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999 Miles

From the desk of Transporter Editor Reed Hollinshead

By the time you read this, it may be 1,000.

Several years ago, I set a goal of 1,000 miles of walking. I walk with a cane and I hadn’t done even one mile in decades, so it was definitely a challenge. The first 300 miles were done without my cane or assistance of any kind. Then the degenerative nature of this condition reared its ugly head, so I’ve used a cane for the last few years on these walks.

But this column is not about me — it’s about the value of setting a goal, even a lofty one, and adhering to a game plan to attain it. Set the bar high. You’ll probably find that you can do more than you ever thought you could! I bet you’re all capable of much greater things than you give yourself credit for.

I'm just drawing from my own personal reality. My White Whale was walking 1,000 miles, but that "ultimate" goal is something different for everybody.

For most people, 1,000 miles over several years is not a huge deal. Marc in Environmental referees youth sports, and he probably puts in 1,000 miles every other weekend running up and down the field or the sidelines of the basketball court. Brian in D5 refs too, and puts in more than a few miles, I'm sure. Trish and Sue at HQ do some serious walking each day, so they probably exceed 1,000 every month or so. Every district and division likely has walkers who put up triple figures in miles every month. For me, 1,000 has been a long time comin'.

Along the way in this journey, there have been a number of accomplishments. I walked 5.6 miles without a cane one day. I walked 45 miles in a month before without a cane. Lately, there have been more modest accomplishments, like 19 consecutive months of at least 20 miles walked. I’ve gone through five pairs of shoes so far (they scuff the pavement in exactly the same spot with each step, so they end up with holes in the soles) but with the help of duct tape, I was able to get 438 miles out of the last pair.

One thing this has done is make me wish I’d done more back when I was able. I played basketball, ran track and cross country in school, but never really put the work into it to see if I could make something of it. I fished commercially every summer for 10 years growing up, and that could have been an option. Then this condition hit in my mid-20s and all of that went out the window. I know the kids of today can have virtual adventures and slay digital dragons from the comfort of their couch, but it wouldn’t hurt them to actually go outside and interact with real people now and then.

There’s a fair chance that a health issue of some sort will strike at some point in life (and, unfortunately, could strike any of us at any time), and the option may be taken away. So go for it, and carpe your diem!

I’ve got to put down this pen now and get outside - 1,000 isn’t going to sit around and wait for me. I have to go get it.