West Middlesex runner has lofty goal

July 25, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

Some construction led to a chance encounter that has sent Walter Novosel on a 135-mile journey.

The West Middlesex, Pa., resident was checking on some construction of one of his businesses in Pulaski, Pa., last summer when he happened to spot a runner with an RV following him approach his property.

The previously mentioned construction led to a bridge being closed, sending the runner Novosel’s way.

“When one bridge closed, another opened,” Novosel said.

The minor league baseball player turned wine and brewmaster learned the runner and RV were with MS Run the U.S., a non-profit that raises awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis.

The main avenue for fundraising and getting the message out? A 16-leg relay across the United States. There’s one runner per each leg.

Novosel, who’s a distance runner alongside his wife, Katie, is now the guy getting stopped by the curious.

“It’s a great experience,” Novosel said Monday. “Seeing the people stop that are affected by [MS], that’s the most rewarding part about it.

“It’s awesome seeing all the support you get and all the feedback.”

Novosel, 36, began his leg of the relay on Sunday in Medina. He has six days to reach Brookville, Pa.

He’ll pass through Youngstown today. Being one of the 16 runners requires an application process where the runner has to show an aptitude for both running and fundraising.

“You have goals you have to make. When you’re selected in October, you have to raise $4,500 by the time you run your leg and if you can’t do it, they’ll find someone who can,” Novoseal said. “They’re pretty selective about finding someone that can do it. We have until August to hit $10,000.

“It’s like an honor system and they do a good job keeping up with you and helping you out if you have any problems.”

Novosel took up exercising with his legs when his arm gave out. The left-hander was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003. A torn labrum in limited him to two years in the minors.

He attempted two comebacks in independent ball in 2006 and 2008 that were short-lived. Three years later, he picked up marathon running with his wife.

“We were both at athletes in college and we wanted to do something to replace that,” Novosel said. “We wanted to train to run a marathon and after all that training we thought we could do more than one. We ran 18 in 2011.”

His training frequently involves running from his hometown to Youngstown — a two-way trip that’s roughly the same length of a marathon.

For the fundraising side of things, he owns a few wineries, cideries, olive oil and balsalmic vinegar shops, a brewery and a distillery dotted through western Pa. and Indiana. He’s done charity work through his businesses and brought that experience to MS Run the US.

Even as he’s become a veteran marathon runner, he says he doesn’t really look like one at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, but he’s found his style to go the distance.

“I tend to be steady and slow,” Novosel said.