Day 1,600: Solving a multicache at Emory

I had forgotten today was my milestone day -- 1,600 consecutive days of running. Instead I did what I normally would do -- planned my day around a geocache.

This time there was a multi-stage geocache at Emory University's Clairmont campus. Instead of running the full 3+ miles one way, I decided to park on Lullwater Road and then run the rest of the way there.

It ended up being nearly 2 miles to get there. I was certainly puzzled by the cache and fried at the same time given the high heat.

I found the cache accidentally as I was on my way back, dejected. So it made for a lucky find!

Day 1,597: Hot again

Went for a 3-mile run in Inman Park today. I just checked the weather, 67 degrees, but it felt hot.

Plus it was bright enough that for the first time in a long time I wore sunglasses. I might have gone the entire year last year without doing so.

Time: 9:54 a.m.
Temp: 67 degrees
Gear: Tech T short (UNC), shorts, Adidas running shoes.

Day 1,588: Running in the airport

SAN FRANCISCO -- On our way to Sydney, Australia and needing to get in a mile run to continue the streak, I decided to run inside the International Terminal of the airport.

At the time there weren't a lot of people around and I started up from the gate, ran down the long concourse and then double backed towards the gate where we left our OGG-SAN flight.

It was the first time I ran in an airport without luggage and needing to get somewhere. I was happy that you see people running in airports all the time and no one seems to mind.

I broke a light sweat although I don't think the Garmin watch picked up a signal inside the concourse. But 12 minutes of continuous running ought to buy me a mile, since it's a slower pace than my worst mile and I was running all the way.

Day 1,585: A wedding, a 6-mile run

LAHAINA, Hi. -- On the day of my wedding, I was up early, having gone to bed only four hours earlier after hanging out with Gnome and Sham in my hotel room at the Grand Hyatt in Lahaina.

It was pretty early and I only thought I'd be able to eke out a 1-mile run. But as I started along the beach parks next to the hotel, I saw that the town of Lahaina wasn't too far away (about 3 miles away to be exact).

And a geocache that I wanted was there, so I headed out to it. It was fun running along the sandy parks, which had interpretive trail signs here and there.

After a mile, I reached the road and started along it. It was nice that it was so early there weren't many cars or people out. I reached my destination -- the lighthouse at the piers in town, snapped off a quick picture and made my way back.

Day 1,584: The honesty of strangers

KULA, Hi. -- The day before our wedding we got a late start on the day. Namely, I wanted to do some geocaching and wasn't able to link up with the fiancee, who was staying at the Kula Lodge with her parents and sister.

But we finally did get a run in, on the road that leads to a ranch that Oprah owns. It's a pretty peaceful small road in the middle of really lush green grass. Some friendly horses there too. It's a pretty popular spot with local walkers. Yet it's still a decent workout with two good hills on the route and an elevation of about 2,850 feet.

When we finished with the run we got into my rental car which I parked at the Fong Store. We went back to my uncle's farm to shower and get ready. After a while I realized that my driver's license and credit card were not in the running shorts that I was wearing.

I was convinced they were somewhere in the house because I really thought I'd dropped them off after we got in the house.

This was not to be. So we got back in the car and went back to the Fong Store, more than an hour after we finished running.

The fiancee went inside and sure enough, someone had found the cards (I must have dropped them pulling out my rental car keys) and brought them to the store owner. They were waiting in an envelope for me. The owner had contacted the police for them to pick them up, thinking that somehow the person who lost them would eventually try to call around to see if they'd been turned in.

I'm grateful for the kindness of strangers and it's a good reminder for me to keep track of my things during a run.

Day 1,583: Back in Maui

KULA, Hi. -- Went out for a short run today on Lower Kula Road where I usually have run over the years when I'm in town.

Nice and cool to start out, but my first run after a long airplane ride is usually brutal. Coming back up from 2,700 feet to 3,000 after the turnaround was a little different than what I'm used to.

But we did it! Also helpful was to find a geocache right near our starting point.

Time: 6:12 a.m.
Temp: 71 degrees
Gear: Tech T short (Chicago Marathon), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus+ 27.