Twenty Years - The Story

Unlike my typical "On the Road" stories, this will be a little more in depth. This month I celebrate twenty years of running and I would like to share my adventure with those of you interested. Enjoy!

One Spring day in the middle of March 1991, I headed out of my upstairs apartment to run one mile. I remember the day as if it were last week. My life was different then—and in many ways. I was in the ascent of my career, while my personal life reflected a world of chaos and turmoil as I had recently ended the marriage to my children's mother. Running, however, was not an attempt on my part to help me deal with that daily battle or drama—because, quite frankly, I didn't even know at that time just how beneficial running and mental wellbeing intertwined.

About a month before this day that I speak of I had purchased an exercise tape, which was being marketed as "a great way to reduce stomach fat". The VHS tape, if my memory serves correctly, was titled: Seven Minutes to a Flatter Stomach. "Hell, anyone can do a seven minute workout", I thought to myself as I left the store toting my ten-dollar miracle fix. Although I had always carried my weight fairly well, it was common for any excess baggage to neatly (or maybe not so neatly) attach itself to my waistline. I wanted it gone, and I was willing at that time to invest anything to help it along its journey on a disappearing act.

The next morning found me perched in front of my television, on the living room floor, donning my newly purchased K-Mart sneakers, sweatpants, and tee shirt. I was ready for some serious business and nothing would stop me. Remote control in hand, I started the reels spinning. As my new training partner made her introduction to me I couldn't help but notice how attractive and fit that she was. I especially liked her choice of gym clothes. "Video Trainer Lady, I'll gladly do this seven-minute workout with you." And so began our relationship—crunch after crunch after excruciating crunch. I did great! Now if I can just make it through the last six minutes", I remember thinking as I crawled to the couch for a nap.

My affair with my VTL (video trainer lady) lasted about one month. That's how long it took me to finally get through the complete seven-minute ass kicking that she attempted to give me daily. This was truly a love-hate relationship—and I mostly hated her. It was on that historic day that I decided—after the workout—to go out and run one mile, and see how long it would take—and also to see how I felt after the fact.

My feeble attempt to run just one single mile was a real eyeopener for me. That, above and beyond anything else, is probably the main reason that I have stayed with it. I remember the walk back home from my first attempt at that silly mile. The walk, although very short as I had only traversed about two village blocks, found me with my head down, muttering obscenities all the way. I couldn't believe that I was not healthy or strong enough to run one mile, plain and simple. It had been just ten years prior that I was running two miles daily in the police academy. What the hell happened to me?

I'm a determined man. I was then, and I am now. Daily, I found myself lacing up those high-tech K-Mart sneakers and heading out the door. With each and every attempt, I tried to make it just a little farther down the road to my measured mile mark. Eleven days, in answer to your question "how long did it take to run one mile non-stop?". Daily, after those first eleven days, I would run to the mile point and then walk home. Shortly after, I started running back toward home until I could run two miles. There is no secret formula—that's how it began.

About three weeks in, when I realized that I was going to make running a daily part of my life, I knew that it was time to upgrade my running shoes. Knowing very little about the sport of running, I once again went back to K-Mart. When I saw a really neat pair of basketball shoes, I made the purchase. I thought that the high-tops would give me added ankle support, and be a great running shoe. Besides, these shoes were close to $30, so they must be good. I wore them once. The day I threw them out was the same day that I threw out my bloodied socks. The high-tops wore the skin off of my ankles during my inaugural run with them. I had a lot to learn about the sport of running.

Walking into The Foot Locker at the local mall the next day, I was greeted by a young man asking if he could be of assistance. Chest puffed out and proud as could be, I declared, "I am a runner! What's the best running shoe for me?". "Asics makes a good running shoe. Let me get you a pair and see if you like them", was his reply. Thus began my second love affair in the running arena—with the shoes, not the salesman. I've worn nothing but Asics ever since.

So here I am twenty years later, still running the roads. As I was running my usual five miler this morning, in the hot Florida sun, I was thinking about my years on the road and about this story. Running has been extremely good to me. It has helped me through: two failed marriages, raising three children, my law enforcement career, a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and a misdiagnosis of an aortic aneurysm—on top of all the bad things that life tends to throw our way.

I have logged thousands of miles running the roads. One year alone in the early nineties, I logged-in over 1,500 miles. I lost 45 pounds the first three months of running. This I remember well, because at the time my daughter weighed 45 pounds—and I remember thinking that I basically had lost enough weight to equal a human being. I lost so much weight at one point that some of my friends worried about my health and my certain demise if I kept running. Now looking back at photos from that time, I understand their concern.

I have run hundreds of races—everything from one-mile distances, to the grueling 26.2-mile marathon. I've managed to break the ribbon at seven local races, and took the gold in my age group at hundreds more. One year I received the Runner of the Year award from the Greater Rochester Track Club. I believe that one of my very best performances, however, was achieved at the annual Utica Boilermaker 15k Road Race. That year I was determined to traverse those nine-and-three-tenths miles in under one hour; I did just that. I beat the clock by four seconds, which placed me in the top 300 runners—out of a field of 9,000.

I share this information not to boast of my performance—but rather as a testament of what one average man can accomplish when he puts his heart and soul into something he believes in. Understand: I was a late bloomer, having started running when I was 34 years old.

I was fortunate enough to coach the cross-country team at my own high school in the late nineties. For four years I not only enjoyed the time spent with many high school students—both on the track and on the road during our daily runs—but I was also able to share stories with the teens regarding my professional career. Instilling in young adults that making good choices and doing what is best are key ingredients for a great lifestyle. This was just one small segment of coaching that I truly enjoyed.

In honor of my twenty years on the road, I ask that each of you take part in my celebration this month. Help celebrate me by celebrating you. Take just one day during March and go outside for a walk, slow jog, or run. Pay no attention to distance or time—but rather, observe your surroundings. The world truly is a beautiful place when you take the time to notice it. Running is a great way to be at one with nature! When you have finished this assignment raise a glass to good health, good friends, and a new beginning!

Oh... by the way, remember the main reason I started to exercise? You know—the excess baggage residing in my mid region... Let me just say that—although he's substantially smaller—he has bummed a ride with me for these past twenty years, enjoying each and every mile and every race. We've decided to be friends.


-Safe Riding, err... Safe Running-

~The Chief