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Old Man Running

I thought it might be fun to tell a few running stories to anyone out there who might find it interesting. - Ray Miller My name is Ray Miller. Enjoy your run!

I am currently cross country and track & field coach at Edmund Burke Academy in Waynesboro, Georgia. I started running on January 31, 1977. For some reason, I started tracking my miles, races and work-outs on that date. As of this morning, I've logged 28,717.2 miles and I've competed in 265 races including 10 marathons. I have some ideas about training and racing that might help older runners. Please feel free to follow my work-out schedules each day and don't hesitate to contact me if I can help/encourage you to become more active. I would also appreciate any comments or suggestions that you might have. I read a long time ago that the first step is the toughest.....that is the step out of your front door. So let's go....get up and at'em.

11/02/2026

I believe it was that mysterious visitor from the East, that sage and sooth sayer, that borderline physic and occasional caddie for Rodney Dangerfield, Yarrellim, who said,
"To be or not to be.........that is the question!"
If you are a runner, I'll bet the farm (of course I don't own a farm, so this is a safe bet for me) that you've had someone ask why in the work do you like to run?
We get up early; we stay up late.
We fuss when it's too hot, and we fuss when it's too cold. We didn't make our goal time last Saturday, but we sign up for another race next Saturday.
We own ten pairs of running shoes, two pair for running, seven pair for yardwork and no reason to keep that tenth pair.
Of course, we can't explain why. But we can ask our friends, "Why not you?"
Even if you're not a runner, go ahead, get up and at'em today and go for a run/walk. You'll be glad you did.............and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

10/31/2026

Congratulations to Sarah. You are running partner number 577. I met Sarah this morning at the Charlotte's Beat Goes On 5k in Brunswick. Sarah was kind enough to slow down and let me tell her some stories. When she started running, the stories tapered off considerably, but we enjoyed the race. Thanks, Sarah, for a fun morning.
BTW: Sarah is involved in a race in Brunswick, in the spring. I hope Sarah keeps me posted as we get closer to that race date.
Most of you know I'm a big proponent of knowing where our race dollars are going. If you have a few minutes, check out Charolotte's story on the race website. This a fun race for a great cause. Charotte's family did a fantastic job. After you read the story, put this race on your 2027 calendar.
You know you deserve some ME time today. Take a few minutes and get up and at'em and go for a run/walk. You'll be glad you did.........and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

10/27/2026

And now a bit or racing history from this Old Man Running.
10/20/79 – Savannah Marathon
10/20/90 – Lady Eagle 5K – G.S.U. Statesboro
10/20/01 – Hoofin for Habitat 5K - Statesboro
10/22/83 – Kaolin Kanter 10K – Sandersville
10/22/94 – Magolia Springs CC 3 Miler – Millen
10/23/99 – Hoofin for Habitat – Statesboro
10/23/10 – Broadstreet Ramble 10K – Augusta
10/23/21 – Birddog Breakaway 5K- Waynesboro
10/24/15 – Poker Run 5K – Fort Gordon, Augusta
As you can see from this list, this is a great time of the year for racing. If you are in the Brunswick area this weekend, check out the Charlotte's Beat Lives On 5k.
This cooler weather has so many people out walking and running. Why don't you take a few minutes and get up and at'em and to for a run/walk today?
You'll be glad you did...........and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,
(Look for me Saturday morning at the Charlotte's Beat Lives On 5k!)

10/22/2026

I still love to hear my running buddies talk about chasing that PR. Of course, we all know that is a personal best. But like it or not, there comes a time when we old timers try to avoid a PW. That's a personal worst.
One of the things that makes our sport so great is that even after all these years...................we still chasing and/or dodging!!!!!!!!!
There are several opportunities for us to chase a PR or dodge a PW in the next few weeks.
10/31: Charlotte's Beat Lives On 5k
11/7: Veterans Day Beach Run
11/14: Fur-K - Wag, Walk & Run
11/26: Wobble B4U Gobble
Take a few minutes and get up and at'em and go for a run/walk today. You'll be glad you did......and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,
(and maybe at one of the races in our area!"

10/19/2026

And now a bit or racing history from this Old Man Running.
10/16/04 – Hoofin for Habitat 5K – Statesboro
10/17/17 – Turpentine Festival 5K - Portal
10/18/80 - Ogeechee Fair 5 Miler – Statesboro
10/18/03 – Hoofin for Habitat 5K – Statesboro
10/19/02 – Hoofin for Habitat 5K – Statesboro

When you slow down...............and you will slow down, you will find out what's really important about our great sport.
Believe it or not, you'll still enjoy running. But you will also enjoy things like seeing a sun rise, hearing the birds sing, watching deer and squirrels scamper and waving to the faster runners as they announce "on your left" and then fade into the distance.
I encourage you to not make everyday a faster than yesterday run. If I've said it once, I said it, well you know, take some time this week and stop and smell the roses.
Now get up and at'em and go for a run/walk today.
You'll be glad you did............and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

