A local runner and mother of four is sharing her experience working with an adaptive athlete through a nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusion in endurance sports, describing a race day that highlighted teamwork, determination and connection beyond competition.
Danielle Brumfield appeared on Kevin & Taylors “Feel Good” segment to discuss her recent participation with the Kyle Pease Foundation, a nonprofit that pairs runners with athletes with disabilities to complete races together. Brumfield, who is also a distance runner, was selected to pace an adaptive athlete named Titus during a North Georgia race known as the Trout Trot.
“I was recently asked to pace my adaptive athlete Titus in the Kyle Peace Foundation, North Georgia team for the trout trot,” Brumfield said during the interview. “But the cool thing about Titus is he was the only adaptive athlete that was not in a push chair for the race.”
The Kyle Pease Foundation focuses on providing opportunities for athletes with disabilities to participate in endurance events through assisted racing partnerships. In Brumfield’s case, her role was to support Titus throughout the course, ensuring stability and assistance when needed while allowing him to set the pace and experience the race independently as much as possible.
Titus, who lives with a chromosome translocation, has developmental delays and significant spinal fusion from the C7 through L2 vertebrae, which impacts his balance and gait. Despite these challenges, Brumfield described his determination throughout the race as steady and inspiring.
“I held his hand probably for about two miles of the three,” she said. “He enjoyed holding my hand most of the way.”
Brumfield explained that the race became less about performance and more about shared progress, with Titus alternating between walking and running intervals. She noted that his focus and persistence carried him through the course, ultimately finishing in approximately 37 to 38 minutes.
The most memorable moment, she said, came as they approached the finish line. As the crowd and final stretch came into view, Titus responded with an unexpected burst of energy.
“The last moment you make a turn and all of a sudden you see this big finish line,” Brumfield said. “And I saw him see the finish line and he took off.”
Brumfield said she briefly ran alongside him before stepping aside to allow him to cross the finish line on his own, emphasizing the importance of giving him ownership of the moment.
“For those moments, I was sprinting after him,” she said. “So at the moment he saw the finish line, he took off and he almost lost me. So I kind of went off to the side and let him have his moment. The joy is almost unexplainable. It was just absolutely incredible.”
Beyond the race itself, Brumfield said the experience reinforced the broader mission of the Kyle Pease Foundation and the value of inclusive athletic programs that bring able-bodied and adaptive athletes together.
“It is the most fulfilling and rewarding experience I’ve ever had,” she said.
To listen to the full interview, click HERE.
Danielle Brumfield’s Unforgettable Race with the Kyle Pease Foundation
Danielle Brumfield’s Unforgettable Race with the Kyle Pease Foundation
