Marv Bradley hasn’t had a cigarette in 18 years.

But ever since he kicked the habit, he has gained a new addiction: running.

Once Bradley, 68, decided to put down the lighter and pick up the running shoes, he’s been hooked, smitten, a lost cause, so to speak. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I quit smoking in 1989 and started walking shorty thereafter,” he said. “And then I started running; and running turned into racing, from 5ks and 10ks to marathons.”

Bradley entered his first marathon in June of 1992. Since that time, he has participated in 144 marathons.

How does he find the time to run so often? It’s been easier to do since he retired in 2000 from Fremont National Bank.

“Since I’ve retired, I’ve done quite a few,” he said, “probably more than I should.”

When pressed to say which marathon holds the highest esteem in his mind, Bradley said he can’t seem to pick just one.

“I enjoy something about almost every one (I’ve ran),” he said. “I’ve done Boston (the Boston Marathon) three times.”

Well, actually there is a particular run that Bradley remembers above the others.

“If I had to select one marathon that I really like it would be the Marine Corps Marathon,” he said. “The Marines are involved and there is a lot of support around the course; you’re running on Constitutional Avenue, you’re running by all the monuments and along the Potomac River. It’s a very nice run.”

On top of being quite the scenic trip, the marine marathon can also be a highly poignant affair; particularly when Bradley first ran the race.

“I (first) did it after 9/11,” he said. “The run is toward the end of October, and it was a very emotional time.”

Bradley said that one of the greatest motivators in any marathon is an enthusiastic audience.

“In Boston, you have people from probably mile six until the finish,” he said. “For 20 miles, there are people lined up cheering you on; and the miles go by pretty fast then.”

His love for the sport has taken him all over the nation. And he had a unique ambition when he started out.

“One of my goals after a few years of running was to run a marathon in every state,” he said. “And I’ve done that twice now.”

Though he has returned to a select few marathons over the years, he is not interested in repeating himself too often.

“I thought in the back of my mind that I don’t want duplicate the runs,” he said. “I want to go to different places, different runs. I don’t want to go back to the same old places I’ve been before.”

Bradley’s next big race will be the Leadville 100 on Aug. 18-19, a trail super-marathon that begins in Leadville, travels 50 miles to Winfield and then back to the starting point.

“The Leadville 100 is a very well-respected and popular ultra-marathon,” he said. “It’s known throughout the country by anyone who runs long distance.”

Runners are given 30 hours to finish the race. Bradley said this is no simple stroll through the park.

More at canoncitydailyrecord.com

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