Six Years, 2,212 Days, and One Great Community

On March 10, 2026, I quietly reached another milestone in a journey that began without any real plan at all: six full years of consecutive days of outdoor exercise.

My 2,212th day happened in one of my favorite ways — riding with friends on our weekly Espresso Express ride through Greenway Gear Collective. There was coffee, conversation, and the familiar rhythm of wheels rolling on pavement. It felt like the perfect way to mark the occasion.

When I first stepped outside on March 10, 2020, just days after the pandemic began reshaping daily life, I simply needed an escape. Like many people, I was looking for a way to clear my head and create some structure during a strange and uncertain time. One walk turned into another. Then a bike ride. Then a paddle. Before long, a pattern began to form.

Over time the streak grew through rain, summer heat, cold mornings, injuries, surgeries, travel, and the many unexpected turns life has thrown my way. Some days have been big adventures — paddling through Scottish lochs, mountain biking, orienteering in the woods, or hiking the Mountains‑to‑Sea Trail. Other days have been simple loops around the building during conference calls or short walks during recovery from illness or surgery.

The lesson has never been about intensity. It's about consistency. Some days you go far. Some days you just go outside. Both count.

Along the way, the outdoors has introduced me to incredible communities of people who share the same appreciation for moving through the world under their own power. One of those communities is Greenway Gear Collective — and this year I’m especially excited to be part of it in a new way as the organization’s Executive Director.

Greenway Gear Collective exists to help people discover adventure right outside their door. Despite the name, we don’t just ride greenways. Many of our rides — including Espresso Express — weave through city streets as well as greenways, often right in and around downtown. Whether it’s learning navigation skills, joining a group ride, trying bike-packing for the first time, or simply meeting other people who enjoy being outside, our goal is to make outdoor experiences more accessible and more fun.

You may have noticed that Greenway Gear Collective recently launched a membership program. Membership helps support the rides, classes, and events we organize, and it also helps us meet the requirements of our new insurance so we can continue offering these activities safely. If you enjoy riding with us — whether on Espresso Express or another adventure — becoming a member is one of the best ways to support the community and help keep these events rolling. You can learn more about the different membership levels here. 

This spring also marks the reopening of the Lake Raleigh shipping container bike shop, now operated by Greenway Gear Collective. The container serves as both a trailside repair stop and a small educational hub where we help neighbors and greenway users with minor bike repairs, way-finding, and basic maintenance tips. To make this work, we’re looking for volunteers to help staff weekend shifts. After a short onboarding, volunteers can sign up for convenient four‑hour opening or closing shift. If you’d like to help keep riders rolling, you can sign up here.

And if you want to see what we have coming up, our event calendar is the best place to start.

Whether you're a longtime rider or someone who's just discovering the greenway system, there’s a place for you in this community.

For anyone curious about the daily streak itself, you can see my ongoing outdoor activities over on Strava.

Six years ago I stepped outside because I needed a break from the world.

Today I step outside because it’s where so much of life happens — friendships, challenges, recovery, adventure, and the simple joy of moving forward one day at a time.

See you out there.

-Debra Rezeli