Healthy Outlook Blog

One example is Mike Buss, a former soldier in the British Armed Forces who was injured by a roadside bomb and discharged in 2000. Shortly afterward, he ended up homeless on the streets of London. But he eventually discovered a penchant for running and now he is aiming to become one of the most successful endurance athletes in history – a man who is currently preparing to run 100 marathons in 100 days. And, perhaps most importantly, he uses his running achievements to raise money for the UK charity Help for Heroes, a group that gives direct aid to wounded service personnel.

Another runner with a cause is Anne Mahlum from Philadelphia. An avid marathoner, she regularly passed a shelter on her morning runs and, in 2007, decided to invite its homeless occupants to join her. Through charitable donations, she received shoes and equipment and started Back on My Feet, which is now active in four cities along the east coast. Three times a week at 5:30 in the morning, a team of homeless people benefit from the fitness, discipline and community of running. And along with losing weight and improving health, the runners credit Back on My Feet with everything from employment to quitting drugs.

Both of these stories share the themes of running, homelessness and heroes, but also speak to the power of goal setting, and how important it is to set a goal outside from your immediate needs. Mike Buss set his sights on becoming the ultimate record-breaker, and he has helped legions of injured ex-Armed Service members along the way. Back on My Feet’s members get sober and learn valuable life skills through their dedication to running. They are living testaments to the importance of setting your sights on something above and beyond your immediate objective, and using it to enrich your life and reach other goals along the way. Do you have any particular goals that transcend health?