okay so at the beginning I’m sorry the end of 2015 I decided to train for the
end of 2015 I decided to train for the
end of 2015 I decided to train for the upcoming Springs Buffalo marathon but as
upcoming Springs Buffalo marathon but as
upcoming Springs Buffalo marathon but as May as you may know running to be really
May as you may know running to be really
May as you may know running to be really dull and I was looking for a challenge
dull and I was looking for a challenge
dull and I was looking for a challenge it’s hard to run in the winter so I
it’s hard to run in the winter so I
it’s hard to run in the winter so I needed some way to keep myself motivated
needed some way to keep myself motivated
needed some way to keep myself motivated and when I came up with was the idea of
and when I came up with was the idea of
and when I came up with was the idea of running the full length of all seven or
running the full length of all seven or
running the full length of all seven or mile streets in the City of Buffalo and
mile streets in the City of Buffalo and
mile streets in the City of Buffalo and to make it more interesting actually I
to make it more interesting actually I
to make it more interesting actually I decided that I would do I would run
decided that I would do I would run
decided that I would do I would run everything but the Buffalo marathon
everything but the Buffalo marathon
everything but the Buffalo marathon course so the day of the marathon not
course so the day of the marathon not
course so the day of the marathon not only would I when I cross the finish
only would I when I cross the finish
only would I when I cross the finish line not only would I finished the
line not only would I finished the
line not only would I finished the marathon but actually finish the whole
marathon but actually finish the whole
marathon but actually finish the whole challenge at the same time and so I
challenge at the same time and so I
challenge at the same time and so I tracked everything using a GPS watch and
tracked everything using a GPS watch and
tracked everything using a GPS watch and the heat map feature that is commonly
the heat map feature that is commonly
the heat map feature that is commonly found in most running apps today I was
found in most running apps today I was
found in most running apps today I was able to easily see you know what streets
able to easily see you know what streets
able to easily see you know what streets have done and you know what streets I
have done and you know what streets I
have done and you know what streets I still had to do and so as you can see
still had to do and so as you can see
still had to do and so as you can see this is my completed Buffalo heat map
this is my completed Buffalo heat map
this is my completed Buffalo heat map for running everything a lot of times
for running everything a lot of times
for running everything a lot of times you’re basically basically all the blue
you’re basically basically all the blue
you’re basically basically all the blue lines indicate where I have ran and
lines indicate where I have ran and
lines indicate where I have ran and therefore indicated Street and basically
therefore indicated Street and basically
therefore indicated Street and basically there’s a lot of runs we’re basically
there’s a lot of runs we’re basically
there’s a lot of runs we’re basically going up and down and up and down kind
going up and down and up and down kind
going up and down and up and down kind of like what pac-man would do I felt
of like what pac-man would do I felt
of like what pac-man would do I felt like you and pac-man at times so
like you and pac-man at times so
like you and pac-man at times so basically it all began on January 1st so
basically it all began on January 1st so
basically it all began on January 1st so snowy it was cold it was chilly it was
snowy it was cold it was chilly it was
snowy it was cold it was chilly it was slippery too and basically I kind of
slippery too and basically I kind of
slippery too and basically I kind of looked like this I went out looking like
looked like this I went out looking like
looked like this I went out looking like this and I bought two miles in I
this and I bought two miles in I
this and I bought two miles in I encounter basically would be the
encounter basically would be the
encounter basically would be the creative driving force and main
creative driving force and main
creative driving force and main motivation of this challenge and if you
motivation of this challenge and if you
motivation of this challenge and if you knew if you know me then you know it’s
knew if you know me then you know it’s
knew if you know me then you know it’s photos and photos like this I find
photos and photos like this I find
photos and photos like this I find inspiration in the sunlight the snow the
inspiration in the sunlight the snow the
inspiration in the sunlight the snow the reflection off the ground off the
reflection off the ground off the
reflection off the ground off the pavement the wet pavement and this
pavement the wet pavement and this
pavement the wet pavement and this random tree branch that decided they
random tree branch that decided they
random tree branch that decided they wanted to grow from one side of the
wanted to grow from one side of the
wanted to grow from one side of the street to the other
street to the other
street to the other I don’t know maybe I have a weird sense
I don’t know maybe I have a weird sense
I don’t know maybe I have a weird sense of humor but that’s what’s intriguing
of humor but that’s what’s intriguing
of humor but that’s what’s intriguing and it was I was interested to see what
and it was I was interested to see what
and it was I was interested to see what else am I gonna see in the next you know
else am I gonna see in the next you know
else am I gonna see in the next you know five months because I had to get a good
five months because I had to get a good
five months because I had to get a good quick start it was five months long and
