It was a conversation with Opal one Sunday afternoon in 2006 that launched my streak of continuous daily exercise. She told me about her childhood, how she had to walk 5 miles to her best friend's house. In Arkansas, those were hilly miles, both ways.
People of her generation got a lot more exercise than people of my generation. That night I climbed on my stationary bike. Day one.
By the numbers
I logged an 8 mile run today at Lake Fayetteville. Day 6790.
With that I have crossed 1200 miles for the year, just a tad bit over 100 miles per month. That is the most for me since 2014.
That bit of reflection caused me to look back farther, not just over this year but all the years since that conversation in 2006. So far I have had
| 6790 | continuous days of exercise |
| 2395 | hours on a stationary bike |
| 5 | worn out stationary bikes |
| 16043 | miles of running |
| 57 | pairs of worn out running shoes |
| 7 | full marathons |
| 14 | half marathons |
| 1 | 50 mile ultramarathon |
| 33 | other assorted races |
| 40 | minutes walking up a down-only airport escalator |
I expected security to show up at any moment on that last one.
Looking forward
Each day I start over. The entry in my log book is blank. I have to go do something to fill it.
Don't be impressed by any of these numbers. Just be inspired. If I can do this, what can you do? What will you write in your log book?
As we mark the beginning of another new year, go start something big.
Your Opal would be proud.
