Eleonora Morrell

Residence: Clifton Park 
Age: 54
Spouse: Sim Morrell
Profession: Technology Consultant, MicroKnowledge
Sports: Swim, Bike, Run, Walk, General Fitness

By Kristen Hislop

Eleonora Morrell went from a kid growing up in New York City, with no neighborhood playgroups and few parks nearby, to an outdoor woman conquering Ironman 70.3 events, marathons, and along the way donating a kidney?

She thinks it has a lot to do with community. As a child, it was Eleonora and her mom – a single mom working long hours as a chef meant that there were times she was on her own. Eleonora’s mother, raised by nuns, learned how to make socks and embroider clothes for the altar. She taught her daughter the skills of knitting, crochet and sewing. These skills and reading kept Eleonora occupied and content on days alone. To this day, she finds much joy and relaxation in her projects. Along the way she’s shared that with others in her community like Deirdre DeSantis, now living in Hudson, Fla. Deirdre and Eleonora met through knitting. It was Eleonora who got Deirdre, now an ultramarathoner, into running.

Living in NYC, neighborhood games and pick up sports really didn’t exist for many girls, but she did ballet and figure skating. As Eleonora says, “I wanted to be a figure skater, but being a bit on the chubby side, wasn’t conducive to jumping around. I might have liked speed skating better, since I roller skated as did everyone.” Eleonora’s mother, born in Italy, worked hard to expose Eleonora to all the city had to offer. She also exposed her to travel, so at three years old she had a passport and traveled to visit family in Italy. Travel and culinary curiosity continue to draw Eleonora abroad.

Over the summers, as many city kids do, Eleonora headed to sleep away camp. By her teens, she was able to pick themed camps and chose the bike camp. With previous cycling experience riding along the beach/boardwalk near their summer house on Long Island, she loved the morning long rides at camp. When on Long Island, she’d head for the beach to swim, then get a good five-mile ride on the boardwalk. There was no running and team sports were a hard no. Biking and swimming she could do on her own without worrying about keeping up or competing with others.

In 2000, Eleonora moved to the Capital Region and started working part-time for MicroKnowledge. Juggling a job in NYC and in her new residence wasn’t easy, and she was more focused on being active and healthy. Classes at the YMCA had her moving but the real catalyst was the 2007 Freihofer’s Run for Women community walk. Eleonora, along with Beth Coco and Kathleen Pingelski, past and current MicroKnowledge presidents, participated in the pouring rain! This led them to the Susan G. Komen three-day 60-mile walk to fight breast cancer. They trained all winter, along with her coworker and roommate Lisa Ryan, with laps around Crossgates Mall on weekends. Come spring they embarked on 20-mile walks.  

That July marked Eleonora’s first endurance event. “Since then, I just kept going. My first 5K was Race for the Cure in October.” A group of 22 women who had done the Komen Walk all ran the Freihofer’s 5K in 2008, starting a tradition for Eleonora. From there, a Y group encouraged Eleonora to think about a triathlon. After all she could swim, bike and now run. Carol Henry, Jeryl Simpson, Beth Stalker, and Mary Quinn regularly talked about past or upcoming races. “At some point I have asked one of them, you think I can do the Anyone Can Tri sprint race? And they said ‘of course!’ I didn’t know how to set-up for the triathlon or what to do in transition. After the pool swim, I still remember changing into my bike clothes. Have you ever tried to put on a sports bra when you’re still wet? Still, I was going to finish what I started. Yes, I did finish, and I do have that bib.”

Is there a theme here? A group of women rally around Eleonora, tell her she can, then she heads off and does it. A walk turns to a 5K and then a marathon. A sprint tri morphs into a half Ironman. A community of like-minded individuals is a powerful force.

It’s been possible with the support of her husband, Sim. He’s not at all the races with a cowbell and sign, that’s not his MO, but he’s there behind the scenes. In Eleonora’s words, “We got married to support and allow the other person to grow and reach whatever goals we want. As long as we have the time or means, go for it! He supports me when I get home, or meets me at a pub or café, and loves hearing about the events. He is absolutely so proud of all my accomplishments.” Eleonora also traveled down to the city to visit her mom as she aged and often squeezed in NYRR race as well. She placed a stone on Gilder Run in Central Park, which says “Ricordiamo Mina” (Beloved Mamma), who floats free as a butterfly now.

In fall 2021, Eleonora read a Facebook post from her half-sister, Diane Weiss. Diane’s daughter Stephanie Berkofsky needed a kidney donation or she’d shortly be on dialysis. People were posting good wishes but no one stepped up to help. “I spoke with Sim and asked, what do you think if I offer?” He offered support but not without reservations. He wanted to make sure she made the best decision for everyone. As Eleonora says, “we have a lot of stuff planned to do together, travel, dine, grow old, and finish first at a 5K as a 90-year-old!” 

Kidney donations from living donors are rare with only 6,500 in 2021. As of today, there are 105,929 people on the kidney transplant waitlist. Between January and August of 2022 there have been just over 28,000 transplants. That’s a big delta between how many people need them and the number of kidneys available. Compared to deceased-donor transplants, recipients of living-donor kidneys have better outcomes because surgeons transplant the kidney immediately after removing it from the donor. This improves the chances that the transplanted organ will function right away. This was absolutely true for Stephanie.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 37 million American adults are living with kidney disease, and most don’t know it. Many of the symptoms are common for other ailments like fatigue, feeling the need to urinate more often, swollen ankles/feet, poor appetite, and muscle cramping. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure are all risk factors. It’s important to know your numbers.

Eleonora donated her kidney in early December and the doctors were thrilled with the outcome for both patients. Eleonora was released quickly and headed back home. She had trained for her recovery. Because she was in great shape and strong before surgery, she was able to bounce back quickly. She started the Freihofer’s Training Challenge as a mentor for the 12th year in March 2022. It was a run/walk progression as she inspired all those she mentored.

This profile could have been all about Eleonora donating her kidney, but would that have happened without her community? Would she have tackled that first walk or triathlon? Would she have gained the strength, confidence, determination, and focus without that support? Many of us get up early to workout and it’s always easier with others. Eleonora’s mom used to say in Italian “una tira l’altra,” which means “one pulls the other.” “After she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor recommended swimming. Mom didn’t know how to swim so I taught her at a local community center – she was 65! There were days she’d say ‘non voglio andare,’ meaning ‘I don’t want to go’ and I’d say come on… you’ll feel better, and she did.

Eleonora keeps moving because she can. She knows it isn’t easy to live a healthy lifestyle but does, because it allows her to do what she wants. “Surrounding myself with positive people who are curious to explore, makes doing something uncomfortable a little easier. If I’m doubtful, they’ll encourage me. Knowing they’re there has helped me reach or change my goals. Sim has been there through every ache, pain, tear, smile, and joy of crossing the finish line. Ultimately, you need the strength, courage and will to get to the start line… but the journey to the finish would be nothing without friends along the way!”

Kristen Hislop (hislopcoaching@gmail.com) of Halfmoon is a triathlon coach and race director for Freihofer’s Run for Women.