With sheer determination, Dr. Awele Elumelu, at 53 years of age, has achieved a rare feat that stands as a testament to human resilience.
This is coming six months after she conquered the 2023 Manchester Marathon during which she crossed the finished line at the prestigious 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
She is the wife of Nigeria’s famed charitable businessman, Tony Elumelu.
The Chicago Marathon is held annually in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, USA; not just as a long-drawn-out race, but record has it that it is one of the six World Marathon Majors and carries the coveted World Athletic Label Road Race Status.
This iconic event is also limited to a select group of 45,000 runners, and only those who complete the initial challenging 26.2-mile within six-and-a-half hours are officially timed.
Usually sponsored by the Bank of America since 2008, the race is reported to be a symbol of endurance and ambition, with its history marred only by a partial cancellation in 1987, and the unprecedented disruptions of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, in the highly competitive current global space where success wears many hats, Awele, a distinguished medical practitioner and a mother-of-seven, added a new feather to her cap by conquering the grueling 42.2 kilometers of the Bank of America’s Chicago Marathon.
Putting this amazing feat into perspective, imagine running from the affluent Victoria Garden City on Lagos Island all the way to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, or perhaps, a little farther.
In another simpler terms, it is like driving for about an hour at speeds of 80 to 100 kilometers per hour on a smooth highway.
For most, this feat would take a professional elite athlete a minimum of three to three-and-a-half hours, but Awele gracefully completed it in approximately fours hours.
What makes her accomplishment more notable is that, at 53, when her reflexes would have been expected to wane due to ageing, Awele is said to have set an extraordinary precedence, challenging the limits of what a woman her age can easily achieve.
This accomplishment, described as a source of inspiration for those who have ever believed that certain goals are beyond easy reach, has become a game-changer.
Also, her journey from the comfortable confines of her daily life to conquering a marathon of epic proportions is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
In the words of the organizers, “Completing a marathon, especially a daunting 42.2 kilometer one, requires not just physical endurance but also a tremendous amount of mental fortitude, determination, perseverance, and unshakable self-belief.
“We believe that Dr. Awele Elumelu understood the magnitude of the challenge she had undertaken, and she embraced it with open arms, emerging victorious.
“Her age did not deter her, her responsibilities as a medical doctor and a mother of seven children did not hold her back, and her elevated status as the wife of one of Nigeria’s affluent individuals did not limit her.
“She has unequivocally proven that even the seemingly impossible becomes achievable for this with an indomitable will and stanch resolve. Her journey is therefore a clarion call for everyone to shatter their self-imposed limitations, overcome their excuses and embark on their own path to greatness,” the American organizers were quoted.
Reports also note that Dr. Awele’s story is an inspiration to everyone which reminds of the saying “Nwanyibuife” being translated as: “a girl-child is a tremendous gift, and her accomplishments speak volume to women and children, and men alike.
“Her marathon race signifies that the human spirit, when awakened with ambition and met with unwavering determination, is capable of achieving the extraordinary, and her story should be the spark that ignites the fire of inspiration within anyone determined, to serve as a reminder that with the right mindset and spirit, each individual can overcome the impossible,” notes the American organizers of the marathon.
