Meet a Health Hero: Jon Lyons

Jon Lyons

» You can vote for Jon here September 15th through 21st. Mark your calendar! 

Name: Jon Lyons

Role: Founder of Run215, a lively community created to advance the positive culture of running in Philadelphia.

Who or what motivates you to be healthy?
Self empowerment. For me, that is where all positive growth begins. The satisfaction I get from running feeds into every aspect of my life. I look in the mirror and I am proud of who I am. I’m proud as a father, partner, friend. I smile more, and laugh more. That might sound selfish, but you need to love yourself and be proud of who you are in order to grow as a person. 

Describe a health or fitness related turning point in your life.
I was in a rough place personally. I wasn’t making healthy choices for myself, and kept spiraling downward. I remember holding my daughter and thinking “Something needs to change. You need to be strong for her.” I threw on a pair of cheap shoes and went for a run, and it felt amazing. I haven’t looked back since, and could not be happier with the results.

What “policy” would you institute to make Greater Philadelphia a healthier region?
Fitness in the workplace! I am a HUGE advocate for “health breaks” to be viewed as important as lunch breaks during the workweek. With the shift from manual labor to more nine-to-five office jobs, there needs to be a focus on how physical fitness can benefit employees’ health. I could write pages and pages about this.

What’s the most important part of your health or fitness regimen?
For me, personally? Accountability. Connecting with like-minded people and feeding off of each other’s energy is a huge part of it. It’s easy to fall out of a regimen even if you’re super disciplined. Finding a community around the type of activity you prefer, and letting that help you stay motivated is crucial for me.

What is your number one piece of health-related advice?
Oh man, where to begin with this? Health is so much more than sculpted abs. Don’t get caught up in “quick fix hard body” marketing. There ARE immediate benefits to fitness/health, and they might not be what you expected: new friends, new experiences, more energy during the day, better sleep, the euphoria you get from adrenaline! Fall in love with sweat! Fall in love with yourself!

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