Kyle Schmidt
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Isaac Unruh’s life changed in 2013 after a diving accident placed him in a wheelchair with paralysis in the legs and a lack of ability in the right triceps and hands.
Pushing forward and discovering a paralysis recovery gym in Kansas City helped him shift mindsets.
“They kind of gave me that can-do attitude,” Unruh said. “Sisu, it’s a Finnish word that means to show strength and courage over a long duration of time, whenever the odds are against you. That’s the motto I live by.”
Keeping a strong mindset, Unruh became a co-founder of River Bluff Brewing and became a member of the Measly Mile Mafia. Currently, Unruh is over 1,100 days in a row pushing a mile every day, even competing in group challenges like the Arctic challenge.
“I couldn’t push, I went out and just sat in the snow for 20 minutes and let it snow on me,” He said. “Then I did my mile inside, and they allowed that to count.”
He also works as a real estate agent, or as he said it, “The ‘rolling realtor’ or the ‘wheel estate agent’ with Randolph Realty.”
Unruh said the reason he does it is because the cardio is beneficial for his lungs, heart and it’s important for him to stand still for bone density to make sure his body is functioning as high as it can.
For cardio, he uses a frequent electronic stimulation bike and worked his way up to using an arm bike and now a SkiErg- a cross-country Ski Trainer. For about a year, he has used a manual bike outside every day.
Challenging himself in 2024 to complete his first 5-kilometer race in the St. Joseph Marathon, he made history.
“It was fun because I had a buddy that was running beside me who had my dog who was also running the race,” Unruh said. “It was cool hearing Tara announce your name over the speaker as you’re coming across the finish line and giving you kudos for the progress I’ve made.”
This finish made him the first wheelchair athlete to finish the St. Joseph Marathon 5k, and this year, he has a new goal… To race in the St. Joseph Marathon’s 10k.
“It’ll be a mental challenge, but I’ll have a buddy walking beside me keeping the pace,” Unruh said.
Unruh has also competed in the Ignite 5k for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as well as the Shamrock 5k.
He credits his family for always being there, as well as the group at River Bluff Brewing and the Measly Mile Mafia.
“Pushed me to actually want to do cardio daily in my situation,” Unruh said. “I just know it’s beneficial and there’s no need to stop it.”
Unruh said he hasn’t changed his training for the 10k and continues to push his mile each day.
“You can make excuses or find solutions is a big one that I go on, and when you’ve been put in a wheelchair, you’ve been given every excuse in the book that you can give somebody,” Unruh said. “I choose not to be the excuse, I choose to find a solution.”
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