Heading Into 2025 With Some Relatively Easy Cycling Plans

I was a Sophomore in college back in 1985 when the movie Back to the Future came out. Back then -- as a 20-year-old -- I viewed Marty McFly's going into the year 2015 as something far in the future. By then, I would be 50 years old! Well, here we are... heading into 2025 and in three months I'll be 60. As I've shared on my Instagram and Facebook accounts, my 60's will primarily consist of cycling for fitness. I plan to explore more of our nation's rails-to-trails. I want to cycle the 240-mile Katy Trail across Missouri, but am going to put that one on hold a little longer as I explore some other trails with the limited days I have available from the office.

This has been another year when cancer has made an invasion into our family. I remember doing some running events in the 1990's to raise funds to fight cancer (including the Relay for Life event), and it is an ongoing battle that so many people face. It is a disease that has impacted both my family and my wife's family -- but thankfully not the family that Kelley and I have together. With the latest impact on my wife's side of the family, I've been thinking about Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, who is the patron saint of perseverance in the face of adversity. I've seen incredible perseverance when it comes to the cancer battles that parents and others in our family have faced over the decades. Their perseverance and faith has been inspiring to me.

In 1988, St. Philippine became the fourth citizen of the United States to be canonized, and the only saint to ever reside in Kansas -- where my wife is from, and where her mother and siblings still reside. Despite considerable adversarial conditions, in the mid-1800's St. Philippine opened multiple schools, including the first free school west of the Mississippi. She also cared for the Potawatomi Native Americans near Mound City, Kansas. The Potawatomi, witnessing her constantly kneeling in prayer, nicknamed her "Woman who prays always." St. Philippine was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

With that said, there is a rail-trail in Kansas that is very near to where St. Philippine lived and ministered. It is known as the Prairie Spirit Rail-Trail and is 52 miles long between Ottawa and Iola, Kansas. Right in the middle of the route is the town of Garnett, where my wife previously resided and where my mother-in-law currently lives. I am looking at cycling that route over the course of two days in May 2025. I would begin in Ottawa and cycle the 52 miles in a day to Iola, where I would stay in a hotel. I would then cycle back to Ottawa the next day. Of course, I would see my mother-in-law in Garnett as I pass through both times, and there is a St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic School in Garnett.

The Prairie Spirit Trail is about 30 miles west of where St. Philippine ministered in Mound City, Kansas. As I cycle the route, I would share information on my social media about this particular saint. Again, St. Philippine is the only saint that resided in the state of Kansas -- and actually ministered there about 20 years before Kansas became a state in 1861.

I'll be aiming to do other rail-trails in 2025, but they will be shorter routes of only 100 miles or less.

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

What Exactly is Heroism? Is it Strength... Endurance... Patience?

In his book Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance, Charles R. Swindoll examines what Job’s sufferings can teach us about humanity and faith. In Scripture, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job, which focuses on God’s justice during difficult times, and how God guides us through times of suffering. Ultimately, Job endures many trials and often feels abandoned by God. However, God never actually abandons Job.

Swindoll's book teaches readers how to embrace God’s challenges. Using Job as an example, he explains that we find answers to our questions in unexpected places — and God doesn’t always give us the answers we expect. Epitomizing strength, endurance, and patience, we can all learn from Job’s life story. 

Heroes come in all forms. Job doesn’t stand idly by watching his life crash down around him. He consciously endures the trials God throws at him. Battening down and enduring hardships are heroic qualities. Life is unavoidably difficult. What separates heroes from the rest of us is how they deal with those difficulties. Just as Job learns the most about himself when he is suffering, we learn through our mistakes and disappointments. We rarely learn anything about our spirituality or ourselves when life is easy. Challenges make heroes of us.

Job suffers in the way we all suffer; his life is terribly unfair. Many can relate to his problems: he loses his family, his property, and his health, and his life is one catastrophe after another. However, because these catastrophes are timeless, Job speaks to everyone regardless of what era they live in. Job represents humanity. One of Job’s most poignant moments is when he loses all ten of his children at the same time. Standing over their graves, wondering what to do with his life, his wife tells him to renounce God, to give up and let his grief consume him, the way it consumes her. Job, however, refuses to give in. He simply vocalizes his faith in God. It doesn’t matter how God treats Job — Job never strays from the path.

Job suffers every insult imaginable. His friends turn on him; covered in agonizing welts and sores, everyone says he is to blame for his own misfortune. Job asks God for guidance, but God never answers him. Somehow, through this silence, Job stays true to God, and God finally rewards him. Yet, God’s rewards are never certain, and it takes an incredible amount of trust by Job to believe in Him.

