Runner’s World+ Member: Steven Seighman
Steven is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him 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 was born with asthma and have spent my life steering clear of any physical activity that required endurance. Ten years ago I switched to a vegan diet and thought it would get me moving a little more. I wasn’t eating the healthiest foods though, so every time I ran my breathing was a little more labored than it should’ve been, and I was stopping after five minutes. But three years ago I read Rich Roll’s memoir, Finding Ultra, and it motivated me to cut out the processed foods and move to a cleaner, whole foods plant-based diet and try again.
This time, armed with a bit more health and a brand new mindset, I found that it was a little easier and so I started running three times per week and haven’t stopped since. It’s completely changed my health and my perspective on what I’m capable of. I dropped about 20 pounds and my lungs feel really good now—though I still probably have a little more difficulty with it than someone who doesn’t have asthma. But the other thing it’s given me is a stronger mind. If breathing gets a little tough, I know my body well enough now to recognize that it’s not going to get any worse and I can keep going. That’s something I wouldn’t have done prior to three years ago, either with running or other areas of my life, where I also now bring a stronger mindset and endurance.
I joined RW+ to find a bit of guidance from more experienced runners and also camaraderie among those who are relatively new to the sport like I am.
I run because for much of my life I didn’t think I could. Every time I hit the road or the trail now, I remember that four years ago I couldn’t do this, but now I can. I also run because it feels like freedom from all the usual distractions and concerns in the rest of my life, while at the same time connecting me to the natural energy of the world. That is so powerful.
During the week I like to run the streets around my house in Montclair, NJ. I can get in a few quick miles and there are some good hills to challenge me. I’ve now run every single street (it came in at 148 miles). On the weekends I love hitting the trails of the South Mountain Reserve neat Maplewood. They’re not too technical, but still present a welcome challenge. And spending a day running in nature is rejuvenating.
I don’t have a lot of gear that I’m married to. But I guess if there’s one thing I wear the most it’s my Patagonia Duckbill hat, which is tiny and fun, and kind of a throwback to Fred Lebow.
I’ve spent the last three years traveling to a lot of different places and meeting amazing people (like president Carter, for example) with my wife as she actively works tocheck off her late father’s bucket list in his honor.
Because asthma limited me for so long (both physically and mentally), I want to see just how far I can go with running. I was training for my first marathon since January (Big Sur), but it was postponed. I guess that’s my short-term goal. But eventually I’d like to try ultrarunning, just because it seems like the farthest thing away from not running at all, which is what I did for most of my life.
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