The value of today’s run was nine cents, a nickel and four pennies. Yesterday was only two cents. I’ve found that running in the streets is making “cents,” when compared to just staying on the sidewalks. Reduced automobile traffic has made this possible, while it’s impossible to maintain proper social distancing on the narrow sidewalks. In addition, I’m less likely to step-on or trip-over a crack. My mother’s back is grateful. (See Post #1159). 

I should be collecting all this change, but I already have badly chapped and aging hands from constant scrubbing. This “dirty money” is best left in the street for someone else to find these days. (See Post #1332). I was once inspired by a fellow streak runner named Craig Davidson, who donated his findings to charity. I’ve never met Craig but we both seemed to be attracted to shiny objects on the ground. It was sad to see that his 15,130-day (41+ years) streak ended a few months ago due to a bacterial infection. Over the years, he had collected and donated over $10,000. His runs were much more valuable than mine, having found 3-$100 bills and a $50 gold coin through the years. Bravely, he started a new streak a week later after reaching the top-22 and considered as part of THE LEGENDS on the world active list.

I appreciated his attitude about this set-back, knowing that I would be totally bummed if my 4,169-day streak ever ended. He had been doing it religiously every day since his mid-twenties, while mine didn’t begin until my mid-fifties. It’s probably like losing a best friend. I always just threw my change into a big glass jar and wrote checks to charity, so I have no accounting of what was collected during these 11+ years. Homelessness is my primary cause these days, after encountering the problem every day on my running route. 

I would have undoubtedly started my streak at an earlier age if I had known about the challenge detailed on www.runeveryday.com. Currently, I’m ranked 224th in the world of 2,220 documented participants. This puts me in the top 10% on the Streak Runners International (SRI) active list, but still only considered EXPERIENCED. I rarely move up anymore, as new members join and streaks of this level rarely end. Craig Davidson was unfortunately one of these casualties. I was encouraged that after a few days of mourning, he was able to start “making cents” again!