‘Trot’-ting to the next level

Reaching the finish line in a 5K race can be an emotional experience.

For Mark Stiles, his completion of the Nov. 15 Newton YMCA Turkey Trot 5K was emotional not only because of the rigors of the course — it also represented a major step for him and his family.

Stiles lost much of his ability to move freely when several back surgeries were unsuccessful. Two years ago, he was still in a hospital when his youngest daughter was born.

Having made some progress by the time last year’s Turkey Trot rolled around, Stiles vowed to complete a 5K by the end of 2014. He accomplished that goal with about seven weeks to spare, as he finished the Newton YMCA course in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 20 seconds, with his wife, Jody Marshall Stiles, by his side.

Though the couple needed 10 more minutes to complete the course than any of the other 48 finishers, the race was not really against anyone else. Stiles was competing, as he has done for several years, against the limits of his body — and those limits continue to be diminished.

“I still don’t have a lot of strength in my arms and shoulders,” the 1989 Newton High School graduate said. “I want to get to the point where I can transport my family, drive and physically pick the kids up. But I’m always pushing myself — trying to do a little more than I did the time before.”

Stiles, 44, was known as an athlete as much as he was anything else during his school days. His father, Dick, coached football at Newton High School for more than 30 years.

Mark had back surgeries in August and October of 2012 for a major back problem. Those surgeries, and a subsequent third surgery, have not made much impact, and Jody said things actually got worse.

A social media campaign, which took off with the help of Mark’s older brother, Tim, and a high school classmate, Chris Avery Arend, helped raise more than $7,500 to help the family with medical costs.

“He was in the hospital when our youngest, Sidney, was born almost two years ago,” Jody said. “He was on a feeding tube for a while. His legs have come around, but the neck and arms seem to be taking forever.”

Stiles works for Pella, the window and door manufacturer, and he’s been able to work part-time for them from home. Mark said one of his goals for the months and years ahead is to return to working full-time.

“Pella has been absolutely wonderful to us,” Jody said.

Mark has gradually been able to walk with more and more ease and capability. He said his development in walking has been somewhat on the same schedule as the couple’s daughters,

Sidney, now almost 2 years old, and Sadie, who is 3.

Mark said his daughters are his greatest motivators, and he said Jody and several family members have been invaluable in his recovery.

“I have frustrating days,” Mark said. “But then I think of the family, especially the girls, and I keep pushing. Plus, Jody deserves a gold medal for all she’s been through in raising them and helping me with just about everything.”

Arend said seeing and hearing about the Stiles family is inspiring.

“His focus since his surgery has been to get better and stronger, and his motivation has been his girls,” Arend said. “He is such a good daddy, and those are two lucky little girls.”

Dick Stiles said the support Mark has received is a big part of what helped him get to the point of completing a 5K.

“He’s gotten some really good help from family and friends,” Dick said. “Chris (Arend) and a lot of other people have helped him in so many ways, from financially to encouraging words.”

Arend said Stiles’ story has taught her to be thankful and appreciative of blessings.

“I know there were times where Mark thought that his improvement was slow and not happening as fast as he had hoped, but he never gave up, he kept working hard, which is exactly why he is doing as well as he is today.”

Stiles keeps his strength with activities such as walking to the YMCA and working out with the Silver Sneakers, a retirement-age group.

“I’m half their age,” Mark said. “But they’re great people.”

He said the experience has been humbling, and has taught him never to take anything for granted.

“When the chips are down, I still try to be an example of the kind of person I want others to be,” he said.

Arend said the example shown by the Stiles family should be emulated by others.

“Mark and Jody are an inspiration to me and so many people,” Arend said. “Mark had such a positive attitude and was so determined to get better and stronger. I think in the dictionary, under the word determination, Mark Stiles should be listed in the definition, without a doubt.”

Jody said she’s learned to live in the moment more, and not be quite as concerned about the future.

“I take pleasure in the simple things like sitting on the couch with Mark and watching our daughters laugh and play together,” Jody said. “Rather than think about next week, next month, or next year, I appreciate the moment for what it is.”

Jody and Mark both said she learned a lot of positive things about Newton from how the community responded in her family’s time of need. Jody said neighbors and co-workers helped out in countless ways; both Jody’s and Mark’s parents made sacrifices; the YMCA staff was “instrumental,” and pastor Mark Young and others at First Christian Church did things like build a wheelchair ramp for Mark and help wheel him through snow for a Christmas Eve service when she was eight months pregnant with Sidney.

“We are truly blessed to live in such a generous and caring community,” she said. “I don’t know that we would have had this support had we lived anywhere else.”

Jody said the daughters, Sidney and Sadie, have already shown signs that they’re being raised in a household built around gratitude.

“They do things like try to open doors for people,” Jody said regarding her young girls. “They’ve already developed a great deal of empathy for others who are in need.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com