BILLINGS — A 72-year-old Billings man successfully completed his nearly two-year-long endeavor to run every street in Billings, concluding at 54th and Grand on Saturday morning.
Vince Long, a man with a variety of hobbies, took up running at the age of 48 while pursuing his master’s degree at Montana State University Billings. A friend who was a cross-country coach motivated him to try running as a way to stay fit. Long found it to be a simple and enjoyable activity and soon got hooked on it.
Long’s running journey spanned over 17-and-a-half years, during which he participated in races and marathons. He also became the vice-president of the Yellowstone Rim Runners club after retiring as a teacher from Senior High School. However, he felt the need for a new challenge.
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The idea to run every street in Billings originated from Long’s son, who told him about a runner who had accomplished a similar feat in Pittsburgh. Long found the challenge intriguing and decided to embark on this unique journey in his own hometown.
With the support of his running partner Shelley Phelps, Long began his quest in January of 2023. They meticulously planned their routes on paper maps and documented their progress on Long’s blog, myrunbillingsproject.blogspot.com. Along the way, they encountered interesting sights, including unique yard art and historic landmarks.
