Just Move

KEESEVILLE | Devann Murphy is no stranger to winning. She took second at the Boston Marathon in 2018, then won first place in 2019 in the Women's Handcycle division, topping her own time by 55 minutes. Essex County supervisors commended her achievement. She won first place in 2018 and first again in 2019 in the same division at the TCS New York City Marathon. Right now, she is leading a pack of 5k training sessions for 100 days, inspiring at every turn, step and stretch of the way. She tracks progress and workouts on social media with a hashtag that inspires: #justmove and #100daysof5ks Starting Day 1, the goal she said is "Movement matters." "What if you change 'I have to' to 'I get to'?" A few weeks in, Devann said 100 days of 5Ks is pushing her to do more and be better at it. "The truth is, I want everyone to win. I want everyone to have the chance to experience that feeling of victory. That's what makes me a horrible competitor in a field," she shared in her journal. "I like to push myself to MY limits; not those of someone else. I love to help others achieve their goals and face what scares them. And I LOVE being in the moment. Are you your favorite version of yourself? What can you do to get there? Would a 5k help?" 100 DAYS OF 5KS The 5k workout can be accomplished on a bike, in a wheelchair, in a canoe or a kayak, on a mountain trail, or on paved path on a bike. Just move, Devann said. "Any type of movement - it all counts." Do at least a 5k a day for one hundred days, she motivates. "It's that simple." Devann, 42, lost use of her right leg 31 years ago due to childhood bone cancer. In a Boston hospital for treatment at age 11, she recalls watching from the hospital window as racers trained for the Boston Marathon. She promised her nurse she'd race in it someday. Despite an initially dire prognosis of six-months to live, Devann Murphy beat the odds then and kept going. WORDS INSPIRE "Every morning we wake up, we decide how we live our lives. We get to choose how we're going to take on every challenge. We get to choose if we give up or get up. You only get one life. Live it," the adaptive athlete says. Devann started the 100 day 5K to encourage fitness for everyone, people of all abilities, and to raise awareness about the IM ABLE Foundation, an organization that helps motivate and provides equipment to improve mobility. She is also focused on the upcoming Paralympics coverage, which will be televised live this year from Tokyo starting on Aug. 24. Devann's husband Thomas Murphy III rides, strides, lifts and paddles every kilometer with her. At the quarter mark in early July, they enjoyed a quiet day's pace on the base in Plattsburgh. "I actually didn't process today was Day 25. Whoops," Devann wrote. "Tom and I decided to take a leisurely ride around the Oval and along the bike path. The weather was beautiful and there was a light breeze coming off the lake. It was so nice that our 5k turned into an 8 mile ride. The best part about riding in the Champlain Valley is there was only 180' of elevation gain in that 8 miles!" Another day's 5k adventure involved hiking Poke-O-Moonshine with a group from the Klubhouse gym and fitness center in Plattsburgh. On August 2, Devann was joined at the Burlington Waterfront by volunteers from the Kelly Brush Foundation, a group that helps people with spinal cord injuries get accessibility equipment. On August 1, Devann competed in the first road race since the start of the covid-19 pandemic. And she won. A team from IM ABLE kept pace with her that day, too. Adaptive athletes are ABLE, they said. "She did more than three 5ks, going 10 miles. 'Feels so weird. And so good! After a global pandemic and the world shutting down, I put in my best competition performance ever.' As #100daysof5ks moves toward its finish, the effort is drawing interest from athletes of all abilities and mobility levels. Anyone who wants to join in is invited to share their progress and tag Devann Murphy and the IM ABLE Foundation. Devann plans to race the Boston Marathon on Oct. 11 and the TNS NYC Marathon on Nov. 17 this year. On Sept. 18, Devann will compete in the IM ABLE Got the Nerve? triathlon, which will run for its 17th and 18th year, since the event was canceled due to the pandemic last year. IM ABLE FOUNDATION IM ABLE is a not-for-profit organization that helps keep people with physical challenges moving. Devann's first handcycle was provided through one of the IM ABLE funding programs. "We get out in the community and show people of all abilities the potential to lead an active lifestyle," the organization says of its mission. Founded by Chris Kaag, the goal is to get people moving. "Disabled and able-bodied, we all have challenges but it is the goal of the IM ABLE Foundation to demonstrate it doesn't have to be a limiting factor. IM ABLE is based in Wyomissing, PA, but has expanded its reach to outside the area to help individuals of all ages and abilities. Find out more: imablefoundation.org Follow Devann Murphy's progress online: Devann Murphy on Facebook: facebook.com/AdkHandcyclist/ IM ABLE: 100Daysof5ks group on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/100daysof5ks/ The Paralympic Games in Tokyo run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5: www.paralympic.org

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