Alex Kurzhals can be seen running throughout Finneytown when the weather is nice. He’s been a resident of Springfield Township since 2022 and with one half marathon and three full marathons under his belt, he’s put in a lot of miles on the Township’s sidewalks. 
Alex describes his childhood self as a “bigger kid.” He played sports for the social component, but didn’t ever envision himself becoming a runner. In 2019 he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and started walking to get active. He has lost over 100 lbs on his health journey.
When Covid hit, the walks got longer. Alex says he started to get bored on his walks, so he started to sneak some running into the routine. By 2021, he was training for a half-marathon.
Alex’s first three marathons were local, midwestern marathons. For his fourth marathon attempt, he’s going bigger. He will be competing in the 2026 Berlin Marathon, a World Major. He’s running with a “Charity Bib,” meaning he is running to fundraise for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“Every dollar raised will support critical research, education, and resources for the millions living with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, including those who are too sick to run, exercise, or even leave their homes,” says Alex. 
We're very proud that Alex is From Here. Alex will start running most of his training miles in June of 2026. Wave hello to him if you see him running down Winton Road!
Learn more about Alex’s journey here.