Most marathoners take 35,000 steps to reach the finish line. John Young needs 80,000.

The high school math teacher from Canada is part of a rare and spirited breed of athlete: those whoB次元官网网址檝e overcome the daunting challenges of dwarfism to conquer the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometre) distance.

Many endure not just the usual rigours of training but cruel taunts from onlookers B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗ey, check out the midgetB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� as they put in their miles.

But Young, who lightheartedly refers to himself as an LP (B次元官网网址渓ittle personB次元官网网址�), has become an inspiration to others with dwarfism B次元官网网址� and his accomplishments have won him respect and admiration around the globe.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people in my life, especially when I was younger, said, B次元官网网址榊ou canB次元官网网址檛 do that B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檙e too small. You canB次元官网网址檛 do that B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檙e too short. You might get hurt,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Young, 52, said at his home in Salem, famed for its 1690s witch trials.

B次元官网网址淚 heard that a lot and I used to listen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow I donB次元官网网址檛 listen.B次元官网网址�

Young is a member of an elite club: Only four athletes with dwarfism are known to have completed marathons, and heB次元官网网址檚 finished the most B次元官网网址� 10 B次元官网网址� including four Boston Marathons and three New York City Marathons. HeB次元官网网址檚 also competed in 50 triathlons B次元官网网址� including Ironman Maryland B次元官网网址� and his latest goal, starting with Boston on April 16, is to run 12 marathons in 12 months.

He stands only 4 feet 4 inches, but heB次元官网网址檚 the biggest little person Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray knows.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 an example of somebody whoB次元官网网址檚 overcome his own physical challenges and inspired thousands of people to live their dreams,B次元官网网址� McGillivray said. B次元官网网址淗e trains and competes just like every other athlete. He says, B次元官网网址業 am who I am. IB次元官网网址檓 going to succeed at my level and IB次元官网网址檓 going to feel good about myself.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

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That wasnB次元官网网址檛 always the case for Young.

Born in Toronto with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, he grew up in foster care. B次元官网网址淧eople asked, B次元官网网址楢re you going to be in the circus? Are you going to be a midget wrestler? Are you going to be an entertainer?B次元官网网址� And I was like, B次元官网网址淣o, I like school. I like math. I want to go to college,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

Young, who graduated as valedictorian, swam and played street and pond hockey. But he never ran B次元官网网址� doctors worried the pounding would cause back problems.

B次元官网网址淭hey always said, B次元官网网址楧onB次元官网网址檛 run, donB次元官网网址檛 run, itB次元官网网址檚 not a good idea, stay away from it,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

Over the years, YoungB次元官网网址檚 weight ballooned to nearly 200 pounds (90 kilos) B次元官网网址� dangerously obese for his height B次元官网网址� and he developed sleep apnea. To shed pounds, he returned to the pool and took up cycling. He entered a triathlon but skipped the run portion, still worried it might cripple him.

Finally, he caved, and he couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe what heB次元官网网址檇 been missing.

B次元官网网址淲hat I found was the more I ran, the less my back actually hurt,B次元官网网址� said Young, whose light running style enables him to recover remarkably quickly.

Colleagues noticed other benefits.

B次元官网网址淲hen I first met John, he was falling asleep at his desk,B次元官网网址� said Eric Olson, who teaches math with Young at the Pingree School , a private academy in nearby Hamilton. B次元官网网址淭oday heB次元官网网址檚 such a productive guy. He oxygenates his brain. He really is an elite athlete B次元官网网址� he takes what he does super seriously.B次元官网网址�

Former student Veronica Monteiro, 23, says Young inspired her to run her first Boston Marathon. B次元官网网址淚 look up to him so much,B次元官网网址� she said, giggling at her phrasing.

Young appreciates the humour. (HeB次元官网网址檚 been known to slip a subtle B次元官网网址淪now WhiteB次元官网网址� reference into a conversation: B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a little sleepy today. IB次元官网网址檓 also a little sneezy.B次元官网网址�) But heB次元官网网址檚 not amused by othersB次元官网网址� heckling or snickering B次元官网网址� especially if itB次元官网网址檚 aimed at his wife, Sue Casey, or 15-year-old son, Owen, who also have dwarfism.

His pet peeve: when strangers run past in a race and say, B次元官网网址淭hanks for being out here.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址楾hank you, too,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know what theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to say. But IB次元官网网址檓 not out there for them. If I motivate you because of some part of my story, thatB次元官网网址檚 great. But if all youB次元官网网址檙e looking at is the physical fact that IB次元官网网址檓 a little person and IB次元官网网址檓 running, thatB次元官网网址檚 the wrong message.B次元官网网址�

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YoungB次元官网网址檚 no speedster. He averages 13 minutes per mile (8 minutes per kilometre), and in marathons, he usually walks a minute for every nine minutes he runs. His personal best is 5 hours 50 minutes.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 plenty fast enough to inspire.

His son now runs track and cross-country, breaking his old manB次元官网网址檚 5K times. Little People of America , a non-profit group, hails him as a hero. And Young gets emails from the parents of children with dwarfism thanking him for being a role model.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the part I treasure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know how long I can keep doing it, but I donB次元官网网址檛 have an end date in mind. IB次元官网网址檓 going to keep going as long as I can.B次元官网网址�

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William J. Kole, The Associated Press

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