Page 50 June 2012 Tragedy moves runner to open store, chase a dream Mark Cosmas By Christina Sampson The iRun store in the Safeway shopping center at 4730 E. Indian School Road celebrated its one-year anniversary this spring. “It’s great, we’re doing really well,” said owner Mark Cosmas. “The reception from the entire Arcadia community has been awesome.” Cosmas, who has been passionate about running since he was in grade school, said he always had the idea of having a running store in the back of his mind, but couldn’t get himself to leave his stable job of 18 years selling billboard-advertising space. “I’d always kind of wanted to do it because I didn’t think there were enough running stores in Phoenix,” Cosmas said. “And Tucson had more running stores than Phoenix did and we’re twice the size.” Then Cosmas and his wife Katie were struck by tragedy in 2010 when their 5 1/2-month-old daughter, Taylor, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). “Obviously it just completely devastated us,” Cosmas said. “And my wife was just like, ‘Screw it. Let’s do it.’ “So we started planning, and about a year to the day that she passed away the store was open,” Cosmas said. “We realized the hard way that life is too short, and you’ve got to do what you love.” And running is a passion. When he was in grade school, he and some friends would run in what used to be known as the Phoenix 10K run. In high school, he ran track, and he graduated college with the goal of running a marathon. Continued on page 51 FAMILY PRACTICE SPECIALISTS, LTD. Established 1969 • Celebrating 43 years of care Award winning on site clinical laboratory X-ray facility and bone densitometry Dermal fillers Perlane and Restylane Botox and Obagi skin care now available Excellent care offered for all ages State-of-the-art Electronic Medical Records Same day appointments available 4350 East Camelback Road • Ste F100 • Phoenix 60 2- 9 55-87 00 • FpsAZ .com Family Practice Specialists Our family car ing for yours M ar k A . Wy s e , M .D. I ra H . U n g ar , M .D. A llan Gol d man , D. O . Karin O’ Clair , D. O . Da v i d F rancy k, D. O . Kate M ont g omery , FNP T . E . M cCa u ley , M .D. Charle s Le v i s on , M .D. J ohn S tatha k i s, D. O . , ( Dermatolo g i s t ) ghost bull • matt priebe • photographic emulsion on canvas • 47h x 64w x 2d art art ne gallery ne gallery representing students of american and european universities, local and community colleges, high schools and emerging arizona artists. 480.946.5076 • artonegalleryinc.com 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale

Page 51 June 2012 iRun Continued from page 50 Still, Cosmas said he’s only been running “seriously” for the past 15 years, which is when he began running in various marathons. “About 10 years ago, I got into doing ultra-marathons, which are 50 to 100 miles in the mountains,” Cosmas said. It served to deepen his love of the sport. “I just love the freedom,” Cosmas said. “It’s almost like, when I’m running the mountains, it’s like my church. “It’s where I go to get away, to nd myself and get lost at the same time.” He said his store allows him to “spread the joy of running.” “You don’t have to be a great runner to come in here,” Cosmas said. “We work with beginners. If they’re training for a race, most likely I’ve done it; if they have an injury, most likely I’ve had it; and if they want a certain shoe, most likely I’ve run in it.” That’s something Kim Beall said she appreciates about Cosmas. Beall, already a triathlete, wanted to run a half-marathon, but knew “running is my weakness,” she said. Unsure of exactly how to start training, she went to iRun. There, Cosmas convinced her to join one his store’s three running groups. Beall joined the Tuesday-morning group and generally runs four to ve miles. “The rst time, I had to stop twice, but I nished it,” Beall said. Then, “One Saturday, I was running 10 miles. “I was oored.” She is training for the Half Iron Man. Cosmas, Beall said, was especially helpful in ensuring she had all the right equipment, “but never, never pushy.” “You don’t feel like you’re going in there and talking to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Beall said. “He’s knowledgeable about running, and I think that’s great.” Cosmas and his wife, who now have a newborn son named Cade, have found a way to commemorate their daughter’s death through running by forming Team Taylor for Pat’s Run. They do it “to raise money so that someday they can nd out what causes (SIDS) and no other parents will have to go through what we went through,” Cosmas said. Last year, they had the largest team in the history of Pat’s Run and raised $3,000 for SIDS research. “You’ll never forget. You never get over it,” Cosmas said. “But you learn how to get through every day. “There’s not a second that goes by that I don’t think of her, but I know that she’s proud of everything we’ve been doing.” * Limited time offer. Scottsdale Treatment provides referral for DUI attorney. DUI? DUI? AS OF JANUARY 1, 2012: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? Call us for a free consultation with an attorney who specializes in DUI cases. Uh, oh! Uh, oh! Here comes the the judge! judge! NEW DUI LAWS NEW DUI LAWS 3200 N Hayden Rd ~ Suite 170 ~ (south of Osborn Rd) 480.429.9044 NEW OFFICE! SCOTTSDALETREATMENT.COM ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES If you want to simplify your insurance... Look no further than GrandProtect ® : the simple way to protect all your major possessions — first and second homes, autos, boats, RVs and more. One policy package, one bill, one deductible, and one agent, all from one of the most trusted companies in the world. For more information about GrandProtect from MetLife Auto & Home ® , contact: N ic k We ss elmann WIN Group Insurance 4203 E Indian School Rd #301, Phoenix, AZ 85018 602-734-5074 nick@wingroupins.com www.wingroup.com Guarantees are subject to product terms, exclusions, and limitations and the insurer’s claims-paying ability and financial strength. MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Economy Fire & Casualty Company, Economy Preferred Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates, and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. See policy for restrictions. © 2010 MetLife Auto & Home. ©UFS L0210088860(exp0113)(All States) 1002-0544