Chris Koch’s Journey from Longboard to Marathon Legend

How a chance encounter with a longboard in Florida transformed into a mission to redefine what’s possible. Chris Koch ran a marathon and became an inspiration to many because of that encounter.

Chris Koch never expected a simple shopping trip to a surf shop in Fort Lauderdale to change his life. Born without arms or legs due to a rare, unnamed condition, Chris had been using short artificial prosthetics to get around—functional but slow.

“The legs got me from A to B, but it was never very quick,” Chris recalls. That day in Florida, browsing through Ron Jon Surf Shop, he spotted a longboard that reminded him of his childhood skateboarding days. On a whim, he decided to give it a try.

What happened next was revelatory. Within 15-20 minutes of riding, Chris realized he had covered more distance than he ever could on artificial legs. “I thought this is my new main mode of transportation.”

From Transportation to Marathon Dreams

The longboard wasn’t just about getting around—it opened up possibilities Chris had never imagined. Soon, he was pushing boundaries, eventually completing a grueling 45-mile round trip on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail from Santa Monica to Palos Verdes.

“It’s just stuff that was not possible on the artificial legs,” he explains. “And then you start doing distances and then there’s kind of a natural progression—well, what if I could do a marathon?”

The Fight to Run

In 2016, Chris and his girlfriend planned to race a marathon as a couple—she would run the first half, he would complete the second half on his longboard. But when Chris contacted race organizers, he hit an unexpected wall.

“Yeah, no, we don’t allow skateboards,” came the response.

The race director’s reasoning? If he allowed Chris’s longboard, he’d have to approve “selfie sticks and stuffed giraffes for emotional support” too.

Fortunately, Kirsten Fleming, race director of the Calgary Marathon, had a different perspective. When asked about Chris’s situation in a news story, she saw no reason why he couldn’t use his board.

“I wouldn’t mind getting this monkey off my back,” Chris told Kirsten. “I’m the type of person—go big or go home. So let’s see if I can’t do a full marathon instead of just the half  that I was supposed to do.”

The Magic of 26.2 Miles (or 42.2 Kilometers)

That first full marathon in Calgary transformed Chris’s understanding of the running community. What struck him most was the universal encouragement—from elite runners to back-of-the-pack participants in costume.

“It’s about pushing yourself mentally and physically that 42.2 kilometers,” he says. “Everybody’s there to cheer one another on.”

Crossing that finish line, Chris knew immediately: “That was so cool. I think I want to do this again.”

More Than Personal Achievement

What began as a personal challenge has evolved into something much larger. Chris has now completed 21 marathons across four continents, but his impact extends far beyond personal records.

“I’ve had people come up to me saying, ‘I passed by you at mile 18 with a big smile on your face and I was really starting to doubt myself. I saw you and I was like, nope, I gotta finish this.'”

His advocacy has helped open doors for other adaptive athletes, including an 11-year-old girl from Saskatchewan who uses a skateboard and has completed multiple 5Ks with Chris. His story isn’t the only one as he pointed out during the conversation. Chris mentioned how inspiring Andrea Peet, who has ALS and completed 50 marathons in 50 states, has been for him. It is one of those scenarios where each person has the ability to inspire another like one domino pushing over another.

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Racing Reality and Unique Challenges

Chris’s marathon experiences aren’t without complications. He must carefully consider race positioning—sometimes starting at the back to avoid congestion, other times at the front for visibility. He wears bright colors and maintains constant awareness.

“I have to have my head on a swivel,” he explains. “I worry that if a runner runs into me, even if I’m completely not at fault, that could be the last race I’m allowed to do.”

His toughest test came at the Rockaway Beach Marathon in New York—32 degrees Fahrenheit, raining, and windy simultaneously. “I’ve done marathons that were cold, raining, or windy, but not all three together. Those moments are character building.”

The Philosophy of “If I Can”

Chris’s approach to challenges is encapsulated in his motto: “If I Can”—the theme of his motivational presentations.

“If a guy with no arms and legs can work on the farm, snowboard, surf, travel the world, do marathons, you know, we’re all capable of doing some pretty awesome things.”

This philosophy extends to his parenting advice. Raised by parents who never limited his ambitions, Chris advocates for letting children face challenges and develop resilience.

“The best thing you can do for your kids is less,” he tells audiences. “That’s how you develop confidence—by going out and screwing up or making a mistake and figuring out how to do better.”

Mental Toughness and Mantras

Beyond “If I Can,” Chris draws motivation from a social media post that resonated during a difficult moment: “Hard work is an inconsiderate son of a bitch. Doesn’t care about your feelings, how bad you hurt, or how tired you are. It only knows what needs to be done.”

He emphasizes consistency in training and not letting one missed day become multiple days of inactivity.

Looking Forward

With marathons completed on four of seven continents, Chris has his sights set on South America and Africa, with Antarctica as the ultimate challenge. He’s also considering ultramarathons, potentially tackling a 50K or the famous Comrades Marathon in South Africa.

Advice for New Runners

Chris’s guidance for anyone starting their running journey is refreshingly simple: “Just have fun with it. Don’t get too caught up in time goals for your first marathon. Just go and enjoy it and be damn proud of yourself when you cross that finish line.”

He emphasizes that marathon running builds resilience and confidence extending far beyond race day. “Have that feeling when that finisher’s medal was hung around your neck in your mind for moments in life where life is dealing you difficult cards.”

The Bigger Picture

Chris Koch’s story isn’t just about overcoming physical challenges. It gives us a reminder of rejecting artificial limitations and refusing to accept “no” when you know something is possible. It’s about community, perseverance, and the extraordinary things that happen when we push beyond perceived ceilings. Chris Koch is not just providing inspiration to us to run marathons but to chase all of our dreams.

“We all have more left in the tank and we all have the ability to bump that ceiling up, whether it’s able-bodied people or otherwise.”

The world can often focus on limitations. Chris Koch does not. He rolls forward on four wheels, 26.2 miles at a time, proving that extraordinary achievements often begin with a simple decision to try something new.

Chris Koch continues inspiring audiences through motivational speaking and marathon running, reminding us that the only real limitations are the ones we accept.