Madison Marathon Profile: Stephanie Sprague

After a serious car accident in May 2015, doctors told Stephanie Sprague (25) of Dubuque, Iowa that she’d be in the hospital for the next four months, and even then things were unlikely to be “normal” for her. Remarkably, Stephanie beat those odds - and will be pursuing her first Madison Marathon on November 8, 2015.

Madison Marathon Profile: Carolyn Moore

Carolyn Moore is a seasoned marathon runner. She is pursuing her first-ever Madison Marathon in November, 2015. And when she crosses the finish line on the Capitol Square, she won’t be alone—her running partner, a visually impaired athlete, will accompany her.

Madison Marathon Profile: Wayne Engelbrecht

Wayne Engelbrecht has volunteered at the Madison Marathon for the past decade - and also run in five different full Madison Marathons. His favorite volunteer spot? The information booth, answering questions from runners.

Madison Marathon Profile: Abbey Kaiser

Abbey Kaiser is a young runner from Madison who just happens to have Down syndrome. Last May, Abbey completed not only the Madison Marathon Twilight 10K alongside her mother, but also the Half Marathon the next day with myTEAM TRIUMPH. Abbey's FocalShare race photo was selected for display in Times Square as part of a showcase on behalf of the National Down Syndrome Society.

Water Stories: A Brief History of Lake Mendota Swim Crossings

Each year, athlete Darren Fortney leads a group of swimmers in a 6-mile swim traversing Lake Mendota as a fund-raising effort for Gilda’s Club, a cancer support and advocacy organization. As a history buff, he wanted to place the ultra-swim in historical context, so Focal Flame writer Robyn Perrin authored an essay about the "lake swimmers" of Lake Mendota.

Madison Marathon Profile: Jen Johnson

For 42-year-old Jen Johnson (aka JJ), a breast cancer diagnosis last April was a major hurdle. But after enduring intense treatment that included seven surgeries and 16 rounds of chemo, Jen has beaten cancer and is ready to run this year's Madison Half Marathon.

Madison Marathon Profile: Cara Conway

Cara Conway has a clear goal: to run a half marathon before getting married! Armed with lots of determination and accompanied by a few members of her wedding party, Cara will be crossing the finish line of her very first half marathon in Madison, Wisconsin this month.

Madison Marathon Profile: Greg B.

For Greg B. (50), the Madison Half Marathon has marked important new chapters in his life. After training for his first Madison Half Marathon as a way to deal with the strain of a marriage that was coming to an end, his journey came full circle in 2014 when he proposed to his girlfriend after running the race.

Madison Marathon Profile: Katey Collins

First-time Madison Marathon participant Katey Collins will be running in honor of 7-year old Beau, an amazing young man who lives with cerebral palsy. Read about how Katey connected with Beau through the organization IRun4 Michael.

Madison Marathon Profile: Brent Kimbel and Bill Enright

If you’ve attended the Madison Marathon, you've seen Brent Kimbel (42) and Bill Enright (47), who do the entire race dressed as beer bottles—challenging others to have fun while they run. "Many people we talk to come to the starting line with a goal of 'just beating the beer bottles,'" said Brent. "Luckily we're not super fast runners, so a lot of people walk away happy."

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