Undefeated
For Brian, these marathons are much more than a race. He calls them his “lifeline.” Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis the summer before his sophomore year at East High School, Brian has been in a power wheelchair for the past decade and now only has the use of his left arm. His wife, Julie, ran a marathon back in their twenties, and though he kept the dream alive, he’d written it off as his autoimmune disease worsened. He even worked until he was 51, a year past his goal, despite the challenges.
“Having MS and I spend a lot of time in bed until someone can come get me up and take care of me. I need a lot of care, but doing this has been phenomenal for me,” Brian shared. “It actually, I think, helps my marriage … I think it’s helping my mind stay bright, and it’s helping me physically somewhat do something, and then socially.” He’s a father of six and a grandfather of two, and this incredible journey with his brother means everything. “Then Danny saved me by inviting me to do marathons,” he said. Talk about a teammate.
So this Friday, July 24, keep an eye out for Danny and Brian as they tackle those 26.2 miles again. It’s not just a marathon; it’s a living, breathing testament to family, grit, and the incredible power of a brother’s unwavering love.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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