On September 1, 2019, I completed 53 years of running and I have basically been running for a lifetime. Now we’ll see what the future holds.
On this day in 1966, I had no idea that meeting my friend Tom at the Raritan Valley Country Club for the first day of Somerville High School cross country practice would lead to a positive addiction to running and mean that I would be running for a lifetime.
In 2016, at 50 years of running, I planned on the Pino Trail that never happened. In the next two years, my plans didn’t materialize, but this year, I modified the plan so that I could do it in the small amount of time that I had to do it on a Sunday morning.
I hiked up 2 miles and got to 7,361′, so there is still almost 2,000 feet to go up to the crest at 9,249′. But I was very pleased with that and it is a start to making it to the top again, maybe even this year.
I switched profiles on my Polar Vantage M from hiking to running and started the run down. Even though I started at a 21% grade down, it actually wasn’t that much easier. I have run in Asics DS Trainers for 24 years and the 23’s that I am wearing now are not as good as I would like them to be on the downhill. It’s not the shoe, it’s me being cautious and I am thinking about investing in some Asics trail shoes.
Rich Dafter is the founder of HowToBeFit.com, a lifelong runner, former ACE Certified Personal Trainer, BODi Coach since 2007, and Polar Athlete and Ambassador for 39 years. At 75, he continues to run, hike, strength train, and share practical strategies for healthy aging, fitness, and longevity. Learn more about Rich Dafter on the About page.
