About to turn 50 in 2010, ultra-distance runner Lisa Smith-Batchen wanted to do something special that would raise tons of money for her favorite cause, orphaned children. Having already run about 50 ultras (races longer than a 26.2-mile marathon), including a couple of running firsts (first person to run from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney -- 306 miles in 2008 and a Badwater double to the top of Mt. Whitney -- 310 miles in 2006), Lisa was interested in completing an even bigger run -- something that had never been done before. What she came up with was to run a 50-mile ultra in each of the 50 states over the course of 62 days.
Starting in New Jersey, in April of 2010, zigzagging from state to state in an RV, Lisa completed her quest in her home state of Idaho on June 19, right on schedule. She accomplished this despite the extreme roller-coaster of emotions such a physically-demanding undertaking takes on one, managing an average of only four hours of sleep each night and a broken foot (she felt the pain on day 27 of this 2,500-mile run, but didn't get the diagnosis of a broken bone in her left foot until after she finished). Because Lisa persevered through very sore hips and legs for the first two weeks, badly swollen sore feet along the way, weather extremes, AND a broken bone, this mother of two adopted daughters was able to raise over $600,000 for orphaned children. If you'd like to donate, you can visit: runhope.com
While most of us see turning 50 as a time to slow down and take it easier because "we're not getting any younger ...," Lisa Smith-Batchen saw it as an opportunity -- an opportunity to go BIG. As a result, not only is she helping countless children who have lost their parents, but she is, also, showing the rest of us that 50 isn't that old after all.
And now I'd like to invite you to claim your FREE Fitter After 50 / Fitter for Life e-newsletter when you visit http://www.FitterforLife.com
From Ed Mayhew -- the author of Fitter After 50, Fitter For Life and other books, CDs, videos and articles on how you, too, can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate. Why not make the rest of your life the BEST of your life? http://www.FitterforLife.com and http://www.amazon.com/Age-Blasters-Steps-Younger-You/dp/1598589083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276528674&sr=1-1 (click here for paperback or Kindle editions of AGE BLASTERS)
