Doug Seamans gives a thumbs-up on the beach at Point Gratiot in Dunkirk after completing his 1,000-mile personal outdoor-only walking challenge earlier this month. Submitted photo

On March 17, 2020, I took the first step outside at the Chautauqua Mall that ultimately ended on the sandy beach at Point Gratiot in Dunkirk on Saturday July 11, 2020.

COVID-19 had hit and life as we had known it was about to change for everyone. As a result of the pandemic, I had to leave Anytime Fitness and all my lifting friends, including Erica and Dave, the owners. At age 71 (72 on Sept. 24)), I have been working out pumping iron for more than 50 years. The question on my mind, and that of others in the same predicament, became clear. What do I do now?

My wife, Sue, provided me with the answer that set me on my odyssey. She suggested I go up to the barren, and mostly silent, and closed Chautauqua Mall and start walking around it. I liked the idea. There was only one problem. What if I had to use the men’s room? My savior was 5GUYS, which had a front-door entrance, not going into the mall. Soon, I became a regular visitor and put a dollar bill in the tip jar every time I had to use their facilities. Needless to say, I put many dollars into that jar! I became good friends with the co-managers, Claudia and Valerie, and the rest of their friendly staff.

And so, began my 1,000-mile personal outdoor-only walking challenge. My only companions to begin with were the seagulls and Jason, a maintenance man whom I saw everyday outside for the next four months. Soon we became fast friends as I would tell him how many miles I was up to each day. At first, I set my goal at 100 miles, but after finishing that distance, I decided to up the ante to 500 miles. The days went by and the weather worsened with a freak blizzard in April and many rainy and stormy days, and finally summer heat. But I was prepared. Being a part-time employee at Olympia Sports in Lakewood for the last five years, I had accumulated quite the collection of shoes, socks, compression shirts and pants, as well as a plethora of jackets and hats for every season. Nothing was going to stop me.

Each day my wife packed my Under Armour cooler with water, energy drink and snacks. At the 500-mile mark, the COVID-19 shutdown meant no work at Olympia Sports so I kept going. One of my favorite all-time movies is Forrest Gump. I decided to keep on moving until I had reached my 1,000-mile goal. With my iPod, loaded with classic rock and heavy metal by my good friend Robb Jones of WRFA 3rd Street Garage Fame, my journey became a lot more adrenaline-fused and positive.

See JOURNEY, Page B2

From Page B1

To me COVID-19 was the thing chipping away at my brain and I wasn’t going to allow it to defeat me. I interpreted it as the opportunity life (God) presented me to deal with this virus infection that harms the mind as much as it does the body. I survived cancer and getting drafted during the Vietnam War. I wasn’t going to quit now. I even started wearing a T-shirt with a quote from Winston Churchill that has pretty much defined who I am and what has helped me when facing tough times in life — “Never Give In, Never Give Up.”

As the weather started getting warmer, tank tops, shorts, and baseball caps replaced down jackets, fleece lined pants, and knit caps. For the last 300 miles I walked at Point Gratiot around the park and on the sandy beach. On July 11, I reached my goal. I never missed a day in all that time.

I want to personally thank the people (you know who you are) who encouraged me to keep going and not to give up. I had my wife Sue. Maybe I’ll keep going until I walk another 2,000 miles to say I had walked across our country. Anything is possible if you have the “fire” inside.

If my minor life accomplishment motivates, inspires or may bring a brief smile to your face in this dark and depressing plague that has become part of our lives, I feel that what I accomplished was not in vain. Thanks for allowing me to share my story with you. Just remember this Latin phrase if ever life gives YOU that opportunity to see what you are capable of: CARPE DIEM (Seize the Day).

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Doug Seamans and his wife, Sue, have been married for 49 years. A SUNY Fredonia graduate, Doug was an English teacher at Randolph Central School for 38 years and was the Cardinals’ wrestling coach from 1973-1988. Prior to teaching, he served in the U.S. Army from 1970-72. One final note: After walking each day, Doug did 500 situps, with a few thousand curls and pushups for “dessert.”