Marathons solidify marriage

The Cortland woman ran in a marathon 31/2 months after heart surgery.
BY TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- Judy Mink was in the Cleveland Clinic in September 2004 undergoing double by-pass heart surgery.
On Monday, she and her husband, Police Chief Gary Mink, competed in the 110th annual Boston Marathon. And she beat him by nearly 30 minutes.
"It's hard to describe. It was awesome," the 46-year-old mother of three said Friday of her experience.
"It just brought tears to my eyes," she said in describing her emotions as she crossed the finish line because she knew she could compete with world-class runners.
She ran the 26.2-mile course in 4 hours. The chief's time was 4 hours, 29 minutes. They came in about the middle of the pack of the 22,517 runners.
"She is a natural long-distance runner. She just glides. I have to work at it," the 49-year-old chief said.
The couple has run in 10 marathons as they visit various parts of the country. "They are like minivacations," the chief said.
"It helps with the marriage," he noted, as they have something in common that they like so much to do. They've been married 25 years.
Chief Mink started running in 1991 in preparation to attend the FBI Academy in 1992. She began seven years ago.
What happened
In 2004, Mrs. Mink, director of radiology at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, said she started to experience pressure in her chest and shortness of breath when she exerted herself. Pain also radiated to her jaw.
They were "classic heart-attack symptoms," she said, noting that she then decided to see a doctor.
Mink was diagnosed with congenital blockage of the heart and underwent surgery.
"My doctor assured me I'd run again," she said.
Only 31/2 months after her surgery, the couple ran in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix, Ariz.
"People said it was crazy, running three months after surgery and against most advice," she said.
"That was crazy," her husband added of his wife's returning to running so quickly.
At the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October 2005, she ran the course in 3 hours, 55 minutes to qualify to run in Boston.
The chief received an invitation to run in Boston through the Massachusetts State Police.
Making their goals
During the Boston Marathon, Mink said her goal was a 4-hour mile. The chief's goal was 4 hours, 30 minutes. He beat it by a minute.
At one point during the Boston event, Mink said she didn't believe she could reach her goal.
"I couldn't do it justice if I didn't give it my best shot," she recalled before stepping up her pace to finish in 4 hours.
"It validated me as a distance runner," she said.
For her, Boston was special.
She said the crowd lined the entire course four people deep.
"There were wall-to-wall people yelling and screaming, encouraging you," she said. "You thought from the beginning that you were involved in a special event."
"Everybody was friendly and encouraging. People made you feel pretty special," she added.
yovich@vindy.com