2,016 miles in 2016, finished 2,017 year following.  Virtually ran Great Britain & Route 66/Chicago to LA, past 18 months.

Somewhere along the way, lost my mojo/my purpose.  Stopped enjoying the journey (middle-of-night treadmilling to log winter miles).  Didn’t LOVE LOVE marathoning in Carmel, Indiana.  Cold rainy mess.  No travel interest in South Carolina, Mississippi, Delaware.

Summer BREAK.  Still running, still hiking high – just uncomplicating the script.

Have watched Rickey Gates’ video ‘Every Single Street’ 5-6 times now.  [Skip the first 1:10 minutes, dude’s trail-runner Bohemian backstory.]  The MEAT of the video, the journey itself – is crazy powerful.  Guy ran every street in San Francisco.

So…what is stopping ME from running every Louisville Colorado street?  Absolutely nada.

With every annual ball drop, we start anew.  Sit still or hike on.  Excited what 2019 holds.

 

Over the next year gonna run EVERY SINGLE STREET in my Colorado hometown.  Big streets, neighborhood dead-ends, subdivision circles.  EVERY SINGLE STREET in Louisville Colorado.  Total miles, NO idea.

 

If ya see me out early morn next year, I’ve gone LOCAL.

 

Give a honk/a wave/a smile, tag along for a mile.  Explore our beautiful little town.

What I’ve learned so far.  I’m not Rickey Gates.  Don’t live in a van, don’t run 10 hours daily.  I’m CFO employed, awesome dog, eat a bunch, love hiking, stay Colorado active.  Run schedule?  Early a.m. or after work, rarely both.  When it rains, when it snows — not super motivated.  Probably inside, eating pizza.

What I’ve learned so far.  Maps of San Francisco much more available than my hometown — AND I’ve got ‘old man’ eyes.  Using online city-planning maps, resolution blown up 200%, screen-shot printed, route highlighted in YELLOW.  And then, I still miss streets.  Sooooo many cul-de-sacs in Louisville.  Who knew?

What I’ve learned so far.  I’m MUCH more introverted than Rickey Gates.  He selfie-shots with homeless people, runs along highways, talks with drivers stuck in traffic.  Me?  Sometimes a smile, show an upward ‘runner hand’ to residents managing yard chores.  That’s as good as it’s got so far.  Stranger danger.

What I DIDN’T see in his video.  Bathrooms.  Day 3 in the midst of suburbia, I was an accident waiting to happen.  When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.  Street treks now limited to 3 hours.  Start/stops pre-planned, near parks with facilities.  For some unknown reason, hometown running keeps me super regular.  LOL>

What I DID see in the video.  To hit every road, every neighborhood, every cul-de-sac, streets are often repeated.  Rarely a straight shot.  Takes a lotta planning.  Gotta stay alert, plugged in – to traffic, street signs, backtracking/searching out tiny back-alley postal paths.  Not gonna maintain a 9-minute run pace.

Every LOUISVILLE Street.  What I’ve learned so far.  Tear away the travel, 50 state goals, all the continents – it’s 2 legs, a hydration vest & my Colorado hometown.  This challenge/this journey has been ALL about regaining JOY.

Happy running, friends.  Get inspired!