 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1976 (age 49) Wheeling, West Virginia |
| Height | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Weight | 169 lb (77 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Event | Ultramarathon |
Harvey Lewis (born April 13, 1976)[ citation needed ] is an American ultrarunner. [1] [2]
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]
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]
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]
Backyard Ultra, World Record of 108 laps completed (450 miles) over 5 days, October 2023 [10]
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]