Indiana University VP walks around the world in 14 years

Russell Mumper, 60, has walked the equivalent of Earth’s circumference — 24,901 miles — finishing the journey on June 25 in his Indiana driveway.

The IU Vice President for Research started walking in 2012 as a stress-relief habit and turned it into a decade-plus mission. Tracking every step, he logged 5,900 walks, about 55 million steps, and wore out 49 pairs of shoes.

He averaged 5 miles per day while working full-time, with enough elevation change to equal climbing Everest 46.5 times.

The finish was simple: his wife held a checkered flag as he crossed the driveway with their two dogs, Lucy and Milly.“It’s not something he did for fame,” said daughter Shannon Mumper. “He fell in love with walking.”The family moved three times across states during the challenge, but Mumper never broke his daily routine.

Researchers note walking remains one of the most accessible forms of exercise. For Mumper, it became a 14-year proof of what consistency can do.