How to Stay Motivated Dipsea Demon

I tailor my short exercise sessions so I can’t fail. At the end of my session no matter how it went, I feel as though I have accomplished something and it leaves me with a good feeling. Knowing that it's also contributing to my health is a bonus. Can’t beat that! No matter what else happens during the day I have had one success already.

The good feeling that comes from finishing an exercise is the motivation I need to want to exercise again the next day. The type of motivation for me may not work for others so, I was curious about this and began to see what makes people want to exercise. This involved a lot of research and reading.

For me, the good feeling that comes from finishing an exercise is the motivation I need to want to exercise again the next day. But that's just me; I am always curious about what helps other people get and stay motivated.

Doing this research on motivation, I found this amazing story. Stories often affect me in important ways -- they can provide encouragement, hope, inspiration, or some level of motivation. This one was about the Dipsea Demon. The name is what got my attention. I had been looking for challenging road races -- not big well-known ones like the Boston Marathon or the NYC Marathon but shorter, unusual and interesting ones.

I came across some with names like Turkey Trot, Seaside Shuffle, Lakeside Classic, and then there was one called the Dipsea Trail -- the oldest trail race in America, first run in 1905. One of the participants was called the Dipsea Demon. With a name like that I thought I should look into it.

So, I looked up Dipsea Demon and discovered he was a real person, now deceased. His name was Jack Kirk and he became famous for running the Dipsea Trail 67 consecutive times. I found this in an article in an online version of the Runner’s Gazette dated September 4, 2021 which I have summarized here:

The legend of Jack Kirk began one day in 1933 or 1934 on a steep slope called Steep Ravine in Marin County (California) during the famous Dipsea Trail race.

Jack Kirk, the Dipsea Demon, on the steps of the Dipsea Trail. — Jack Kirk, the Dipsea Demon, continued to run until he was 96 years old. His persistence and determination motivate me to this day.

The runners were tired as they headed toward Stinson Beach when suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere tearing down the slope, sliding and leaping over brush, passing other runners like they were standing still.

"Boy," one runner said, "that guy runs like a demon."

From that day, Jack Kirk was known as the "Dipsea Demon," and he lived up to the nickname, running the arduous 7.1-mile trail race 67 consecutive times. He didn't quit until he collapsed at the top of the grueling 1,362-foot elevation Cardiac Hill at age 96.

He died of old age a few years later at a hospital in Clovis (Fresno County). He was 100. He had lived almost his entire life in the Sierra foothills town of Mariposa, and was a bit of an odd duck, living for years without running water or electricity, driving old junky cars and fighting with his neighbors.

He might have died a complete unknown if not for his running prowess, which turned him into one of Marin County's most fabled characters, so popular that he had to carry a sign asking spectators at races not to pat him on the back.

Reading about Jack Kirk and his love of running and all his idiosyncrasies and sayings gave me inspiration that made a big contribution to my motivation -- and still does!

Stories and examples of other people overcoming adversity or finding ways to meet challenges often inspire me. The story of Jack Kirk, the Dipsea Demon continues to motivate me to keep exercising and stay healthy.

Another incident that I took for granted took a kind of motivational turn for me. It was totally accidental.

I went over to our county Senior Resource Center for some help trying to set up this blog (it’s complicated) and they have several people that meet one morning a week to help senior citizens with things like this. In the course of my discussion with a very nice and helpful lady she found out a little about me -- starting with my age.

That led to further conversation and then she asked me if I would agree to an interview for their monthly newsletter. "Why not?" I thought. So, we had a nice interview and it appeared in the October 2024 newsletter.

Being asked to be their featured Senior Spotlight of the month had to be based solely on my age and health. Mind you, I’ve done a few interesting things in my life but apparently none of them as interesting as being 92 and healthy. That’s motivation enough to keep me going a while longer!