After suffering a near-fatal heart attack about 13 months ago, Dave Willits wasn’t about to let a recent leg injury stop him from achieving his goal to run 10 kilometers as part of the annual Wildcat Race held Saturday morning.
In 55 minutes, 24.7 seconds, the former Oxford resident completed the course, which took him through the Oxford Lakes subdivision twice and ended at the middle school track. He finished eighth overall.
Not bad, considering it was the first 10K he’s ever run.
‘It’s a great accomplishment,? said Willits, who now lives in Waterford. ‘If somebody would have told me five, 10 or 20 years ago that I was going run a 10K at 54 years old, especially after almost dying the year before, there’s no way I would have ever imagined doing this.?
On March 28, 2014, Willits suffered a massive heart attack while at work. He flatlined three times and had to have his heart shocked 11 times. Four stents were placed in his arteries.
Willits ran the Wildcat Race’s 10K as a way to celebrate the fact that he’s still alive. He’s lean and healthier than he’s ever been thanks to a new diet and plenty of exercise.
Things went extremely well for Willits considering that a week before the race, he injured a calf muscle and was unable to do any training in the days leading up to the race.
He said the muscle ‘tightened up a little bit? around the fourth mile, but he ‘just kept pushing on and finished strong.?
‘The leg hurts right now, but that’s all right. I finished,? Willits said.
Other than the injured leg, Willits said the most challenging part of the race was maintaining a steady pace.
‘When you see somebody else running at a faster pace, you tend to want to keep up with them,? he explained. ‘At the same time, when you pass somebody, you tend to slow down a little bit.?
Overall, Willits is pleased he got to spend a ‘beautiful day? in his former community, running in an event to support two good causes ? the OHS Senior All-Night Party and the Ray Sutherland scholarship fund.
‘I’ve always loved Oxford,? he said. ‘I’m just glad to be a part of this.?