Liver Transplant Patient Runs Ultra Marathon

For many of us the idea of running a marathon seems way out of the question. Well how about running almost two marathons back to back as one Maryland man will do this weekend. As Fox 5's Beth Parker shows us - that's not even the amazing part of the story. This past February John Kippen was in a bed at Georgetown University Hospital after a life-saving liver transplant but playing the role of patient is not his specialty. The 60-year-old says that without goals we drift aimlessly. His goal this weekend is completing the JFK, a 50-mile run started during the Kennedy era. Here he is running the same race last year at the time he knew he had cancer and was waiting for a donor. I ran 12 miles a day before and a lot of people are amazed at that but you have to understand I didn't know the day before it was going to be the day before I received a phone call early on at Sunday morning that said "We have a liver for you." Kippen is the co-owner of If The Shoe Fits running store in Frederick, Maryland. They've got like 24/25 millimeter heel dropped down to a 12-millimeter forefoot. Fellow runners provide some of his inspiration. Even though John didn't start running marathons until he was 47 he has quite a few notches on his belt. Take a look at these t-shirts hanging here in the store - each one represents a race - he has completed 24 marathons and 11 ultra marathons. St. George which is my favorite - I was able to qualify for Boston, St. George Utah was kind of downhill, I needed all the help I can get. Some of this weekend's run on the Appalacian trail may be downhill too. I'm pretty clumsy. I told you I love sports but I don't have great balance. I'm usually good for a couple of tumbles on the technical part of the Appalacian trail. I've got scars on my knees. Kippen says his wife encourages him and worries about him. "Why do you have to do this? Haven't you done enough? What do you have to prove?" Kippen says everybody should have a little something to prove to themselves. I know a woman pushing 400 pounds, her goal was to walk the Market Street Mile. She has lost 225 pounds and for her to walk that mile is every bit as great of an accomplishment as running 50 miles, it's relative. He hopes to finish the 50 miles in 12 hours Saturday; Sunday he'll be deciding what to do next. In Frederick, Maryland Beth Parker Fox 5 News.