Willmar physician finishes her first marathon

A Willmar doctor completed her first marathon in 6 hours and 17 minutes Sunday, while pushing a friend the whole way in a wheel chair. Dr. Maria Loerzel of Family Practice Medical Center in Willmar ran The Humana Rock and Roll Marathon in San Antonio Texas, pushing her friend, Christopher Douglas of Herriman Utah, in a racing wheelchair.

Loerzel began running in November 2016 and says she wanted to share the experience of her first marathon with Douglas, whom was she has known since she was 19. Douglas was diagnosed with ALS 4-and-a-half years ago. She ran to raise money for two different causes: The ALS Association and Inheritance of Hope.

(JP Cola, KWLM)