Bill Hughes plans to set longest Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k course record

This Sunday, Northern Virginia runner Bill Hughes will finish the 2016 Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k in a record time of 50 days and 7 hours. He started the race on April 9, and as he made his way to the halfway point of the course, the last thing he remembers is thinking is, ‘It’s all downhill from here!’

“It was my 5th time running the race so I knew what to expect,” Hughes said. “Then I blacked out and my daughter said the last thing I said was something like, ‘Oh my goodness!’”

Hughes’ survival is credited to his quick thinking daughter, Bethany, and about seven volunteers who went into action.  A 911 call was made while bystanders and fellow runners began CPR. An AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) rapidly arrived via the on-course medical team, and shocks were delivered.

“The next thing I remember, I heard heavy breathing in my ears and my eyes were closed,” Hughes said. “I thought, ‘How am I going to finish the race breathing like this?’ I tried to push the oxygen mask away because I thought, ‘I can’t run with that on. Why are we going through all this trouble? I’ll finish the race and then you can do whatever you want.’”

He soon realized the gravity of the situation as his daughter explained to him that he did need the oxygen mask.

When he got to the hospital, doctors began to run tests on Hughes. They told him they needed to do a dye test the Monday after the race to determine the next step in his recovery. He had gone into cardiac arrest on the course, but since he was brought back very quickly, he didn’t lose brain function. The results of the dye test showed that he had three blocked arteries he knew nothing about, and the doctor’s recommended triple bypass surgery.

Five years earlier Hughes’ brother passed away after a heart attack. This prompted Hughes to get a stress test performed. He found out he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. While he was put on medication for both, he had no idea he had any blockages.

“I run regularly on the treadmill and sometimes outside, but I usually limit it to a 5k,” Hughes said. “So I don’t know if my body was just conditioned to only do the 5k distance, and that’s what it did.”

His triple bypass was performed on April 15th, six days after the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k. He was discharged the next day. He spent the first week of recovery at his daughter’s house in Goochland. At his 30 day follow up appointment he was cleared to drive and lift ten pounds. If his recovery stays on target, he should be almost back to normal 90 days after his surgery.

Hughes’ two granddaughters have provided extra motivation. The youngest one is 15 pounds, and he’ll be able to pick her up after his 60 day checkup. He attends cardiac rehab three times a week. With the help of his Fitbit, he’s walking 11 – 15,000 steps a day, not resting until he’s met his daily 10,000 step goal.

On Sunday, Hughes will get the chance to cross the finish line he’s been dreaming of ever since April 9th.

“I haven’t felt complete, and I knew while I was in the hospital that I had to finish the race,” Hughes said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve always loved the Monument Avenue 10k. It’s so encouraging with all the bands and people cheering. You’ve got everyone out there doing the best they can no matter their speed.”

Although Hughes wore his son-in-law’s 10k participant shirt during recovery, he’s excited to wear his own with pride as a finisher. He’ll be walking about 3-miles from the spot he went down with his daughter, the volunteers that saved him, first responders, and some other family members.

“I’m very thankful that Matt [a firefighter who was running at the time], and Bethany, and the other volunteers were there,” Hughes said. “Without them I wouldn’t be here. It’s overwhelming to think about all the support and get well cards I received. It was a much better ending than the alternative.”

The reunion takes place days before the start of National CPR and AED Awareness Week on June 1. During this week, everyone is encouraged to learn the simple two-step process that can save a life: Call 911, and push ‘Hard and Fast’ until help arrives.

“One of my goals is to get the word out that you need to listen to your body and be aware of your heritage. Be aware of those kinds of things and get in that preventative mode to keep it from happening to you,” Hughes said.

Press are invited to join Bill and his life savers for a short meet and greet at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, 2400 Hermitage Rd Richmond, Sunday at 4 p.m. and then follow on to Monument Ave to complete the race at 4:30 p.m., with an anticipated arrival at Monroe Park at 5:15 p.m.

Spectators are also welcome to line the end of the course, and cheer Bill on to the finish. Richmond Ambulance Authority and Sports Backers would love to give him an authentic Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k race day experience.