These days 14-year-old Devin Rettke is covering a lot of ground to prepare for the Xterra Trail Run World Championship. "I think it's just a matter of training lots for it, and trying to get your legs stronger and ankles stronger", said Rettke.

The 6.2 mile race ahead will be a first for him. But this Moanalua teen is up for the challenge. See there was a time when his doctors might have advised against him running at all.

"They just didn't think i'd be able to do it, but i guess i just proved them wrong", said Rettke.

That's because at the age of nine, Devin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. "It was a mixed emotion for me because I didn't really know what was wrong with me. With all these doctors trying crowding me, I just knew I was in the hospital with the disease."

Now he's living with it at his own pace, slowing down when he needs to to check his blood sugar. "In the beginning, I thought it hurt a lot but now i'm used to it" he said. Rettke's mother Lisa says she's proud of him. "He has taken it. He has owned it. and he's accepted it and I think that's the key with diabetes, Devin's responsible for it and because he's so responsible he's able to compete at the level that he does".

Devin is so passionate about kids overcoming diabetes, he even wrote a letter to Congress. "I hope to give them hope and dreams, to make sure they can tell them they can do it, and not give up on themselves", said Rettke.

The Xterra Trail Running World Championship includes a 5K, 10K, 21K and free kids runs, Sunday December 7th at 9 a.m.

You can sign up at the Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewers Street Friday from noon to 9 p.m. or Saturday from 10 to 6 p.m. The local number to call is 792-2611. The cost is $25.

Click here for more information.

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