4th annual Amputee Running Clinic

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - The Amputee Running Clinic has returned for its fourth year taking place at Grand Canyon University on Saturday. The annual clinic is hosted by Encompass Health Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital and focuses on helping amputees get back out running.

After losing both of his legs serving in the military over in Afghanistan, Steve Martin has advice for anyone embarking on their journey becoming an amputee.

"Be patient, be patient, because it is gonna take time to kind of forget how your body was before," said Steve Martin, a veteran and double amputee.

The loss of his legs hasn't slowed steve down one bit, in fact, he recently finished his eighth full marathon.

That's the kind of inspiration you'll find all over the field today, during the 4th annual Amputee Running Clinic hosted by Encompass Health Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital - the goal is to get moving again this time with some new hardware.

Just ask instructor Dave hochstadt who lost one of his legs 3 years ago. Dave says learning to run on blades is a high that's hard to beat.

"It's something you really can't match, this is my third year doing it now and I'm drawn to it every single year and plus this year I get to actually instruct and try to help out some other amputees," said Dave hochstadt, clinic instructor.

Steve says for him, it's almost an out-of-body experience the first time because even though you may think you know how running will work, you have no idea how it will feel.

"I was still trying to run when I got my running legs like I had my legs and it took a good running coach to convince me to let the mechanical parts do their job you have to forget what it was like to run on your legs," said Martin.

Adding getting the chance to help others navigate their journey with prosthetics has become a huge part of his journey.

"Teach people how to run, or at least be more active on the prosthetics they have an give them an opportunity to try out some different prosthetics that may get them to the next level," said Martin.