How Harvey Lewis Recovers After 5 Days of Nonstop Running — Injury, Sleep, and What Breaks First

What happens after you run for five straight days — 466 miles, 111 hours, two broken ribs, a torn hamstring… and then go right back to teaching high-school civics on Monday?

In this rare, intimate conversation, ultrarunner Harvey Lewis shares a front-row look into his healing journey after Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra — widely considered one of the toughest and strangest endurance races in the world.

This is not just a running episode.
 It’s about recovery, identity, and the small, consistent choices that help everyday people rebuild and age with strength.

Harvey opens up about:

• How he cracked his ribs and tore his hamstring on Day 5
• Why he kept going for 12 more hours after the injury
• The exact recovery tools he used (sleep, sauna, red light, ART therapy, movement)
• How he distinguishes “trying harder” from “trying smarter”
• Why purpose (his Haiti fundraiser) kept him moving
• The mindset shifts that matter more at 49 than mileage ever did
• How a human-powered commute — even on crutches — became part of his rehab
• The real meaning of resilience, especially after setbacks

This episode is shorter than usual as Harvey had to get back to class — but we hope to bring him back for Part Two.

And a personal note:
 We just crossed 100 consecutive weekly episodes of Ageless Athlete. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for making this community possible.

Timestamps

00:00 — Breakfast, the run commute, and showing up to school
03:00 — How the injuries happened during Big’s
07:00 — The surprising pace of his healing
10:00 — What “trying harder” actually means in recovery
13:00 — The role of sauna, red light, ART therapy, and sleep
17:00 — Why nutrition matters more than protein myths
22:00 — Motion as medicine: walking, cycling, gentle running
26:00 — The Backyard Ultra: explained in simple terms
33:00 — Mindset in hour 80–100: hallucinations, purpose, micro-rest
40:00 — Running for David in Haiti
45:00 — Veganism, misinformation, and fueling as an ageless athlete
51:00 — Harvey signs off to rush back to class

References & Links

• Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra — Race format & rules
  https://backyardultra.com
• Harvey Lewis Instagram
  https://instagram.com/harveylewisultrarunner
  
  

---

🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it

If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathlete

📰 Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter ! 

1-2x a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩

Support the show