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'I’m an athlete': Omaha woman with MS stays positive on fitness journey ahead of Lincoln race

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'I’m an athlete': Omaha woman with MS stays positive on fitness journey ahead of Lincoln race

Bennet Goldstein Omaha World-Herald
Apr 28, 2022
Apr 28, 2022 Updated May 23, 2023
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6 min to read

OMAHA -- On a recent Friday morning, Kim Freeman helps Kim Kozelichki start her day at a kitchen table.

Kim Kozelichki plans to get out of her wheelchair and cross the finish line at the end of the half marathon Sunday in Lincoln.

Nurse practitioner Renee Stewart (left) and physical therapist Nancy Lenz (right) help Kim Kozelichki walk several steps to prepare to walk across the finish line at their upcoming Lincoln Half Marathon.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Nurse practitioner Renee Stewart works on strength exercises with Kim Kozelichki during a routine follow-up visit at Kim's Omaha home.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Nurse practitioner Renee Stewart (left), nurse Kristen Bayly (center), and physical therapist Nancy Lenz (right) secure Kim Kozelichki in an adaptive running wheelchair to train for their upcoming Lincoln Half Marathon.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Todd Kozelichki helps his wife, Kim Kozelichki, get out of her chair so she can stretch her legs at their home in Omaha.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Kim Kozelichki speaks to her friend, Cindy Munchrath, at her gym, MS Forward in Omaha.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Kim Kozelichki works out at her gym, MS Forward.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Nurse practitioner Renee Stewart (from left), physical therapist Nancy Lenz and nurse Kristen Bayly train with Kim Kozelichki for their upcoming half marathon in Lincoln. Kozelichki has lived with multiple sclerosis for 26 years.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha WORLD-HERALD

Photos: Runners take on Lincoln Marathon

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Lincoln Marathon medals sit on a table by the finish line Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — The first batch of Lincoln Marathon runners takes off from the starting line early Sunday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — A runner gives two thumbs up as they cross the finish line after completing the half marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Friends and family watch from behind the fences of Ed Weir Stadium as runners reach the finish line during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — The women's half-marathon winner, Colorado native Iveen Chepkemoi, tries to catch her breath at the finish line during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Runners speed down Vine Street during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — The men's half-marathon winner, 27- year-old Colorado native Dominic Korir, crosses the finish line with a record setting time of 1:03:45 during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon 5.1

Lincoln Marathon 5.1 — The men's marathon winner Alex Ekesa crosses the finish line with a final time of 2:28:16.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Runners take off from the starting line during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon.
Journal Star file photo

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Lincoln resident Kevin Ricky wears a gas mask as he walks wit his son Austin Ricky (bottom right) during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Runners are lit by early morning light as they make their way down Vine street during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Omaha native Alexander Haddad smiles as he sprints to the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Elkhorn resident Cailan Franz (left) celebrates with Britt Sherer from Overland Park, Kansas, as they cross the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Garden City, Kansas, native Brandon Mumgaard crosses the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium on Sunday while pushing two children in a stroller.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Bennington native Barb Knott hugs Melanie Kuenning as they cross the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium on Sunday during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Omaha resident Andrew Hubbard, 38, raises his hands and points to the sky in victory as he nears the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Columbus resident Angela Luebbe (left) supports her friend Sharon Soltero after finishing a half-marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Elkhorn resident Ellie Clinch high fives Brooke Ballou from Sacramento, California, after they both completed the half-marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Cortney McLaughlin, a 29-year-old from Colorado Springs, smiles and poses for the camera after crossing the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Lincoln resident Mari Wheeler (center) is helped up by others as she collapses at the finish line after finishing the half-marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Gretna resident Jeff Spilinek, 49, strikes a pose after completing the the half-marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Bennington resident Summer Fahnholz carries her American flag over the finish line after completing the half-marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Omaha natives Samar Willits (left) and Zeina Renno celebrate as they near the finish line after completing the half marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Friends and family watch from behind the fences of Ed Weir Stadium as runners reach the finish line during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Longmont, Colorado, resident Grace Njeri crosses the finish line after completing the half marathon Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2

Lincoln Marathon, 5.2 — Women's marathon winner Amy Delong (left), gets a hug from her boyfriend Mason Frank after she crossed the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium with a final time of 3:01:36 during the Lincoln Marathon on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Marathon 5.1

Lincoln Marathon 5.1 — Women's marathon winner Amy Delong, a 29-year-old from Denver, raises her arms in victory as she crosses the finish line at Ed Weir Stadium on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star