AC man marks running 1,000 days straight
Al Taliaferro Jr. is a member of the South New Jersey chapter of Black Men Run, an international running club with health-conscious members in 29 states, Europe, and Japan.
ATLANTIC CITY — Al Taliaferro Jr. runs on the Boardwalk.
Every day.
Rain or shine.
And on Thanksgiving morning, he celebrated running 1,000 days straight.
“Thursday, I get the comma,” said Taliaferro on Tuesday before hitting the milestone. “I’m on the Boardwalk every morning and if I can’t get it in the morning, I get it in the evening.”
Taliaferro, 58, of the resort, is a member of the South New Jersey chapter of Black Men Run, an international running club with health-conscious members in 29 states, Europe, and Japan.
The Black Men Run organization’s core mission includes fighting health disparities that uniquely affect Black men.
According to the Black Men Run website, more than 40% of Black people older than 20 years old have cardiovascular disease. Black males have a risk of having a stroke at twice the rate of whites and heart disease is the number one cause of death for African American males.
“At Black Men Run we believe that running/jogging can change these alarming trends and we are here to encourage African American males to get out and be active,” the website says. “Research tells us that running on a regular basis not only benefits individuals from a physical standpoint.”
Running reportedly helps boost confidence, fights depression and relieves stress.
Taliaferro said he knows this for a fact.
“It’s very therapeutic,” Taliaferro said of running. “Sometimes I can be in low or bad spirits and after I run, I feel much better.”
Although Taliaferro, who ran cross country for Stockton University in college, always ran at least once per week, he became more consistent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So many lives could have been saved during this pandemic had guys been in better shape,” Taliaferro said. “We’re trying to inspire more Black men to get healthier.”
Taliaferro said he joined a 30-day run challenge that turned into 60 days, then 90 days and he hasn’t taken a break in nearly three years.
“This just shows how fast time can go,” Taliaferro said.
Many from the running club along with family and friends took a celebratory run with him on Thanksgiving Day.
Tony Sample, the Black Men Run South New Jersey chapter president, also came to celebrate the achievement. Taliaferro’s sister, Levonne Taliaferro, said she never doubted her brother could run a thousand days straight.
“Both of us were on the track team in school so I had all the confidence in him,” Levonne Taliaferro said of her brother.
Philip Hill, of Atlantic City, commended Taliaferro for his resilience.
“I don’t mind if it’s cold, but I can’t do it in the rain,” Hill said.
Not so for Taliaferro.
“I’ve run in rain, snow, storms.” Taliaferro said. “There’s been times I’ve run in dress shoes. There have been some days I didn’t want to run. But I ran.”
Atlantic City Focus
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Mark Tyler graduated from Atlantic City High School and went on to Columbia Union College, in Takoma Park, MD, which is now Washington Adventist University.
Mark earned a BA degree in Journalism. His major was Journalism/Publications. His minor was Communications. Upon graduation, he accepted a three-month internship with his hometown paper The Press of Atlantic City. That three-month internship was extended to six months and in the fifth month he was hired as a professional Staff Writer.
Mark worked as a Staff Writer for The Press for approximately six years before also being given responsibilities as a Weekend Assignment Coordinator.
During his 10 years at The Press, he won the following awards:
New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper Contest
Responsible Journalism First Amendment
(The Art Weissman Memorial Award)
Local School Boards Rack Up Travel Expenses
3rd Place, Daily over 60,000
2002
New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper Contest
Reporting and Writing, Community Home Run Award
Her Kitchen Long on Love, Short on Funds
3rd Place, Daily Over 60,000
2002
Garden State Association of Black Journalists
Features Award
Big Ben
2nd Place, Daily Over 60,000
1998
Mark prides himself on upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity and has been working tirelessly to make this website a respected source for local news, events, business listings and discussion!
RELIGION
Mark has been a life-long Seventh-day Adventist Christian. He observes the Sabbath from sunset on Friday evening until sunset on Saturday evening so if you reach out to him and he doesn’t respond immediately please don’t be offended. He is observing his faith.
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