God doesn’t bless Job with any special powers to help him endure what life throws at him. All Job has is his humanity, and this is what saves him. This is comforting; we are all capable of enduring life’s trials.

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

I Do Not Need Kudos In This Life

I’m just a few months away from reaching age 60 and wanted to make a social media post simply to state that I do not need "kudos" in any aspect of my life. For those unfamiliar with the term 'kudos,' it is praise and honor received for an achievement.

I have raised many children and have several grandchildren. I have held some quality professional positions over the past 40 years, and have accomplished numerous running endeavors. I have done countless speaking engagements in the United States and Europe, and have been fortunate enough to have experienced being a sponsored athlete. I attribute my accomplishments and successes in life to a strong work ethic that was instilled into me at a young age during the 1970s and early 80s.

Any task that I undertake, whether it be professional or personal, is simply for satisfaction of knowing that I am using my God-given gifts to the best of my ability. No, I do not need kudos. Occasionally, I do appreciate encouragement. There is a significant difference between kudos and encouragement.

When I ran solo across the United States for 108 days to keep a promise I had made to a group of school children, I did not receive "kudos" during any of those 3,260 miles. However, I did receive much needed "encouragement" here and there as God orchestrated. Believe me, if I was one to seek kudos, I would have never ran over 500 miles solo across the barren Mojave Desert, turning down an offer that was made before the run for a documentary crew to film it.

In my opinion, doing anything for kudos is quite shallow. Doing things out of passion and tenacity for joy and satisfaction -- and to make a positive impact -- means far more. Please do not interpret anything that I post on social media, or that I do in my professional and personal life, to be a desire to obtain kudos or approval from anyone other than my Creator. One day, I hope to hear God say "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

Cycling 43 Miles in 4 Hours in Indiana on the Great American Rail-Trail

The Great American Rail-Trail is the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C. and Washington State. It is in development in 12 states and currently about 55 percent of the trail is complete. A rail trail is a public path built from a former railroad corridor that is used for many non-motorized activities, such as walking, running, and bicycling.

My first experience cycling on a rail trail was in the summer of 2001 when I rode the Route of the Hiawatha trail in northern Idaho. Over the years I've bicycled in various places, such as Alaska; Idaho; Oregon; Montana; Delaware; Maryland; Virginia; Indiana; and elsewhere... often taking advantage of the rails-to-trails pathways.

Yesterday, I cycled a portion of the Great American Rail-Trail that I've been wanting to do. I logged 43 miles on a roundtrip ride from Peru, Indiana to Rochester, Indiana on the Nickel Plate Trail. I posted videos and pictures on my Instagram and Facebook accounts. The temperature was 85 degrees and I completed the ride in 4 hours -- including stops. I experienced 1,100 feet of elevation gain and truly enjoyed this peaceful ride through Miami County and Fulton County. About half of the route has a nice canopy of trees, providing welcomed shade on sunny days.

Several road crossings are necessary to completely navigate this trail, but I found none of them to be difficult. The Nickel Plate Trail surface is paved asphalt and smooth. It is typically at least 6 feet wide and there is a painted dividing line and metal bollards at street crossings along the trail. The majority of the trail is estimated to be in the mostly gentle grade category (5% or less). Anyone interested in cycling the trail from Peru to Rochester should bring enough water. There are no nearby off-trail places to refill water bottles. If you're doing a roundtrip of 43 miles as I did, you'll definitely want a few bottles on an 85-degree and hotter day! By the way, the trail is open year round.

So, that's another section of the Great American Rail-Trail that is off of my to-do list!

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

How Well Are You Aging? Do You Know Your 'Fitness' Age?

Yesterday, the Washington Post published an article titled How Well Are You Aging? How to Discover Your 'Fitness' Age. According to the article, fitness age is a well-studied scientific concept that uses simple health measures to estimate whether your body is biologically older — or younger — than your chronological age. Studies show that if you’re 50 based on calendar years, you conceivably could have a fitness age of anywhere from about 25 to as old as 75. It all depends on what shape you’re in.

If your fitness age is higher than your chronological age, your chances of dying young from a host of diseases rises substantially, according to a growing body of research. The good news is you can find your fitness age easily using an online tool. And, if it exceeds your calendar age, you can start lowering it today by exercising right. To learn your fitness age, you’ll need to know your height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, and resting heart rate (which you can easily determine using a smartwatch or 15 second pulse test). You’ll also need an honest estimate of how hard and often you exercise.

