Jim Fixx Jim Fixx James Fuller "Jim" Fixx (April 23, 1932 – July 20, 1984) was an American who wrote the 1977 best-selling book "The Complete Book of Running". He is credited with helping start America's fitness revolution, popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging. He died of a heart attack while jogging at 52 years of age. His genetic predisposition for heart problems and other previous lifestyle factors may have caused his heart attack. Born in New York City, Fixx was a graduate of Trinity School in New York and Oberlin College in Ohio. His
Jim Fixx published "Jackpot!", the story of what happened after the publication of "The Complete Book of Running" when he experienced the "Great American Fame Machine", becoming richer and more celebrated than he could have imagined. "Maximum Sports Performance", published posthumously, discusses the physical and psychological benefits of running and other sports, including increased self-esteem, acquiring a "high" from running, and being able to cope better with pressure and tension. Fixx died on July 20, 1984 at age 52 of a fulminant heart attack, after his daily run on Vermont Route 15 in Hardwick. The autopsy revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one