It’s official – I’m on the Hood to Coast team, preparing for our 199 mile relay August 25-26.  Up until two days ago, I was training casually as an alternate, but now I’ve gotten the wake-up call.  This will be the first competitive running event I’ve participated in for some time, preferring to stick to my daily running streak of 3,130 consecutive days.  I’ve thought about running one more marathon in an attempt to qualify for Boston, but I never got inspired.  This morning, I ran 5 hilly miles and my legs are dead, so I’ve still got some work to do to get ready for this 2-day jaunt of 17.4 miles.  After I complete this challenge, I will then see if I have enough motivation to get another marathon under my belt.

Retirement is grueling!  In fact, I may even go out again later this afternoon to experience some hotter temperatures, as I still can’t get up the very steep half-mile hill by our house.  Run twice every day…are you kidding me?   I tried running up it yesterday for the first time and ended up doing some walking.  This morning, I turned around after conquering only a third of it.  This same extreme rise in elevation was our winter nemesis, as well.  Neither of our cars could climb the hill, eventually resorting to chains.  I don’t need chains for my running shoes, just a few less pounds, more perseverance, and some confidence.  I’m particularly concerned about my final 5 miles of the Hood to Coast, and its gradual upgrade through the Coastal Range.  There are just 32 days until race day!

I was just looking over the “Active Running Streak List,” compiled by the United States Running Streak Association (USRSA).   Anyone who’s interested can get more information on the organization is at www.runeveryday.com.  I’m #209 on the list of nearly 800 who have successfully completed at least one full year of running every single day.   At the top of the list is John Sutherland, 66, of West Hills, California.  He’s been running every day for 48.16 years, probably since high school track practice.  He was at 17,592 days, as of this morning.  While I was living in Austin, Texas there was a young man, also an Austin-ite, who started his streak three days after mine, so I began to pay attention to other Texas runners.  Sometimes misery loves company!  Since I’m now living in Portland, Oregon, I’ve checked-out some Oregon runners, including a woman who ranks #211.  She and the guy from Austin both started their streaks on New Years Day.  I was originally planning on doing the same thing, but started 3 days earlier, fearful that I might change my mind.  As it is, if I keep running every day, they will never catch me.  Although, they’re both much younger and may easily win by attrition.

I made an effort to get in touch with the woman from West Linn, just outside of Portland, this morning.  I never was able to make contact with the guy from Austin, so it would be nice to talk with a fellow “streaker.”  She and her husband are in the running business, so hopefully they’ll at least see me as a potential customer.  In the meantime, my running day has taken on a new challenge, and I will continue to push myself towards the finish line of the Hood to Coast.