Local man completes quest to run all of Muncie’s streets

Here’s a question for the running enthusiasts out there – could you run an entire city?  As IPR’s Daniel Huber reports, one man is running Muncie – all of Muncie – and says he’s fueled by the love of his family and faith.

Not a lot goes on at 5:30 in the morning in Muncie. Along dimly lit signs, you will see a few commuters and people pulling up at a gas station.  But you might also see a man in a glowing vest.

“I will admit some parts of running Muncie is like a trail run.”

Justin Sorensen is on one simple quest: to run all the streets of Muncie. What might running an entire city entail?

There are dead ends… “Turn around. Take a u-turn.”  Twists and turns… “Turn right here.” And oncoming traffic, but those are to be expected.

But why does he run so early in the morning? “That’s all I got time for.”

Professionally, Sorenson runs the Allstate Insurance branch in the city.  The photos on the wall of his office immediately tell you what he values in life: his family and his faith.

The Sorensen family goes to church locally on Sunday, and, as his wife, Angela, says the family continues to support one another.

“I think it’s great! I mean, it brings him a lot of joy and happiness to run and push himself and try and do hard things. And so why would I not want him to become a better person?”

Faith is important to Sorenson.  He previously ran all of Yorktown’s streets.  And whether it’s one location or the other, Sorenson says he often finds himself praying while running.

“I won’t say all the time, but anytime something is on my mind, this is the place to clear it, and talk with him.”

When he is done with a run, he logs his miles and goes on with the rest of his day.  After months of work, Sorensen finished his goal of running Muncie on Saturday.

Daniel Huber is a news fellow with Ball State Public Media’s Public Media Accelerator student fellowships.