Athlete Stories

Ryan Adkins: Running for Others
BY: ABIGAIL GORRITY

When Ryan Adkins arrives at the start line of the Life Time Chicago Half Marathon, he won’t just be running for himself. He’ll be running for his mom, for the MS community, and for everyone who wishes they could take those steps but can’t.

Ryan is no stranger to sports and fitness. He grew up an athlete, studied kinesiology at Western Illinois University, and today trains as a dedicated boxer in Logan Square. However, distance running hadn’t played a major role in his story until now.

“I had never really focused on running before, I had actually tried to avoid it growing up,” Ryan admits. “Playing sports, every time you got in trouble, you had to run. So running was kind of a consequence for me.”

That changed this year when Ryan decided he wanted a new challenge that would push him both physically and mentally–a half marathon. His inspiration stems from his mother who has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for years and continues to find ways to stay active.

“Every run I do is a reminder that I’m not just training for myself,” He says. “There’s something bigger involved. Seeing what my mom pushes through daily keeps me motivated.”

Since February, Ryan has transformed his relationship with running. What started as short workouts on Chicago’s 606 Trail has gradually transitioned into longer distances, including his first 10 mile run this summer. Each week he adds volume, builds endurance, and continues to find new motivation to keep going.

“Crossing that finish line will be emotional,” Ryan says. “I’ll probably cry. But to me, it’s about proving I’m strong-willed, and more importantly, raising money and awareness for MS.”

Fundraising has always been part of Ryan’s athletic journey. Through previous athletic events, he’s raised thousands of dollars for MS research. For the Life Time Chicago Half marathon, his current goal is $2,800. However, he hopes to exceed it with the support of friends, family, coworkers, and the Chicago running community.

As race day gets closer, Ryan’s perspective is clear: he’s grateful for the ability to run and determined to make every mile count. “I get to run. I get to suffer through training. There are people out there who would love to do that and can’t,” he says. “That perspective changes everything.” 

Thank you for sharing your running journey with us, Ryan. We can’t wait to see you cross that finish line!

Support Ryan’s MS fundraising here: https://gofund.me/059cfc78