In April 2023, Tommy entered the Boston Marathon and finished in 4 hours 53 minutes. Although pace is the last thing to consider with Reeves. Perhaps the return of the marathon runner to the distance was the main event of the entire race.
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“What a thrill it is to be alive”
Reeves first took part in the Boston Marathon in 2017 and showed his best result — 2 hours 18 minutes, and a few months later the athlete fell and broke his lower spine. It took him 10 months to recover and resume training.
In 2020, Reeves was hospitalized again: doctors diagnosed an aggressive form of lung cancer and predicted minimal chances of recovery. Tommy fought cancer for a year and a half: “My body is broken, I lost weight to 45 kg. I have ulcers on my sacrum and legs, I ask the nurses to cover the wounds so they don’t get dirty while they change my diapers. I was exhausted, but I finally realized the value of my life.”
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Reeves’ hospitalization occurred at the height of the pandemic, and at first the man mistook his illness for Covid-19. According to Reeves’ friend, they went on another trail, but Tommy was completely out of shape. The man then isolated himself and took a test — the result was negative. Reeves put off going to the doctors for a long time, although he later admitted that he should have immediately sought help. As a result, the marathon runner was hospitalized unconscious and in serious condition.
Reeves had to undergo several operations, intubation of pulmonary ventilation, open biopsy of the lung, installation of ECMO in the jugular and femoral vein, tracheostomy, thrombosis — it is pointless to list all the marks in the man’s medical record, there are too many of them. Coming out of a coma, he could not hold a phone in his hands due to weakness, and a year later he ran the Boston Marathon again, although doctors believed that Reeves would spend the rest of his life on a ventilator.
“Learning to fly again”
Tommy posts daily reports about his workouts. Nowadays, trail runners struggle with long distances: after 20 miles at a slow pace, they can’t believe they’re actually doing it. “I’m really tired and can’t feel my legs, but I’m so glad I can feel it again.”
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Today Reeves is in remission. Every workout is difficult for Tommy, but he doesn’t stop. Reeves has always tried to “make training part of your daily life” — approach long distances without fear, but with interest, and then the desire to go for a run will appear by itself.
Reeves’ major achievements
- In 2015, he finished first in the 50 km ultramarathon;
- In 2016, Reeves won the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and finished first in the 193km TransRockies.
- A year later, the marathon runner took 16th place in the overall standings of the Boston Marathon, completing the distance with the best time — in 2 hours 18 minutes.
- In 2018, Reeves finished first at the Flagstaff Grand Canyon 55K.