Mark Covert running streak ended because of foot injury, ran 6,000 miles a year

Mark Covert Running Streak to End Today Due to Foot Defect

Lancaster, California – this city of over 155,000 residents will experience the end of an era when Coach Covert ends his 45-year-long running streak. Mark Covert has been running a mile or more every day since 1968 and has detailed records to prove it. When he ended his running streak Tuesday, he had 149,653 miles which is more mileage than many cars log during their lifetimes.

Back in the 1970s, when he was younger, Covert used to run 6,000 miles a year which is roughly 16.5 miles a day. Think of that as a half-marathon and a 5k run combined on a daily basis. Covert has maintained the longest running streak second only to English runner Ron Hill who is still going strong since December 1964.

What brought about the end of Covert’s running streak? It turns out that the demise of his running streak was a congenital defect he was born with called “midfoot collapse”.

In the past year, the pain from the defect has slowed his running pace down to twelve minute miles which hardly gives him the cardio workout he desires. Most people are not in shape to run a twelve minute mile even with two good feet.

“It’s actually a miracle that I didn’t have much bigger problems earlier in my career when I was doing high miles,” Covert explained in an interdiew with Runners World. “Most of the doctors I’ve seen have said that others with a foot like mine are already in a wheelchair or walker. The running actually gave me a little more strength and flexibility and joint movement. Running didn’t cause my foot condition; it was always there and it was always going to get me at some point. I’ll probably need surgery in a year or two.”

Covert says he doesn’t recommend starting a running streak to anyone.

“Don’t do it,” he said. “I get asked quite often, mostly by new runners and by runners on my college teams. Listen, I realize there are better ways to deal with sickness and injury than running every day. I know there were times in my career when I would have bounced back faster if I had taken several days off, probably even a week. As a coach, I understand the benefits of days off, and that’s what I encourage my kids to do when they need it, to take a day off every once in a while.”

On The Web:
45-Year Running Streak Will End Tuesday
http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/45-year-running-streak-will-end-tuesday?page=single