At the age of 70, Russ Lesser has logged many miles in his running shoes and it only seemed fitting that when he reached a personal milestone it was at the Manhattan Beach Pier and in the town he has claimed home for 66 years.
Lesser admits to be being surprised when a group of about 20 people that included his wife Charlotte presented him with a plaque after he completed his daily workout that marked 50,000 miles of running.
“I had no idea they were going to do that,” said Lesser, the President of Body Glove International. “It was a nice surprise.”
Lesser, who served eight years on the City Council and two terms as Mayor of Manhattan Beach, grew up in the beachside community graduating from Mira Costa High School.
“I played a little basketball in high school but didn’t really start running until I was 30 years old,” Lesser said. “My friends and I noticed we were gaining a little weight so we decided to do something about it.”
It was during the 1970’s when Lesser gained inspiration from a book written by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, who introduced the concept of aerobics. Cooper’s 1968 book Aerobics emphasized a point system for improving the cardiovascular system.
“My friends and I got hooked and I began keeping of log,” Lesser said. “I don’t know what’s nuttier, running 50,000 miles or keeping track of them.”
Lesser and his friends had a good thing going. Decades later, theBeachCitiesHealthDistrictVitalityCitycommunity health program developed Moai (pronounced “Mo Eye”) walking teams of groups of up to 10 people that meet at least once a week to walk throughout the community.
“We were the original Moai,” Lesser said. “It’s a social network that helps you stay in shape while developing great friendships. We’ve met on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 a.m. for years. You feel like you have to be there so you don’t let your friends down. One of the keys to staying healthy life is having a purpose in life, wanting to get out of bed each day to make a better world.”
As Lesser became more involved with running, he began reading books to train for marathons – he has competed in 16 – and was learning what days to alternate long and shorts runs.
“I had to keep a log of my workouts and I just continued it all these years,” Lesser said. “I know in my daily routine that it’s 4 miles to El Porto and back and it’s 2 ? miles to the gym. It’s kind of anal retentive but it’s now a habit.”
Lesser has completed countless miles with his 4th Street Running Group and for many years was accompanied by his wife until a back injury limited Charlotte to walking.
“She stays in shape,” Russ said. “She walks very fast. When I’m walking with her, I can’t keep up.”
Lesser has accumulated many miles solo. Along with his competition in marathons, he has run in numerous 10K races including his favorite, theManhattan Beach10K.
When Lesser was elected to the Manhattan Beach City Council in 1978, he and many of his friends who were runners organized the first Manhattan Beach 10K.
The annual event has grown to become one of the top 100 races listed in the National Road Race Encyclopedia. Out of the top 100 races, the Manhattan Beach 10K boasts highest local participation (8-10% of the city) and is the only race with no major corporate sponsor, being held strictly with volunteers and a partnership with the City of Manhattan Beach which provides free services from its police and fire departments.
Although Lesser enjoyed the 50,000-mile celebration, he is equally as proud to be a dedicated member of P.I.E.R (Participated In Every Race), a group that has dwindled down to under 70 runners who have competed in every Manhattan Beach 10K.
“Running 50,000 miles is quite an accomplishment,”Charlottesaid of her husband’s feat. “He’s a very dedicated man.”
