Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.
80-Year-old Woman Celebrates Doing a 5K Every Day Since Pandemic–1,000 in a Row!
Mae Dean Erb completes 1000th consecutive 5K (Credit: Cindy Impson)
A Cherokee woman determined not to let the pandemic get her down began running or walking a 5K every day for 100 days.
Through lockdowns, Alpha, Delta, Omicron, and beyond, Mae Dean Erb kept on running until she completed her 1,000th 5K last Friday, two months short of her 80th birthday.
“I don’t know how she managed to do a 5K walk or run every single day for the last 1,000 days, but she did,” Erb’s daughter, Julie Erb-Alvarez, told GNN. “Her milestone was celebrated by a gathering of friends and family – even some virtually. She is our hero.”
A member of the Cherokee Nation, Erb lives with her husband of 56 years, Jim Erb, in a rural town called Blackgum, near her hometown of Vain, Oklahoma.
She has by no means stopped doing these continuous 5Ks, and in fact, at the time of publishing, she would be on her 1,006th, noting that good habits are as hard to break as bad habits.
“I don’t hurt anywhere. I have knee issues every once in a while, with, I guess, age, but it’s a really wonderful thing (walk/run) to do,” she told the Cherokee Phoenix.
“It’s just something you should do for yourself and your family, and when you have a 4-year-old grandson, you want to stay young enough to pick him up and run with him and catch him if he’s going in the wrong direction.”
She often runs and walks with her friends, who note that going out for a walk doesn’t even feel like a walk anymore unless it’s 5K.
Julie notes that Mae has become an inspiration to the whole community, not least to herself, who wants to be just like her mom when she reaches her golden years.
The good news here is it is never too late to pursue a dream or self-improvement. Today’s JohnKu talks about achieving goals. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Your Way by John W. Howell © 2023
Your life is for you,
To live it as you see fit . . .
Nothing should stop you.
Also, I’m at Story Empire today talking about the Day of Awesomeness. Come on over. Here’s the link.
Fiction Favorites 
Great story, John, and your haiku highlights her life decision. Many of us, maybe most of us, don’t realize this truth until we reach our latter years. Well done! 😊
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Life is sometimes too cluttered to allow personal goal setting. I think you are right about the later years. Thanks, Gwen.
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Wow! I am so excited to be up and out and about after reading this!! ❤
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Yeah. Get going. Thanks, Annette. (I can’t imagine that you would ever need motivation. You are an inspiration.) 😊
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What a great story and fantastic JohnKu today!
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Thank you, Jill. I’m a little older than this woman but a 5K is out of the question. 😁
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Now that’s awesome.
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Ha ha ha. I thought so too. Thanks, Craig.
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To continue on your theme of Awesomeness Day, here is another prime example!!
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I can’t imagine doing a 5K everyday. This is a good example.
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You won’t even see me on a 1K. My doctor keeps hoping I’ll make it around the block!
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Well are you making it around the block?
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Nope. 🤪
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Keeps the doctor on his toes. 😁
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We should all take a page from Mae’s book! (I’ve become such a slug.)
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Ha ha ha. Well who knows. Maybe this will get you out of your slug-like profile. (I really doubt you are a slug, Liz) 😁
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My brain runs 5K a day, but my body has fused with the chair.
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I can identify with that. I do 5K four days a week on my bike. Running? No way.
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I’ll run if the house is on fire. Otherwise, no. When the weather warms up, I should get out my bike.
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😁
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Wow! That is an awesome achievement! Thanks for sharing, John. Have a wonderful weekend 💕🙂
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Thank you, Harmony. Have a wonderful weekend as well. 😊
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Wow, that puts me to shame. Good for her.
Happy Friday, John. Have a great weekend.
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I think she puts us all to shame. Have a great weekend as well, Staci. 😊
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Great Inputs – Have a wonderful weekend.
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Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend as well.
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Amazing. I just finished an article about an active man in his late 70s, and his quote was “If you stop moving, you die.” I believe there’s truth in that statement.
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I think so too, Teri. I do 5k on my bike four days a week. Running is another matter.
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That’s really impressive.
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I agree.
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That would be quite an accomplishment at any age. Wow!
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I know right?
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I can walk that but, not run it, and not everyday. Wow, what a great story, John.
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I ride my bike 5k four days a week. Run? Not on my life.
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Yeah, I only run to the bathroom or refrigerator. 😂
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🤣 Hey, wait. That might be 5K a year.
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😂
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That is an awesome accomplishment. I guess we all have something to look forward to when we hit our golden years.
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I think you are right, Michelle.
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What an inspirational story! Kudos to her!
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Yes indeed.
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What a wonderful story! You have to applaud someone who’s determined not to let a number rule her life. You’re so right, John: it’s never too late to set another goal or try to improve your health.
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Thank you, Debbie.
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A very wise and healthy woman. What a way to defeat the pandemic.
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Seems like a good way doesn’t it?
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That’s extraordinary. Thanks for sharing it, John. Big hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs back.
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Fantastic story, John, and motivating to this old man. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
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Thank you, Tim. Glad you liked it.
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Mae is the epitome of never too late! Way to go! Love this.
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Yeah it should be inspiration to us all.
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Indeedy!
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Okay, this means ANYTHING is possible, because . . . well because it is.
And no, she’s eighty?
WOW
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Yup. A year younger than me.
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Amazing.
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This is truly one of the most remarkable physical achievements I’ve ever heard of.
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For sure, Pete.
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Amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it. Great story, John.
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Thank you, Steve. I appreciate your comment. 😁
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What an amazing story! This inspires me, John!
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It should inspire us all. Thanks, Jan
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Determination and willpower both on display here for sure. That takes a disciplined mind indeed, and she should be proud of her accomplishment.
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I think so too. Thanks.
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Wonderful news! This lady is an example how we might change our life even being locked & squeezed with circumstances. Thank you, dear John! :-)🍤🍤🍤🍻
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Shows anything is possible. Thanks, Maria.
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Hooray for Mae!
A 5 k day is a perfect day! So is the JohnKu!
OXOXOXOX
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Thank you, dahling. 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 😁
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💋🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂💋
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🌹🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🌹
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🌹🐂 🐂 💋🐂 🐂🌹
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🌹🐂 🐂 💋 💋🐂 🐂🌹
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🌹🐂 🐂 💋💋 💋🐂 🐂🌹
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🌹🐂 🐂 💋💋 💋🐂 🐂🌹🌹
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What an inspiration to keep moving!
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I know right?
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Way to go, Mae. You are an inspiration, and you look 35, not 80.
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Yes indeed.
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