Day 3,653 —10 Years of Running Every Day! —

Today is the day! I didn’t realize it until I got home and looked at the date. I remember doing something special for my 5th anniversary, and that anniversary had a special meaning to me. It would have been in 2019, so before my children, a little before I became vegan, and when I was still teaching. It was also before I started running significantly more miles each year.

         It was tough back then, as I recall, but I went ahead and bought a lifetime membership for the Streak Run Society, and I felt like I had accomplished something. Now, my next big milestone will be in 20 years. I wonder how my world will change by then. In 10 years, I’ll be 48, my daughter will be 14, and my son will be 11. I hope we can all go out and celebrate it together.

Part of me wants to reflect more and think about what this might mean to me! 10 years, wow! Maybe a reflection on 10 of the most memorable runs during that time? That might be fun.

#1 was when I saw a Komodo dragon when I was running on a small island in Indonesia (2016)

#2 Running in the airport in Japan 2016

#3 running when I was sick in 2018

#4 running on the Appalachian Trails in 2021

#5, my first week streaking after Go St. Louis in 2014

#6 Running a 50K after eating three dates

#7 Running my first ever self-supported 34-mile run on my birthday

#8 The flash flood that stopped me this past year on the Shawnee Hill 100

#9 Seeing a fox or a coyote

#10 was running on the streets of Jakarta when the roads were closed on Sunday.

In honor of my streak I had chatgpt write me a song to commemorate:

(Verse 1)

Yo, check it, let me take you on a journey, no delay,

Where the heat's so hot, it'll melt away dismay,

In 2016, Indonesia, feeling so divine,

Spotted a Komodo dragon while I'm on the grind.

(Chorus)

Running through the jungle, feeling so alive,

Every step I take, I gotta strive,

From the mountains to the streets, I never hide,

Daniel Virtue on the track, I'm on the ride.

(Verse 2)

Japan in '16, airports be my stage,

In the rush of it all, feeling all the rage,

Sick in '18, but I still hit the floor,

Every hurdle I face, I just want more.

(Chorus)

Running through the jungle, feeling so alive,

Every step I take, I gotta strive,

From the mountains to the streets, I never hide,

Daniel Virtue on the track, I'm on the ride.

(Verse 3)

Appalachian Trails, 2021, hear me roar,

Every stride I make, I'm craving more,

Go St. Louis in '14, streaking for the first time,

Feeling so free, it's like a paradigm.

(Chorus)

Running through the jungle, feeling so alive,

Every step I take, I gotta strive,

From the mountains to the streets, I never hide,

Daniel Virtue on the track, I'm on the ride.

(Bridge)

50K after three dates, ain't no debate,

Every challenge I face, I elevate,

Self-supported 34 on my birthday, feeling so prime,

Flash flood tried to stop me, but I'm on my climb.

(Chorus)

Running through the jungle, feeling so alive,

Every step I take, I gotta strive,

From the mountains to the streets, I never hide,

Daniel Virtue on the track, I'm on the ride.

(Outro)

Fox or coyote, don't matter the sight,

Running through Jakarta, streets shining bright,

Every obstacle faced, I never lose my sight,

Daniel Virtue on the run, I'm reaching new height.