Welcome to year SIX of Endurance Magazine!
After five full years, 60 issues, of cultivating a growing community of purposefully living fitness enthusiasts, we are thrilled to look ahead at all we have to do over the next five. It’s what inspires us to do what we do. Over the years, we’ve strived to motivate, educate, and inspire readers to embrace the Endurance Lifestyle. Along the way, we have been introduced to some truly amazing people – world changers. From Scott Johnson, the Ironman triathlete who succeeded in being the first double-lung transplant to reach the finish line, to Spencer Lueders, the passionate philanthropist who sparked a cycling revolution across the region with his now nationally renowned 24 Hours of Booty ride, to Molly Barker, founder and inspirational leader of Girls on The Run, to Charlie Engle, the man who ran across the Sahara Desert bringing awareness for the need of clean drinking water across this most critical part of the world, to Winny Tonui, the native Kenyan who recently came to the US to become a professional runner, transcending cultural barriers and inspiring an adult population across her home village to live more healthfully. There are many many more (see them all on our soon to be released archives section online at endurancemag.com) and we showcase these people because they are exactly what we all love to find in ourselves: A sense of purpose, an awareness of self, and an attitude of possibility.
Our 61st issue showcases a local high school senior who faces progressive blindness as he moves to the next phase of his life. His clear attitude of possibility and awareness of self is what is most inspiring, and in September Tucker Alan Dupree will join an international field of Olympians in Beijing for the Para-Olympics. His perspective is contagious and we’re grateful to local writer and fitness philanthropist Alisa Wright Colopy for sharing this remarkable story.
And get ready for more motivation from Greensboro’s Charlie Engle. He is slated to embark on a new world record this summer. Beginning August 8, 2008, in San Francisco CA and ending on or before September 22, 2008 in New York NY, "Running America" is an idea sparked by Charlie as he contemplated the next Mission. He had just run across the Sahara Desert to help Africa, so why not run across the US to help America? Charlie is partnering with Feeding Families, Inc to drive awareness and raise funds to help feed hungry families in America healthy foods. This time the task will be to finish the run in 45 days to break the world record (that’s about 70 miles a day). You can check out his website www.charlieengle.com to track his progress on an interactive map.
BE PART OF HISTORY
NEHST Studios is currently looking for 15,000 runners to be extras in a new documentary, RUNNING AMERICA. They are casting 5 people per mile to run with Charlie to raise money for charity and witness history being made first hand.
Celebrity runners will be announced shortly. Everyone is eligible for submissions, no matter how young, or old, no matter if you are disabled, or if you have never run before. If you’re 16 or under, you will be required to run with a parent/guardian. What a cool way to spend a few days this summer, with the opportunity to be in front of the cameras, potentially meet some celebrities, and be a part of history. Check out Charlie’s site for more information.
And finally, I’d like to welcome Mandy Beard as the newest member of the Endurance Magazine Team. Mandy founded Girls on The Run in the Triangle several years ago and now is our Business Operations Manager (no small task) and we look forward to her leadership as we continue to grow.
PS – Recently, my wife launched a new section on her blog www.tamaralackeyblog.com that showcases some of these world changers and several others she has had the privilege of photographing. Make sure to check it out as it’s a wonderful resource for anyone who needs a little inspiration.
