United States marathon legend Dean Karnazes is in the country to encourage Fijians to run with him as he advocates for a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
Named by Time magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”, Karnazes says he hopes to inspire Fijians to run with him during his 100 kilometre marathon from Suva to Togovere in Ra later this week.
“There are so many things in this world that divide us, be it the colour of our skin, the God we worship, our socio-economic level but running is something that we have in common,” he said.
“It brings people together.
“No matter who we are, feet all point us in the same direction and that’s what I like about it is that even though my lifestyle and my place are very different from the students that I will run with but when we run together we are the same.”
Among his many accomplishments, Karnazes has run 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days.
He’s also run across an Eastern Californian desert known as Death Valley in the middle of summer and has also trekked through the South Pole.
Karnazes is in the country under the US-funded Best Foot Forward program which encourages Fijian youths to continue to persevere despite the challenges they come across.
US Embassy deputy public affairs officer Will Romine says the week-long program brought together Karnazes and Washington DC youth sports advocate Sera Berardo to Fiji where they will engage local schools and communities promoting the Best Foot Forward program.
“Running is really the best sport out there because the barriers to entry are very low,” he said.
“You don’t need special rugby fields, equipment. You just need a long stretch of road. Our hope is that this program plants the seed for young people and for people who work with youth to use running as a way to build up youth and to the leaders that not just Fiji but the world needs.”
The US Sports Convoy began its advocacy campaign at Koroipita Settlement in Lautoka yesterday.
