1997 through 2023

2/08/24 Up date:

The body of this post was written 12/24/23 and the fact that have been battling tendinitis since that July was noted. Recently had a MRI done which shows that the posterior tendon is detached from the tibia by 2 cm. Sports Doc made referral to Orthopedic clinic and told me more than likely they will recommend a surgical procedure to correct. At consult with surgeon on Jan 26 recommendation made to just keep running and if hurts to stop. Reason being if get the surgery done will be laid up for about one year and still may not be any better. So far though every time that try to run it hurts. Am going to try cold laser treatments and maybe an ankle brace, hopefully such will help. Rest of this post is my running history more or less and have high hopes am not done yet. Long term goal remains to be like my father in law with whom had one of the best runs of my life when he was 96 years young.

 Since the year turned 27 have been a recreational runner. A review of those past logs reveals have run 54000 miles. Runner logs though especially back in the pre gps days are akin to personal body weight estimations. In other words, probably off by around 10 percent, but if add in army days and high school track then more n likely am over 50K lifetime.

That total though is a far cry from Darryl Beardall's 312000 lifetime run miles. done. He may have run the most recorded miles of any one ever. There are others who have reached 200000, and many are over 100000. Regardless, am grateful that have gotten to this point. I have run every year since 77. Some when working and when children were growing did well to muster in a few half hour work week lunch sessions and an hour or so on the weekends. Many of those years averaged between 500 to 750. According to some running authorities one has to average 25 miles a week (1250 yearly) to be considered a consistent runner. That may or may not be true but in my mind no matter how much or how little got logged in every year I was always a runner.

There were a number of years that when circumstances allowed averaged between 30 to 40 weekly miles.  Have only done 5 in person marathons, plus several virtuals but trained for several more which for one reason or other did not get to the start line. Those years that ran marathons typically included a few months of weekly mileage at 50 or more.

Upon retirement 14 years ago at the age of 60 running volume and quality workouts significantly increased. At the age of 61 thanks to such ran a sub 7 minute mile, and was averaging well over 30 weekly miles until 2014 when spent 4 months hiking with brother Paul. The following year did the New York City Marathon. Developed high hamstring tendinitis that spring which took months to get rid of and then 2 weeks before the race reinjured the ham. So had to walk about 6 miles off and on but did finish in 6:21. Despite the time and cramps and injury was the best race experience ever. I mean where else can one find over a million people cheering for you! It was as a good or better a feeling at the finish than my personal best of 3:35 at the age of 31.

MRI's show lots of arthritis in the left knee and lose of cartilage in the left ankle. For half a year 2017 elliptical machine replaced running. Then while on a hike with Josh and Wendy knee and foot felt good as ran down the trail from cascade pass. From that point onward was able to get back to regular training. In early 2019 did the Phoenix marathon in 5:21. Due to the cold and a 10 minute wait for porta potty use cramped severely at the 5 mile mark. Ran every step though the rest of the way as felt if started walking would not be able to finish.

My best four year volume and quality stretch started after turned 70 with the  pandemic. Have logged 8400 miles (accurate no need deduct 10%) from 2020 through 2023. Those years included 6 virtual marathons, two of which were 50k, and three mileage accumulation events. November 2020 ran 252 miles for a second place finish among 64 entrants and first place (was the only one) for age group. There were other multi day events as well as additional months when ran over 240 miles. 

Some of the virtual marathons were due to closure of in person options. One though the race director offered a choice due to unexpected heat wave in the northwest. I did that instead which proved to be an experience that cannot forget.

During a fifty two pandemic week stretch from June 28 2020 through June 21 2021 I ran 550 hours while covering 2800 miles. Darryl hit 3000 when he was 73 so as a 72 year old I was not that far off for one year at least from the dude that has run the most (his over all yearly average was an incredible 4500).  

Now at the end of 2023. I have a goal to run till am 96 or more like my father in law did. For the past 5 months have been battling left ankle tendinitis. Still running but probably will have to take some extended time off at some point. There are days when it hurts while running and other days when feels well. I don't like the idea of stopping for a myriad of reasons which include:

Don't feel guilty when running like do sometimes when watching Jurassic park for the 100th time instead of doing something productive  - like house/yard work;

Have composed letters. emails, music, and so called raps while pounding the pavement;

Provides joyful memorable moments that are forever on tap like when Albert yelled out marine trying to pass which resulted in going as fast as could muster to finish a 5k race at age of 73 with a sub 8 minute;

 Although average pace is way slower than 40 years ago the sensation is the same which results in feeling as young now as was back then;

There are times when both feet are off the ground that don't know if they touched down;

I float.

2020 Kagoshima marathon in Japan was cancelled but a couple years later they sent a towel and medal which helped to ease the pain of losing round trip airfare.

Photo from empty lot up the street with month long accumulation lanyard reward with blue wooden medal attached highlighted by a Golden capitol S for super job!

Photo of list of 3 week long accumulation event. My 2nd place total was 229 miles, 68 behind first place and 11 ahead of third. 

The highlighted area near the bottom of the page and the section just below of this print out shows achieved a ranking of 100% for running 252 gps miles and the 50 that walked for a total of 302 during month long  accumulation event. The ranking takes into account age at time of event. 

No matter how much or how one exercises, whether one or hundreds of minutes research proves all is beneficial. It would be great if these posts somehow serve as motivation for others including our adult children when they reach the golden years to stay active, and maybe the grands to think about school track or cross country.  It makes me glad to report that a few readers or observers have mentioned that what have done has served as inspiration, which in turn motivates me too.

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