Knecht pushes son in marathon

Elma - There are just some things you do . . . as a friend, as a human being, as a parent.

Darrell and Cindi Knecht are the embodiment of doing it right. Their son, Logan, was born with cerebral palsy, and they have kept him home, taking care of his needs and including him in everything for 22 years.

One of the most special things Darrell and Logan have participated in recently is roller blade marathons. In September, the day before Darrell’s 62nd birthday, they completed the NorthShore In-line Roller Blade Marathon in Duluth, Minn.

“Over the years I have learned that most good things don’t happen by chance — they happen because of actions and attitude. Because of that, I have had many rewarding experiences. So far the most rewarding experience I have had is finishing the rollerblade marathon in Duluth, while pushing Logan. 

“Because of his physical challenges, there are so many things he cannot do, and the happiness it brings him when people applaud and cheer for him at the finish line and along the course makes the entire 26.2 miles worth it for me. There is a huge personal accomplishment as well because pushing him this distance is the most grueling thing that I have done so far.”

This year was the fourth year he pushed Logan and the 15th marathon he’s done at Duluth. This year, they also did a half-marathon race for the kids, a fund-raiser for Ronald McDonald House in St. Paul, Minn.

That’s a lot of miles, but it doesn’t even begin to count the number of local miles the duo have put in practicing and participating in 5Ks.

Darrell got started skating because of some heart issues in 1997-1998. “I tried walking, but it was too boring. I started skating and found out about the marathons and did it myself. I always wanted to take Logan.”

He rigged up some brakes on his wheelchair and skated around Elma. Each year, the father-son team skated in the annual Old Roundhouse Trail Days 5K in Elma. Darrell said, “Everybody in town would cheer us on at the finish line. Logan loves it!”

To make it more comfortable for Logan and easier to maneuver for Darrell, Josh Smith suggested getting a NASCAR racing seat and incorporating it into the chair.

Darrell is hooked up to a tether between him and the chair. “If nothing else, I’m the anchor in case it gets away from me!”

In fact, he stressed that to officials at the NorthShore marathon. “Safety is a big concern for them and for me, too,” he said.

The “Logan’s Luge” chair has some meaningful decals on it, including its name. 

• Darrell is a former fire chief and current firefighter for “Elma Fire & Rescue.” 

• The “pink ribbon” is for Logan’s sister, Amber Nietert, who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2011, and is doing well. 

• A “horse/wheelchair” decal is from Great Strides of Decorah, a therapeutic horseback riding association for individuals with disabilities. Logan was a rider for a while.

• “Trekin 4 Brekin” is the team that participated in a heart walk for the Knechts’ grandson, who has a heart defect.

After practicing for a while (with and without Logan), Darrell thought he was prepared for the marathon. He’d done it before and trained, but that first year was way more gruelling than he was prepared for.  “I didn’t realize how gruelling it was to push him 26 miles. I’d practiced, and training was different.” Not to mention the stiff head wind. “That’s a lot of wind resistence — him and I!” The duo was close to the finish line, about 10 minutes out he learned later, when the race was called so traffic could use the road again. That was in 2014.

Live and learn.

After bringing up the rear of the pack the year before, Darrell asked to be able to head out with an earlier wave of racers to make sure they could finish in 2015. And finish they did, in 4.5 hours; in 2016 they cut a half-hour off their time. Darrell woke up sick and missed the 2017 race. 

This year, Smith and Darrell made some more modifications to the rig and got some affordable racing wheels. That allowed the Knechts to make the 26.2 miles in just three hours, 15 minutes! He attributes the time with having the new wheels, Darrell was in better condition, and there was a slight tail wind, or perhaps it was the lack of a head wind.

They are the stars of the course. Darrell says, “There are spectators all along the course. Somebody is cheering all the way.

“At the finish line, we’ve gotten to know the announcer over the past few years, and he lets people know we are coming. Everybody is cheering for Logan.” Cindi is always at the finish line, and Logan’s sister, Amber, has been there as well.

Darrell related, “This year, Logan seemed a little more excited beforehand. He remembers. You can tell he’s ready to go!” And for the most part, Logan is content to sit and watch the scenery go by . . . until they come to a hill! Darrell explained, “I slow down to a crawl going up hill. He lets me know he wants me to speed up!”

This year, Darrell had two cameras on the chair. One facing him and showing Logan’s face and the other faces the crowd. He joked, “I like my gadgets!”

He certainly does.

Darrell has made a pumpkin launcher for Elma’s Pumpkin Fest; a zip line for Logan; and a sky fort for Logan’s birthday. In addition, the sky fort has an elevator of sorts, so Logan can sit in his wheelchair and ride the zip line, watch the traffic or watch T.V. Now the grandkids play on it as well.

Darrell said the worst thing about roller blading is the twigs and the little rocks that get caught up between the wheels.

But there are lots of good things. When practicing, the Knechts mostly skate on the road. “We can see every crack in the road. We see red wing black birds and the occasional duck that flies up from under the bridge. We see who’s spreading manure and who’s working in their garden. We see the steel wheel Mennonites and the Amish buggies. One time, there was a crop duster, and when he got done, he made a real sweeping loop right in front of us across the road.” They even had a deer run across the road in front of them.

But they also see wildlife on the bike trail, such as woodchucks, deer and wild turkey. 

There are a lot of things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. And you can bet Darrell and Cindi are thankful for Logan and he is thankful for his caring parents.

Darrell summed up their life with his motto, “Life is short, have some fun!”