“Whatever our primary sport, we have all experienced worrisome muscle twinges and wondered if we should continue with our workout or back off and hit the couch with a frozen bag of peas for company. At times such as these, I always wish I had chosen a more relevant career path, such as sports doctor or massage therapist. Of course that beggars the question. Would I heed my own advice? Shaun Evans, an up-and coming marathoner from Saratoga Springs, has been fortunate to combine his vocation, physical therapy, with his avocation, running. Shaun grew up in Galway, where he participated in soccer, basketball and track, concentrating on the 400-meter hurdles, 4x800-meter relay, and steeplechase events. He then went on to attend Notre Dame College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he majored in physical therapy, focusing on sports medicine, pediatrics and spinal cord injury.

When asked the proverbial chicken-and-egg question: which came first, his interest in sports or his interest in physical therapy, Shaun replied that he had always been attracted to the medical field. He reflects, “I chose physical therapy over medicine because you could spend a lot more time with patients.” This in it for the long haul attitude explains his attraction to the marathon, an event where the real race begins at mile 20.

Because of its length, 26.2 miles, and its consequent wear and tear, the marathon is not suitable for young adults whose bodies are still growing. In fact, while in college, Shaun honed his competitive instincts on the soccer field, developing his agility and fine-tuning his speed. Distance running was reserved for school breaks. His defining moment came in 1997 when he entered the Empire State Games Half-Marathon, placing fifth overall with minimal training. At that point he realized that he might be better suited for longer distances. But with his busy study schedule, Shaun bided his time, exercising the patience so necessary when tackling this event.

Upon graduation, Shaun and Karen Dake co-founded Minor Improvements PT in Saratoga Springs. In this unique facility, children and teens can progress in an atmosphere targeted specifically to their needs. Minor Improvements, however, is more than just a physical therapy clinic – it is a true family where staff and patient milestones are celebrated with gusto and setbacks approached with sympathy and understanding.

It was in this supportive atmosphere that Shaun got serious about his marathon career. Previously, in 2001, he had attempted the Philadelphia Marathon. While Shaun clocked in at a “disappointing” 3:14, explaining, “I went out too fast to meet my goal,” he did have the thrill of a lifetime – racing the first seven miles at a 5:30 pace surrounded by Kenyans! His then girlfriend, Nichole, drove all the way from New Hampshire to surprise him at the finish line. Although Nichole is not a runner herself, Shaun describes her as “incredibly supportive,” being there for him at each one of his ten marathons. With this encouragement, he learned from his mistakes and at the Buffalo Marathon, shaved an astounding 20 minutes off his previous time.

From a career perspective, Shaun’s most exciting marathon was the September 2004 Clarence DeMar Marathon in Keene, New Hampshire, where he was the overall winner in 2:44:30. This victory was all the more impressive since just a few days before he had fallen off his roof earning 21 stitches to repair damage done to his shoulder and chest. With the go-ahead of Dr. William Fisher of Saratoga Hospital, as well as his own professional assessment, and thoughts of the “drive and motivation” displayed by each of his young patients, Shaun decided to place his foot on the starting line. He was risking disappointment, but not failure. Rooting for him, as they do at all his events, was his Minor Improvements family, with Karen hanging race posters, and tracking his progress via phone.

While Shaun gains strength from the example and encouragement of his patients, he is also a role model for them, demonstrating the long-range planning that leads to improvement. He finds that teenagers with sports injuries are much more likely to take the advice of a dedicated athlete during the slow and often painful process of rehabilitation. With Shaun’s help, Minor Improvements fielded a team at the June 2004 Wesley Outpatient Therapy 5K Run to benefit the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped. Shaun won the event and then doubled back on the course to escort the rest of the team to the finish.

One of Shaun’s biggest fans was Gabrielle West, Minor Improvement’s first patient, whom he credits with “helping us learn to be creative in motivating children.” According to Gabrielle’s mother, Julie West, Gabby was just 22 months old when she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. The cancer and subsequent operation left her with physical limitations. “Looking back,” she reflects, “it was amazing to see how many gains she had made, being able to walk and run with the aid of a walker.” When nine year-old Gabby’s condition worsened this past August, Shaun and Karen made weekly home visits, massaging her legs and demonstrating range-of-motion exercises to her nurses. After her death on December 4, 2004, Bob and Julie West, who had witnessed the New York City Marathon while Gabrielle was in treatment at Sloan-Kettering, challenged Shaun to qualify for the New York City Marathon so that they could sponsor him in Gabrielle’s memory.

With such inspiration and support, there is no doubt that Shaun will meet his expectations next November in New York City and eventually whittle his finish time down to 2:22 and earn a trip to the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Although Shaun’s demanding work schedule necessitates that he train solo, “focusing more on quality rather than quantity” during the week and relying on weekends for longer runs, he is never truly alone in his ambitions.

To keep abreast of Shaun’s quest to qualify for the Olympic Trials, visit www.minorimprovementspt.com and click on the monthly newsletters.