Rediscovering Running, Reclaiming Health

Kevin Shea has lived two different lives as a runner: He grew up running in his youth, but it was rediscovering the sport in adulthood that he credits with improving his health and saving his life.

“I started in high school because I realized there weren’t very many 130-pound NFL players,” he says. “So in ninth grade, I went out for cross country. I ran through high school, college, and my 20s.”

The Comeback: Reclaiming Health in His 40s

As he got older, his running habits became less consistent. He still did it occasionally, but he wasn’t exercising consistently. It wasn’t until he reached his 40s that he realized he wanted to get healthy, and he made a commitment to get back to it.

That was nearly 20 years ago, and in the time since, running has become a significant part of his life. He has run three marathons—Baltimore, Richmond, and New York—as well as 25 half marathons and countless 5Ks and 10Ks, most of which he has learned about from the literature included in packets for bigger races.

Finding Strength in Community

As important as the racing, though, has been the community. He has bonded with clubs and formed connections with other runners, which has helped him stay consistent through his fitness journey.

“It’s a lot easier when you find a group to run with,” he says. “You commiserate with others. One day, it might suck for you and somebody else is cruising along, but the next week, those roles might be reversed.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Run That Saved His Heart

But the most important aspect of running has been the way running has taught him to know and respect his body. As he puts it, “It saved my life.” That’s because he had to undergo heart surgery in his 50s, and he doesn’t think he would’ve known to see a doctor if he hadn’t been as healthy as he was. At the time, he was in peak shape and training through a hot, humid summer. One day, he went out for a walk instead of a run, and he had to turn back around and head home. Something was wrong.

He went to see a pulmonologist but nothing was wrong with his lungs. But when he was referred to a cardiologist, the next thing he knew, he was headed in for a bypass. 

“If I hadn’t known my body and known something was wrong, it would’ve been bad,” he recalls. It wasn’t just that being in good shape had clued him in that something was off—it also helped him bounce back. “Recovery from that for me, I think, was a lot easier because I was in shape to start with,” he says.

Recovery, Resilience, and the Runner’s Mindset

He took things easy for a little while immediately after surgery, but it wasn’t long before he was back to running. “Once I could start doing stuff again, it was probably four or five months before I really felt good running again, but then it was like a switch went on,” he says.

It was really clear how well he’d recovered when he was finally able to outrun some members of his running community. “One day I was out running with some people, and we came to a hill, and I thought, ‘I can kick all their butts on this hill,’” he recalls lightheartedly. “And I hadn’t been able to do that a week before. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m back.’ I attribute it all to being in decent shape. If I hadn’t been in good shape, I think I’d have been on the side of the road when I went out for my walk that day.”

Advice for New (and Returning) Runners

For anyone looking to start running, or rediscover it after a long break, or even find encouragement during the recovery after a major health event like the one he had, Kevin highly recommends finding a group to run with, especially if they’re really able to go at the pace you need to go at. “Not all run groups are inclusive to beginner, slower runners in my findings,” he says. “I mean, they say they accept any pace, but then they’ll run off and leave you on your own. But finding somebody to keep you accountable is key.”

He also reminds any new runners that running as a hobby means being diligent about much more than running—if you pick up running, he says, you also have to pick up sleeping, watching what you eat, and strength training so you don’t have too many injuries! 

ADVERTISEMENT