Running man: 'The 10-Mile Tuesday Guy' talks pain and hope

WELLINGTON — With every step forward, Nick Delima leaves a little of his pain behind. He lives with chronic pain from a disorder called small fiber neuropathy. It disrupts how nerves transmit information to the brain about sensation. "He's constantly in pain, and it feels like there are bugs crawling all over him all the time," said his wife, Rebecca. A Hawaii native, Delima has lived all over the United States. While in Akron, his pain grew so severe that he ended up in the hospital. What he's since learned is that running dulls the agony. "It clears your mind. You don't have to think about anything else around you," he said. The more miles he puts on his trainers, the farther behind he leaves all negative thoughts. In 2016, Delima ran his first 5K and he's never looked back. Now one wall in his Wellington basement is covered in medals from half and full marathons, 5K and 10K races and even obstacle courses like Tough Mudder and Savage. He's done charity runs to raise awareness of chronic pain, Parkinson's disease and ADHD. Both he and Rebecca say they'll gladly race to benefit Wellington residents and their loved ones. Since moving to the village last fall, Delima has become known around town as "The 10-Mile Tuesday Guy." Each Tuesday and Thursday, he goes the distance on Wellington's streets, sometimes even running north to neighboring Oberlin. Most days he also trains in his backyard, which looks like it was designed by the crew of "American Gladiators." The swing set has been turned into an extreme balance beam. There are gymnastic rings for swinging, a rope pulley for hoisting 100-pound weights, a hay bale for practicing spear throws and a climbing rope. "My neighbors probably think I'm nuts," Delima laughed Friday, pointing to where he climbs along the side of his wooden fence. There's no cure for the neurological and muscular issues he lives with. But working his muscles hard has provided relief and a new perspective on life. Delima said no matter how hard he works out, one day his medical conditions will catch up to him. That's hardly the point. "As long as I do what I do, I'm adding more time," he said. "The message is you can add as much time as you need. Don't give up on life because you think there's no cure." Reaching that conclusion has taken a long time. It was a struggle just to find the right doctor to diagnose his pain — that help came from the Cleveland Clinic. The program Delima went through to learn to manage his disorder no longer exists. He said there are still plenty of great doctors at the hospital system to guide other chronic pain sufferers. The next step is getting involved in a support group, he said. Many can be found through a simple social media search, or via the American Chronic Pain Association at www.theacpa.org. While that organization does not have any chapters in Northeast Ohio, it has several in the state that provide support over the phone or by video chat meetings. Without the proper medical and emotional support, chronic pain can be deadly, said Delima — he said he's lost friends to the condition. "It's never that the doctor is going to say, 'We lost this person to chronic pain.' That's not how it works," he said. "The mental part is what gets people with chronic pain." Giving in to hopelessness raises can lead to thoughts of suicide, he said. Anyone who finds themselves on that path should call the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Hotline (800) 888-6161 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.