quick start it was five months long and
quick start it was five months long and I didn’t know how many miles the extra
I didn’t know how many miles the extra
I didn’t know how many miles the extra the dead-end streets the duplication and
the dead-end streets the duplication and
the dead-end streets the duplication and how do you what’s the inefficiency of
how do you what’s the inefficiency of
how do you what’s the inefficiency of this plan it’s really inefficient so
this plan it’s really inefficient so
this plan it’s really inefficient so photos became my motivation because as
photos became my motivation because as
photos became my motivation because as you know you’re running in a snowstorm
you know you’re running in a snowstorm
you know you’re running in a snowstorm is nap on neither is running in cold
is nap on neither is running in cold
is nap on neither is running in cold temps or blustery winds and so buffalo
temps or blustery winds and so buffalo
temps or blustery winds and so buffalo is known for its its architecture right
is known for its its architecture right
is known for its its architecture right well what really interested me was
well what really interested me was
well what really interested me was people’s personalities coming out in
people’s personalities coming out in
people’s personalities coming out in their homes it didn’t matter if it was
their homes it didn’t matter if it was
their homes it didn’t matter if it was good bad ugly or pretty I was really
good bad ugly or pretty I was really
good bad ugly or pretty I was really drawn to homes that were
drawn to homes that were
drawn to homes that were underappreciated hardly noticed the
underappreciated hardly noticed the
underappreciated hardly noticed the mainly mostly forgotten this house is
mainly mostly forgotten this house is
mainly mostly forgotten this house is actually gone now but each run showed me
actually gone now but each run showed me
actually gone now but each run showed me that there was something out there in
that there was something out there in
that there was something out there in fact each street had something that was
fact each street had something that was
fact each street had something that was inspiring and one of the most
inspiring and one of the most
inspiring and one of the most interesting things was actually like
interesting things was actually like
interesting things was actually like buffalos love of cars especially like in
buffalos love of cars especially like in
buffalos love of cars especially like in them in the widow in the middle of
them in the widow in the middle of
them in the widow in the middle of winter I was pretty surprised to see
winter I was pretty surprised to see
winter I was pretty surprised to see that like this mean muscle car or you
that like this mean muscle car or you
that like this mean muscle car or you know classic trucks or even like this
know classic trucks or even like this
know classic trucks or even like this foreign sports car that is now is this
foreign sports car that is now is this
foreign sports car that is now is this is just a parts car according to the guy
is just a parts car according to the guy
is just a parts car according to the guy that works at the restaurant there and
that works at the restaurant there and
that works at the restaurant there and there was even like one poor guy whose
there was even like one poor guy whose
there was even like one poor guy whose car had met a very fiery demise so with
car had met a very fiery demise so with
car had met a very fiery demise so with running or with exploring and photos
running or with exploring and photos
running or with exploring and photos became my motivation what the comedic
became my motivation what the comedic
became my motivation what the comedic relief was provided by all the weirdness
relief was provided by all the weirdness
relief was provided by all the weirdness out there and no doubt the weirdest
out there and no doubt the weirdest
out there and no doubt the weirdest thing I saw was this stuff
tell me is designed kind of scare people
tell me is designed kind of scare people off right
off right
off right ward off possible intruders kind of
ward off possible intruders kind of
ward off possible intruders kind of weird right but you know this isn’t just
weird right but you know this isn’t just
weird right but you know this isn’t just a one-off instance like this ones in the
a one-off instance like this ones in the
a one-off instance like this ones in the first ward this one’s in South Buffalo
first ward this one’s in South Buffalo
first ward this one’s in South Buffalo and up until recently I found that
and up until recently I found that
and up until recently I found that there’s actually a few more and there’s
there’s actually a few more and there’s
there’s actually a few more and there’s actually two in Parkside so this is not
actually two in Parkside so this is not
actually two in Parkside so this is not just limited to to this area to one one
just limited to to this area to one one
just limited to to this area to one one incident so what I tell people about
incident so what I tell people about
incident so what I tell people about what I was doing the first question
what I was doing the first question
what I was doing the first question people always ask is aren’t you afraid
people always ask is aren’t you afraid
people always ask is aren’t you afraid to run in some of these neighborhoods
to run in some of these neighborhoods
to run in some of these neighborhoods and I was like whoa okay yeah fear is
and I was like whoa okay yeah fear is
and I was like whoa okay yeah fear is contagious fear I was no doubt fearful
contagious fear I was no doubt fearful
contagious fear I was no doubt fearful of what you see on TV and in the news
of what you see on TV and in the news
of what you see on TV and in the news and in the movies so I came up with
and in the movies so I came up with
and in the movies so I came up with these guidelines and these guidelines
these guidelines and these guidelines
