Dave McGillivray, the longtime director of the Boston Marathon, is celebrating his 59th birthday today.
To mark the occasion, McGillivray ran 59 miles one day last week — a mile for each year since his birth. McGillivray has been celebrating his birthday in this manner for decades, ever since he ran 12 miles for his 12th birthday.
That's an amazing accomplishment, if you ask us. But then, we're talking about a guy who has run more than 150,000 miles in his lifetime, finished 127 marathons — including 41 consecutive Boston Marathons — and has raced eight Hawaii Ironman Triathlons. He once ran across the country, from Medford, Oregon, to Medford, Massachusetts, to raise money to fight cancer.
After his 59-miler last week, McGillivray sent around an email about the run. Here's a slightly edited version, used with his permission:
Even though my birthday isn't for another week, I did my 59-mile birthday run today ... my 47th one in a row since age 12.
What was I smoking back then when I decided to do this? Sure, I thought it was a good idea then when I had to only run 12 miles.
Anyway ... whew ... pressure is off now. I never know going into these runs what I am going to feel like, mainly because I never train for them -- the farthest I've run in a single day since the Boston Marathon is 4.5 miles, so you can imagine my anxiety.
I started at 3 a.m. and had to run the first 12 miles with a flashlight. That was weird. My son Max (at left in photo, with Willow) and my nephew Matt West ran a few miles with me during the day, which was a big help.
And, I tied my record for drinking 16 bottles of Gatorade throughout the day! I am sure I won't be able to walk tomorrow, but who cares? I don't have to walk or run again until next year's Boston Marathon!
The best part about this foolish tradition is that I don't have to do it again for another whole year! Although we all know sleep is overrated, it just might be time for bed shortly.
-Old Dave
From Runner's World, happy birthday, Dave. Here's to many more birthdays, and many more miles.
