20 years on the 20th
I did it.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of my running streak. Everyday, since Dec. 20, 1984, I have run at least 2.5 miles. In all types of weather, from 0 to 110 degrees, rain, sleet, snow, hail. At every hour of the day. On all types of surfaces. With and without a dog. Through two careers, and graduate school. On flats and on mountains. In the US, Canada and Mexico; in 39 (soon to be 40) states; in 103 cities.
I've run somewhere around 56,000 miles and have probably listened to at least double that many songs on my headset while doing it. Longest distance I've run is a 26.2-mile marathon. Only did that once though. :)
Most difficult run: July 23, 1990, running outside of Sand Springs, ID, dehydrated and about to collapse. Best run: can't say. There have been so very many times when I've been running along in the sunshine, every sense lit up brightly, and keenly aware of my entire body. Those are the moments when I feel so free, like I could fly, and I'm grateful for the ability to run; I want to die running if it's like that.
20 years ago, it was a Thursday night. I had been sick that year and almost died, and by Dec. 20, I was going stir crazy. Despite my parent's fears, I laced up the old shoes and went out for a 2.5-mile run. Nothing too long, but long enough for peace to flow into my veins once again. I've never stopped.
There have been times when I probably shouldn't have run. And I've had to cut back on the time I run this year, to preserve my knee. (I want to run until I'm old - until I die.) But I do owe my life to running. It boosts the serotonin levels in the brain, and anyone who has had clinical depression, like me, or knows someone who has, knows how important this is.
Here's hopin I can do at least 20 more years. :-)
Today marks the 20th anniversary of my running streak. Everyday, since Dec. 20, 1984, I have run at least 2.5 miles. In all types of weather, from 0 to 110 degrees, rain, sleet, snow, hail. At every hour of the day. On all types of surfaces. With and without a dog. Through two careers, and graduate school. On flats and on mountains. In the US, Canada and Mexico; in 39 (soon to be 40) states; in 103 cities.
I've run somewhere around 56,000 miles and have probably listened to at least double that many songs on my headset while doing it. Longest distance I've run is a 26.2-mile marathon. Only did that once though. :)
Most difficult run: July 23, 1990, running outside of Sand Springs, ID, dehydrated and about to collapse. Best run: can't say. There have been so very many times when I've been running along in the sunshine, every sense lit up brightly, and keenly aware of my entire body. Those are the moments when I feel so free, like I could fly, and I'm grateful for the ability to run; I want to die running if it's like that.
20 years ago, it was a Thursday night. I had been sick that year and almost died, and by Dec. 20, I was going stir crazy. Despite my parent's fears, I laced up the old shoes and went out for a 2.5-mile run. Nothing too long, but long enough for peace to flow into my veins once again. I've never stopped.
There have been times when I probably shouldn't have run. And I've had to cut back on the time I run this year, to preserve my knee. (I want to run until I'm old - until I die.) But I do owe my life to running. It boosts the serotonin levels in the brain, and anyone who has had clinical depression, like me, or knows someone who has, knows how important this is.
Here's hopin I can do at least 20 more years. :-)