Rick’s HBP World Trek

Captain Rick’s ‘Round-the-World’ Walking/Bicycling Trek to combat HBP

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 daily walking routine.

In 2005 I bought a bicycle and added a bike ride to my daily exercise 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 that seemed endless and impossible … but, it was a goal that I was bound and determined to achieve.

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’. I am now in my second last year for completion of my 25,000 World Trek. What once seemed like an impossible, endless goal, is now just beyond a few more bends in the trail. I anticipate completion of my World Trek in 2020.

I have worn out about 20 sets of shoes walking 10,000+ miles during my World Trek, now in its 20th year. The best wearing set achieved 767 miles. They were inexpensive Dr. Scholl’s. Several expensive shoes wore out in less than 200 miles, proving that cost does not equal endurance. The expensive shoes also proved to be among the least comfortable. The shoe heels and soles are usually the first to fail. I am currently rotating 6 sets of shoes ranging from almost new to over 200 miles so my feet experience varying levels of newness and mileage each day. I add a new set of shoes to the rotation every 50 miles. The 4 newest sets of shoes are Wolverines purchased at DSW for about $60. I found them to offer the best comfort and wear, regardless of cost. The oldest set has almost 200 miles and still feels like new. The heels and soles show little wear. I install Dr. Scholl’s Double Air-Pillo Insoles in every new set of shoes and replace them every 100 miles. They increase comfort and reduce wear on the heels and soles of the shoes.

I have worn out 2 bicycles and many sets of tires, biking 11,000+ miles during my World Trek so far. My third bicycle, a 29” Mongoose Ledge 3.1, already has 4000 miles on it and still rides like new on its second set of tires … FlackJacket Hardrock’rs. I LOVE riding my Mongoose.

People have asked me how I am going to celebrate the crossing the finish line of my 25,000 mile World Trek in 2020. I tell them … “if I am fortunate to make it, the next mile I walk or bike will be the first mile of my next World Trek.”

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

Goal status as of January 1, 2019

Completed Distance: 22,075 miles (35,526 km), 88.7% of Earth’s 24,901 mile circumference

Remaining Distance: 2,826 miles (4,548 km), 11.3% of Earth’s 24,901 mile circumference

Estimated year of World Trek completion at current rate of 4.23 miles per day: 2020

Annual Progress History:

2018:

Walking: 624 miles (Trek total: 10,297 miles)

Bicycling: 919 miles (Trek total 11,778 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,543 miles (Trek total: 22,075 miles, 88.7% completed)

Average: 4.23 miles per day (Estimated year of World Trek completion: 2020)

Age: 71

2017:

Walking: 644 miles (Trek total: 9,673 miles)

Bicycling: 912 miles (Trek total 10,859 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,556 miles (Trek total: 20,532 miles, 82.5% completed)

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

Age: 70

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

2015:

Walking: 628 miles (Trek total: 8,399 miles)

Bicycling: 982 miles (Trek total 9,022 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,610 miles (Trek total: 17,421 miles, 70.0% completed)

Average: 4.41 miles per day (Estimated year of World Trek completion: 2020)

Age: 68

2014:

Walking: 647 miles (Most Miles Walked in 1 Year, Trek total: 7,771 miles)

Bicycling: 882 miles (Trek total 8,040 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,529 miles (Trek total: 15,811 miles, 63.5% completed)

Average: 4.19 miles per day (Estimated year of completion: 2021)

Age: 67

2013:

Walking: 494 miles (Trek total: 7,124 miles)

Bicycling: 712 miles (Trek total 7,158 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,204 miles (Trek total: 14,282 miles, 57.4% completed)

Average: 3.29 miles per day (Estimated year of completion: 2022)

Age: 66

2012:

Walking: 634 miles (Trek total: 6,630 miles)

Bicycling: 858 miles (Trek total 6,446 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,492 miles (Trek total: 13,076 miles, 52.5% completed)

Average: 4.09 miles per day (Estimated year of completion: 2020)

Age: 65

2011:

Walking: 634 miles (Trek total: 5,996 miles)

Bicycling: 852 miles (Trek total 5,588 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,486 miles (Trek total: 11,584 miles)

Average: 4.07 miles per day

Age: 64

2010:

Walking: 496 miles (Trek total: 5,362 miles)

Bicycling: 934 miles (Trek total 4,648 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,430 miles (Trek total: 10,010 miles)

Average: 3.92 miles per day

Age: 63

2009:

Walking: 555 miles (Trek total: 4,866 miles)

Bicycling: 1,123 miles (Most miles bicycled in 1 year, Trek total 3,714 miles)

Walking + Bicycling: 1,678 miles (Most miles walked & bicycled in 1 year, Trek total: 8,580 miles)

Average: 4.60 miles per day

Age: 62

Previous Reports:

January 2019: Captain Rick achieves 89% of goal

January 2018: Captain Rick achieves 83% of goal

January 2017: Captain Rick achieves 76% of goal

January 2016: Captain Rick achieves 70% of goal

February 2015: Captain Rick achieves 64% of goal

October 2014: Captain Rick rides a 29″ Mongoose bike in final leg

January 2014: Captain Rick passes the 57% line

January 2013: Captain Rick passes the 50% line