In the beginning . . .

This blog entry is an orientation to Run 1 Every Day.

 Coming into the summer of 2019, I was at an all-time high and low. When I pulled the scale out from under the bathroom sink, the numbers that popped up when the dashes turned to a digital assessment of my weight, were the highest I had ever seen—221 pounds. I had been slowly increasing my pant size for the last 20 years, but it had quickly escalated to 36 inches. A few months earlier, after a tough conversation with my wife and a devastating sense of being stuck, I found a family practice physician, and after a physical, started on medication for depression. According to the assessment that my doctor administered, I was severely depressed. And, because piling on is piling on, the combination of depression and escalating interpersonal conflict at work (I am a Christian pastor), strained the relationship with Jesus at the core of my faith. For the first time in a long, long time I felt distant and disconnected.

 Something had to change . . . and that something was me.

 Run streaking was not something entirely new for me. Like a diet, I had started and stopped a couple of other times, but this time I was holistically desperate. On June 13th, 2019 I committed to running at least one mile a day and, as of today, have maintained that commitment 390 times. Only once have I stepped onto the treadmill after 11:45PM to squeeze in a single mile wearing jeans before midnight.

 At the start there was a lot of soreness and the thought that “this-many-days is good enough” was a big part of wanting to quit. However, I eventually got used to the soreness and the thought of quitting, while still there, was no longer a serious consideration.

 And, the changes started to mount. I lost 31 pounds in a year. My resting heart rate went from 66 to 44. My waist size went down 4 inches. I am off medication for depression. And, my relationship with Jesus is vital again. I’m healthier, emotionally more resilient, and spiritually stronger than I ever could have imagined.

 For me it was running, but I know running isn’t for everyone. For me, one mile is always manageable. For me, every day is discipline that motivates. Those activities and measurements might be different for you, but my hope is that this story might help you find your change.