Captain Rick achieves 76% of Goal to Walk/Bike equivalent of once around the World to combat High Blood Pressure

Captain Rick : I am fortunate to announce 76% completion of my 1999 New Years resolution to walk/bicycle the equivalent of once around the world (25,000 miles) to combat high blood pressure. I hope to reach my goal in 2020.

In 1999, at age 52, I was diagnosed with HBP (High Blood Pressure), placing me at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. My doctor urged me to develop a healthier diet (less fat, cholesterol, salt, sugar, alcohol) and a daily exercise routine.

On New Years Eve in 1999, I made a resolution to begin eating healthy and walk a mile or more every day for exercise. It is a resolution that I have faithfully fulfilled over the many years since.

The death of my father from a heart attack a couple of years later fortified my resolution. I sharpened my diet and increased my exercise routine.

In 2005 I bought a bicycle and added a daily ride to my to my daily walking routine.

On New Years Eve, preceding 2006, I expanded my resolution to walk/bicycle the equivalent of once around the world … 25,000 miles. With only a few thousand miles logged, I knew this was a very tall resolution … but, it was a goal that I was bound and determined to achieve.

Over the past 18 years I have worn out over 20 sets of shoes walking 9000 miles, with the best pair achieving 767 miles, an inexpensive pair of Dr. Scholl’s. Several expensive pair ‘bit the dust’ after a couple hundred miles, proving that cost does not equal endurance. As an experienced walker and engineer, I hope to blog about the design of today’s shoes in a future blog post. Shoe companies could learn an abundance of knowledge. 

I have worn out 2 bicycles and many sets of tires, biking 10,000 miles. I am riding my third bicycle, a 29” Mongoose, already on its second set of tires. As an experienced biker and engineer, I hope to blog about the design of today’s bicycles in a future blog post. Bicycle companies could learn an abundance of knowledge. 

I logged my miles every day since the beginning of my trek in 2000. In 2009 I began publishing my progress. I did so to recognize my difficult achievement, but more importantly to remind me that I had a long way to go and to help give me strength to carry on … and to give courage to the many people who have HBP and ‘walk in my shoes’.

Captain Rick’s ‘Round-the-World’ Walking/Bicycling Trek Progress Report:

Goal status as of January 1, 2017

Completed Distance: 18,976 miles (30,539 km), 76.2% of Earth’s 24,901 mile circumference

Remaining Distance: 5,925 miles (9,535 km), 23.8% of Earth’s 24,901 mile circumference

Estimated year of World Trek completion at current rate of 4.26 miles per day: 2020

Annual Progress History:

2016:

Walking: 630 miles (Trek total: 9,029 miles)

Bicycling: 925 miles (Trek total 9,947 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,555 miles (Trek total: 18,976 miles, 76.2% completed)

Average: 4.26 miles per day (Estimated year of World Trek completion: 2020)

Age: 69

Captain Ricks Log of World Trek Progress History