Harvey Lewis (ultrarunner)
American ultrarunner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harvey Lewis (born April 13, 1976)[citation needed] is an American ultrarunner.[1][2]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1976 (age 50) |
| Height | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Weight | 169 lb (77 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
Event | Ultramarathon |
Early and personal life
Lewis was born in Wheeling, West Virginia and spent much of his childhood in Berea, Ohio.[citation needed] He is a high school teacher and has lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.[3]
Lewis is a vegan. He believes that his plant-based diet contributes significantly to his endurance and recovery as an ultramarathon runner.[2]
Running career
Lewis represented Team USA at the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 24 Hour World Championship in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017.[3]
In July 2014, Lewis won the Badwater Ultramarathon in just under 23 hours and 53 minutes. In the same year, he tied for second place at the Arrowhead 135.[4][5][6] In October 2023, Harvey broke the Backyard Ultra record by completing 108 laps (450 miles) over five days of running.[7]
Race results
Winner
Winner, Big Dog's Backyard Ultra (354.16 miles) October 2021[8]
Winner, Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles) 23:52:55 July 2014[6]
Winner, SC24, Spartanburg, SC, March 16, 2014: 154.590 miles[9]
Course records
Backyard Ultra, World Record of 108 laps completed (450 miles) over 5 days, October 2023[10]
Activism
In 2008, Lewis earned a grant to retrace the steps of Mahatma Gandhi's famous 1930 Salt March, a nonviolent protest to the salt tax. Gandhi and his followers walked 241 miles from his home (Harijan Ashram) to the coastal city of Dandi.[11][12] In 2009, Lewis retraced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Selma to Montgomery march.[13] Lewis also met with the 99-year-old Amelia Boynton Robinson after his run, who told Lewis "I believe God kept me alive 99 years so I can share my story with young people".[14][15]