Before passing away at 40 years of age from kidney disease, London wrote 52 books and 200 short stories. During the 20th century he was one of the most extensively translated authors in America. His perspective on life is one that has echoed around in my mind for nearly my entire adult life:
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."I've run alone through Denali National Park in Alaska with bears, wolves and moose as my spectators. I've run alone through a German military base with automatic weapons pointed at me. I've hung from a guardrail 50 feet above trees in zero degree winter weather to avoid being hit by a car. I've been robbed, spit upon, and nearly run over on purpose by rude people while on my running adventures. I've been on the borderline of heat stroke and have suffered hypothermia on my adventure treks. I've had some in passing automobiles throw things and yell/curse at me. I've had police officers interrogate me on the side of the road, news sources report falsely about me, and have received countless sponsorship rejection letters. I've suffered tendinitis multiple times; blistered shoulders from sun exposure; loss of all my toenails; extensive foot blisters; and, have literally cried in pain to keep pushing forward on my running endeavors. I've endured fierce and relentless winds; a sandstorm; drenching rain; life-threatening lightning; bitter cold snow; quarter-size hail that I could only get shelter from by laying under my support stroller; and, have been in the Great Plains while hearing tornado sirens going off in the nearest town.
I've experienced the difficulties of solo running adventures across states and countries, and like author London states: "I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot." I believe that I've aimed to live and to not just exist.
It has been one week since I wrote an honest blog post about my running. My body and mind know how to do endurance. That has been a part of me since 1984. My body and mind also know how to do adventure. There is a part of my spirit that comes alive when I am pursuing an adventurous goal that I've set for myself. I believe that is a part of "living" life and not just "existing" in life. My body and mind know how to do both endurance and adventure. After 33 years of pounding my body into the ground through long distance running (often at a level most runners never experience), what should be the next step I take in my athletic life? That's a good question — and I'm still thinking about it.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