these guidelines and these guidelines were designed they’re basically run
were designed they’re basically run
were designed they’re basically run early in the morning and in the coldest
early in the morning and in the coldest
early in the morning and in the coldest weather anybody up at that time probably
weather anybody up at that time probably
weather anybody up at that time probably wouldn’t have a problem with me or
wouldn’t have a problem with me or
wouldn’t have a problem with me or they’re just trying to stay warm
they’re just trying to stay warm
they’re just trying to stay warm themselves
themselves
themselves the thing is though you do this you’re
the thing is though you do this you’re
the thing is though you do this you’re still gonna encounter people and no
still gonna encounter people and no
still gonna encounter people and no matter what you you you’re always going
matter what you you you’re always going
matter what you you you’re always going to see people so what do you do you have
to see people so what do you do you have
to see people so what do you do you have two options first you could be you could
two options first you could be you could
two options first you could be you could run put a wall up don’t talk to anyone
run put a wall up don’t talk to anyone
run put a wall up don’t talk to anyone just head down and go but that sort of
just head down and go but that sort of
just head down and go but that sort of misses the point why I’m out there I’m
misses the point why I’m out there I’m
misses the point why I’m out there I’m exploring right so that’s the negative
exploring right so that’s the negative
exploring right so that’s the negative way to pause away is to smile to wave
way to pause away is to smile to wave
way to pause away is to smile to wave and say hello and that’s what I chose
and say hello and that’s what I chose
and say hello and that’s what I chose and I did this regardless of
and I did this regardless of
and I did this regardless of neighborhood you know race gender
neighborhood you know race gender
neighborhood you know race gender whatever age didn’t matter I did this
whatever age didn’t matter I did this
whatever age didn’t matter I did this for everyone and what I discovered was
for everyone and what I discovered was
for everyone and what I discovered was that 99% of people mirrored the exact
that 99% of people mirrored the exact
that 99% of people mirrored the exact same friendliness that I got so it was
same friendliness that I got so it was
same friendliness that I got so it was kind of powerful in a sense like this
kind of powerful in a sense like this
kind of powerful in a sense like this new positivity was really disarming what
new positivity was really disarming what
new positivity was really disarming what was originally like a fear of encounters
was originally like a fear of encounters
was originally like a fear of encounters actually realized became a chance to
actually realized became a chance to
actually realized became a chance to communicate with people that I didn’t
communicate with people that I didn’t
communicate with people that I didn’t know didn’t live near and actually I
know didn’t live near and actually I
know didn’t live near and actually I really don’t have too many opportunity
really don’t have too many opportunity
really don’t have too many opportunity to them you know these people could be
to them you know these people could be
to them you know these people could be like you know walking to the grocery
like you know walking to the grocery
like you know walking to the grocery store and they actually sing me a song
store and they actually sing me a song
store and they actually sing me a song they could be leaning out the
they could be leaning out the
they could be leaning out the second-floor window of their house they
second-floor window of their house they
second-floor window of their house they could be young entrepreneurs and they’re
could be young entrepreneurs and they’re
could be young entrepreneurs and they’re actually I’m second-floor roof of a
actually I’m second-floor roof of a
actually I’m second-floor roof of a building that they’re trying to buy
building that they’re trying to buy
building that they’re trying to buy maybe they’re a guy that saw me on the
maybe they’re a guy that saw me on the
maybe they’re a guy that saw me on the news when the local news station did a
news when the local news station did a
news when the local news station did a story about me
story about me
story about me this person recognized me running and
this person recognized me running and
this person recognized me running and stopped his car to talk to me for 10
stopped his car to talk to me for 10
stopped his car to talk to me for 10 minutes even though he was still in the
minutes even though he was still in the
minutes even though he was still in the middle street cars just drove around him
middle street cars just drove around him
middle street cars just drove around him he didn’t care he told me where he grew
he didn’t care he told me where he grew
he didn’t care he told me where he grew up and where he lived now that was
up and where he lived now that was
up and where he lived now that was amazing
amazing
amazing they’re two questions they always ask is
they’re two questions they always ask is
they’re two questions they always ask is aren’t you cold I mean being a Bronner I
aren’t you cold I mean being a Bronner I
aren’t you cold I mean being a Bronner I must look like I was so underdressed
must look like I was so underdressed
must look like I was so underdressed but I wasn’t and the other question is
but I wasn’t and the other question is
but I wasn’t and the other question is what are you doing running in this
what are you doing running in this
what are you doing running in this neighborhood a lot of these
neighborhood a lot of these
neighborhood a lot of these neighborhoods don’t have people running
neighborhoods don’t have people running
neighborhoods don’t have people running and my friendliness allowed them to ask
