From a Bird’s Eye View

A map is a symbolic depiction, often on a flat surface, that provides a visual way to understand spatial relationships. These maps are not to precise scale but are meant to give perspective of where 1000 miles from Johnson City, Tennessee might take an explorer if they traveled due north, east, south and west. I found this radius and approximate distances amazing on a global map! Imagine walking from Johnson City due north and arriving in the northern tier of Canada…or due east (with the help of a boat), arriving near the Bermuda Triangle~and…oops, disappear! What about traveling due south by land and sea and exploring Cuba! Now let’s travel 1000 miles due west and arrive in the heartland of Oklahoma, the breadbasket of America!

I found these mental images of places 1000 miles astonishing. That realization made my daily miles seem like a drop in the bucket!  

Virtual Races

A virtual race is a running or walking event where participants complete a set distance on their own time and in a location of their choice, rather than a specific time and place. No starting line, no parking lot, no crowds, or pre-race jitters that may cause a walker to feel self-conscious. The walks I participated in supported a specific charity or cause. They not only brought awareness to these important issues, but also helped raise funds and spread hope in communities near and far.

The sponsoring companies I chose were Gone for a Run, E-Runner, ETSU, The Conqueror, American Cancer Foundation, Medal Mad, Yes Fit, Moonjogger.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

1. Choose a sponsoring company and a cause or charity you want to support.
2. Register online.
3. Choose the distance you want to walk/run.
4. Begin your walk anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.
5. Submit your results on the sponsor’s website using your Smartwatch, Fitbit, or GPS device.
6. Make a contribution to your cause.

I found these races encouraged me to stay true to the promise I made to myself ~Walking 1000 miles with the intentions of improving my personal wellbeing, supporting charities, and inspiring others. So, I walked… 

Race Information

Race	Sponsor	Charity	Miles
She Believed She Could, So She Did	Gone for a Run	Americares	26.2
Run for Peace/Stand for Ukraine	E-Runner	Ukraine Relief	26.2
ASHA Foundation	ETSU	Speech/Language Research	3.11
Mount Everest	The Conqueror	Plastic Bank/ 50 bottles out of Ocean	40
We are Stronger Together	American Cancer Foundation	Cancer Research	13.1
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee	Medal Mad	CORAM, est. 1739	70
My Magical Miles	Medal Mad	Wellness Challenge	100
New Year 2022	Yes Fit	Annual NYC Race for Health	32
Escape to Paradise	Yes Fit	Cardiac Care	39.4
Smile Every Mile	Yes Fit	Clef lip and Palate Surgery	28.3
Message in a Bottle	Yes Fit	Ocean Conservancy	91.3
Glacier National Park	Yes Fit	National Park Foundation	49
Flight of the Monarch	Yes Fit	Monarch Education	100
Man’s Best Friend	Yes Fit	ASPCA	64.8
New York Happy New Year 2023	Yes Fit	Annual NYC Race for Health	32
Believe in the Magic	Moonjogger	Operation Warm	100
God Save the Queen	Moonjogger	CORAM, est. 1739	26.2
Happy Birthday to Me	Moonjogger	Make a Wish Foundation	26.2
Day of the Dead	Moonjogger	Spread Family Love	26.2
Running for Inner Peace	Moonjogger	Soles for Souls	26.2
Earth Day	Moonjogger	Wild Earth Allies	26.2
International Women’s Day	Moonjogger	Dress for Success	26.2
Tennessee	Moonjogger	Feeding America	100
Sunrise to Sunset	Moonjogger	Americares	26.2
The Human Ear	Moonjogger	Starkey Foundation	26.2
Key to My Heart	Moonjogger	Heart to Heart International	26.2
Day of the Dog	Moonjogger	Freedom Service Dogs	26.2
National Trail Days	Moonjogger	National Park Foundation	50
Be Brave	Moonjogger	Be the Match	13.1
4th of July	Moonjogger	Homes for our Troops	26.2
Earth Exploration	Moonjogger	Exploring Nature	100

STATISTICS

Many supporters have asked about my stats during my walk. Here’s what they looked like.

• Age 75 years
• Miles per day: 3-5 miles
• Miles per month: Avg. 85 miles
• Total Mileage walked: 1015 miles
• Time per mile: Improved from 20 min miles to 16 min miles
• Two pairs of HOKA walking shoes
• Smiles per miles: too many to count!