Running for a cause: how one runner is using the activity as a coping mechanism

When Josh Palasz decided to start running, he had the "go big or go home" mentality.

FOR JOSH PALACE, RUNNING BEGANAS A HOBBY.

TURNED INTO A WAYTO COPE.

THEN TO HONOR.

ANDFINALLY TO CONNECT.

DELANEYBREY SHARES HIS JOURNEY.WHEN JOSH PALASZ DECIDED TOSTART RUNNING - HE HAD THE GOBIG OR GO HOME MENTALITY.(((JOSH SAYS: "I though, mightas well go for the big one andgo for the marathon.

I thinkit's something I wanted to getoff my bucket list as well.

SoI was just shooting for thestars and I finished it.")))THE HOBBY - QUICKLY BECAME AWAY FOR JOSH TO COPE WITH HISFATHER - CHRISTOPHER - BEINGDIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLESCLEROSIS.(((JOSH SAYS: "WhenI was running I was thinkingabout getting to see thingfor him.

It just gave memotivation to keep on pushingand when my body startedwanted to fail or quit I justthought about him alot andother people who don't havethe opportunity to run.")))WHEN HIS FATHER PASSED -RUNNING WAS AN OUTLET TOGRIEVE.

(((JOSH SAYS: "Once mydad passed, I actually ran ahalf marathon, just by myselfthe day after he passed justto get all the emotions out.While I was doing it I wasable to recall all the goodmemories that we had togetherand just all the fun timesthat we did have.")))PUTTINGPURPOSE TO THE PAVEMENT - JOSHRECENTLY RAN 15 MILES EVERYDAYFOR 6 DAYS STRAIGHT.AS ONE OF19 RUNNERS IN THE VIRTUAL MSRUN THE US CAMPAIGN.

(((JOSHSAYS: "Finding a new communityin 'MS Runs the US' wasactually a big thing, becauseI thought it was just me andmy brothers dealing withhaving a parent or loved onehaving MS. Hearing all thedifferent runners and theirstories of how people areconnected to them, some ofthem actually have MS. Soseeing people who have so manychallenging things come theirway and them tackling it justsuper inspiring.")))NEVERALONE - FOR THE FINAL MILES OFJOSH'S CAMPAIGN FRIENDS ANDFAMILY JOINED HIM.

(((JOSHSAYS: "So many poeple knew mydad and loved my dad, and gotto seem him through his lastfew years and the toll that MStook on him.

That was reallyemotional, because it was alsohis birthday the next day.

Soit was a very special momentthat we got to sharetogether.")))WHATEVER PATHJOSH DECIDES TO CONQUER NEXT -(((JOSH SAYS: "It's eithergoing to be an iron man ortraining for the BostonMarathon.")))EVERY MILE IS FORDAD.

DELANEY BREY TMJ4 NEWS.