Runner’s World+ Member: Chris Lezotte
Chris is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I have never been an athlete. My grade school Phys. Ed teacher used to call me ‘Molasses.’ I started running in my 30s as a way to recover from an eating disorder and focus on fitness rather than weight. So you could say in that regard running saved my life.
I entered grad school in my 60s; my cohorts discovered I was a sometimes runner and convinced me to run a relay leg in the local marathon. Two years later I ran the half-marathon, and came in second in my age group, which was the first athletic award I had received in my entire life. I was hooked.
I enjoy the articles, particularly those focused on female and/or older runners. I love reading runners’ stories; how they started, why they started, and how they keep going over adversity.
Running makes me feel special. It makes me feel not quite so old and gives me a sense of accomplishment every time I complete a run or a race. It helps me manage my stress and makes me a better person to be around. When I complete a race, there are often younger women who stop to tell me how much they admire what I am doing and how they hope to still be running when they are my age. I am now 70; I don’t know how many years of running I have left, so I treasure every workout and race. I have my medals and my age group awards in my office where I can see them every day as motivation to keep on going.
My favorite time to run is 5:30 in the morning. I live in a rural area so it is quiet and peaceful on the dirt roads. However, because of the cold, dark Michigan winters, running early is a pleasure I can only enjoy from May through mid-September. During the winter months I run on the treadmill while watching my Netflix series of the moment [The Crown, Call the Midwife, and the British Baking Show are my current favorites].
I live in a rural area eight miles north of Ann Arbor. There is a mix of dirt and paved roads without much traffic. I love going out of town and finding running trails. The Chicago and Minneapolis shorelines, and the Niagara River Recreational Trail are some of my favorites.
My stepson got me the AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones for my birthday last year and I love them. I can enjoy my old time rock ‘n roll and still hear any traffic coming up behind me.
To keep on running as long as I am upright.
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