Seeing the world a week at a time

Michael is an ultra intelligent man. He knows something about everything. I often ask him questions about weather, surviving in the wilderness and the human body. He is always able to answer my questions. He is skilled at fixing things and making new things. He understands mechanics and how things work. He has traveled all over the world. He is able to acclimate to all different climates and time zones. Once Michael made a commitment to lifelong fitness he began to run and eat healthy. He has done marathons. He and his running group have spent time running on different trails. Last night he and his friends ran until 11:00 pm in the cold Ohio winter. Michael has researched the best and healthiest practices for runners. He maintains a blog. Michael is also the person who proofreads my resumes, emails and letters that I have to send to my business contacts. In Michael's spare time he helps to coordinate fund raising runs and walks for our local National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. When Michael was in flight school, he met an older gentlemen who served as one of mentors. This man recently became ill. His health continues to decline and he may not live much longer. Last year Michael began a campaign to establish a scholarship in his name. Michael wrote letters to his classmates who also attended the Kent State flight Program. Michael wrote letters to his other fellow pilots. Michael was able to raise more than $6,000.00 toward the scholarship fund. I would love to see Michael be able to go to the North Pole. It would be the most memorable event in his life second to marrying me. Our family supports Michael in all of his adventures.

Michael is my nephew. Words to accurately express the character of this man must be positive and life affirming. He epitomizes the spirit of a doer, is a caring and loving father and husband, possesses a keen mind, has a Renaisance interest in all things, and those brief comments are just the beginning description of a man who has accomplished and will accomplish anything he sets out to do.
His foibles are few...as his Scrabble tactics often are too flamboyant...but he adds correctly and usually wins.
Pick Michael Keller....he's in the human race for the long haul......

I have known Mike for about 15 years. He is very intelligent, hard-working, very conscientious and a very responsible person. He has a great sense of humor and is easily approachable. I can honestly say that I have never seen Mike become angry and mistreat anyone. He is respectful and very professional. I consider him a solid individual, very dependable; a person with great perserverance. If he decides to undertake a task he always completes it to the very best of his ability. In my opinion, Mike is a great choice for running the North Pole Marathon. I'm proud to have Mike as a friend.

Mike is my first cousin, and although we don't get to see each other very often, he keeps the family abreast of his many adventures through his blog page and humorous emails. His dedication to running and fitness are an inspiration to the rest of us, as is the devotion he demonstrates for his family. You can't go wrong if you pick Mike to run the North Pole Marathon.

My cousin Mike epitodmizes all that is good and decent and real. His remarkable efforts to improve his health while simultaneously becoming an accomplished athlete have been an inspiration to me. Now if I could just find my running shoes...

I've only known Michael for about three months but of all the runners I've met in my life; he has been the most impressive. I've been an avid runner for three years and sit on the board of directors of a local running club. Running has burned an everlasting impression in my soul and I like to seek out like-minded runners. Mike has only been a runner for a relative short time, yet he has accomplished some amazing running goals that have taken other runners 20 years to fulfill-made possible by his sense of adventure, careful research of the sport, goal-oriented nature, physical stamina, and helpful teaching spirit.

Mike maintains an inspiring well-written trail running blog detailing his adventures. Mike has an uncanny ability to gently motivate rather than intimidate. His motto seems to be: “Be gently on yourself, but forever reach upward to attain your goals”.

I can’t think of a more perfect person to run the North Pole marathon. He possesses the requisite physical stamina and endurance to run a marathon in harsh conditions and his literate teaching spirit will chronicle the adventure in the most interesting light.

I'm one of Mike's many coworkers. He aims for high standards when flying, and gets the balance needed of noticing small details while keeping the big picture.
Mike has inspired several of us to sharpen our healthy-lifestyle skills during duty on the road...and it's helped! Thanks Mike.
You deserve to run the North Pole so go for it!

As Mike's oldest uncle, I go to bed early after just reading his blogs. Why in the hell he would want to do this is beyond my understanding but....he's a great guy and brings great intelligence and determination to all his efforts. My vote is: Go Mike. He would not disappoint the sponsors of this madness.

