Sid Busch didn’t set out to become a sports celebrity. He’s been on television, was featuredin Runner’s World magazine,has 1,800 followers on Facebook and won the U.S. presidency, unofficially.
Buschstarted running to keep his job, and Nov. 18 hewill be lining up to walk the HEROES 10K at Lions Club Parkin Rollaalongsideothers wishing to honor veterans and military.HEROES benefits veterans in Dent, Phelps and Pulaski counties.
“I wasworking asaSeabee on a submarine,” Busch recalls. “I only reached up to tap a gauge,”when a diskinhis spine ruptured. He was taken off the submarine in a helicopter in“excruciating pain.” Following the injury, aNavy medical review board wanted to medically disqualifyBusch, but he offered them a challenge instead. If he could complete a marathon,could hekeep his job.Buschdid both,retiring from the Navy with27yearsas a Senior Chief Petty Officer (sonar technician)under his belt.
That first marathon,which he finished in an impressive underfour-hour finish time) led to202 marathons, 1,123 half marathons and “more 10Ks, 5Ks and other events than I can count,”he says, and sparked a mission to honor veterans and military.
Buschis the unofficial face of the Air Force Marathon after having completed it10times. He is a staff member for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington and still competes at 77 years of age, although “I just walk now.”
In every event, Sid carries a flag representing fallen soldiers.
“In the beginning,one of my friends had the idea to participate in various eventswith me, calling ourselves ‘Running for Fallen Heroes.’ We ran with the name of a fallen soldier, then gave his family our shirt and medal at the finish line,” Busch says.
“At first, we started a website to request names of soldiers to run for, but it wasn’t long before I was swamped and the mission took on a life of itsown.”
At one of the bases, Sid says,he was nominatedfor president during the2008presidential election. Locally, he ran againstObama on thefictitious Running Party ticket and won.
Buschwill be staying inthe areatwo nightsand willspeak at the Pasta Party/EXPO on Friday evening in Salem. The event isfree to HEROES participants who RSVP. Thenextmorninghewill line up for the 10K with flag in hand.
Busch has been to Missouri before, once, coming infortheFrog Hill Half Marathonin Waynesville, “but I got lost in St. Louis. This time, I’ve got good maps to get to Rolla.”
Melissa Martinez-Sharp, who coordinates Frog Hill andhas beena HEROES Ambassador/Marathonersince 2016, linked HEROES withBusch, who will be driving from Charleston, S.C. for the event.
“I will continue to participate as long as it is fun for me, and as long as there are soldiers to honor,”he says.“I think that it should be required for every American to visit Arlington National Cemetery to visit the graves of soldiers, most of whom were just kids(when they died). It drives home the message thatfreedom is notfree.
“I think the National Anthem should be changed from ‘o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave’ to, ‘the land of the freebecauseof the brave.’”
You can HonorHEROES Marathon and other eventsby participatingNov. 18.The marathon is run between Salem and Rolla.Registration and details about the event may be found by visiting www.heroesmarathon.com.
