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The Runner in Congress: Mark DeSaulnier’s Journey Through 23 Marathons, Public Service, and a Near-Death Comeback
Today’s guest knows endurance—on the trail, in public service, and in life.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California has run 23 marathons, including Boston, New York, Napa, and even Paris.
A former lacrosse player turned lifelong runner, Mark once pursued a sub-3-hour marathon while simultaneously trying to bench press twice his bodyweight. He came heartbreakingly close—twice clocking a 3:04—and carried that same grit with him into politics, business, and recovery from a life-threatening illness.
In March 2020, Mark fell during a run in D.C. and sustained broken ribs. What followed was a…
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