Born to run

Remember Forrest Gump? How he ran across the continent -- from one ocean to the other -- and then turned around and ran back?
I don't have many hobbies, but over the years I've developed a love for running, or more accurately as I've gotten older -- jogging. And to look at me you would not believe it because I don't have a runner's physique. Far from it. But I identified with Forrest Gump as he followed his girlfriend's advice to "Run Forrest. Run!"
I competed in running events in high school as a member of our 440- and 880-yard relay teams, and I even held the school's freshman record for the 100-yard dash for a while (11.2 seconds). But long-distance running wasn't my thing. I would never have developed this passion had it not been for the Army ROTC program at SDSU. The two-mile run has been a part of the physical fitness test I've been required to take at least twice a year for my entire Army career. Back at SDSU, our ROTC instructor -- MAJ Henkel -- would lead us hardy cadets down the campus streets, singing "Jodies."
What's a "jody?"
The Web site Army-cadence.com defines a Jody as "cadences sung by marching or running soldiers often dubbed “Jodys” or “Jody calls”. This name “Jody” refers to a recurring civilian character, the soldier’s nemesis, who stays home to a perceived life of luxury. Jody stays home to drive the soldier's car, date the soldier's girl friend, hangs out with the soldier's friends, and eats mom’s great cooking."
Common themes in Jodie calls include: homesickness, gripes about military life, insults of other units, services or the enemy, battles, exploits, or events specific to one’s own unit, or humorous references.
"While obscene, offensive and violent, Jody calls were previously the norm, they are now almost unheard of. Previously “R” rated Jodies have been cleaned up and modified, making them acceptable for a wider audience," the Web site says.
That's how I got started running. During my early Army years we ran in boots. None of this running in Nikes or Adidas that troops these days enjoy. And for years later I would only start running about 3 months before a physical fitness test. In other words, I'd let myself get out of shape twice a year and back into shape twice a year. At some point -- back in the 1980s I believe -- I kept on going with running and began a daily running regimen I still follow today. For many years my routine was 6 miles daily, but early in 2011 I cut back to 4 miles a day -- yielding slightly to my advancing age.
Barb will tell you I'm a creature of habit. My day isn't quite right if I don't get a run in. Since we've come to Tennessee we've used the treadmills in our apartment's fitness room. But my favorite route -- one I ran for 10+ years -- was the bike trail in Sioux Falls, from near Elmwood Park north and west around the airport to Minnesota Avenue. There were other diehards like myself. For several years I met Jason (don't know his last name) on the bike path, and we got to know each other as we passed each other daily or sometimes ran together. I'm sure he's still running there regularly. Wish I was there too.
I estimate I've run approximately 23,000 miles in my lifetime -- give or take 5,000 or so. That number is probably low, but I'll go with it.
The health benefits are many. I can't imagine how much I'd weigh without putting in all of those miles. It has kept me in some decent shape for all of these years. And, best of all, I am addicted to that "runner's high," defined my Merriam-Webster as "a feeling of euphoria that is experienced by some individuals engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated with a release of endorphins by the brain." It's that sense of accomplishment too that I love. And running gives you a lot of time to think things through -- chores you must do, problems to solve, etc.
I'm not sure how many years I'll be able to do this yet. My knees (thank God) have never bothered me, and the only time I've taken a break from this routine was when I had a car accident in 1997 and a severe muscle sprain in 2003.
I can't say that I was born to run. But I sure have become devoted to it.