Nike sports scientist Brett Kirby, who ran the Eugene Half Marathon with the two, also offered his input. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. His next goal is to complete 26.2 miles at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. The Chicago Marathon course will begin and end in Grant Park.Runner Justin Gallegos became the first professional athlete with cerebral palsy to sign with Nike in October 2018. All Rights Reserved. © 2020 ABG-SI LLC. The Oregon senior completed his first half marathon in May 2018 … He’s excited to take on the “world-famous” course. “I hope I can go out there and make him proud as well,” he said.

In between, they shared Excel spreadsheets and called each other at least every other day to recap their progress.On race day, Brent’s biggest concern is protecting his son from tripping in a field crowded with more than 40,000 athletes. So they reached out to the coach, and Brent joined his son for about 90 percent of his training.“That’s how it started,” Brent said. Gallegos, a runner with cerebral palsy, plans to run the 2019 Chicago Marathon, race organizers announced on Thursday. Oregon runner, Justin Gallegos, has recently gained national attention for his goal to break a barrier and run a half marathon in less than two hours. In this case, he and Brent were close enough to the family’s Santa Clarita, California, home to head there and clean up. The Oregon senior completed his first half marathon in May 2018 and finished the 13.1-mile course in two hours and threes minutes. He’s already registered for his first ultramarathon, a 50K in Eugene in December.Gallegos first set his sights on the full marathon immediately after the half in Eugene. You know, it’s a setback. He’s turned to their tunes—and episodes of his favorite podcast, He’s also stayed true to his mission, which aligns with Kipchoge’s: “To prove and show we can all be limitless,” Justin told Cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder, affects Justin’s gait and speech. Though some with disabilities chafe at the word “inspirational,” Gallegos said it resonates with him, at least as he defines it.“Where people miss the mark is, just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you’re an inspiration. Justin Gallegos, a runner with cerebral palsy, is set to run the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Justin Gallegos, a runner with cerebral palsy, plans to run the 2019 Chicago Marathon, race organizers announced on Thursday. Justin Gallegos began running as a high school freshman, and his determination to improve despite dealing with cerebral palsy has served as an inspiration to coaches, teammates and opponents. (It’s also the first marathon for the elder Gallegos, a former sprinter and pole vaulter.) Gallegos plans on running two marathons in 2020: the London Marathon and a repeat performance at the Chicago Marathon.

“How he finished his high school running is, the state opens up a Paralympic division for the first year ever. Oregon is the Alma mater of Nike founder, Phil Knight, and a training ground for elite runners.

And he runs and competes at the state championship and becomes a state champion at the 400 meters.”When Justin first started running, his feet turned inward and dragged, causing him to fall frequently. “But no matter your level of severeness, you shouldn’t let it stop you from going out and doing things.”He knows that, unlike other pro runners, he will likely never race in a Diamond League meet or even compete at the Paralympics (his times on the track aren’t up to the standards for his classification). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy