When Jamie Shinneman prepares for his long-distance runs, he ensures he is fueled with a heavy breakfast. He then sets off, bringing along what many runners do not: a teammate. During his training in Noblesville, Indiana, Jamie, age 53, pushes his wife Amy, seated in a three-wheeled racing wheelchair they call a ‘duo bike’. Jamie propels them forward, while Amy guides their direction. As a ‘Duo Team’, the couple has been completing marathons since 2019, a significant achievement for Amy, who has not run independently.
Amy shares, “My duo partner helps me to see beyond, sometimes, my limited vision of myself. It’s a vital lesson.”
Amy’s journey began with a neuromuscular disease diagnosed as Bethlem myopathy in 2018. This rare muscular dystrophy causes progressive muscle weakness, impacting her mobility. Now 52, Amy predominantly uses a wheelchair, yet racing offers new vistas. “She’s discovering parts of the world she hadn’t seen,” Jamie explains. “It’s profoundly inspiring.”
Initially, Amy hesitated when Jamie decided to pause his solo running career. The idea was sparked at the Boston Marathon Expo in 2019, where they observed a race wheelchair. At this point, Jamie’s running accomplishments included Boston Marathon qualifications twice over eight years.
Amy recalls her initial reluctance: “I felt on display due to my walk, so I preferred cheering Jamie from the sidelines.” Transitioning to an athlete with a cheering crowd was unimaginable. “That aspect was significant,” she notes. “Becoming someone others cheer for at a sporting event required adjusting my mindset.” Now, at each race, the Shinneman’s cheer grows as they pursue completing all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, and New York are done; Sydney, London, Tokyo, and Cape Town await them.
Amy reflects, “Despite my disability’s challenges, self-belief is replacing self-doubt. With every finish line, my confidence builds, promising me a fulfilling life and the chance to do meaningful things.”
Their story aims to inspire others facing disabilities. This mission shapes their team and nonprofit, Team Humbly Courageous. “Our goal is to encourage living with humble courage,” Jamie explains, “by showcasing goals achievable as a duo team like us.”
Ahead of the Sydney Marathon, the duo targets raising $26,000 for their nonprofit. 10% is pledged to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, with the remainder designated for a racing wheelchair for a duo team in need.
What began as a joint endeavor became more than 26.2 miles. It is a mission driven by purpose. “Our hope is to inspire others to harness their talents,” Jamie articulates. “Be humbly courageous, and do what once seemed impossible.”
Leave a Reply