Written by Tori Wittenbrock
Associate Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – Making the Bellin Run happen every year requires everyone to come together and would not be possible without the enthusiasm and participation of many different people, including board members, volunteers, doctors, and of course, runners.
There is one person in particular who proudly embodies the true meaning of the Belin Run by dedicating his time and expertise not only as an emergency department doctor, but also as a runner.
“I've been running Verin since 2014, when I started working with them,” said Dr. Brandon Boehm, a medical specialist with Verin Health.
On the big race day, Boehm can be seen running on the course and afterwards helping to care for fellow runners in the medical tent.
to the finish line
Participating in the Belin Run requires a lot of training and preparation, but Boehm said he has been an avid runner for many years and was able to put that experience to good use.
“I started cross country in the second grade of junior high school, and have been running long distances since entering university. Since then, I have continued to run almost constantly, except for occasional injuries and during medical school and residency. ” Boehm said.
Combining the knowledge he gained from working in the medical field and his experience as a long-distance runner, Boehm said proper training and preparation for such a long run is essential to success.
Boehm said he trains consistently to get his body in the best shape possible to run to the finish line.
“For Belin, sometimes he does a few fast tempo runs a few weeks in advance, but sometimes he relies on daily runs,” Boehm said.
All of this training as a runner has certainly paid off as Boehm has built an impressive running resume by competing in multiple long distance runs.
“I've raced up to marathon distance and completed it over a dozen times,” the Stevens Point native said.
sense of community
Boehm, who has competed in several races in the past, said there is nothing that can match the atmosphere at Bellin Run and the enthusiasm of the Green Bay community.
“I love the Belin Run itself. It's a well-attended community event with great crowd support and an overall fun community event. As a physician, living a healthy and active lifestyle is a personal and professional endeavor. “I think it's important to help patients do the same,” Dr. Boehm said of his experience at Bellin Run as a physician and health care professional.
Boehm said the sense of community on big race day is unparalleled.
“Being able to see the cheering crowds, musicians and volunteers along the course makes me feel connected and part of the community here. “It connects me with people who have just gone through the same race, and it makes it a little more special to help fellow runners who are injured or ill after a race,” Dr. Boehm said. .
become a doctor
With a lifestyle focused on health and fitness, it's no surprise that Dr. Boehm focused his education on the medical field.
“I actually trained in family medicine and after my residency, I started working at Bellin in Family Medicine in 2013. time,” Boehm said.
Boehm said work in emergency medicine is often difficult but can also be high on adrenaline.
“Working in the emergency department is often fast-paced and keeps you on your toes throughout the day. We often have to work out what is causing a patient's symptoms among multiple possible causes. That happens a lot,” Boehm said.
Speaking from experience
As someone who has experienced the pain and joy that comes with pushing your body through long-distance races, Boehm said he has a unique perspective to offer advice to aspiring runners.
“From a physician's perspective, before you do Belin, make sure you're ready. It might be hot, so make sure you're properly hydrated,” Boehm said.
“It's best to train beforehand. During the race, the best decision is to listen to your body, slow down if necessary, and walk some parts.”
Boehm said as a runner he has experienced what it's like to be under-prepared for a run, so his advice isn't much different.
“It's hard to completely separate the mindsets of runners and doctors and ask for advice because preparation and hydration are still the main recommendations. Also, enjoy the event and have fun, this is the best I've ever had. One of the best and most fun runs I’ve done,” Boehm said.
Boehm said the best part about participating in the Bellin Run is seeing people in the community come together to inspire each other to achieve their goals.
“In general, seeing the many successes of people who have achieved their goal of completing a race inspires me and motivates me to push myself towards other goals. I think just seeing them complete the race can help motivate others to set goals for themselves, whether it's running or other events,” Boehm said.