Another nonrunner dies while not running

[John B]

From Runners World:

Non-Runner Dies While Not Running
A Mississippi man died yesterday while not running in a local marathon.

Les Actiff, 43, of Jackson, Miss., collapsed while watching television in his Hattiesburg home. Attempts to revive him failed, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

He was still clutching a bucket of fried chicken.

Like 30% of the U.S. population, Actiff was obese. Federal statistics show that nearly a third of U.S. adults 20 years and older are obese; about two-thirds are overweight. Actiff had been a non-runner for more than 20 years, according to his family and friends.

Family members were stunned.

"I don't get it," said his wife, Bess. "He didn't run all his life. He was always so inactive. And now, this. You just never know, I guess."
"At least he died doing what he loved," she added. "Not running."

Spectators gathered outside Actiff's home were similarly shocked.

"I'll never not run," said one woman. "It's too dangerous."

A large man on a scooter, out walking his dog, was more fatalistic: "If you can avoid doing a single positive thing for your health your whole life, just sit around like a lump and eat poorly and then still drop dead... Well, I just don't know. I guess when it's your time, it's your time."

Actiff appears to have died from atherosclerotic heart disease, according to Lamar County Coroner Paul Caste.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, at the Pizza Hut off of I-59.

[Wilson]

"He was still clutching a bucket of fried chicken."...good for him, at least he went doing what he loved.

[Jester2000]

Sounds like the editors over at Runner's World have been reading The Onion.

[take-a-knee]

He was Jim Fixx's cousin:

http://www.halhigdon.com/Articles/Fixx.htm

[leaftye]

Of Jackson, but has his home in Hattiesburg? Weird.

Anyway, I like Hattiesburg.

[steve43]

Sounds like the editors over at Runner's World have been reading The Onion.

that was my first thought too!

fifo

[Mags]

A large man on a scooter, out walking his dog, was more fatalistic: "If you can avoid doing a single positive thing for your health your whole life, just sit around like a lump and eat poorly and then still drop dead... Well, I just don't know. I guess when it's your time, it's your time."

I think this is the fitness philosophy of most thru-hikers when not hiking, too.

[txag]

My dad graduated from Hattiesberg High School. Can't be a totally bad place.... All my relatives on his side live there.

[Helios]

I knew there was a reason I quit running after my 10th marathon!! I haven't picked up the bucket of fried chicken yet. I'll start on that routine this weekend. Hope I can stick with it!! - Whew!

[double d]

KFC now sells the grilled chicken, so that is much better for you, maybe our guy down in Miss. just needed to change his diet a little.

[weary]

My dad graduated from Hattiesberg High School. Can't be a totally bad place.... All my relatives on his side live there.

Is it also true that none of your living relatives have died?

[JAK]

He should have not run a 50-miler. They're twice as long.

[ShelterLeopard]

Where did they bury the survivors?

[Johnny Appleseed]

Non-hero does not die in a hail of machine gun fire charging the machine gun nest infested and manned by multiple enemies of the state, despite all the mountains of steamy red hot molten lead like substance typically called lead, but in fact is lead covered in a steel or copper plated jacket which was manufactured in an unknown country, but most likely a bad one, thrown around the non-hero savage who will never know what it is like to show or even feel courage, despite his many non-hero savage concerns for feeling such a heroic thrill and also a sense of accomplishment, what a waste for such a non-hero savage.

But on the plus side non-writer writer of above sentence did in fact drink homemade non-commercialized wine before writing.

Gato Taco.

[prain4u]

Did they serve chicken at the funeral service? A wing and a prayer!

[Gramps]

Did they serve chicken at the funeral service? A wing and a prayer!

[Bilko]

Like 30% of the U.S. population, Actiff was obese. Federal statistics show that nearly a third of U.S. adults 20 years and older are obese; about two-thirds are overweight.

[Bilko]

If 1/3 are obese and 2/3's are overweight, there's not much hope for us over 20.

The article didn't mention that Les Actiff was actually watching "The Biggest Loser" when he died. The paramedics tried giving Les a gravy IV. His wife Bess, objected saying, "Why waste a good pint of gravy on someone who can't enjoy it." She used the remaining gravy over her mashed potatoes. According to a second article, two of the pallbearers got herinas carrying Les out of the church. Now who's the 'Biggest Loser'.