If you spend much time at Wilshire Park, you’ve likely seen Ron Bockman speed walking by. He has a unique gait, swinging his arms high to keep himself on pace. Some neighbors refer to him as “the man that walks” or “the five-mile guy.”
Ron is a Portland unicorn, born and raised in the Mt. Tabor area. He bought his current home on NE Skidmore in 1977, not knowing at the time what a big part of his life his walks in the neighborhood would become.
Ron has always been a health nut, and in his late 30s, when he wasn’t working with his dad in the family parking lot business downtown, he was usually at Loprinzi’s Gym lifting weights. Ron’s commitment to health and fitness really took off when some friends at the gym encouraged him to start running, and he quickly found his passion for the sport.
Ron completed his first marathon in Seaside in 1983. He went on to run 12 more, mostly in Oregon, with a few others, including the Avenue of Giants in the California Redwoods, the Seattle Marathon, Canada’s BMO Vancouver Marathon, and the Boston Marathon, where he qualified at a respectable 7.5-minute-per-mile pace. Ron also ran some shorter races, like the Hood to Coast Relay and the Cascade Runoff 15K.
As he got older, and after a few injuries, Ron transitioned to slowing his pace. Since then, he has been walking five to six miles a day, every day, through the streets of Beaumont-Wilshire. His route can vary, but he usually walks down Skidmore from his house to Wilshire Park, and snakes through the neighborhood, returning the way he came.
At 77 years old, Ron’s power walks have become a key part of his healthy lifestyle. Before every walk, he stretches for 90 minutes to prevent injuries. “It’s an investment in my health and has a positive impact on my life,” he reflected.
Ron loves living and walking in the neighborhood because of the nice neighbors and the proximity to everything he needs. “My neighbors are worth their weight in gold!” he said proudly.
If you see Ron speeding by, say hello or give him a wave! The steps keep him strong, but it’s the people around him who make every mile meaningful.
Jamie Gardner is a Portland native and Windermere agent putting her UO journalism degree to use here – finally! She’s lived in Beaumont-Wilshire since 2020 with her husband and two dogs. When she’s not with clients or touring homes, Jamie loves to travel, tackle house projects, and enjoy the local food scene.