January 2, 2023
No, I am not a New Year's Resolution person, waiting for the calendar to change in order to prompt me into instill some new habit, but this is a project that's been on the back burner for a while and with a few other projects under control or, at least, behind me, it was an opportune time to get this one going.
I am definitely not the first one to attempt to run or walk all the streets in their city. There's guy who did all the streets of Pittsburgh, PA and created a pretty informative and entertaining video about it:
His web site is here: http://pac.tom7.org
And, of course, someone is attempting to monetize the goal by setting up tracking software:
https://citystrides.com and https://runallthestreets.com and http://www.everystreetchallenge.com
While I have kicked this project around for a few years, one of the motivating factors was that if I don't start it now, time may run out. After all, I'm not getting any younger and now, having passed into my seventh decade on the planet, running itself isn't getting easier and I feel more prone to occurrences that could limit by ability to get it done. So, now is the time.
The Rules
Run all the streets of Billings
There may be some walking involved but it will primarily be running. I'm a subscriber to the Jeff Galloway Run/Walk system and find that it really does work for "older" runners. I've used this method for years and have done two marathons using the system and swear by it. For more, see: http://www.gallowaynyc.org/walk-breaks--the-long-run.html
If it's a place a car can drive, it's a street to be run on.
There is no time goal, either for the pace of the runs or when the project will be completed.
There is no minimum distance that each run must achieve.
Running on streets that I've already run on as part of the project do not count for anything extra.
What constitutes "Billings" is determined by the official map from the Public Works Department. The population is growing and new areas are frequently annexed so, in a way, the project might never end. While I need to call the city for a definitive answer, the Public Works website indicates that they are responsible for more that 500 miles of streets in the city.
Safety is a concern and I can only think of a few streets that are dangerous due to lack of sidewalks or other pedestrian paths but these roads will be run on as part of the project. Very early on a Sunday morning might be the best time for those.
It is not necessary to run "in the street" to count at running the streets of Billings. Running on the adjacent sidewalks is acceptable and, in many/most cases, preferable.
Assistance on the running is allowed. I run with my dog quite a bit and, yes, he does pull me a bit, and that's OK. I am still covering the streets.
That's pretty much the rules.
The Method
Figuring out the routes to run is one of the biggest challenges. I want each route to efficiently cover a section of the city with as little backtracking as possible. I am using https://onthegomap.com to plan out the routes. It's pretty easy to use and allows me to try multiple route options while keeping track of the miles as I go along.
Once I get a route designed I screen shot the map and send to my printer. I then mark up the map in red to denote the directions I need to go on the route. Here's an example of the map on the screen:
Here's a map I marked up and carried with me:
Yes, I know, it's a bit messy. I'll try to remember to photograph them before I run.
Once I have the map, I am ready to run. The weather can be variable and, as I begin this project, it can be cold, so I don the appropriate gear, set my Garmin watch to "Run Outdoor," leash up the dog, and head out the door. Since I'm retired, the time I run is my choice and depends on what else I have going on that day. I really do not like to run in heat, which, to me, is anything about 65 degrees F, so early is fine with me.
On the run I keep an eye out for anything interesting to photograph. It might just be the street conditions but it could something interesting, and sometimes valuable, things found on the street.
Once I complete the run, I download the data from my watch to my phone, move any photographs into the cloud, and then make the blog entry.
That's really all there is to it. Little by little, every street in the city.
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