For some time now, I’ve been trying to come up with the word that best describes my current running style. You see, I think that running involves speed and I no longer have much of that. However, the very definition mentions only movement or action and says nothing about doing it fast. I guess I still qualify. Even in my peak, I only thought of myself as a jogger. There are those that feel that a 6-mile-an-hour pace (ten minute miles) is the dividing line between jogging and running. I guess that makes me now a very slow jogger – a slogger. Webster defines it as to plod perseveringly or heavily. I once referred to it as “chugging,” but “slogging” is a more accurate description of what I do every day. (See Post #653).

Today the weather was not inspiring as I stepped out the front door. Grey skies and a fine mist greeted my first few steps. My shoulders and back were somehow stiff with stress, despite the fact that I’m retired and relatively free of worry. My feet were numb and both legs felt like they were made of concrete. Yet, I once again persevered through three plus miles of sidewalks and pavement. I no longer have much leg lift and my feet occasionally stumble over the pedestrian path. Fortunately, it’s been awhile since I’ve actually fallen. I’m told that I’ve naturally reduced the length of my stride to help cushion the impact on my knees and hips. I’ve been lucky to avoid these problems that prevent many people my age from even slogging. 

It was day #3969 of “The Streak” that started nearly eleven years ago. The United States Running Streak Association (USRSA) monitors my efforts, along with thousands of others that practice this daily ritual. They provide lists of both active and retired participants. A man of my age, Jon Sutherland of West Hills, CA is at the head of the class at nearly 50-and-a-half years (18,431 consecutive days). I’m now at 215th on the active list, having not moved up in several years. New names seem to be added as they find out about the organization because at one point I was at #202, hoping to move up into the Top 200 of the 1621 members. It would take a major injury or death to prevent these dedicated individuals above me from missing a day. By the same token, no one currently on the list can ever pass me unless I miss a day – come hell or high water. 

There’s still that competitive spirit in me that wants to win. My pace is so slow any more that I’m embarrassed to run any races. A twelve-minute mile is a good day for me any more and probably enough to finish near the top of my age division. Blue ribbons and medals don’t matter if you’re just a slogger. In fact, I once thought that I’d run on more marathon before I died and maybe even qualify for Boston if I could manage a ten-minute pace (and actually be considered a runner). I just can’t seem to get any faster, and consider myself fortunate to just be able to slog along.