Paul Driskill Keeps Going, and Going, and Going...

Even the most dedicated runners might find it hard to comprehend, but Paul Driskill (70), didn’t miss his daily run for nearly 35 consecutive years. He logged between 13 and 16 miles every day. A quick calculator check reveals he ran approximately 4,745 to 5,840 miles per year for a total mileage of at least 166,075, and upwards to 204,400 miles over those 35 years.

On September 22, 2007, in the pre-dawn hours between 5 and 5:30 a.m., his daily run nearly killed him.

It was on that day, by the Rosebud Cemetery in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, that passerby Steve Vanderleest found Paul Driskill lying on the side of the road...wearing his trademark Colorado running shorts, with one shoe missing and a pool of blood forming under his head.

An anonymous driver had run over Paul, who was on a planned 16 mile run, and left him for dead.

Steve called 911 and help soon arrived. Paul was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. According to news reports, he lost his pulse twice, and had to be resuscitated. He suffered massive trauma including bleeding in his brain, a broken neck, broken ribs and a broken sternum. He injured his spine, had a gash through his jugular vein, cuts all over his face and “unbelievable” road rash. Early doctor reports also indicated he had no brain activity...at all.

For more than 30 years, Paul was a teacher at the Glenwood Springs Elementary School. Fellow teacher and runner, Mike Vidakovich can recall seeing Paul in the 1970s going out for runs in his white collared shirt, black slacks and dress shoes during lunch breaks, and again after school.

Paul’s dedication inspired Mike to hand out the “Paul Driskill Courage and Commitment Award,” named in honor of Paul, at the Sequoia Glen 5K race that he organizes.

Another fellow teacher and runner, Bob Willey, refers to Paul as the “Energizer Bunny of the racing world. He keeps going and going and going...”

Word spread like wildfire through the mountain town of Glenwood Springs about the horrible hit-and-run accident involving Paul. Family members from around the country flew in to be by his side.

The community rallied together with well wishes and tried to come to grips with the thought of some random person out there who would do such a horrible thing as to leave a runner for dead at the side of the road.

Mike Schneiter and the local cross country team organized a benefit 5K race for Paul, and hundreds in the community came out to show their support. Many non-runners simply donated their entry in an effort to help cover Paul’s medical expenses. All race proceeds went to help Paul.

When Paul woke up in the intensive care unit at the hospital, and brain activity started to resume in his head, no one was really surprised to learn that among his first words were, “Did I make my 16 miles?”

Exactly two months after the accident, Paul amazed his doctors and everyone else when he entered and completed the Turkey Day 5K in Glenwood Springs. This past April 26th, I saw Paul race the Titan Trot 5K in Silt, CO, and win his age group. On May 11th, I saw him racing again at the Mothers Day Mile in Glenwood. He took second in his age group behind the speedy Richard Sutton, but it was Paul who received the standing ovation for his effort.

Though Paul still cannot run his usual 16 milers, he’s already worked his way up to an occasionally amazing - eight miles! “It’s just always what I’ve done,” he says.

(The identity of the hit-and-run driver is still unknown.)