Since 2019, studies using the calculator’s algorithm have shown that a relatively low fitness age is linked to substantially less long-term risk of heart attack, depression, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, brain shrinkage and dementia in middle-aged and older men and women. Just as important, if you develop a chronic disease, your symptoms are likely to progress more slowly if your fitness age is low.

The current fitness age calculator is free and maintained by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. First posted in 2013, its been updated and simplified several times and used by about 80 million people around the globe. The calculator is available at https://hvemereldst.no/en/. I'll be 59 years of age in just a couple of months, am active, take no medications, and took the test today. I've taken the test in the past as well. My results today show that I have a 'fitness age' of 48 -- eleven years younger than my chronological age. That's good news!

Wish your own fitness age were years lower than your calendar age? It can be. Just make sure you’re moving often and sometimes vigorously. Up-tempo exercise, the kind that increases your breathing and heart rate enough that you can barely carry on a conversation, strengthens your aerobic system over time and improves your VO2max, altering your fitness age. This type of exercise, though challenging, doesn’t need to be unpleasant. Instead, it can be brief, informal and even fun. Here are a few easy ways to start turning back your fitness clock:

• If you like to walk, look for a hill and stride to the top as quickly as you can. Return to the base and summit another time or two.
• If you have access to a treadmill or stationary bike, try 4 x 4 intervals. Ride or run at a relatively difficult pace for 4 minutes, rest by walking or pedaling lightly for 3 minutes and repeat that sequence four times in total.
• Jump, lunge and bop though a short body weight workout once in a while.

Exerting yourself vigorously for even a few minutes several times a week should soon improve your fitness age. Of course, outside of science fiction, none of us can actually rewind time. A low fitness age doesn’t make us truly younger or guarantee extra decades of life. Multiple factors besides fitness affect how long and well we live, including our genetics, nutrition, income and good or regrettable fortune. Fitness age only gives us a glimpse into whether our bodies seem to be functioning better or worse than those of other people our same calendar age. However, we can use that knowledge to inspire and maybe congratulate ourselves.

Gotta Run,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

Born in 1965 and Still Running Forward in 2024

Here we are... the year 2024. This is a leap year and I'll be leaping into the final year of my 50s. As a father of adult children and a grandfather of four, I'm looking back on my life since 1965 and realizing that I'm as old as such things as the Super Bowl; the Days of Our Lives soap opera; and, the Sound of Music movie. I'm also the same age as Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.), Ben Stiller and Chris Rock. I'm also as old as Medicare and Medicaid -- both of which started in 1965. The year I was born, the Gemini Space Program continued to lay the groundwork for an eventual manned mission to the moon, which happened in 1969 when I was four years of age. And, I recently learned that I'm as old as the 630-foot-tall parabolic steel Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri (The St. Louis Arch).

Most of the people I work with in ministry are younger than I am, and the high school teens I lead in my parish youth group are over 40 years younger than I am. In the next decade I'll retire to enjoy more time with my wife, adult children, and grandchildren. However, before then I'm going to do my very best in my role as Director of Faith Formation at the Catholic parish I am at, as well as appreciate every moment with my family, including holidays, birthdays, vacations, celebrations, and the day-to-day blessings that come with being a Dad, Stepdad and Grandad.

Being born on a Sunday in 1965, I am in the first year of Generation X. Recently, Indeed.com reported that those of Generation X "grew up with minimal adult supervision, quickly learning the value of independence and work-life balance. They also appreciate informality, are technologically adept, flexible and highly educated. Gen X tends to be natural problem-solvers, often finding creative solutions to problems. Their resourceful work style makes them excellent leaders, supervisors and team members. Gen Xers are self-sufficient, resourceful and individualistic... they value freedom and responsibility and try to overcome challenges on their own."

Having run solo and self-supported across states and countries -- often having to independently solve issues as they arise -- I see some real truth in the definition of Generation X that Indeed.com reports. I believe that my work ethic and problem-solving skills have truly assisted me in many areas of my life. I know that each generation has its own strengths, but I'm glad to have grown up in the 1960s and 1970s. The world was a far different place back then and although there are those of younger generations who don't believe that "Boomers" or "Generation Xers" have wisdom worth hearing, I do believe that my generation certainly is one to learn from.

Today, we've started 2024 and I'm going to make the most of this final year of my 50s. I'm in good shape, have no health concerns, require no medications, and am blessed to still be able to run and cycle in many ways as strong as I did in my 30s and 40s.  I hope that all of you reading this have a fantastic new year. Keep reaching for your goals and dreams!

Gotta Run,

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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