John “JJ” Potocnik is a man of faith and determination. You probably have seen him pounding the pavement around the Wheeling area. Back in 2017, he took on the challenge of starting to run. Potocnik explained how he got into running, “I was browsing Facebook in the Fall of 2017 when I saw an ad about an internet based men’s ministry. I gave it a look. When the ministry stated that I would eventually run a 5k I silently laughed. I was thinking at that time there is no way I could physically do such a thing because I suffered a life threatening stroke in 1999. But I gave it a shot anyway. I ran in the Ogden 5k that spring and from there my love for running only grew. It will be six years this Fall that I’ve been into running after never having run before, not even in high school.” What JJ thought was funny would soon turn into a passion.
Potocnik’s story is even more unique than people may think. This is a man, who’s faced death on two occasions. “I’m currently 50 years old. Back when I was only 26 I had a life threatening stroke. Yes, a stroke! After being told by my neurologist I was only 10% away from death, I figured my life had essentially ended. For 18 years at that time I lived with the thought I couldn’t run, because when I left the rehabilitation hospital I was walking with a cane. Almost exactly twenty years from my stroke, I had a sudden cardiac arrest! I had collapsed on my way back to the locker room at a local gym. I woke up from an induced coma in the hospital a few days later to learn my life had been spared a second time. Unlike the moments following my stroke, I felt ready and able to continue my life. But I quickly learned I had to undergo rehabilitation therapy. I shocked my nurses and cardiologist by taking part in a 5k run just a little less than three months after my cardiac arrest,” Potocnik stated.
After two brushes with death, Potocnik really defied the odds. After his cardiac arrest JJ returned to the 5k scene. He would take it easy in some local 5k races while continuing his rehab and training. After the COVID 19 Pandemic shut down all races in 2020, he would continue onto his next goal. The next goal? A half marathon. In May of 2021 it was announced that the Old Turnpike Half Marathon would take place in Pennsylvania. There was a lot that was unknown about this course, other than the fact he knew you needed a head lamp to run through abandoned tunnels. With it also being an abandoned road there was a lot of questions about the course. Once again Potocnik’s faith and passion would see him cross the finish line in his first half marathon in a little over three hours.
In 2022, Potocnik completed a total of 13 races. This remarkable man was not done! Potocnik was ready to take it to the next level, a marathon! He then decided that he wanted to take on the Columbus Marathon. When I asked him if he was excited he responded, “Yes! I’m running my first marathon in Columbus this Fall. I am beyond excited. Back early on I told myself I want to be in the few percentage of people who have completed a marathon. I’m always down on myself, I think its because of the number of running related injuries I’ve had; but I’ve now been healthy since June. This training is brutal, but I truly enjoy all the side effects from it. I think this is the most healthy I’ve ever looked and felt my entire life!” Training doesn’t always go the way you plan though. Potocnik suffered a lower body injury very early in training. Doubt started to cross his mind, but he was quickly reminded that it was early in training. With some rest and rehab Potocnik was right back into training mode. Running a marathon is no easy task, especially for someone who’s been through as much as JJ Potocnik. Potocnik also stated about his 5k personal record, “My 5k PR is 26:35. I’ve set that in the Spring on 2019 and have yet to beat it. However, I did “tie” it in Spring 2022. Imagine that, actually tying a PR but not beating it.” Now he will set his goals on the 26.2 miles in Columbus, Ohio. He told this writer this will probably be his only marathon, but we shall see. I’d like to make a shout out to two of my good friends. They don’t know each other, but they both seemed to begin to take running seriously around the same time I did…Spring 2018. That would be my friend Micah Ramsey, who now is pastoring a church in Beaver Falls, PA and Chris Thoburn, who I’ve known since 2004 when I first moved to Wheeling. All of us at Ohio Valley Athletics would like to wish good luck to JJ and all the runners in the Columbus Marathon. Stay tuned for more on this remarkable man.
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