B y: Chicago and San Diego Manager Chelsey Stone
Steve is a seasoned City Fit Tours guide in Washington, D.C. and shares some of his most memorable experiences below.
Steve wears his City Running Tours shirt for our Zoom call
How it all began
“I came to Washington for what was supposed to be one year, in 1971. I was a university professor at the time, and I came to work on a special problem called the Trans-Alaska Pipeline at the President's Council on Environmental Quality. One year became two years…”
And then “not quite 20 years ago, I saw a blurb in the paper saying [City Fit Tours] was coming to Washington. I had just retired as Director for Science and Technology at the RAND Corporation. When I saw this, I said, ‘Well, I'll write a note.’ I said, ‘I may not be the kind of guide you're thinking about, but I do run every day, and I know Washington really well.’ They got in touch with me and that's how it began.”
“Part of [my role] is to open [the client’s] eyes to a broader part of Washington than just the monuments downtown: that we have beautiful neighborhoods, various restaurants we appreciate and which they might enjoy, or the National Cathedral is an absolutely spectacular place that should be visited.”
Memorable clients and experiences
After so much time, it’s no surprise Steve has so many great stories from runs he’s led.
“I was supposed to lead a tour, but the weather was awful: 92 degrees with 100% humidity. So instead of going on what would have been a four or five mile run, we ran two miles to the gallery of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery and walked through the nice air conditioned galleries before jogging back to their hotel, which I think they appreciated far more than the traditional run we would have done, which—if it wouldn't have killed them—probably would have killed me.”
Another time he led a White House tour for a woman from Tasmania. They were “running along, seeing the various monuments and museums and whatnot—I worked in Washington 50 years so I know the place pretty darn well—And it became a color commentary rather than pointing out various places. She enjoyed that because it included opinions about politics of Washington and the country as a whole and how it [applies to] Australian issues. In fact, because the RAND Corporation is a think tank, I knew a fair bit about national security issues, even though my own interest was science and technology. Anyway, She didn't tire at all. The 5 mile tour became 6… 7… 8… We saw lots around town and enjoyed ourselves.”
They had such a great time that many years later, when Steve and his wife were going to Australia, he sent her an email and asked if they should check out Hobart, where she and her husband lived. “She insisted we do and that they would love to have us. We flew to Hobart, met at the airport, and came to their home on the coast of Hobart. We had a lovely time with them.”
“What I've enjoyed more recently is the group tours as part of conventions. There's been a regular group of bankers, and these same people congregate around me and want to have the same tour every year. I know them already, but they just keep coming back.”
Steve “went through several thousand photos and found a few in the 2010 period from leading tours. None have me in it, but I'll include one as illustrative of sites I've visited. The attached photo is of a guest in the lap of Albert Einstein, a statue on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences, which is near the Lincoln Memorial.”
As Steve reflected on his years as a guide, he said, “it's been a wonderful experience. I've met folks from all over the country, but in fact all over the world, including Latin America, Germany, France, and Australia.”
“I don't think I've had an unsatisfactory relationship with any clients over 20 years now. As I've gotten older and slower, I think they've had to put up with me as a runner but have enjoyed their visits. Runners enjoy the personal relationship, so I've made that a special part of the runs.”
Enjoying retirement
Steve may think he’s slowing down, but he sure doesn’t sound like it. “I do something every day. I'll walk six miles at a fast pace with a little jogging and bike usually 18 miles. Or I'll swim a mile and a half.”
“I might exercise for the equivalent of six miles, but I'll eat for the equivalent of seven.” He laughed, “but whatever, it's enjoyable in the process.” We couldn’t agree more.
