Runner’s World+ Member: Patrick Leber
Patrick is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print.
Running has always given me a time to think. I often find myself reflecting on how fortunate I am to keep moving forward after running for 40 years. I never take it for granted. I cherish my freedom to run. I also run to look for stories to share. I have captured my own interesting, amusing, and embarrassing running stories over the years and self-published a running memoir: Why Run When You Can Drive and Smoke at the Same Time. Running opens my mind and makes me realize I can learn new things and then have the confidence to execute my plans (e.g. publish a book).
To read about regular runner’s stories. We all have them. I thoroughly enjoy learning from everyone’s personal account of what motivates them to keep moving forward. I am always reading biographies or autobiographies of well-known people. RW+ gives me the opportunity to read mini-autobiographies of the many regular runners out there.
I run for the health of it! I have been so blessed to be granted the gift of glide for 18,000+ miles over 40 years. It’s no longer about speed but about the ability to keep moving forward.
Many of my runs are on the track now to save my joints. But, I love to run in new places while traveling. I’m always looking for additional stories for a second memoir. My favorite recurring run is in Ocean View, Delaware. I run 2.7 miles from my Aunt Kathi and Uncle Paul’s house to the Atlantic Ocean. I take my shoes and socks off for a quick walk in the ocean, rinse off, and then 2.7 miles back to their home. No other recurring run comes close to this.
I am a huge fan of Mizuno Wave Riders. I rotate my Wave Rider 21, 22, and 23’s with every run. I wear Wave Sky WaveKnit’s around town. I’m not sure my wife will let me in the house when I come home with a pair of Wave Rider 24’s.
I tried out as the Cleveland Browns mascot years ago where I had to run in full costume about 100 yards to the stands and perform a five minute routine in the middle of the summer. Thank goodness I went second that day as they had to peel the costume off my sweaty body for the others to wear for their tryout. Yuck! It was promptly suggested that I should keep my day job.
To run at least a mile in all 50 states. I’ve accomplished this in 33 states so far with only 17 to go. How will I get to Alaska?
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