Dec. 8, 2018 – Washington Co., WI – Today, Saturday, Dec. 8, I completed 24 years, 342 days of not missing a day of running. Yesterday I talked about my wife and some of the things I remember about the kids being born.
Today I will talk about some of my memories of the early years of the run.
At the time I started my run I worked for Lutheran Social Services (LSS) South Inland Region. I was the Director of Mental Health Clinics and our HUD facilities. I worked closely with our accountant, a young lady named Asther Tekie.
Asther was from an African country called Eritrea and was the most honest person that anyone could ever meet. She couldn’t even tell a little white lie. Asther always spoke her mind and sometimes that got her into trouble.
Asther was a great friend and I told her my plan to run every day in 1994. Asther’s comment was, “You won’t last a week.” This both bothered me and motivated me.
I believe the last time I talked to Asther was when the Milwaukee Journal did a story after my 10-year anniversary. While it’s been a while since I’ve connected with her, I’ve always teased Asther that she had no faith in me ever making it one year without missing a day.
One of the things I remember during my early years of the streak was it seemed all the crazy people were out on Friday nights. Friday nights were the most dangerous nights to run.
I remember a man in a truck near the intersection of Schmidt and Creek. I was not running on the sidewalk because they were iced over. I ran on the correct side of the road so I could see oncoming traffic. I moved to the ditch as any vehicles approached. This very crabby man, who is probably in his 80’s now stopped and screamed “Get the $%^# off the road, don’t you see there is a %^&*%^ sidewalk?!”
I think he just hated people that exercised.
Another thing I experienced regularly on Friday nights was the cars full of high school kids that would scream out their windows, “Run Forest Run.”
It’s weird to think those kids are now in their mid-40’s.
When I started the streak, Highway 33 in West Bend was only one lane in each direction and there were no sidewalks between Scenic Drive East and River Road.
Once the sidewalks were paved, it opened up safe runs to the city of West Bend. Without a doubt my biggest danger in the last 25 years has been, and still is, texting drivers. I wish there was something that could be done to keep drivers from texting while driving a car.
Today I ran for Easterseals of Southeast Wisconsin. I ran with Beth Lohmann and she talked about Project Search which is a transition and career training program for young adults/adults with disabilities.
There are a number of Project Search participants working and learning at Froedtert St. Joseph’s Hospital. Beth spoke about the numerous Project Search successes. One of the highlights is many of the graduates end up being employed at their place of training. Participants learn the skills necessary to be successful at wherever they train, they have to follow all of the requirements of other employees. Beth said her biggest need is to get the word out that the program exists. If you believe you know someone that meets the requirements of the program please get in contact with Beth at Easterseals.
Alexssa Enterprises LTD sponsored the run today. Alexssa, located in downtown West Bend, has been providing IT and managed services support to area businesses since 1996.
Joining us from Alexssa were Chris Wenzel, his wife Carol Baranyk, Melissa Oppermann, Shane Oppermann, Chris Stahl, and Sydney Stahl. Sydney Stahl wins the prize for youngest runner and fanciest socks. Thanks to Alexssa for the sponsorship as well as being another great Washington County company.
Sunday’s run, Dec. 9, is at 9 a.m. at the West Bend Fire Station, 325 N. Eighth Avenue. We will be running for the American Red Cross.
Click HERE to read more about Pete Rettler and the 25 Runs of Gratitude for United Way of Washington County.
