Chris Koch, 37, finished Sunday’s Calgary Marathon—his first 26.2—in 4:23:12, beating his goal of breaking 4:30. As Runner’s World reported last week, the Alberta native, who was born without arms or legs, raced on the longboard he uses to get around.

Koch was hard-pressed to think of a “bad” part of the experience. “The whole damn thing was a good part,” Koch said.

Koch had completed shorter races, but Calgary was his first full marathon. He raced for Calgary’s Inn From the Cold, a homeless shelter for families and children, and was able to raise $4,000 for the shelter.

Koch found overwhelming support throughout his race. “I came up along one lady who started crying when she saw me,” Koch said. “She said, ‘I was hoping I would get a chance to see you.’ We pushed each other to keep going.”

In the final miles, Koch drew on cheers from his family and girlfriend, Ally Iseman.

“I was overwhelmed by emotion when I saw him turn the bend before the finish,” Iseman told Runner’s World. “It was all I could do not to run out and tackle him on the course. When he did cross, I just about knocked him over.”

“I was really feeling it in my ankle for that last stretch,” Koch said. “The shoe I wear on my right foot is leather and not supportive enough. Next time, I’d like to get a customized shoe with more ankle support.”

Next, Koch hopes to break four hours for a marathon. “I’d also like to have Ally at the marathon starting line with me,” Koch said. Iseman said she hopes they can incorporate an annual marathon into their calendar in the future.

But Koch’s primary goal for next year is even loftier—literally: “Ally and I are planning to trek up to Base Camp on Mount Everest in 2017, to raise awareness for disabled people in Nepal,” Koch said. “But right now, we’re going to eat pasta and relax. My body feels like mush.”

Chris Koch uses a longboard in the 2016 Calgary Marathon. Dave Holland

Hailey Middlebrook Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner's World and Bicycling magazines.

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