Active his entire life, Humana Medicare Advantage member and veteran, Willie Spruill, 64, grew up loving sports and playing baseball. Any game with a ball was a game Willie and his friends played in North Carolina. At age 18, he enlisted in the Army where he discovered cross-country running and track and field while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division.
“I fell in love with running track and the camaraderie with our teammates,” said Willie. “The camaraderie with the people you are running with is really amazing.”
Willie endured both physical and mental trauma during and after 20 years of military service, including a cracked pelvis, sciatica and chronic migraines. After years of failed doctor visits to try to regain his mobility, Willie felt hopeless, lost and alone.
In 2017, Willie and his son came across an advertisement for the North Carolina Senior Games, and he felt inspired. Even though he was still experiencing chronic pain, he decided that he would like to participate. Willie started training, one step at a time and a little more each day.
“I started walking a little more each day,” said Willie. “And in the first week I was able to run, I just screamed out, ‘I can run again. I can run again!’”
The track ignited a spark in Willie he hadn’t felt in years. The competitive athletic environment and ability to surround himself with similarly motivated people made him feel like he was where he was supposed to be.
During his first National Senior Games, Willie was confident enough to enter three events. He won all three. He has not stopped running since.
“Getting back into running really saved my life,” said Willie. It brought back hope and a sense of belonging. “Some days you feel like you could just run forever. And when you’ve got all these positive people around you with nothing but positive energy, you can’t go wrong. It’s more healing than anything else.”
