Man in Palm Beach Gardens attempts to run on treadmill for one week to beat world record
By April 19, Jason Leston, 45, will need to hit 539 miles — about 26 miles more than where the current record stands
WPBF Updated: 7:04 PM EDT Apr 16, 2021
Infinite Scroll Enabled
Jossie Carbonare
Reporter
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. —
Jason Lestor, 45, has been running on a treadmill at Palm Beach Sports Club in Palm Beach Gardens since April 12 with minimal breaks in between.
“He’s just a phenomenal person,” said Tara Cormier, Lestor’s girlfriend.
Advertisement
Lestor, of Arizona, is trying to beat a mark set by the Guinness World Records for the greatest distance covered on a treadmill in one week. He has a goal of averaging about 77 miles a day.
By April 19, Lestor will need to hit 539 miles – about 26 miles more than where the current record stands.
“Every moment counts, every minute counts," Cormier said. "The clock does not stop,” Cormier said.
It is for that reason we couldn’t speak with him.
Cormier said Lestor has a tent that he steps into "for less than a minute" when he needs to use the restroom.
All of those necessities are in a corner at the gym, including a makeshift bed set up in front of where he runs.
Cormier said they also take into account "basic human needs," such as eating, sleeping and hydrating.
“He’s probably averaging an hour and a half of sleep,” she said.
Lestor and his Cormier temporarily moved to Florida from Arizona just to do this.
“With COVID last year, it has really hampered the ability to find a gym that would be willing to be open and host the event,” Cormier said.
Palm Beach Sports Club left the gym open 24 hours and is accommodating Lestor through his goal by giving him space to do what he needs to do.
Part of that includes a table set up with a live camera documenting it all as friends and volunteers take shifts to record his progress and breaks per Guinness guidelines.
While this has all taken a toll on his body and Cormier said Lestor is exhausted, she said he continues to stay focused, exuding that strength she said he’s had since he was a child when he had an accident that left his right arm paralyzed.
“That’s how he’s been his whole life,” Cormier said.
Lestor has until 11:11 a.m. April 19 to complete his mission.
Cormier said every run he does supports a different charitable organization.
This time, donations made will go toward Runners for Miracles and to Mias Miracles, a foundation in Palm Beach County.