Robert Allen Lupton can reach a milestone of running every day for 365 consecutive days Saturday.
Sometimes an inspiring story runs right past you – over and over again.
Much as I hate to admit it, that’s been happening to me for years on the sidewalks of my West Side neighborhood. It took the current health crisis to finally bring Robert Allen Lupton’s remarkable tale to my attention.
I’d noticed the 71-year-old Lupton before the COVID-19 shutdown. He lives a few blocks from my house and we’ve often exchanged nods or waves when my dog takes me on daily walks. We’d never actually met, though, probably because Lupton typically runs past us at a pace faster than my dog prefers.
Fortunately, Lupton saw my name in the Journal and fired me an email to inform me of an upcoming milestone. Saturday will mark his 365th consecutive day of running, a span during which he’s logged more than 1,500 miles. That feat will earn Lupton a spot near the bottom of an international list of runners with consecutive-days streaks ranging from one year to (I kid you not) 50.
Lupton’s email humbly suggested that in these dark days without live sporting events his streak might rate a sports-section mention. Turns out it’s just one leg of an epic journey.
A commercial balloon pilot/writer/retiree, Lupton has been running for the better part of 50 years. It helped him beat cancer in 2012, and in 2018 he accomplished a bucket-list goal of running more than 100,000 miles in his lifetime.
“After a while you kind of take on the mailman’s motto,” Lupton said. “‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat’ … nothing’s going to stop you. It’s easy to stay motivated when it keeps you alive.”
Finding his stride
A native Oklahoman, Lupton took up running in his 20s and immediately liked the mental discipline it requires.
“The road always knows,” he said. “You can lie to people about how much you run but you can’t lie to the road.”
Lupton kept running through his 30s and 40s, averaging 65 to 70 miles a week while working in restaurant management in Texas. He moved to Albuquerque with his wife, Sally, and daughter, Robin, in 1992 and began flying balloons for Sivage Thomas Homes. That unexpectedly led to a 20-year career in property purchasing.
After some particularly successful years, Lupton took a break from running in 2005.
“My wife and I decided to celebrate by trying all the different wines and beers in New Mexico,” Lupton said. “We were not successful, but we tried.”
The new pursuit had a downside. Lupton’s weight ballooned from 150 pounds to 235, and his cholesterol levels spiked.
“I asked my doctor if she would still see me after I started on Medicare,” Lupton recalled. “She said, ‘You aren’t asking the right question. You need to ask whether I’ll attend your funeral.'”
Abashed, Lupton abandoned his tasting tour and returned to running.
“In 18 months I got back to 150 (pounds)” he said.
Pushing through pain
Until recently, Lupton did not run every day but he did push himself, completing the Duke City Marathon and La Luz Trail Run three times apiece.
Running La Luz hurts,” he said. “It’s beautiful but it hurts.”
Lupton faced a far more painful and daunting challenge in 2012 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent radiation and chemotherapy and was told not to run.
“I couldn’t have done it anyway,” he said. “Those treatments sapped all my strength.”
His prior conditioning paid off, however, as Lupton was able to beat his cancer and gradually return to running after nine difficult months. He started slowly, alternating between walking and running, until one day he completed a 3-mile run.
“I was very emotional when I got home,” Lupton said. “Sally thought something was wrong with me but it was pure joy. I decided then I’m going to keep running as long as I can.”
Going the distance
Lupton still pilots balloons, and he’s picked up writing in recent years. He’s had several science fiction stories published and authored an account of his battle with cancer for 2019’s “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Running for Good.”
But running remains a priority. Lupton discovered his latest challenge last April when he read an article about streaks. It led him to a website, runeveryday.com, which maintains updated lists of runners who have consecutive-day streaks of one year or more.
“I started looking at the streaks and it blew me away,” Lupton said. “I’ll never touch most of those people but I wanted to get my name on the list.”
Lupton started his streak while running with his daughter during a vacation in England and Scotland. It has since included rainy days, snowy days and laps around Balloon Fiesta Park after morning flights. Streak runners are required to log at least one mile daily, but Lupton typically covers 4 or more.
“Snow is fun, rain sucks,” Lupton said, “but you just grit your teeth and suck it up. My coldest run was after a balloon race in Pagosa Springs before the Super Bowl – 3 degrees in fog. That one was challenging.”
For someone who prefers the use of wheels in extended travel, Lupton’s running totals are mind-boggling. Setting, much less accomplishing, a goal of 100,000 miles (the life expectancy of some cars) is beyond my comprehension.
“When I set that goal it was only 38 miles a week,” he said.
Never have I used the word “only” in such a context.
Lupton says his well-traveled paths have been less congested during the coronavirus shutdown. Even “regulars” are giving each other wide berths. Still, he has been looking forward to sharing a glass of champagne with Sally after Saturday’s one-year milestone, and he doesn’t plan to stop blowing past us dog-walkers anytime soon.
“It gets to where the streak’s in charge,” Lupton said. “After I make a year, I’ll get up the next day and run. Might as well keep it going until I can’t.”.
Copy of Article
Ken Sickenger: 71-year-old extends a year-long streak of daily runs
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, April 17th, 2020 at 8:15pm
Ken Sickenger: 71-year-old extends a year-long streak of daily runs
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, April 17th, 2020 at 8:15pm
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