Owensboro runner completes marathon in back yard

April 12, 2020 | 12:09 am

Updated April 11, 2020 | 11:04 pm

Photo submitted

Marathons are hard enough to complete over a 26.2-mile course, but an Owensboro man gutted one out Saturday in his own back yard — in only a .03 mile space.

Chris Abell loves to run, so restrictions from COVID-19 have not stopped him from logging miles. Saturday, he put that love of running to a new test.

Abell said the idea for the backyard marathon came from his friend Jordan Loucks after they were discussing the limitations athletes from across the world were dealing with.

“Many athletes in other countries or more urban areas are restricted to exercising within the limits of their property,” he said. “Fortunately, we can still go out on the road or find some dirt trails. I chose to run this marathon as a notion of solidarity with endurance athletes across the globe and appeal to all who are choosing to exercise to do so within the recommendations set.”

To combat all the turns, Abell changed direction every five miles. He said by mile 20 the turns “hurt like fire.”

Abell finished his backyard marathon in 4:47:05.

With his closest friends and family already calling him crazy for running in his back yard, Abell added the madness using the run for “mental training” — meaning he did not listen to music or podcasts during.

“I have started getting into what’s called ultra running, or any race over 26.2 miles,” he said. “It definitely requires mental toughness. My personal record at the marathon is 3:22:47. Obviously this one took longer. The turns were gnarly and I started having doubts and I had to tell my brain, ‘No, we’re doing this no matter what.’ I purposely left music, audiobooks, etc., out of the equation so that I might reach that point of fight or flight.”

To share his love of running and cycling, Abell also has a podcast and YouTube channel called Share the Road. The YouTube channel has vlog releases every Monday and Wednesday, and the podcast releases every Friday.

“It’s called Share the Road because I try to make content that’s applicable to hopefuls, beginners and veterans of running and cycling,” he said.

Abell said for anyone who missed the live stream of his backyard marathon, he is recapping the entire video in a vlog on Monday.

April 12, 2020 | 12:09 am

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