By Rubin E. Grant
Perhaps Susan Vines should have chosen something less strenuous and more age appropriate when she decided she needed to stay more active.
But after attending the Make-A-Wish Alabama Trailblaze Challenge info meeting in January and hearing the stories of wish recipients finding hope and strength through their granted wishes, the septuagenarian decided to take on the arduous 26.3-mile hike on the Pinhoti Trail in the Talladega National Forest.
“At the meeting, a mother whose child has brain cancer explained how his wish had truly helped him with his treatment,” Vines said. “Evidently, the research backs up the obvious positive connection between happiness and overall physical health. This did not surprise me because I have always felt that our mind and physical body cannot be separated.
“As a retired elementary teacher, I remember students facing critical illnesses, and I can imagine how a ‘wish’ could be so helpful for them.”
So, on May 4, the 76-year-old Vines, who lives in Birmingham near Acton Road, made history with Make-A-Wish Alabama by becoming the oldest Trailblazer ever by hiking a marathon.
Her journey was not without challenges.
It began with modest training hikes at Red Mountain Park, starting with a 3-mile trek. Having completed two marathons in the past, Vines quickly realized hiking is more strenuous than running.
“I showed up in tennis shoes with no water,” she said. “Of course, after that, I realized I needed to ‘get my act together.’ Back 40 years ago, I could easily run several miles without stopping or getting water.”
Dealing With Knee Pain
Equipping herself with walking poles, a water bladder vest, snacks and hiking boots, Vines tackled a strenuous 13-mile hike at Oak Mountain, impressing herself and the trail team volunteers. However, a couple days afterward, she began experiencing severe knee pain.
After a visit to urgent care, she was referred to seek specialized care at OS1 Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic in Hoover.
“At OS1 I met Bryan Wimbish, who shared that I had a ‘frayed’ meniscus in both knees,” Vines said. “Bryan’s connection to the Make-A-Wish program through his undergraduate fraternity made me realize this is a ‘God thing’ for me. He gave me an injection in my knee for pain relief and ordered some very substantial knee braces for me to wear.”
Vines has been diligent about following Wimbish’s recommendations, which includes physical therapy with Therapy South two times a week.
With OS1’s guidance and treatment, Vines continued her training, which included a 16-20-mile hike.
Vines received unwavering support from friends, family and her community throughout her training.
“My family and friends have been super supportive, even though some can’t believe I am doing this,” Vines said prior to the Trailblaze Challenge. “Since I am retired, I have been relying heavily on family and friends for donations. My Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church is all in, praying for my health and ability to achieve my goal. Some have even said that they are now trying to walk more.”
Hiking a Marathon
Finally, in the predawn hours of May 4, Vines took on the challenge of the Pinhoti Trail, which meanders through mountains and valleys. It winds through rugged pine and hardwood forests, runs along ridgetops and passes through shady hollows and mountain streams.
Vines began her hike at 5:30 a.m. and finished 15 hours later, at 8:30 p.m.
“When I started training to do the hike, they told us if you can’t keep pace, they would put you in a van and take you to a mile before the finish, so we could hike the last mile,” Vines said.
“The most I’d ever hiked was 20 miles, so I knew doing 26.3 miles was going to be tough, but I was determined to do all of it.
“Every six to eight miles, there was an aid station and the volunteers kept checking on me. They knew I was one of the slower hikers, but they kept telling me, ‘You can do this.’”
Vines, whose husband, Larry, died in September 2022, drew inspiration from the ham radio operators along the trail.
“My husband was an avid ham radio operator,” Vines said. “There were ham radios throughout the woods, so it was like he was with me.”
As she neared the end, Vines was behind pace, but the volunteers ensured her she would finish.
“They said, ‘We’re going to make allowances for you because we know how much it means to you to do this,’ Vines said. “The last three or four miles I was so tired.”
With encouragement from volunteers and other hikers she pressed on, while also drawing strength from the stories she had heard at the info meeting about Make-A-Wish children overcoming challenges in their treatments that no one expected them to.
“It was inspiring to hear their stories, so I had to finish,” Vines said.
Vines completed the challenge and raised more than $5,200, more than doubling her goal of $2,500 for Make-A-Wish Alabama.
“It was really, really one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done,” she said.
