You Won't Believe What These Men Do

 The 40 Year Club

  Jon Simpson, do you know him?  Do you believe that Jon has run every day and I mean, every day since August 30, 1971.  Jon is currently 73 and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. This retired dentist has run at least 1 mile every day for 40 years.   Jon has become only the sixth person in the United States to complete 40 years of running, according to the US Running Streak Association. Simpson, reminds me of my friend Don Nichols, who also had polio as a kid. Both turned to exercise to successfully overcome their handicap.

A man by the name of Mark Covert, age 60, from Lancaster, California holds the record streak.  Mark has been running, at least 1 mile, since July 23, 1968.  In spite of a few medical issues, this track coach, has not missed a day of running.  For instance, to keep the streak going Mark jogged with his boot laced up even though he had a broken ankle. Also, minor knee surgery, and an issue with flat feet that caused him severe back pain did not stop him from his running streak.   After tearing his meniscus, he once considered stopping because it took him up to 20 minutes to put on his socks.   Mark also had a good sense of humor when he stated that keeping the streak alive was not a mark of his intelligence.

Jon Sutherland, age 60, from West Hills, California ranked number two on the Association’s list.  On his list of his “50 dumbest runs” was running with a broken hip that took nine months to heal.  Sutherland and Covert first met as track teammates at Los Angeles Valley College.  Sutherland acknowledged that his friend Mark has 300 days on him and may not catch him.

Another man by the name of Steve De Boer, a dietitian, at the Mayo clinic works with many diabetic and obese people.  He admitted that he had 30 pairs of running shoes and proud of that fact.  When the shoe company Brooks heard about his streak, they sent them a free pair.  A family history of heart disease played a part in his motivation to run.

 Ken Young, age 69, from Petrolia, California is other member the club.  This man once covered 1 mile in 40 minutes as a result of knots in his leg muscles.   He claimed that was not his most difficult run.  His most difficult run was jogging 1.1 miles with new plates in his broken wrist.

.Jim Pearson, age 67, another member of this elite group, ran with blood clots in his lungs.  Jim’s 25-year-old son Joel started running when he was seven, and is predicted to break Mark Covert’s streak.

Part 2  to be continued.  These Men Run Because....