Some people, like Chester Kalb, try to run or walk a marathon in every state. Some, like Bill Welzien, have swum around the island of Key West each of 30 straight months. Some others, you know who you are, run a marathon once in awhile, a half marathon a bit more often or a 5K every few weeks or so.

Then, there's Doug Merrill. His goal is to walk from Boston, Mass., to Key West over the course of six months. Starting this fall, the former coach at Bowling Green High School in Ohio says he'll run a half marathon (13.1 miles) every day, reaching Key West a year from now.

Merrill has already gone through enough agony to make his historic run, well, almost a walk.

He has survived the suicidal deaths of eight people: A family friend, a best friend, a girl friend, two students and three baseball players.

From his experiences, he has authored a book, "Fighting the Demon of Suicide." He has also founded a non-profit business, "Power Up," and the "Power Up Foundation."

Naturally, his run to Key West will be to bring attention to his book, his organizations and the causes of suicide. He'll be talking to various groups as a motivational speaker on the way to Key West.

His goal: Raise $25 million for the Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Any group interested in having him speak can reach him through Cyndi Abdon at 614-565-0874 or at cabdon@live.com.

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Ralphie Henriquez had an interesting pair of games this past week at the New York Mets Port St. Lucie training camp. The minor league catcher from Key West faced a pair of major leaguers who had been sent down to work on their pitching with the minor leaguers.

One day, he faced Mets ace Johan Santana. Result: A double off the fence. Next day, the switchhitter batted against another lefthander, Ron Villone. Result: Another double off the fence.

His father, former Conch coach Ralph Henriquez Jr., was telling me that story, which led to another.

Friday night, Ralphie's sister, Ashley Henriquez, was at Atlanta, as a Florida State cheerleader, for the Seminoles' first (and last) women's NCAA basketball game of this March Madness.

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Trish Wise, daughter of Key West coach Judd Wise, is a third baseman at Seminole Community College in Orlando. She has played in 13 games for the team that is 28-11, 10-0 in conference play and on a 20-game winning streak.

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Sophomore righthander Danny Foltz got three innings of shutout relief work in for the University of Tampa Friday night, albeit a 5-1 loss to Nova Southeastern. Foltz faced another former Conch, Dexter Butler, Nova's second baseman, and induced him to fly out to centerfield.

Butler went 1-for-3 and is batting .260. Foltz is 1-0 in nine appearances for UT.

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Key West visitors recently: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning accompanied singer Kenny Chesney to his concert at Sloppy Joe's. Hulk Hogan was in town this past week buying some bling on Duval Street.

Sports Editor Ralph Morrow's Armchair Comment appears exclusively each Sunday in The Citizen. He can be reached at 305-292-7777, Ext. 264, at Rmorrow@keysnews.com and by Fax at 305-295-8016.