The phrase "coming to the rescue" took on a somewhat different image on Dec. 3 when jogger Mark Muzzana, while continuing his training for January's Disney Marathon in Florida, interrupted his running for something much more important - rescuing a Butler Township woman from her burning home.

"It's nothing anybody else would not have done," said Muzzana, who carried Carol Wise, 63, to safety.

However, there are people who might not have gone "the extra mile" to return to the house for Wise's wheelchair, after he had carried her to the safety of a neighbor's house. There wasn't any hesitation on Muzzana's part.

When Muzzana noticed Wise, she was seated in the wheelchair in her doorway and calling for help. There was smoke coming from the first floor of the residence.

"It was scary how fast the house went up," Muzzana said.

Fortunately, when that happened, the issue of the resident's safety had already been resolved.

How much more running Muzzana did that day wasn't covered in the news story about the fire, but the fact that his desire to compete in the January event put him at the right place at the right time to assist Wise did get the deserved attention.

Hopefully Muzzana will fare well in next month's competition. But no matter how well he fares, the result won't be as significant as his actions on Dec. 3.

It's doubtful Muzzana would dispute that.