Chris Yates of Tarkio, Missouri, runs in the Bix7 race in Davenport, Iowa. (Picture by RaceFoto)

Dedicated, long distance runners are a rare breed. Finding one dedicated to running in our Midwest heat and humidity is even rarer still. But one Tarkio, Missouri, competitor has made it his mission to stay in shape, even while giving to others, and keep running for as long as he’s got it in him.

Chris Yates competed in The Bix 7 Road Race in Davenport, Iowa (a commemoration to Davenport native and jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke) July 30, 2022. This year’s race was extra special to Chris, as it was exactly two years to the day from his kidney donation. Chris said, “The hills, heat and humidity always make this race a bit more challenging than most road races, but this year the temp at start was 68 degrees (still humid and hilly though). My race was a 2 minute improvement from 2021! My goal was a sub 1 hour and I squeaked in at 59:55!”

A couple years ago, Chris donated a kidney to a close relative. Even for an extremely active guy, the recovery took a while, but it didn’t stop him from working toward his goals and getting back on his feet and running again. “The recovery was longer than expected, but I was able to resume training after four months and hard training after six months. I really have no lasting effects from the donation process after about a year. The screening process actually uncovered some flaws in my own nutrition that, if left unnoticed, could have turned much more serious, so you could say that the kidney donation process was good for my health, too. Both my recipient and I are doing fantastic!” Chris said that anyone thinking about donating a kidney should not let the thought of less strenuous activity be a deterrent, as obviously most donors can go on to do the normal exercises and activities that they had previously done.

For Chris, competing and staying active is in his blood. “I ran track (800m and 1600m), competed in the high jump, and ran cross country in high school and a bit in college as well. I continued to jog a bit in my thirties, but got more into it as a way to keep in shape when I closed the martial arts school. I started running 5k’s for fun and eventually worked my way into half-marathons and even one 30k trail race. I dabbled in a few duathlons (run/bike/run), biathlons (bike/run) and triathlons (swim/bike/run), but always enjoyed running the most. I like the freedom and it’s relaxing. I’m never the fastest, but I haven’t stopped improving even as I’ve aged (I’m 51 now).” 

Chris is the guy you see running in rain or shine, hot or cold. He’s the guy you watch in awe as he continues to tackle every goal he sets for himself. After Bix7, he took a few days to rest and then started training for the Good Life Halfsy half marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska, in October. Chris said he trains six days a week (four days of running and two days of strength training). “I usually run 25-30 miles per week; a mix of easy miles and a bit of track/speed work.” 

Chris credits his coaches for giving him his training plan and run schedule, which he says got him to the start and finish line healthy and pain free, but we know it was all Chris. No one can make you run. No one can push you to work hard and train and persevere, especially through a surgery and comeback. Chris said he plans to keep running until his legs fall off. Although his legs won’t actually fall off, we know that Chris will be running until the end, and even then, he’ll be running across the finish line.