Boston Marathon Bombings and Cancer Research Inspire Man to Run 163 Miles

Adam Scully-Power went above and beyond to raise money to fight cancer, as well as honor those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings, running an unbelievable 163 miles in just two days. 

For the Win's Laken Litman profiles the man who ran the span of Massachusetts without a wink of sleep, an extraordinary venture to say the least. 

Scully-Power, who is now 39, was once an accomplished athlete who let himself go because of time constraints and eating habits. It's a tale to which most Americans can relate. 

One year and 50 more pounds ago, he decided to make significant life changes, which eventually led him to the Pan-Mass Challenge—a cycling event he instead chose to run. 

Well into his new fitness and dietary regimen, Litman writes that Scully-Power was offered a chance to run in an ultramarathon by his friend David Green.

Ultramarathons—documented in the popular book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall—demand that runners travel extreme distances in a relatively short amount of time. 

In this case, Green suggested running a 110-mile course in Ponte Vedra, Fla. Initially flabbergasted by the distance, this marathon man ultimately did what his friend so brazenly suggested. 

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“Then he stopped talking, looked me square in the eyes and said, ‘You should do it with me,’” Scully-Power said. “I thought he was insane. Running over 100 miles was incomprehensible.”

But in February, Scully-Power ran 110 miles in 24 hours and 38 minutes.

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The already captivating story took another turn, as Green was at the finish line in Boston when the bombs went off back in April. As reported, Green was just fine, and even managed to snap off a famous photo featuring a glimpse of accused bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. 

That photo taken by his friend motivated Scully-Power to do something special for everyone affected by the tragedy, stating, "It was a sign it was meant to be."

He remembered a conversation with a buddy about the Pan-Mass Challenge and decided to find out if it was possible to run instead of bike the distance. Scully-Power notes the director of the race was probably taken aback by the ludicrous request, but it was allowed.

And so began some extreme training. 

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But the mission was a go. To train, on weekends Scully-Power would wake up at 3:30 a.m. and run from 4-9. If one of his kids had a lacrosse game 20 miles away, he’d run there instead of drive.

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In the end, Scully-Power once again did what he set out to accomplish, running 163 miles in 41 hours and 33 minutes. And, as Litman writes, he did so while only stopping to eat, change clothes and stretch his legs. 

It gets better, because Scully-Power raised a tremendous amount of money through his website, WhyWeRun.com. 

Those participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge are tasked with raising between $500 and $5,000 dollars to enter. Scully-Power, however, procured a remarkable $26,000, which will go to cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

Astounded? You should be, but also realize that it can be done with the right mindset. As Scully-Power tells For the Win: 

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I wasn’t trying to put up a specific time. I had a relaxed mentality. It was all about raising money and awareness, not trying to set world records.

It fundamentally changes your perspective of what’s possible in all facets of your life. 

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He set out to honor victims and raise money for a great cause, which he did, but Scully-Power also managed to spread a tremendous amount of goodwill and inspiration. 

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