I've known Mike as a pilot for 4 years. It was over this time that he worked his way into the shape he is in now. His journey has inspired many of his coworkers to do the same things he did. Though many of us wont be running marathons like Mike does, we have all learned that we have our own personal challenges, own personal marathons, our own personal milestones to challenge and to champion.

Mike running a marathon that is this important to him is important to us, as well. Again, we all have our own benchmarks and milestones... and it is time, an appropriate, for Mike to set out for his next one, one such as this.

Mike Keller is my neighbor, and I met him in August 2006. I have had the privilege of running with Mike, and watching his amazing progression from walk-runs, 2 miles to 5 miles, half and full marathons (26.2 miles), to a 50 mile race! In only about 8 or 9 onths! Mike has run well at all of these distances, and continues to raise his sights higher. How ironic that 2 of his next races are The Burning River 100-Miler and The North Pole Marathon!! Although I have run over 30 marathons, I recently told Mike that he is "the marathon man" of our neighborhood!

I know Mike Keller will represent your race well, as a quality guy and runner!
Tony Harbert

I met Mike Keller through a dear friend who is also Mike's mother. A group of us participated in a NAMI walk here in Ohio. In my opinion, Mike is well qualified and very motivated to be a runner in any location on this planet, including the North Pole.

May he realize this dream as he has realized so many others to date.
Georgia Lee Eshelman, Massillon, OH

I have know Mike for a many number of years now. Mike would be the only person that I know that would signup for a chance to run the North Pole. Recently making his dedication to becoming and staying a more fit individual, Mike has done a number of impressive things in the last few months. Running his first marathon, and then another, and more running. Mike has basically become a running fool, whenever and wherever he can run, he does.

I believe that Mike has the knowledge, the dedication, and the desire to be able to run the North Pole. It can become pretty brutual here in Northeast Ohio during the winters. I have seen Mike running in snow, cold, cold October rain, and all other conditions. The weather does not seem to have an effect, in fact I think that he actually prefers and enjoys the challenges of the extreme weather.

I think my daddy should win. He wants to run marathon so he can see Santa. You are a great runner daddy.

I think my dad should run in the North Pole because he works hard and deserves it.I also think he should run in the North Pole because he has the dedication and strength that a great runner needs to have.You are a great runner and is great at it.

What Mike has done in the last year when it comes to running is nothing short of amazing. You can read about it on his website. I only know Mike through running, and I have never seen anyone more determined to accomplish what they set out to do. It has come to the point where if I sign up for any type of endurance run in the Cleveland area, I expect to see him there. This also goes for training runs scheduled by the yahoo user group for the Burning River 100. I just saw him yesterday at the Buckeye Trail 50k, where he as well as the rest of us gained a lot of experience running on ice in uneven terrain.

He is a great candidate for the North Pole Marathon, and you will be very impressed with him if you select him. Give him the opportunity, and he will show what someone can do with a lot of determination.

I'm a fellow runner with Mike and frequently join him on those cold days on the trails. What I might add to the growing list of comments about Mike and his fitness for a marathon at the northern reaches concern his social skills, his facility with writing, and his cold weather training and readiness. On the trail (and off) I would guess, Mike always gives any event, especially any mishap, a great deal of attention -- figuring out why something happened, and looking for causes for someone's injury and how to prevent them. In short, he is considerate of his fellows on the run and thoughtful about their development and ability. He also can spin a great yarn, and keeps the bunch of us runners both entertained and active while putting in lots of miles. His blog, and his application materials on this site show his narrative skills at selecting the right stuff to comment on. He has a great visual sense, something that should come in real handy when reporting about this marathon. Finally, Ohio gets pretty darned cold, and it has its share of hills and rough patches on the trails. The kind of conditioning that can be obtained by running over and through creeks, uneven surfaces from roots, craggy rocks, erosion and a seemingly endless series of snowfalls are the things that Mike has experience with.

