Celebrating with one mile per year

For her 60th birthday, Karen Jones did something perhaps a little different from the average.

For the 30th year in a row, Jones biked as many miles as she is years old. In this year’s case, she actually got a head start on her next birthday.

“I actually biked 61 miles this year,” she said. “I started out heading toward Woody’s and Lake Blaine, but I’ve had to add more loops over the years.”

Jones lives near Swan Lake and has made the trek north for decades but recently decided to stay slightly closer to home. It’s a change her daughter, Jessie Blanc, is happy about.

“I’m glad she’s not out on the highway biking now,” Blanc said. “My mom is crazy, always running and biking. I get tattoos and piercings. I hurt myself in other ways.”

Jones is actually more of a runner than a cyclist, having finished two marathons since she turned 50.

“I like to do things that are life-affirming,” she said. “I’ve always been excited about exercise and fitness. I’m not sure what spurred me to do the ride in the first place. Maybe it was turning 30.”

Jones rewarded her birthday ride (which just has to happen some time within a month of the birthday because of temperamental weather in September) with pizza and beer, a fitting end to five hours of riding.

“I start training in spring, doing 20-milers twice a week,” Jones said. “Eventually I get up to 40 miles. If I can do that, 60 miles isn’t that much further. If you’re going to do something like this, you have to train for it.”

Blanc said her mother’s determination has been something inspiring her since she was a little girl.

“All my life when I’ve been faced with things that seemed tough or I didn’t want to do, mom always gave me advice,” Blanc said. “You do something for three weeks and it becomes a habit. I don’t remember a time when she didn’t do this ride. She’s been such an incredible symbol of strength.”

Jones agreed that small steps can lead to big changes.

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” she said. “I stayed within 10 miles of my house and just kept counting the laps until I had completed the entire ride.”

Jones said her father was one of her biggest supporters of the ride.

“My dad was really proud of me for doing this,” she said. “He’s passed now, but he told me that when I turn 50, take a mile off the ride each year. I thought about it, but here I am looking at 61. I plan to keep going.”

Lest readers think Jones is a hyped-up superwoman, she said that her goal is an accessible one.

“Anybody can do what I do,” she said. “I don’t spend all of my money on equipment or clothing. I was using a mountain bike for the first half of these rides. I use no toe clips, no expensive clothing. Simple is best.”

For that reason, running remains Jones’ main passion. She runs at least six miles five days a week. She believes anyone could have a goal like hers.

“Everyone’s life could be a novel,” Jones said. “A ride like this could be a thread that stabilizes everything else in your life.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.