Kittle to run for a cause at NYC marathon

When Brandie Kittle toes the line of the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 6, she will have plenty to run for.

Kittle, who works as a realtor and waitress in Bigfork, entered the lottery for a spot in the popular running event two years ago. She specifically requested the opportunity to run on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers information and tools to help increase the quality of life for those affected by the condition.

Kittle’s 16-year-old daughter Valarie was diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis — in which five or more joints are affected — at the age of 2.

Growing up, Valarie was unable to participate in most sports. Through the foundation, however, she had the opportunity to attend summer camps for children affected by arthritis. The organization also provided the family with funding for Valarie’s physical therapy while serving as an invaluable source of information and support.

“They’ve been such a huge part of everything,” Kittle said. “Without their information, we wouldn’t have had a whole lot to go on. Even our doctors didn’t know much about it (Valarie’s condition).”

Once she learned that she had been selected to compete in the 2011 race, Kittle immediately got busy raising the $2,500 donation she needed in order to represent the foundation. She also started the training regimen supplied by race organizers, which forced her to overcome a fear that had been holding her back from running since her years as a track and cross-country athlete in high school.

“When I was a senior in high school, I got in a really bad car accident that took out my knee,” she said. “They (doctors) told me I’d probably never be able to run again.”

Slowly but surely, Kittle eased her way back into the sport with a lot of encouragement from her family members — especially her son Chance, who is a freshman cross-country runner at Bigfork.

“I was really nervous, and I was really trying not to freak myself out about running again,” Kittle said. “He (my son) was my calming factor. I started relaxing a little bit and realizing that I’m not out there to win this — I’m just out there to finish.”

Kittle was also inspired by the memory of her late father, who was confined to a wheelchair for much of his life due to a spinal injury. Growing up in upstate New York, Kittle would watch the New York City marathon on television every year with her dad.

“My dad was from Brooklyn, and the race runs through Brooklyn, so it’s kind of neat,” Kittle said.

Many of her family members still live in New York, and they will all be there to cheer Kittle on to her first marathon finish.

“That will be really helpful,” Kittle said. “From miles 15 through 26, I’ll have at least one family member at each mile. I figure that’s where I’m probably going to hit the wall, so they will help get me through it.”

Kittle is shooting for a finish time of 4 hours, 30 minutes. Judging by her training runs — the longest of which was 21 miles — Kittle feels more than ready to chase her goal time.

She expressed great appreciation for the amount of community support — both in donations and encouragement — she has received over the last few months.

“Everyone has just been wonderful and very encouraging,” Kittle said. “I get honks all the time, waves out the window and messages on my phone. It’s been really great.”