Tony Reed Prefers Running Shoes Over Insulin

"Running Shoes Are Cheaper Than Insulin"

Runner, author, and CPA Tony Reed is 1 of only about 225 people in history who have ever run a marathon on all seven continents! He has inspired runners and non-runners all over the world. He is considerably one of the most important runners we have in America today. Why? His life represents a tradition that doesn’t currently exist among the majority of people of color in America; and his example has sparked a running movement with African-Americans all across America. This movement has been aided not only by his personal achievements, but also by the organization he co-founded, The National Black Marathoners Association.

In 2008 his book Shoes Are Cheaper Than Insulin: Marathon Adventures on All Seven Continents was published. This book highlights his, “25 years of stories . . . about running marathons around the world.” This book is another great contribution to the sport of running and a testament to its’ profound impact on the life of a human being.

Here are a few articles that talks about Tony Reed’s historic achievement of becoming the first black American to complete 7 marathons on 7 Continents:

Cool Running, First Black Runner Finishes Seven Marathons on Seven Continents 

Runner's World, Changing the Face of Distance Running

"Black Americans and the Marathon Distance"

The documentary Black Americans and the Marathon Distance was created a few years ago by Gregory Evans. You can catch a four minute trailer of the documentary on YouTube at this link:Black Americans and the Marathon Distance. At the time of it's release it's topic was very intriguing and relevant: 

"We developed [this] documentary to explore the barriers and/or lack of interest of Blacks running long distances."

This documentary explores a topic relative to the declining health of all Americans, and specifically African-Americans over the past couple few decades. A lack of daily activity in the lives of most Americans has greatly increased the number of men, women and children who are being diagnosed as either diabetic, obese or both. 

It's exploration of the question: 'Why don't people of color run long distance?' has many layers. By the end of the documentary you'll find that there are many answers to the aforementioned question, but I hope that you wont be completely satisfied with these conclusions. My hope is that you'll come away with one more question: If not now, when? In other words, if more people don't take it upon themselves to "run" for their lives, the statistics are only going to grow more discouraging.

Even though it's been a few years since it's release this topic has only grown in relevance. The epidemic increase of lifestyle-related diseases of diabetes and obesity amongst minorities has a direct correlation with both a lack of consistent daily activity (i.e walking, jogging, running) and a diet lacking in adequate nutritional needs in the lives of minorities in America.

The solution to this growing problem doesn't lie solely with more people running, but running can be the start to creating a solution to overcome this health epidemic. Planting one foot at a time forward can be the seed, that watered with more miles and time, will grow into a tree that could bear a fruitful crop of additional solutions.