and my friendliness allowed them to ask
and my friendliness allowed them to ask me these questions and we were able to
me these questions and we were able to
me these questions and we were able to bond that way so remember the guidelines
bond that way so remember the guidelines
bond that way so remember the guidelines I was talking about how I Braun in the
I was talking about how I Braun in the
I was talking about how I Braun in the early mornings and in the coldest
early mornings and in the coldest
early mornings and in the coldest weather well in early May I decided I
weather well in early May I decided I
weather well in early May I decided I had to totally throw those guidelines
had to totally throw those guidelines
had to totally throw those guidelines out the window I ran in the late
out the window I ran in the late
out the window I ran in the late afternoon and basically the warmest
afternoon and basically the warmest
afternoon and basically the warmest first warm day of the year in a
first warm day of the year in a
first warm day of the year in a neighborhood that you know a lot of
neighborhood that you know a lot of
neighborhood that you know a lot of people be nervous about and what I
people be nervous about and what I
people be nervous about and what I experienced was the realization that my
experienced was the realization that my
experienced was the realization that my guidelines are probably wrong and I
guidelines are probably wrong and I
guidelines are probably wrong and I missed out of the opportunities because
missed out of the opportunities because
missed out of the opportunities because of talking to all these people because I
of talking to all these people because I
of talking to all these people because I had the single best run on my whole the
had the single best run on my whole the
had the single best run on my whole the whole time I ran and it was and this
whole time I ran and it was and this
whole time I ran and it was and this what happened was I realized this
what happened was I realized this
what happened was I realized this neighborhood was no different than the
neighborhood was no different than the
neighborhood was no different than the neighborhood I lived in that I grew up
neighborhood I lived in that I grew up
neighborhood I lived in that I grew up in and the neighborhoods that you
in and the neighborhoods that you
in and the neighborhoods that you probably all live in you know the
probably all live in you know the
probably all live in you know the everyone wants the same thing we all
everyone wants the same thing we all
everyone wants the same thing we all want to be able to you know live our
want to be able to you know live our
want to be able to you know live our lives not be bothered gonna be a base
lives not be bothered gonna be a base
lives not be bothered gonna be a base our kids go to work and just have have
our kids go to work and just have have
our kids go to work and just have have fun and this was no different and so
fun and this was no different and so
fun and this was no different and so that was pretty pretty surprising to see
that was pretty pretty surprising to see
that was pretty pretty surprising to see so now I want you to think about this
so now I want you to think about this
so now I want you to think about this think about your personal heat map right
think about your personal heat map right
think about your personal heat map right you saw my image earlier what is your
you saw my image earlier what is your
you saw my image earlier what is your personal heat map look like you know
personal heat map look like you know
personal heat map look like you know where did you go today where did you go
where did you go today where did you go
where did you go today where did you go in the last week
in the last week
in the last week maybe the last month or what about all
maybe the last month or what about all
maybe the last month or what about all of this year did you travel new routes
of this year did you travel new routes
of this year did you travel new routes did you see new things did you go new
did you see new things did you go new
did you see new things did you go new places does your map fill in like this
places does your map fill in like this
places does your map fill in like this this is all my runs compiled right so I
this is all my runs compiled right so I
this is all my runs compiled right so I want you to think what does do you stop
want you to think what does do you stop
want you to think what does do you stop seeing things because you drive the same
seeing things because you drive the same
seeing things because you drive the same way to work it’s just kind of or maybe
way to work it’s just kind of or maybe
way to work it’s just kind of or maybe to school you just kind of block out and
to school you just kind of block out and
to school you just kind of block out and you don’t really take anything because
you don’t really take anything because
you don’t really take anything because you know the easiest simplest way you
you know the easiest simplest way you
you know the easiest simplest way you just blank out my might take away my
just blank out my might take away my
just blank out my might take away my challenge to you is to fill in your
challenge to you is to fill in your
challenge to you is to fill in your personal heat map go a new route take a
personal heat map go a new route take a
personal heat map go a new route take a new way search out something new go to
new way search out something new go to
new way search out something new go to that Street that’s a mile away from you
that Street that’s a mile away from you
that Street that’s a mile away from you that you’ve never been down and when you
that you’ve never been down and when you
that you’ve never been down and when you do do with a smile a wave and make sure
do do with a smile a wave and make sure
do do with a smile a wave and make sure you say hello thank you
you say hello thank you
you say hello thank you [Applause]
”
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