Some Guys Collect Stamps

“2000 miles is very far

The snow is falling down

It’s colder day by day

2000 miles is very far

Through the snow”

                        Chrissie Hynde

Yesterday morning I met our little group at the Belleview Elementary School parking lot for a run around Cherry Creek State Park.  It was nine degrees when we started. Special thanks to Ken for bringing hand warmers.

A lap starts at the crosswalk, heads north along Dayton Street, crosses the dam road, follows the path that parallels the dam about 140 feet below the road, and briefly runs adjacent to Parker Road before entering the park at the East Lehigh Avenue entrance.  We follow the path to where it connects with Lake View Road and run towards Dixon Grove and the Tower Loop.  At that turn around we regard the ice fisherman.  What other guys would be out on a morning like that enjoying their hobby?  We continue on the road through the park, exiting at the West Entrance and head back to the middle school. 

One lap is eleven miles.  We added a few more miles just for fun.  That 11^th mile represented the 2000^th mile I have run this year.  There are two more days to increase that total.  My average run is 10.6 miles.  You may have run more miles than I did this year.  If you did, you understand the sense of accomplishment I feel.

I also swam 369,750 yards or roughly 210 miles this year.  My average swim workout is about 3,800 yards.  You may have swum more yards than I did this year.  If you did, you know how difficult it is to overcome the inertia of being in a warm bed and jump into a chilly pool.

I rested 79 days this year – just over 11 weeks – or roughly three days off every two weeks.  I could not have run as many miles or swam as many yards without taking that much rest. 

I posted a weekly account of my year in running.  This may be the worst writing you’ve read, but you did read it. 

Why do I do it?  Running fits my belief system; Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self Reliance.  

I occasionally reflect on what my life would be like without athletics.  It would be less full.  It has taken me to some remarkable locations, Henley England for example.  Being an endurance athlete is one of the things that defines me.  Right now, I describe myself as a runner who swims for cross training. 

And what have I learned?  Consistent activity is the most important factor in performance.  A long run, a track workout and a little speed work each week will make you a fixture on the podium.

And what’s next?  I can’t wait to find out.