April 17, 2010

For those who are running the Charlottesville Marathon, just finishing can be a struggle. But for those running the 26 miles for a cause, completing the race is just the beginning.

Darryl Rojas lost his job in the recession. Now he's working with the Hope Community Center to put a face to homelessness in the community, as he leads the first ever Homeless Running Team.

"Today it was just a sea of people. You didn't know who could have been a President, who could have been homeless. It didn't make a difference," says Rojas. "Everyone was just runners today."

Sam Felsenfeld's feet have hit the pavement for nineteen marathons in 2010. He has 41 to go.

"I'm trying to run 60 marathons," says Felsenfeld.

He's putting his body through a brutal regiment of one marathon a week, sometimes more. It's a sacrifice he's making for his son, six-year-old Jack. Jack Felsenfeld is severely autistic; he has trouble communicating and speaking.

"You see him struggle. I know I have this ability to run. I just wanted to take something with my running, and make it for good," he says.

Felsenfeld's unnatural ability to recover from marathons week after week is catching the attention of running enthusiasts around the country.

With "Operation Jack" runners can sign up for a marathon and the proceeds will go towards autism treatment for children and young people around the country as part of the "Train 4 Autism" charity.

Felsenfeld is starting to wear down a bit physically. He ran slower than he wanted in Saturday's marathon.

"Yeah, it hurts," Felsenfeld says of the constant pressure he's putting on his knees and calves. But he says the pain of running is nothing compared to what he would be feeling if he didn't try to make a difference for his son and other autistic children.

And Darryl Rojas says he will continue running, because home is where the race is, as he works to get his life back on track.