Sophia Kunthara

The Republic | azcentral.com

While many people struggle to find motivation to exercise regularly, one Valley man has committed to running at least a mile a day, rain or shine, for nearly 25 years.

Hal Gensler, 68, celebrated his 9,000th consecutive day of running by running 90 laps, or more than 40 miles, on Friday at Mescal Park in Scottsdale despite the triple-digit temperatures.

Gensler wore purple running shorts and a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network T-shirt in honor of his wife, Janet, who died from the disease in 2011. He alternated between jogging and power walking around the park, mostly to accommodate the panting reporter struggling to keep up with him.

Gensler ran track in high school and in college at University of Minnesota and University of Miami, but then he stopped running regularly for more than 20 years - he couldn't find room in his schedule to make it a daily habit, he said.

It wasn't until his early 40s that the running bug bit again and hung on.

The Minnesota native has braved all sorts of weather conditions to complete his daily outdoor run, including negative-65 degree wind chill and extreme heat. Thursday's temperature peaked at 116 degrees, a record for the daily high.

Gensler moved to the Valley in 2003 and said the heat no longer bothers him. He usually does not bring water on his runs or wear sunscreen, but Friday was an exception, as he was planning on running around the park for around 10 hours to complete the 90 laps. Gensler also wore a hat for his run and brought a cooler stocked with refreshments.

"I tell myself 'I really have to do it'," Gensler said of days when he feels less motivated. "If I set a goal, I accomplish it no matter how long it takes."

He never times his runs and only estimates his pace and distance. Gensler said that, 20 years ago, he probably ran a mile in a little over 5 minutes. He guessed he could probably run a mile now in under 8 minutes.

He's sustained injuries throughout the years - hurt knee, ribs and feet - but always powers through them. He never walks the mile but runs it no matter how long it may take and plans on continuing as long as he is physically able.

Gensler also runs in marathons around the Valley and has participated in the PurpleStride Awareness Walks for pancreatic cancer in the three years since his wife died. His wife was also active in the Minnesota and Arizona running communities, having run 56 marathons, along with other races and trail runs across the country and editing "Running Arizona" for the Arizona Road Racers, according to an Arizona Republic obituary.

For people who are less motivated and dedicated to regular exercise and healthy living, Gensler said any feat begins with small steps, and those small steps don't necessarily have to be running.

"You don't have to run, but get out and get exercise," Gensler said. "Start small."