Framework

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Brea — When John Creel participates this weekend in the L.A. Marathon, it will be the 77-year-old Brea man's 60th marathon. But the 26.2-mile race from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica is nothing compared with the challenge he faces every day caring for his wife, Ingrid.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel holds back tears while he talks about his wife, Ingrid, who has multiple sclerosis.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — Ingrid Creel smiles at her husband, John, who is her caregiver.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel has run at least one marathon in all 50 states.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel, 77, shows some of the medals he has won running marathons.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel stretches in his neighborhood before his morning workout.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel was a member of the U.S. Army's Green Berets.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — Wearing headgear from his days in the Green Berets, distance runner John Creel trains on Birch Street in Brea.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Brea — John Creel, who is deeply patriotic, holds a flag while he talks about his time in the service. It was a snowy night in Germany in 1958 when he met his future wife. She barely spoke English; and he barely spoke German.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

John Creel with fellow Green Berets in 1957.

During his time in the military, John Creel trained to parachute from an airplane. He's seen here taking the plunge in 1957.

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A marathon as a full-time caregiver

Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon will be runner John Creel’s 60th. He has run at least one marathon in each of the 50 states. More impressive, he has run many of those marathons with his wife, Ingrid, who has multiple sclerosis. He takes her in her wheelchair to most of his races, twice even making sure that somebody pushed her to the finish line.

Read Bill Plaschke’s column: At 77, he’s running marathons for two

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