Our Bureau
Fair Lawn, NJ
Nasser Beg, a 62-year-old, amateur athlete and a Fair Lawn, NJ resident for over 25 years, is all set to cross a Run Streak of 1,826 days and over 8,750 miles on April 28, 2025.
He began running during the pandemic in 2020, to stay fit through the lockdown. All his runs are outdoors – no treadmills or gyms for him – and he runs in any circumstance, any condition, any city, any country and in any weather. He prefers winter running to any other season, as that is when he performs best.
Before 2020, he had been cross-training at Maven Physical Therapy Center, Paramus and running for about 4 years, 3-4 times a week. So, when the Corona Virus struck, he said to himself “Let’s begin running every day and see how far it takes me… It’s mind-boggling now to look back and see that 5 years have piled up. Frankly, I think anyone can do it, with a little bit of discipline, consistency and motivation.”
One does have to think of it as a lifestyle, and therefore one does need to be mindful of diet, a reasonable mix of proteins, carbs & fats and proper hydration. He usually has a protein shake after every run/workout, but his go-to foods are beetroot juice, raw spinach and sprouts – These are the real super fuel that turbo-charge his gas-tank/engines. Yes, he does have a crazy weakness, being a die-hard chocoholic and usually have a bar after dinner.
He usually runs at Saddle Brook Park and end off with a short Work-Out for about 20 minutes right there in the park, or if the weather gets too rough, on the deck in his backyard. He had run several 5K’s, 10K’s, Spartan Sprints and a few Half Marathons over the past 4 years, and he had trained for several months with his good friend Mr. John Kennedy from Maywood, a marathon runner, who had coached High School Runners for many years, and is now retired. Beg draws inspiration from John & his amazing wife Mary Kennedy, also a huge inspiration who passed away recently.
Every single run and workout are posted on Facebook and Instagram (@begnasser) daily, as he believes that daily log is what helps him stay accountable, or he might not be motivated to show up the next day. People always ask him, “How do you find the motivation to do it day after day?” There is also nothing scientific about Beg’s approach to running, he just shows up and run. Anyone interested in running with him just needs to message him on Fb or dm him on Insta. It is not easy pushing oneself day after day – before every long run, as it is a race between your mind and an excuse – Win it! And over time he has begun to realize that – The journey is far more incredible than the destination. Besides all these valuable life lessons, it is imperative that one pays very close attention to any and all signals that one’s body gives out. Adequate Rest and Hydration are key to good distance running.
Sure, there will be many days when your body just refuses to move – for a multitude of reasons – Sore back, muscle pulls, knee or joint pain, blisters, bruises, tummy or headaches and an assortment of aches, sprains & strains. And coming back from an injury will be an uphill battle so it’s important to understand and remember that – You are your own healer. The best reaction I get is from my Primary Care Physician at my Annual Physical check-up, he looks at my results and says, “You’re fine – Get Lost.”
As per Beg, the benefits of running are: Increase in lung capacity, strength, endurance, mobility, pain tolerance, mental relaxation… One can go on and on – but a lot will depend on how invested we are in the activity.
In the end, he considers himself extremely lucky as Beg says “I don’t have to do it… I Get To!”
Fundraisers planned and concluded over the years, along with its Beneficiaries are:
April 2025 – Current Year Target $3,750 – Charity: Water.Org
April 2022 – $3,425 – Charity “Hope for Ukraine”
April 2021 – $5,285 – Charity “No Kid Hungry”
