Run, Run, Run!

At the finish line. 11/27/25 Birdie Derby

After I graduated college in 1984 and got busy working, I didn't think about working out or running until I was in my late 20s.

The idea was to run every other day during the week, but when a conflict came up on a run day, one missed day led to two, and before long I wasn't running anymore.

During my 30s, I sold insurance and my hours during that time made it easier to gain weight, not lose it. When I realized how much I gained, I changed my diet dramatically and started riding again, but running wasn't part of the plan.

It wasn't until we lived in an apartment in Indianapolis that I made my workout a priority. At first, I'd exercise after work, but over time I noticed that conflicts, like working late, family dinners, and meetings would interfere with whatever I was going to do. At the time I worked at a school. If school was out and I was working, I'd exercise to start the day then go to work.

That's when it occurred to me that people don't bother you at 5 and 6 in the morning! Since that realization I've tried to stick with a routine every day of the week. Running wasn't always part of it, but as I became serious about time on my bicycle, I decided to run in the winter so I wouldn't have to scale up my workouts in the spring.

In the Racing Sausages 5K. 7/21/18 rkm

 It wasn't long after that I made it a habit to run 3-miles six days a week, most of that on a treadmill at the gym.  

 It's Global Running Day today, June 4, 2026, a day dedicated to become active. It's not about miles or speed, just getting out and moving.

 Over the years I've done a few road races, but the one I've stuck with the longest is the Berbee, now Birdie Derby in Madison. Three half-marathons were enough to satisfy that distance, for the last five plus years it's been mostly 5-kilometer community runs.

 Walking, running, or cycling, all are good ways to relax while exercising. I find biking to be a time where all I think about is the ride and the route I'm on, so it acts as a mental re-set.

Whatever you do, keep it up!