Paralyzed Man Runs Denver Marathon

If you’re a runner, imagine your worst training day or toughest race… and then imagine something far more difficult. That’s what Steve Baker had to endure the past thirteen months in order to be able to run the Denver Marathon.

Baker was paralyzed just over a year ago from the neck down after hitting his head on the bottom of a swimming pool. He was training for the 2008 Denver Marathon at the time. Fortunately for him, the damage to his vertebrae was incomplete, meaning there was a chance he would walk again.

Not only did he walk again – Baker ran the 2009 Denver Marathon in 4 hours, 34 minutes and 49 seconds yesterday. “It’s the most amazing feeling,” Baker said. “I can’t even describe it.”

It wasn’t easy. He ran with a severely strained knee and a hernia. His doctor, who is also a runner and encouraged him to train for this year’s race, told him it was going to hurt but that he could do it if he persevered. And persevere he did.

He said his knee was okay until mile 13 or so, but then it began to hurt almost as bad as the hernia. “It turned into a guts race, and I was ready for it,” Baker said. “Just dug deep and got it done. I’m speechless.”

In fact, the entire past year has been a guts race for Baker. He had to retrain his body to walk and run. After spending 40 days at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, he began working with a trainer at 24-Hour Fitness in Denver.

“What we were working on was re-education of his neuromuscular system in order to be able to allow him to run,” trainer John Faczak said while Baker endured a grueling workout at the club three weeks ago. “He could run a mile, but not very well, kind of limped through it. He couldn’t pick up his legs, couldn’t get the coordination right. He was having spasms in his arms and legs on his right side. He still has them, but unless you’re looking for them, you would never notice them.”

Baker’s father ran the race with him yesterday, finishing in 5 hours, 39 minutes and 42 seconds. “What he’s gone through the last year, he’s gone through hell,” Stan Baker said Sunday after finishing. “He’s just an amazing young man. He inspired me.”

He’s an inspiration to us all. Congratulations, Steve!