While wearing his signature tool belt, Fixer Upper star Chip Gaines completed his first marathon in 5:21:54 at the inaugural Silo District Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K on Sunday morning in Waco, Texas. The performance marked a lifetime achievement for the 43-year-old HGTV personality and a massive fundraising effort for cancer research thanks to a collaboration with Gabriele Grunewald, a cancer survivor and professional runner.
Gaines tackled the miles with encouragement from a large running pack that included his family, friends, and his wife and costar, Joanna, who rode in a golf cart documenting the entire effort on her Instagram account. The final mile was completed with his youngest daughter, Emmie Kay, 8, who held his hand as the pair crossed the finish line to a roaring crowd on Webster Avenue.
“I can tell you this beyond a shadow of a doubt, that thing is a doozy. That’s a difficult race to run, but hopefully, this is just the first of many,” Gaines said to the crowd over a microphone a few minutes after finishing.
The completion of the marathon also marked Gaines’ first race ever, an endeavor that was inspired by Grunewald’s story of resilience in the face of four bouts of cancer since 2009.
“It’s an admirable thing to take on a marathon when you’ve never done any race before,” Grunewald told Runner’s World. “I think it went well, I think he has a lot more in the tank, though. If he wants to run faster, he can for sure.”
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It all started with a chance meeting in New York City last October. A longtime fan of the show, Grunewald was on a training run in Central Park when she spotted Gaines and struck up a conversation. A professional runner with a U.S. indoor 3K title under her belt, Grunewald continues to inspire the running community with her commitment to run through adenoid cystic carcinoma. When Gaines heard her story, he was immediately inspired and decided to run.
“She [Grunewald] has overcome so much, and given what she’s gone through, I had no excuse not to give this thing a shot,” Gaines said in a on March 12.
In January, Gaines announced his plan to make his 26.2-mile debut. Soon after sharing the news, the Gaines family announced that they would be hosting the race in their hometown. The marathon, half marathon, and 5K courses ran by several Waco landmarks, including the couple’s Magnolia Market, where customers can shop the same home decor featured on the show. An estimated 18,000 people took part in the race day festivities with about 6,000 entrants for each event.
Fellow HGTV star Clint Harp also completed one of the races as the event’s half marathon team captain. Harp ran cross country and track while growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, and has completed three marathons in his career. Utilizing his many years of running experience, Harp advised Gaines to focus on the “mental game” and stay conservative for the first mile.
On Gaines’ tool belt and pants racing attire, Harp laughed and said, “That’s Chip. He’s hilarious. I’m just proud of him. He’s going to feel such a sense of accomplishment after this.”
To prepare for his lofty goal, Gaines received coaching guidance from the person who sparked his interest. Starting with a Brave Like Gabe 5K on January 8, Grunewald wrote Gaines’ training plan for the race.
Grunewald’s particular type of cancer currently doesn’t have a cure, so to honor her cancer battle, 100 percent of the profits from the Silo District races went toward the Other Hearst Subscriptions, which funds research and awareness on rare cancers. The fundraising efforts will continue on May 20 in St. Paul, Minnesota, for Grunewald’s inaugural Are Average Runners Getting Faster? It Depends. For runners who cannot compete, participation is available through a virtual 5K.
“It’s amazing that they’re taking this cause on with this event, and I totally appreciate that,” Grunewald said. “Chip is a guy who just wants to give back to a variety of causes, and I feel very fortunate and grateful that he sees rare cancer research as one of those worthy causes.”
In total, $250,000 was raised from the Silo District races for the Other Hearst Subscriptions, well beyond the initial campaign goal of $50,000.
“To have the support like this is a game-changer,” she said.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