Michael has been a very dear friend of mine for many years. We have watched eachother grow as individuals and have shared our families lives. Michael has always been the type of person who accomplishes whatever goals he may set. He does have a passion for running and I love to listen to him when he talks about his runs. (in the dark, rain, cold, snow, through the steams or in the ice) You can hear the excitment in his voice. If you choose Michael for the North Pole Marathon he will give 110%. His intelligence, physical aptitude and magnanamious personality would be great addition to the team for the North Pole Marathon.
Good Luck Michael 'Gomer' Keller.
Amy from London, Ohio

It's easy to come on here and say things like, "You should pick Mike because..." or "Please choose Mike because..." Any would be and are valid arguements. However, I'me going to post you HAVE to choose Mike. Why? Simple - He's the only logical choice in picking a person that personifies the spirit of this type of adventure. Mike decided to change his life around and put himself on the biggest adventure of his life. This was to lose over 100 pounds & run not one, not two, not three, but multiple marathons within that same year (2006). An outstanding physical and mental achievement that boggles the mind. A run to the North Pole is something that boggles the average persons mind. This is why you don't need the average person...you NEED Mike.

-Tyler

ONE WORD: INSPIRATION!!!! yeah I could talk and talk but doesn't that one word sum it up? I think they should pick someone that you would have over for dinner and everyone at the dinner table would have idle chatter and not notice them but then they start telling their story and what happens.....INSPIRATION....the spark goes on.

Isn't that what it is all about?

I sure think he deserves a shot at it. Anyone who even volunteers for such a run is a hero in my book. I don't see any reason to exclude him!!!

I have never actually met or spoken with Mike. But I do know a man who has overcome extreme obstacles in his life to become a stronger human being. I have followed this person’s “new” life closely over the past 3 years. During that time I have seen the contribution that his renewed lifestyle has made to both the quality of his life as well as those around him. This gentleman has asked that I comment on Mike’s commitment to become a better and stronger person. We, as a group, tend to offer our recommendations or visions into our minds with little thought or commitment to the words we write. I hold my recommendations for those who deserve it! Mike, from what I can see from following your transformation and from the kind words that one of my best and oldest friends has bestowed upon you, I can only provide to you my most heart felt wishes and greatest commendations. Good luck at the North Pole and let Santa know I will be good again this year.

I have never met Mike but I know of his amazing ongoing transformation from Tyler Darby, a man who also continues to inspire me with his accomplishments. Both of their stories are a testament to the fact that we all choose the roads that we will go down, that we all have choices is this life. Mike was livung a life that millions of others struggle with everyday. Yet he made a decision after reading about Tylers road back to health to change his life. Now he is living a completely different life! Clearly he has the determination and commitment to run to the North Pole. His past running accomplishments proves that he not only has the physical ability to finish this race, but he has the heart and spirit as well. I have been touched and motivated by his story. I thing I'll run on my 0 incline treadmill now! I wish hime well and look forward to hearing about his success. Good luck and never give up!

I feel so fortunate to have shared a few miles running with Mike. In a short time, this man has accomplished more than I have in close to twenty years of running. I'm inspired just to be in his company - and grateful that he tolerates every kind of runner. He's an inspiration to every person who ever dared dream they could do the unimaginable. I watch him in awe. I know Mike will come back victorious from his North Pole adventure. I ANYONE can do this - it's Mike. Good luck - and never give up your dream. You are a rock star runner!!!

i fly in the same group of folks as Mike. during the course of every day we fly jets 7-10 hours crisscrossing time zones ending up who knows where within a 14 hour day. we do it because we love it. most guys are ready to relax in their 10 hours off, Mike is always ready to run! It's great to get paired up with him because i know i'll have more energy at the end of that 8 day duty cycle than any other even if it means taking the bus into New York City from the hotel in Jersey to run the Park. Thanks Mike and great luck!

Mike is conscientious, caring of others, and understands that he is here for a greater purpose. His inner strength and mental fortitude (as well as just being an all-around great guy) make him a logical choice for this endeavor.