Tracy Kunkel is running in every town in Connecticut to honor her dad. She is a Project Purple ambassador and sets out to complete her dad’s mission. Tracy’s father, Randy, was a member of a running club who started this journey, and now Tracy is carrying the baton.
Unfortunately, before completing this mission, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had some lower back pain and thought he had pulled a muscle. He was sent for a CT scan and got his results on his medical app the following day. His app told him he had a pancreatic carcinoma.
He and his family were all shocked as he was a very healthy individual and his only risk factor was his age. Randy eventually received an endoscopy that revealed he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. According to Tracy, “Out of the list of risk factors [his age], was [his] only risk factor.”
Randy was able to run in 71 races before his passing, Tracy has increased their combined number to 86 races leaving 83 to go. Randy passed just 142 days after his diagnosis, a short battle with pancreatic cancer is unfortunately not uncommon. Tracy knew she wanted to partner with Project Purple for her runs to support early detection initiatives.
Tracy’s advice for anyone hoping to get into running is to be patient with yourself, be nice to yourself, and “I realize I’m never going to have the time, I have to make the time or it’s never going to happen.” says and encourages new runners to do the same.
As for fundraising, Tracy recommends thinking about it not just as a fundraiser, but as advocacy. She sees it as an opportunity to raise awareness of the cause by asking people to donate and educating them. “I try to think of it as raising awareness and if people want to donate based on that, then great…” says Tracy.
Running For Dad
“I feel him when I run”, Tracy says. She feels his presence and knows he is with her when she accomplishes big things in her races whether that’s getting to the next mile or setting a new personal record.
She talks to him while running, “Sometimes I yell at him for not being there or I ask him for a push or a little help” says Tracy. “…He had this thing where he would sprint to the finish line no matter what.” She uses his inspiration to help her finish strong in all of her races.
Tracy was involved in running casually but got more involved when her sister started running 5Ks and half marathons. Her dad was also super supportive of her and her sister’s hobbies and sports ventures and joined them in running.
According to Tracy, “He was wonderful, he was the most supportive dad, no matter what we did he supported us since we were little.” He picked up running to support Tracy and her sister’s appreciation for the sport and he found he enjoyed it.
Randy was an amazing grandfather who loved spending time with his grandkids. He made sure both of Tracy’s kids ran an official race with him before his passing.
Tracy’s kids talk about Randy often and remember all the good times they had together. Tracy and her husband were in the process of moving during COVID-19 and “The [kids] would go over there 2-3 nights a week, they loved hanging out with him” according to Tracy.
Mamas Many Miles
Tracy uses her Instagram account “MamasManyMiles”, to document her running journey. Her Instagram account serves as a place for Tracy to memorialize her dad while also spreading the word about Project Purple.
She records details from every race she runs like the weather on her race day, the song she starts the race listening to, the song she ends the race listening to, and an overall rating of the race. Her most recent race was the Grand Prix 7 Wild Turkey 5K Chase in Torrington on 11/17/24. She felt that her dad was there to give her a push.
Tracy says her favorite race she participated in was the “Woodstock Connecticut Roseland Park Christmas run. It was so nice, just us out there having a stroll, chatting …so much support for this little race in the middle of nowhere”
Tracy hopes to continue honoring her dad by running with Project Purple to awareness and advocacy for pancreatic cancer research and encourage early detection.
To follow along with Tracy on her epic journey, follow her on Instagram @MamasManyMiles. To donate to her fundraising efforts, visit her “Remembering Randy” fundraising page.
