MARGATE - Firefighter Chris Fantazzia found a great way to make a statement this past weekend as he ran the AmeriHealth April Fools Half Marathon hosted by the Marjorie and Lewis Katz Jewish Community Center on Sunday in full turnout gear.
The nine-year Margate veteran firefighter said it was the hardest thing he’s done since he decided to train his mind, body and soul to chase the horizon. He did it with the unspoken bond of brotherhood and camaraderie for firefighters who put their lives on the line 24-7.
“I did it because I wanted to show support for fallen or injured firefighters who can’t do it on their own,” he said.
After a brief recuperation period, Fantazzia showed up for work Sunday night and called his shift on Monday just “another day in paradise” working at the firehouse.
The run, not so much.
“The only words I can come up with are miserable, hot and heavy,” he said. “It was definitely very challenging.”
Fantazzzia said the half-marathon in full gear was much harder than the full marathon he completed in January.
“The half was harder than the full marathon,” he said.
He started running about 8-9 months ago and fell in love with it, he said.
“I started running to train for the Atlantic City Half-Marathon held in October, and then did the full Life Time Miami Marathon in January,” he said.
He said he has signed up for the Iron Man 70.3 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, being held May 17.
Fantazzia, 30, who lives in Margate with his wife Deanna and their 3-year-old daughter Lilliana, also owns a demolition dumpster business called Fantazzia’s Co.
He completed the run, not as a fundraiser for any cause other than the JCC’s entry fee, but to foster awareness of the contributions firefighters make on a daily basis to help others.
“I didn’t do it for any publicity. I just wanted to show that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
