Stark County running team Sarah Betz Kyle Nottingham road races - Massillon Independent

Those who enjoy running outdoors do so for the exercise, or perhaps as a way to relieve stress.

Stark County residents Sarah Betz and Kyle Nottingham race for good health, but also to boost camaraderie and grow their friendship.

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Betz, who lives in Plain Township, and 14-year-old Kyle Nottingham, of Massillon, take part in road races together as a team. Kyle is wheelchair bound and a patient at Akron Children's Hospital. He has a genetic condition called leukodystrophy.

"I like to push myself with the extra weight. And of course, getting outside is a big thing for us both," Betz said about the running partnership with Kyle.

Betz, who works as an intervention specialist with Southeast Local Schools in Portage County, first began taking Kyle on runs last fall. He weighs about 80 pounds, and the wheelchair comes in at another 75.

Overall, the running duo has participated in at least a dozen races. The longest has been 5.5 miles.

"He's Mr. Enthusiastic," Betz said. "He loves the speed of running."

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Dr. Mark Adamczyk, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Akron Children's, said Kyle is well known and loved throughout the halls of the hospital.

"We love to care for him, but mostly we want to see him out having fun and enjoying life," the doctor said in a statement. "It looks like he has found a niche in the running community, and we are really happy to see him outside enjoying the parks, the trails and getting lots of cheers and love at so many road races."

Longtime friendship between Betz, Kyle's family

Kyle's mother, Jenny Nottingham, said her son and Betz met at a camp for kids with disabilities and quickly became close friends. 

Betz, 33 has logged more than 520 miles running in 2022, including 150 miles while pushing Kyle in a specialized running chair, according to an Akron Children's Hospital news release.

Wanting to get in better shape and shed a few pounds, Betz began running more than a year ago. Kyle started with her last October after cheering her on at the finish line of races.

Jenny Nottingham said Kyle's participation is a moral boost for all three of them.

"He loves being around people," she said. "This has been good for him socially and emotionally for all of us."

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Betz and Kyle do most of their training runs on the Towpath Trail, the Sippo Lake Trail and other Stark Parks trails. Kyle enjoys the sights and sounds of nature, his mother said.

About three weeks ago, Kyle had hip surgery, which has put a temporary halt to his participation.

If there's anything that's difficult about running together, Betz said, pushing Kyle and the chair can be occasionally cumbersome.

"We both love being outdoors. So we push through those tough moments."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE