Five-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh is back in the athletic spotlight, but sadly not as a basketball player. Last decade, when he was at the prime of his career, blood clots kept forming in his body. After the clots were declared life-threatening—he was forced to quit the NBA mid-season. For years after that, Bosh struggled to explore new plans for his life that would keep him occupied.

The Miami Heat star was spotted in Monterey County over the weekend, running in the 37th annual Big Sur International Marathon. The timeless marathon left many surprised when they saw their favorite Miami Heat player on the field. A glimpse of the moment went viral on the internet as fans watched him finish like a champion.

Former Miami Heat icon makes his track debut

It appears that 40-year-old Chris Bosh thought he’d go unnoticed on the Men’s Marathon Course at the Big Sur International Marathon. He completed the marathon in 2:47:10 which nobody has run in less than two hours and twenty minutes since 2004. Recently, a reel was shared on Instagram capturing Bosh crossing the finish line by @hellahgood9, accompanied by the caption, “had to do a double take when I got closer! NBA legend chrisbosh running for @everymomcounts!”

The 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee was raising funds for Christy Turlington Burns’ non-profit organization Every Mother Counts, which she founded in 2010. The NGO’s mission is to make pregnancy and delivery safe, egalitarian, and respectful for all mothers, everywhere.

Bosh’s noble goals mirror elements from his well-known memoir, “Letters to a Young Athlete.” In the book, he discusses his experiences playing on the 2006 U.S. World Championship Team and the 2008 Olympic Team, as well as his tips for overcoming challenges, notably coping with one’s ego. His reminder to “enjoy what you’re doing because you might not be able to do it forever” hits home with readers, creating a lasting impact. For Bosh, the struggles were personally felt having left no option but to leave his professional career back in the day.

Fall of an NBA legend

Bosh was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lungs, which began jeopardizing his career in 2015 when the Miami Heat appeared in the NBA Finals fourth straight time. Doctors were looking for “hereditary markers,” which he did not have, hence, they couldn’t provide him with a follow-up plan. After his lungs were cleared, he was ready to go full speed for the upcoming season. He was fully healthy until the All-Star break. But despite surgery and strict therapy, another clot formed in his leg, forcing NBA physicians to classify his condition as career-threatening.

Chris Bosh’s career came to an end in February 2019 after which the Miami Heat retired his jersey No.1 in March. “I have a choice,” Bosh once explained: “Is this going to help me, or is it going to hurt me?” He continues to be an inspiration, whether it is conquering a life-threatening condition or returning to sports for a good cause while still living for a bigger purpose in life.