Lake Forest Ultra-marathon Man Has A Cause For Endurance

LAKE FOREST, CA — For most people, the thought of completing just one marathon is a huge goal. Few people have attempted running 7.5 marathons straight. It’s equivalent to running 200 miles nonstop. Even fewer people have tried this right here in Southern California.

It's called "Ultra-marathoning," and ultra-marathoner Jesse Zweig, a native and resident of Lake Forest, is taking on that challenge for the third time on Feb. 10.

If completed, Zweig's run will take him through 18 Orange County cities in 48-60 hours straight. His inspiration is a goal to raise $50,000 for Children's Hospital Orange County.

Why would someone put themselves through all of that misery?

Looking back over a 16-year personal running history, Zweig began with cross country and track in high school in Lake Forest.

But the book "Ultra-marathon Man" inspired him to the next level of running.

According to ultra-marathoner and author Dean Karnazes, "There is magic in misery."

Zweig read Karnazes' book as a teen and was entranced by not the misery, but the magic that Karnazes spoke of.

"I told my parents I wanted to run 100 miles before graduating high school, and my parents suggested if I do it, I do it for charity," Zweig said.

The first year, he raised a little more than $7,000 for Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Although he has yet to ever need the services of CHOC Children’s, it has been his calling to use his passions to help those in need. During his second attempt, in 2007, Zweig was forced to stop at mile 124.

According to Zweig, his core temperature dropped to the point his body wouldn’t let him go anymore. Even though he didn’t complete his goal of 200 miles, he succeeded at raising just more than $50,000 for CHOC Children’s that year.

Ten years later, he refuses to let fear get in the way.

"If I decided not to run again, if I threw in the towel, I think then I would have failed big time," he said. But Zweig has another reason for running.

The 28-year-old will become a first-time dad one month after the run.

"I choose not to let fear get in the way of what I want to do," he said. "If you have an idea, don't be afraid to share it with your friends and family, don't be afraid to help others and don't be afraid to push yourself. And don't be afraid to donate to CHOC Children's."

Will Zweig succeed at this feat? Will he be able to raise $50,000 for CHOC Children’s?

Learn more about this athlete and benefactor at www.acauseforendurance.com

Image, courtesy, YouTube video screencapture