Breakfast Club: August 14, 2018
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the east bay's running newsletter
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Nine years ago, Jeff Thomas was 286 pounds. He was unhappy, smoking, and had low self-esteem. After a neighbor invited him out on a run, he barely covered 100 feet before having to stop. But he refused to give up.
This month, Jeff completed his 1,000-straight day of running. In a piece in Runner's World, he reflected on how he began the streak, starting small with walk-jogs, trotting to the next tree before a walking break. Jeff lost weight and gained fitness. His runs got longer and he started signing up for races. He has now run over 20 marathons.
I met Jeff last month in my hometown, Concord, North Carolina, where he has opened up a running store, complete with a bar. The store sits downtown, a Southern-style main street that evokes the walkable sociability of the early twentieth century. After closing down a nearby bar, I wandered in with a friend after 11pm, wondering how a running …
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