Once dead, now running: Akron Marathon participants bring unique stories to the race

Saturday was quite the anniversary for Frank Holiday.

It marked one year since the day he died.

The 49-year-old was clinically dead for 31 minutes on Sept. 30, 2022, after having a widowmaker heart attack, which is caused by full blockage in the heart's biggest artery. It is known for its low survival rate.

But just one year later, one wouldn't guess what Holiday had been through, as he was busy commemorating the occasion by running his first marathon.

Holiday was one of more than 7,000 people who made the trek through Akron's historic landmarks, colorful neighborhoods and majestic Summit Metro Parks in the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, & Team Relay Saturday. This year's event marked the race's 21st anniversary.

Picking a race that took place on the anniversary of his heart attack was intentional, but the fact that it was in Northeast Ohio, where Holiday grew up, made it a homecoming of sorts.

When Holiday, who is a teacher at North Point High School in Maryland, had his heart attack, he had collapsed while playing basketball with his students. Five people performed continuous CPR on him for 21 minutes until paramedics arrived.

Frank Holiday’s wife, Alyssa, recalls the aftermath of his open heart surgery and the “flowers” of IVs covering his body.

“He looked like something out of ‘The Matrix,’” she said.

But Saturday morning, after dozens of cardiac rehab sessions and more than 600 miles of running in preparation, Frank finished his first marathon in just under four hours.

“I feel like this marathon will be a spiritual rebirth for me and will allow me to help other people believe not only that anything is possible, but also that miracles are possible, because I am a walking, living, breathing example of someone who should not be alive, let alone running marathons,” Frank said.

Though still worried about her husband’s health during such an intense event, Alyssa and their two children, Stella and Zane, cheered Frank on and welcomed him at the finish line.

Next up, he said, is the Salisbury Marathon in Maryland and, eventually, an ultramarathon.

A tradition twenty-one years in the making

Dylan Garritano won the men's division of the full marathon, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:25:06.

"I watched the first one from Highland Square when I was 10 years old. I said, 'That would be really cool to do one day.' And here I am, 21 years later, and I win the thing," he said.

An Akron man through and through, Garritano still lives in Highland Square, not too far from mile 24 of the marathon, and works in the city of Akron's Office of Integrated Development. This was his sixth time running the marathon.

The marathon course itself underwent minimal changes compared to years past. Runners still crossed the starting line in front of the Akron Art Museum, but this time around, the Finisher’s Festival took place in front of Canal Park.

The weather was picture perfect for the race, according to Akron Marathon co-founder Jeannine Marks. The marathon sold out, and both the half marathon and team relay had a high turnout, Marks added.

Small but mighty

The youngest participant in the race was Gabby Smith, 4, who was pushed by her uncle, Jon Portyrata. Gabby suffers from multiple health issues and has autism.

While the two had done other races in the past, this was their first half marathon. It was a key step towards their ultimate goal: completing the Marine Corps Marathon scheduled for Oct. 29.

The duo finished the half marathon at 2:12:14.

The final results

With thousands of runners participating, only a few could make the leader board.

The top three runners in the men's full marathon and their times were: Dylan Garritano, 2:25:06; Ethan Cannon, 2:28:02; and Charles Smogoleski, 2:29:12.

The top three in the women's full marathon were: Joanna Line, 2:52:01; Christina Johnston, 2:54:34; and Ashley Letteney, 3:01:15.

The top three in the men's half marathon were: Chad Johnson, 1:07:10; Collin Oswalt, 1:08:12; and Luke Hickman, 1:08:29.

The top three in the women's half marathon were: Hannah Moulton, 1:17:53; Andrea Klima, 1:20:54; Jennifer Simmerman, 1:23:58.