Athlete running for 9/11

Jose Nebrida's legs ache and his arms quiver as he nears the midway point of a marathon.

His body, reminding him that he is 63-years old, is begging him to stop.

But the American flag he clutches in his hand - a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, motivates him to press on.

Nebrida, a school administrator in Chicago, has experienced this in 36 marathons and will do it again in today's inaugural Scheels Fargo Marathon.

He will be waving the flag near the back of the pack in a field that includes about 2,200 participants in the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay and 5-K.

However, Nebrida's goals have nothing to do with a stopwatch.

"I may finish last carrying the flag," Nebrida said. "But, to me, the flag never finishes last. This is my little payback to a country that gave me so many chances and opportunities."

Nebrida, born in the Philippines, moved to Hamburg, Germany at age 19, hoping to continue his education.

The fact that he already he had a bachelor's degree did little to improve his chances of being accepted into a master's program at a German university.

Nebrida, who worked in low-paying jobs as a dishwasher, factory worker and morgue attendant in Germany, said he was rejected from three schools before deciding to try his luck in Canada.

For 10 years, Nebrida said he applied to nearly every university in Canada. He never even got an interview.

"All I wanted was a bit of hope that I could get educated," Nebrida said. "I wanted to make the hole a little bigger so I could stand up and walk away from it."

Nebrida moved to Chicago in 1975. Shortly after his arrival, his American Dream came true when he was accepted into Loyola University.

However, there was one major stipulation.

"They told me I had to get straight A's in the first semester or I was out," Nebrida said.

Nebrida accomplished that feat and more. He received a master's in social work at Loyola and went on to earn master's degrees in special education and educational administration at Northeast Illinois.

There was still something missing.

Nebrida said he was living an unhealthy lifestyle. He was drinking almost every night and smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. His relationship with his wife and children was steadily declining as a result.

"I had a lot of friends," he said. "But I was leading a sad life."

The principal at the elementary school where Nebrida worked suggested he take up running. Three months later, Nebrida said he quit smoking and ran his first 5K.

"I cried like the dickens when I finished," Nebrida said.

Nebrida ran his first marathon at age 44 in 1986. The experience moved him so much he vowed to participate in a marathon in all 50 states.

He accomplished that feat and ran in more than 100 marathons before Sept. 11.

The attacks gave him a new goal: A second marathon tour of the United States, holding an American flag throughout each race.

"I wanted to honor those heroes and victims who lost their lives," Nebrida said.

However, Nebrida's plans were almost dashed when he suffered a heart attack following the Oklahoma City Marathon in 2002.

After triple-bypass surgery, his doctor told him he should quit marathons.

"I did a Donald Trump and told him he was fired," Nebrida said.

The Scheels Fargo Marathon is Nebrida's 37th after Sept. 11. He said he will wear red, white and blue pants and wave the American flag high in the air.

"It's difficult enough to run a marathon much less carrying a flag," said Detroit Lakes, Minn., resident Dick Beardsley, who holds the fourth-fastest U.S. marathon in history. "It's really something to see him."

When he crosses the finish line - Nebrida estimates it will take more than eight hours - he'll thank the people of Fargo.

"I always say the same thing," Nebrida said. "God bless America. God bless all of you."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562