Courage to come back: Gibsonia triathlete recovers from horrific crash, returns to running
With every step he takes on his treadmill and every movement to regain his strength and flexibility, Greg Reed is fueled by gratitude.
"I feel blessed. I'm amazed by it," Reed said.
On June 13, 2020, Reed suffered catastrophic injuries on Mars-Evans City Road when an SUV collided with the accomplished triathlete from Gibsonia.
"I was on a bike ride. A ride that I've done several hundred times," Reed said.
Greg has no memory of that day.
Photos and medical reports detail his 23 broken bones, multiple injuries to his internal organs and the loss of his eyesight.
For the first nine days in the hospital, it was minute-by-minute for Reed as doctors didn't know if he would survive.
They call his survival miraculous. As Reed pushed through physical pain, though, they did not know if he'd ever walk again.
He said the emotional pain was indescribable. Through hard work however, he slowly has improved and is getting stronger.
Three motivational phrases on his brain and on his lips: "Don't stop believing, Greg. Never give up, Greg. And as you were before this happened, always continue to be strong."
April Bumbaugh, a certified personal trainer, watches him workout in his basement gym.
You would never know how close Reed came to dying and how running is so important to him living.
He credits Bumbaugh, his running coach, for getting him back into form.
Nearly five years since the crash that stole so much, Reed says it's time to publicly share his story.
"I think it's important to talk now, because quite honestly, of the progress that I've been making," Reed said.
That progress has him running again. A small spring connected to Bumbaugh helps him pick up his pace.
"When we first started out, his fast interval pace would be somewhere around a 2.1, and now his faster locations around like a 4.5 to 5. So incredible, incredible increase in his speed," Bumbaugh said.
She says she's impressed with Reed's courage and nonstop drive to exceed goals.
"Greg might have lost a couple of things, one being his vision, but I don't think he's lost the ability to visualize what he wants to do in life and the way that he wants to live it. So I think that's an important message," Bumbaugh said.
Part of that message? Returning to the sport he loves, even though it hasn't been easy without his vision.
"I will say honestly, it was a little bit scary because you don't know where you're at. You've got to depend completely on your guide. And I have wonderful guides, thank goodness," Reed said.
In addition to Bumbaugh, his friends Matt Meehan and Don Polito are also tethered to Reed every time he runs.
Reed is now back to competing in 5K races after gaining confidence with walks around his neighborhood, interval training at North Park, and cross-training at his home.
Crossing the finish line this past Christmas Eve was Reed's second race in his recovery.
He did that run with his brother Ken leading the way.
"My brother was running ahead of us, and we could hear him. 'Could you please move to the side? There is a blind runner behind you. Give him some room,'" Reed recalled.
During the run, he was tethered to his son John, a professional triathlete. Together, they shaved off eight minutes from Reed's first race time.
"I'm getting so much closer to what used to be a regular running speed for me. And that has me highly motivated," Reed said.
A renowned engineering professor at Pitt and an expert on the energy grid, Reed has no time to be bitter. Instead he uses his energy to get better.
An effort led by his wife, Chantal, and their three children: John, Caitlin and Coco.
"Without Chantal, who was my beautiful, loving, amazing wife, my rock, my stability, my love, without her and her continued efforts for everything, I would not have been able to get back to where I am today," Reed said.
Reed, a professor of power, is using his recovery to teach daily lessons of resiliency: "I have a new cross to carry, and I am trying to carry it as well as I can."