Randy Lazer began to run as a way to become healthier and happier in 1990. Since he suffered from asthma, he had to take it as easy as possible in the beginning. The first time he went for a run, Lazer was only able to make it a half-mile. It then took him four more tries to go a full mile down the road. However, this just motivated him to move more and perform better. In 1995, Lazer was able to complete his first 26.2-mile marathon. He ran three more by the time he hit 40. Then, it all came to a stop when he had his first heart attack.
Lazer was working out one morning when he started to feel awful. He drove himself to a nearby hospital as quickly as possible where he ended up suffering a heart attack. After a double bypass surgery and weeks of recuperation, Lazer was able to walk out of the hospital and get back to his life. While it is rare at this age, it isn’t uncommon for a person to have a heart attack this young.
Lazer thought that he would be up and running in no time, but he realized it was hard to even get himself up the stairs at home. The first time he went out for a walk he could only go about six minutes. In two weeks, he was up to a mile. Soon after, Lazer found out that a marathon was happening just a little over three months away, so he and his friend signed up for it together. Lazer became to increase his mileage and his stamina over the next 50 days, allowing him to make it through the marathon without issue.
After completing the first marathon following his heart attack, Lazer kept up the tradition for the next three years. Unfortunately, he ended up in the hospital again in 2004 with a blocked artery. Doctors told Lazer that he only had a year or so to live after the incident. While the news shocked and saddened him, Lazer decided that he would keep running to stay as healthy as possible.
By 2008, Lazer made it through six more heart surgeries. After the last one, he began to change his diet to include more juices packed with nutrients. He soon felt good enough to start running again. Just a few months after his sixth surgery, he ended up at the Las Vegas 26.2 marathon in 2008. Just last year he was able to finish his 18th consecutive marathon.
Lazer believes that running is the main reason why he has lived past the prediction of his doctors. He stated that running has always been a big part of who he is and that it isn’t right when he can’t run. Lazer has penned a book about his struggles and triumphs, called Running Beyond Death. He hopes to push others to chase their dreams and goals and to never give up no matter what they are told.
