Lance Benson, a marathoner and an active member of Achilles International

As we enter the height of the holiday season, all of us are looking for ways to avoid adding those extra holiday pounds.  According to experts, one of the easiest ways to accomplish this goal is to just MOVE! 

As the proud sponsor of Wellness Wednesdays on WSVN7, Baptist Health South Florida has produced a series of interviews and tips from marathoners, medical experts and sports professionals, who will show you how to accomplish your goals and kick off the new year for a healthier, happier and more active YOU!

The series appears on WSVN7 every Wednesday beginning today, December 13, and will continue until the ING Miami Marathon on Sunday, January 27. Many of the people you will meet throughout the series are “regular” people who made a resolution to become healthy and enjoy a better lifestyle.

Meet Lance Benson.
A marathoner and an active member of Achilles International, an organization of athletes with disabilities, Lance is a member of a team that is participating in the ING Miami Marathon. The mission of Achilles International, which was started 36 years ago by Dick Traum, a disabled athlete himself, is to bring hope, inspiration and the joys of achievement to people with disabilities.

Lance has been a marathoner for seven years.  He has raced in 22 marathons and has many more races planned in his future.  He says he has been competitive his entire life and began his marathon racing career in the champion of all races, the New York City Marathon, in 2004. Lance started racing for two reasons – to stay in shape and to influence other people with disabilities to participate in marathons and races.

“The most difficult thing to overcome is staying consistent and intense in training year-round, however, South Florida offers the perfect location,” he says. “Keeping an exercise routine or training for an event is a challenge for everyone, but it can be overcome with the right motivation.”

Are you interested in starting an exercise program? Lance offers this advice: “If you are sitting and watching this video, aim your goals high and go after them.” Spoken by one who truly knows.

Follow your dream!

Tags: Achilles International, Baptist Health South Florida, Lance Benson, Wellness Wednesdays