10/07/2026

And now a bit or racing history from this Old Man Running.
10/1/11 – Tennille Trot 5K- Tennille
10/1/16 – Turpentine Festival 5K - Portal
10/3/15 – Tennille Trot 5K – Tennille
10/6/12 – Tennille Trot 5K – Tennille
10/6/18 – Turpentine Festival 5K - Portal
10/9/82 – Fatman's Forest 5K – Augusta
The weather is cool, the leaves are changing and racing season is here. As one can see from the list above, I love to attend the same races year after year.
There are so many mega-races. Maybe I just made up a new word, but I'm talking about races with fifteen or twenty thousand participants.
If you've been following my racing history, I hope you noticed so many smaller races.
I'm talking about festivals in towns like Portal, Tennille, Claxton, Glennville, Brooklet, Waynesboro, Sandersville, Hampton, Aiken and so many more.
I'm not saying that we should never join 20,000 runners for a couple of races a year. But I am suggesting that we check out some small races in our area. The big races won't miss us.............but the small-town festival type races are depending on us.
I hope you take some time today to get up and at'em and go for a run/walk. You'll be glad you did..........and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

10/04/2026

Congratulations to Niah and Nattie. On my list or running partners, you are numbers 574 and 575. We started training for a 5k race last Thursday. These two young ladies have never raced a 5k and we thought it might be fun if we trained together for the Wobble Before you Gobble on Thanksgiving morning.
We had a great session last week and we're looking forward to their first race.
BTW: On my list of 575 runners, this is my first Niah and my first Nattie.
Take advantage of this cool weather and get up and at'em and go for a run/walk today.
You'll be glad you did..............and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

09/28/2026

And now a bit of racing history from this Old Man Running.
9/26/81 – Jaguar Jaunt 5K – Augusta College
9/26/03 – Jekyll Island Festival of Races – CC 5K
9/26/15 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/27/03 – Jekyll Island Festival of Races – Beach 5K
9/27/03 – Jekyll Island Festival of Races – Road 5K
9/27/14 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/28/10 – Bobcat Color 5K- Swainsboro
9/29/79 – Jaguar Jaunt 5K – Augusta College
9/29/90 – Broad Street Ramble 10K – Augusta
9/29/10 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/29/18 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/30/89 – Possum Hollow 5K – Dexter, GA
If you are in the Waynesboro area this weekend, I strongly suggest you enter the Birddog Breakaway.
As you can see, I've competed in the Breakaway for a number of years. Since we moved to St. Simons Island, I've not been able to participate in person. The race benefits the Center for New Beginnings. Check out the website for more information about the race and about the Center for New Beginnings.
If you enter the Birddog Breakaway, you will enjoy a super cool race for a great organization.
Take time today and get up and at'em and go for a run/walk. You'll be glad you did...........and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

09/25/2026

Now that winter has officially arrived here on SSI, I thought I might dig through my notes for a couple of my favorite cold weather stories.
12/25/83: 4 miles, 10 a.m., 12 degrees, Merry and very cold Christmas.
2/27/82: Bartram Trail 5 miler @ Clark's Hill. Rob S. and Rob N. and I. Ice storm last night, we could hear the limbs breaking under the ice.
1/8/88: 7 miles with Tim. Really slow, snowed last night, streets were still wet and slippery. No school, buried under almost 1 inch of snow. Really slow.
There was a time when a little cold weather didn't stop me from appointed rounds.
So anyway, I hope you won't let this cold snap keep you inside. Go ahead, get up and at'em, bundle up and go for a run/walk today. You'll be glad you did...............and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads, (I'll be the one with the long sleeves on!"

09/21/2026

And now some racing history from this Old Man Running.
9/21/01 – Jekyll Island Festival of Races – Beach 5K
9/22/01 – Jekyll Island Festival of Races – CC 5K
8/22/10 – Jekyll Islane Festival of Races – Road 5K
9/21/10 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/21/19 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/22/79 – Tillie 10K – Augusta
9/23/17 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
9/24/16 - Birddog Breakaway 5K – Waynesboro
I believe it was the all seeing, all knowing, that sage and sooth sayer from the East, Yarrellim, who said,
"The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step!"
If you are a runner, and you've been running for a couple of years, chances are that you have already traveled over 1,000 miles. That's 1,000 miles running.
For some reason, way back on January 31, 1977, when I started running, and I wrote my miles on my desk calendar. And for no particular reason, I kept writing.
Now we have computer-based running logs and notebooks. I guess I'm old school. I still have "The Complete Runner's Day-By-Day Log 2026 Calendar."
Keeping up with your miles is a fun activity for me....maybe not so much for you.
But what is important is that you get up and at'em and go for a run/walk today. You'll be glad you did.................and so will I.
I'll see ya on the roads,

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