Charlie Helfrich Keeps Finding the Next Starting Line

After more than 25 years with Special Olympics New Hampshire, Charlie’s latest challenge took him across three races, seven months and one unforgettable finish.

November 9, 2026

For Charlie Helfrich, finishing one race has never meant he is finished challenging himself.

On November 8, Charlie crossed the finish line of the B.A.A. Half Marathon, completing a journey that began nearly seven months earlier. With that finish, Charlie officially completed the 2026 B.A.A. Distance Medley: a 5K in April, a 10K in June and a half marathon in November.

But anyone who knows Charlie knows this accomplishment is about much more than three finish lines.

For more than 25 years, Charlie has been part of the Special Olympics New Hampshire community, challenging himself across a wide range of sports and experiences. A longtime Concord Golden Eagles athlete, Charlie has competed everywhere from local and state competitions to some of Special Olympics’ biggest stages. In 2011, he competed in athletics at the Special Olympics World Games, and in 2022, he competed in sprint triathlon at the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando alongside Unified partner Eric Tinker.

Charlie’s involvement extends well beyond competition, too. He has taken the Plunge since the early 2000s, participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run and become a familiar face throughout the SONH community and his hometown of Henniker, where seeing Charlie out training for his next challenge is nothing unusual.

Three Races, One Goal

Charlie started his B.A.A. Distance Medley journey on April 18, lining up for the B.A.A. 5K with Unified partner Mary Beth Jankauskas.

Their preparation for the race was something Mary Beth was already cherishing before they even reached the starting line.

“Charlie is an amazing runner. Not only has he raised the bar for himself but others that know him,” Mary Beth shared. “It warms my heart to have these wonderful memories with Charlie.”

They returned to the road together for the B.A.A. 10K on June 21, completing the second leg of Charlie’s three-race goal.

Then came the longest challenge yet.

For the November 8 half marathon, Charlie teamed up with Ian Wyman, Special Olympics New Hampshire Director of Local Programs, Unified partner and friend.

Before the race began, Ian asked Charlie what his goal was for the day. Charlie’s answer was simple: finish together and cross the finish line side by side with their arms raised.

For Ian, running alongside Charlie was about much more than keeping pace.

“Running with Charlie is great for Charlie, but also great for me,” Ian shared before the race. “Having a training buddy holds us both accountable to stay consistent with our training, and training with a friend, not just a partner, makes the experience more fun.”

That friendship was part of what Charlie enjoyed most about the half marathon itself. Aside from finishing, Charlie told Ian his favorite part of the race was getting to “hang out” and talk together while they ran, and getting to do it with a friend.

And when Charlie received his B.A.A. Distance Medley medal, one of his first thoughts was about sharing the accomplishment with others. Ian recalled Charlie immediately talking about bringing his medals to show the New England College athletes he volunteers with at their next practices.

He was also already thinking about what might come next.

“I want you to always be my running partner so we can keep running races together,” Charlie told Ian. “I hope we can do some more halfs together.”

Always Looking Toward the Next Challenge

TThe B.A.A. Distance Medley may be Charlie’s latest endurance accomplishment, but it is hardly his first.

In 2023, Charlie teamed up with SONH Board Chair, Unified partner and friend Eric Tinker to take on the Boston Marathon, completing his first marathon while raising funds for Special Olympics New Hampshire.

A year later, Charlie and Eric came together for another challenge: the Delta Dental Mount Washington Auto Road Race.

Each challenge has given Charlie another opportunity to push himself as an athlete, take on something new and share the experience with friends along the way.

Ian knows the power of those friendships well.

“Some of my best friends were my teammates on sports teams I’ve played with throughout my life, even after 20 years,” Ian said. “This is no different than any of those experiences I think everyone who plays sports shares, Special Olympics, professionally, or recreationally. Charlie is a teammate, who is also a great friend.”

Ian normally doesn’t keep his race bibs. But this time was different.

Along with his personal race bib, Ian wore a red SUPPORT bib that allowed him to stay with Charlie throughout race day. He helped navigate the starting line and finish, kept Charlie on his target pace and supported him throughout the course.

It is one bib Ian plans to keep.

For Ian, seeing Charlie and his family smiling at the end of the race made him proud to have worn it.

And Charlie?

After three races and seven months of training, he had his B.A.A. Distance Medley medal.

But he was already talking about the races he and his friend could run next.