Marathon feature
Eugene DeFronzo

Having run a marathon in every state and DC nearly seven times, Eugene DeFronzo, Cheshire, CT, plans to run his 409th marathon in Abilene April 10, wearing bib #29. DeFronzo has also run in Kenya, Antartica, Berlin, London and all 13 Canadian provinces twice.
“I am looking forward to doing the Eisenhower Marathon as I have heard many nice things about it,” DeFronzo said.
DeFronzo, who is 74, said that 20 years ago he was out of shape, and one of his friends advised him to take up running.
“I should have started running a lot earlier,” DeFronzo said. “I ran my first marathon at age 54. “The training is rigorous, and the last six miles seem to last forever, but when you pass the finish line, the thrill is worth all the hard work.”
DeFronzo hopes to finish his seventh round of running a marathon in every state, and needs to run marathons in only six more states to do so.
His normal weekly training schedule is to run four days, 10 miles each day, incorporating speed work in one of the 10-mile runs. Then one day he runs 15 miles and one day 28 miles. The final day he swims for an hour and a half. When he has a marathon, the 28-mile run is replaced by the marathon or ultra marathon.
Although DeFronzo has had a successful career as a lawyer, he prizes his running achievements most.
“I am especially happy about meeting so many nice people in running and visiting so many interesting places,” DeFronzo said.
Eisenhower Marathon and half-marathon races, which start on Buckeye between the St. Andrews Catholic Church and the Eisenhower Center, begin at 7 a.m. on April 10, with 10K and 5K races following at 7:30 a.m. The 2-mile Community Walk begins at 9 a.m.
A  pasta dinner will be served by the Daughters of Isabella Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. with tickets available at the door for $8, children under 12 are $3. The race-day pancake and sausage brunch will be served by the Kiwanis from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with tickets selling at the door for $6.
An awards ceremony for runners will be in the Eisenhower Visitors Center auditorium and will be ongoing as runners finish each race, beginning about 9:30 a.m.
Corporate sponsors for the 2010 Eisenhower Marathon include Brierton Engineering, Central National Bank, DS&O Electric Cooperative, Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc., Eisenhower Foundation, KABI/KSAL Radio, Land Pride (a division of Great Plains Manufacturing), Pinnacle Bank, Warren Wilson Hay, Inc. and Wilson Transport, Inc., in addition to the R.H. Viola Family.