For some people, a cup of coffee is their sole motivation for getting out of bed every morning. I have had my share of bad habits that tasted good like a caramel latte on my way to the office or a Diet Coke to get my blood flowing. They were often treats for running every morning. There is always that reluctance to leave the cozy comfort of the covers and lace up the running shoes. At times in my life,  I was able to turn over and go back to sleep after justifying that a day off was in order. However, twelve years ago I made a pledge to myself that I would run every day without exception. In a way, it’s easier to just get up and do it without even thinking about all the reasons why not to. I never really feel like it or look forward to it but it’s what keeps me ticking. 

Today was number 4,565 after checking the http://www..runeveryday.com website that keeps track of my journey. There are thousands of crazy people like me who make this personal pledge. Their stories are told on the pages of this site, ranging from more than fifty years to the one-year minimum to qualify for membership. Three-hundred-and-sixty-five consecutive days is all it takes to earn a certificate. I’m a lifetime member rather than pay yearly dues – a club where I know only a handful of the members. My streak is ranked at #203 internationally, extending now for twelve-and-a-half years. Get up and get running has been the story of my life every single day. 

By the time I got to work every morning, I was a step ahead of everyone else as they sipped their morning coffee. I’ve since retired from work but not from running. It helped with the transition into retirement, and at this point it will be nature’s doing to end my streak. I’ve been fortunate to avoid serious injuries and maybe stupid for running through minor ones. I move so slow now that I sometimes feel like I’ll keel over like Laugh-In’s Artie Johnson on a bicycle. I’ve had trainers and chiropractors get me through many set-backs. The fact of the matter is now that my feet feel like heavy blocks of ice and that every step is awkward and heavy. I watch these Olympic athletes move as if like they’re walking on air, while I clomp along the pavement every morning like I have a flat tire. 

It’s not running that has damaged my feet but rather neuropathy from aging. I can’t imagine how inflexible my body might be without the miles I put in every morning. There is little feeling in my toes that I only tend to focus on when my muscles aren’t aching. It only goes to prove that the mind can only process pain from a single source. Stiffness, discomfort, and aches are often a distraction from the numbness in my feet. It feels like my toes are frozen but massaging them will not restore the feeling. At least there is not severe pain like those who suffer with similar issues brought on by diabetes. As a result, I can keep on running every day on these awkward blocks of ice.