CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Jim Thomas feels more comfortable on roller skates than off. For six years, he dreamed a true devotee's dream -- to skate 25,000 miles.
Semi-retired now at 73, Thomas pursued this goal while volunteering at Derrick's Roll Arena. "I don't consider it work," he says of duties as floor monitor. "I enjoy the skating, the people and kids here so much."Last Dec. 17, when Thomas hit the milestone, more than three dozen buddies -- ages 30 to 60 -- were there to cheer. They even offered a victory salute, lining up for a triumphant skate-dance. "I saved the last two miles for the gang," he recalls. They skate on Thursday nights when, he notes, "the DJ plays oldies music."
In 1997, Thomas watched one man attempt to circle the Earth in a hot-air balloon, a journey of 24,902 miles. Since he already spent at least five days a week on skates, Thomas knew he was on to something. After all, he had already logged 17,000 skate-miles.
"I could go the distance," Thomas says. No problem. "I feel wonderful when I can skate and skate and skate. It energizes me."
So he set a similar goal -- in his heart. He didn't know if it would break any world records. He didn't know how long it would take.
And he didn't care. "I'm going to stay on skates as long as I can," he says. "As long as I can walk, I will skate."
Thomas started keeping track in 1992 when a passer-by watched him skate in the morning and again at night on an outdoor track. Her question was inevitable: How many miles was he averaging? He had no answer.
So he dons an odometer, now fastened with Velcro to the top of his left skate. "I wore out two," he says. "They only go up to 9,999."
He also keeps a paper log, meticulously charting up to 60 miles a day. "I had to settle down from my wild days," he admits. "I always get tired at about 35 or 40 miles."
Thomas opts for roller skates rather than newer in-line models. But he doesn't just skate. He struts. "I'm addicted," he says, zipping around the rink. "I just love to dance, anywhere, anytime -- on skates."
So he mulls over the next 25,000 miles, estimating a dozen years.
"I could do it sooner," he insists, "but I promised myself I would relax some."