Dunn on the Run

“Dunn on the Run” will be a blog that is featured on the WesternHerald.com every other Tuesday throughout the semester. This blog, focusing on President John Dunn’s personal life is not a reflection of the Western Herald.

WMU President John Dunn (Chyn Wey Lee)

I’m a runner. I started in grade school and continued through high school as a track and cross country runner. Although I was not a great runner, I was awarded a scholarship to run cross-country and track at Northern Illinois University. I lasted one year before deciding that soccer might be a better sport for me. Although my competitive cross country career was short, I’ve never stopped running.

Today, I rose early and hit the pavement for various runs around the campus and streets of Kalamazoo. I do this seven days a week and have only missed during times that I have been injured or recovering from surgery. Many people have asked me why I run. Among my reasons are the health benefits of daily exercise. I think personal responsibility for one’s health is important and part of the motivation for keeping me on the run. But staying healthy is not the only reason.

In the early years, I would run with other people and train for marathons. I enjoy the company of others and the opportunity to talk about a lot of issues, particularly on long runs of 20 miles or so. Now, I enjoy running most of all because of the emotional and physiological benefit. There is a “high” that comes from running. Being outside, even when the temperature is cold is refreshing–and yes, exhilarating. Many have suggested that running might be addictive. I think it is, but it’s a positive addiction.

My early morning runs provide “thought time” to plan for the day and to work through issues that might be challenging. While running, I have been known to rehearse an upcoming meeting by talking out loud. That occasionally leads to a scary encounter for a newspaper delivery person in the early morning hours. From time to time, I may also encounter and run with a student, who has as well found an early morning run fun and refreshing.

If you’re out and about early in the morning and you see a runner, it might be me! Be assured that my pace today may qualify more as a jog and is nowhere close to that of my earlier years. But I continue to put one foot in front of the other.

John M. Dunn, Ph.D., is the president of Western Michigan University.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=8866

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Sep 30 2009. Filed under Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com