Local physician takes on ultramarathon

Local physician takes on ultramarathon

Aitkin—Dan Lonergan, MD, a dedicated anesthesiologist in Riverwood’s Neck, Back, and Spine clinic, has taken on an extraordinary personal challenge that few would dare attempt. He has transitioned from a self-described non-runner to completing a grueling 100-mile ultramarathon. His journey is a testament to grit, determination, and the power of a wellness mindset.

Just a year ago, Dr. Lonergan was not only concerned about the health of his patients, but also his own health. “I was forty-five years old,” he said, “and I had received concerning lab results from a recent medical checkup. To add insult to injury, I could hardly tie my own shoes without being short of breath.”

Dr. Lonergan decided it was time to make a change. Instead of opting for a simple exercise routine and dietary changes, he set his sights on something far more ambitious—what many would consider impossible. He set a goal to run a 100-mile ultramarathon in one year.

“This wasn’t about being an athlete or a runner,” said Dr. Lonergan. “It was about defying the odds. Something that would truly challenge me. But there was also something more sinister in my plan,” he said with a sarcastic grin. “A form of self-manipulation—forcing myself to choose preservation. I was committing to something that would instill within me the literal fear of death. I had three paths to choose from: 1) I could prepare for the race, and succeed, or 2) I could fail to prepare, and die on the trail, or 3) I could give up the goal completely and die of a heart attack. I am not one to back out on commitments, and death is never a great idea, so path 1 was clearly the best option.”

Dr. Lonergan started slowly, incrementally improving his fitness level. He did frequent trail runs and gradually increased his distance. He cross-trained as a ride leader with the Cuyuna Lakes High School Mountain Bike Team and competed in the 2023 Cuyuna Crusher in August 2023. The training difficulty quickly increased preparing for the 50 km Fire Tower Trail Race in Hinckley, Minn., in October 2023. “I literally crawled through that finish line on my hands and knees,” Dr. Lonergan recalls with a laugh.

Next, he prepared for the 35-mile Spirit of Syllamo Adventure Run in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in early December 2023. This time he crossed the finish line upright on two feet.

At some point, he checked in with his doctor. His blood work had remarkably normalized. “Even though death from a heart attack no longer seemed imminent,” Dr. Lonergan said, “I was starting to crave the exercise, and I had a goal, so I pressed on.”

He trained through the winter for the March 2024 Antelope Canyon 50-mile desert ultramarathon in Page, Arizona. Right around the corner, in April, he ran the Chippewa 50 km trail race in New Auburn, Wis. The Black Hills 50-miler soon awaited him in June 2024. Throughout this time, he battled overuse injuries, hip pains, knee pains, ankle pains, blisters, and bad days, but found ways to move forward despite relentless setbacks.

Finally, he was ready to face the daunting 100-mile distance, the Lean Horse 100, a race from Custer, S.D., 50 miles north to Dumont, then back again.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, by far,” he explained. “I felt all 200,000 steps, each one getting incrementally harder as the race went on. The nighttime hours were miserably cold, the midday hours miserably hot. By mile 85 I couldn’t hold anything down. By mile 90 I was just a bundle of blisters, blood, sweat, and tears. But I never wanted to give up, I knew I was going to finish. Crossing that finish line felt amazing.”

Dr. Lonergan finished the 100-mile race on August 17, 2024, at 5:25 p.m., completing his ambitious goal from the summer of 2023.

“I’m not a runner,” he emphasized. “No one would claim that I am a runner. I don’t have any running talent whatsoever. People who are runners drop out of these races and I didn’t. I may not have been fast, and I certainly didn’t win or get close to winning, but I finished. I’m pretty darn proud of that. And I assure you, if I can do it, just about anybody can do it.”

Dr. Lonergan’s journey is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when one refuses to be hindered by perceived limitations. His story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible.