Today is the last day of my sixties and I ran every single day without fail – 3,653 total. The original plan was to celebrate the 1,000th day of my streak on my 60th birthday in Rome, Italy. Tomorrow, on the occasion of my 70th, it will reach 4,625 consecutive sunrises. It’s something that I’m quite proud of, as each effort gets tougher and tougher. Maybe I can look back on this post 10 years from now after somehow keeping it going – another 3,652 runs starting tomorrow. This morning was the first time since we moved to Florida that the humidity was below 90 percent. It was relatively cool and comfortable but my times continue to slip. It seems unlikely that I can continue for another ten years unless I begin to cut back on the miles, but I’ll take it one day at a time – one decade at a time.

I see other old men struggling as I do to put one foot in front of the other at a pace just slightly faster than walking. There are several other septuagenarians on the active list that I look up to. In fact, 9 of the top 10 active streaks in the world are held by men in their seventies. I’m currently ranked #231 of 3,294 who have completed at least one year of running every day. These records are maintained on the runeveryday.com website. There is also one 74-year old that started his streak just over a year ago. Of those with longer streaks than mine, three are over eighty with the oldest being 84. Forty-five are currently in their seventies, so I know that I still have a few good years of running ahead. Despite the stiffness and soreness, it’s just a matter of taking that first step every day.

Tomorrow is the first day of my seventies, as I leave another decade of life behind. I’ve been drinking less alcohol and not popping Advil like candy. The sessions with the chiropractor have been effective, as I continue to work on better posture. However, I’m still a few pounds heavier than normal, despite the daily runs and swims. Sitting is probably my worst enemy at this stage of life as it leads to stiffness. Too much TV! Knee pain has never been an issue thankfully, but my lower back has taken a pounding. I’m grateful that my body has held up all these years. So, here’s to the next ten years of life!