He Almost Died At Last Year’s Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon. This Year, He Finished What He Started

Tommy Kornieck looked forward to his very first half marathon. The 26-year-old trained for months in preparation for the 13.1-mile race on October 17, 2021, which was part of the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend. “I’ve always wanted to be [a runner] but I never had the time to put into it,” Kornieck told Runner’s World. But when he moved back in with his family in Port Huron, Michigan to study remotely for his masters degree, Kornieck decided to start running. “We weren’t around anybody and had nothing better to to,” he said, as it was May 2021 at the time, smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, Kornieck didn’t get to see the fruits of his labor. He started the race alongside family members, but quickly moved past them at a faster pace. Around the 10-mile mark, he began to feel lightheaded, veered to the left of the course, and collapsed facedown—none of which he completely remembers. [View in Browser]( [Runner's World Logo]( [SHOP]( [RW+ EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [He Almost Died At Last Year’s Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon. This Year, He Finished What He Started]( [He Almost Died At Last Year’s Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon. This Year, He Finished What He Started]( Tommy Kornieck looked forward to his very first half marathon. The 26-year-old trained for months in preparation for the 13.1-mile race on October 17, 2021, which was part of the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend. “I’ve always wanted to be [a runner] but I never had the time to put into it,” Kornieck told Runner’s World. But when he moved back in with his family in Port Huron, Michigan to study remotely for his masters degree, Kornieck decided to start running. “We weren’t around anybody and had nothing better to to,” he said, as it was May 2021 at the time, smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, Kornieck didn’t get to see the fruits of his labor. He started the race alongside family members, but quickly moved past them at a faster pace. Around the 10-mile mark, he began to feel lightheaded, veered to the left of the course, and collapsed facedown—none of which he completely remembers. [Read More](   [Running Community Mourns Marathoner Killed in Raleigh Shooting]( [Running Community Mourns Marathoner Killed in Raleigh Shooting]( Susan Karnatz, 49, was a four-time Boston finisher. [Read More](   [What Is the Average Walking Speed and Jogging Speed?]( [What Is the Average Walking Speed and Jogging Speed?]( Plus, how to pinpoint the pace that works for you. [Read More](         [Just How Much Time Did Bottle Claus Save Kipchoge?]( [Just How Much Time Did Bottle Claus Save Kipchoge?]( Amateur triathlete Claus-Henning Schulke, who provided bottle service for two of Eliud Kipchoge’s world-record races, had a lot more influence on the finishing time than you’d expect. [Read More](   [With Just 30 Percent Lung Capacity, Russell Winwood Finishes the Chicago Marathon]( [With Just 30 Percent Lung Capacity, Russell Winwood Finishes the Chicago Marathon]( The Australian man, a COPD patient, runs with a seven-pound oxygen tank on his back. He has now completed four of the six World Marathon Majors. [Read More](   [Runners Share How They Cut Back on Drinking and Made Their Sobriety Stick]( [Runners Share How They Cut Back on Drinking and Made Their Sobriety Stick]( RW+ members talk about how they changed their relationship with alcohol, and they share tips for maintenance. [Read More](         RUNNER'S WORLD SHOP The Latest from the RW Collection [Shop Now]( [Shop Now]( [Shop Now](   [OPR Lift Every Voice]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( RunnersWorld.com ©2022 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019