Local runner logs nearly 70,000 miles


Phoenix, Ore. — Phoenix runner Jerry Swartsley has run a lot of miles in his lifetime, about 70,000 of them, and he doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

He started keeping track in 1969 and since then he’s logged nearly 70,000. That’s 2.8 times around the earth, or more than a quarter the distance from the earth to the moon.

After nearly 50 years of hitting the pavement, he says running just comes naturally for him.

“Running to me is like brushing my teeth. It’s just something I’ve done for so long that I don’t think anything about going out and running on a daily basis,” said Swartsley, who is marking his 70,000 miles by running some more.

This weekend is the Camelback Run, a fundraiser for the Phoenix High School track.

If you’re interested in participating, visit camelbackrun.com.

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