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Jeff Fioranelli was struggling to finish his 7-mile run. Then hundreds of St. Mary’s students cheered him on.

By , Daily Memphian Updated: September 02, 2026 8:01 AM CT | Published: September 02, 2026 4:00 AM CT

Jeff Fioranelli — former co-owner of Buckley’s Grill — has run the same 7-mile route through East Memphis every day for 30 years.

Fioranelli has become a fixture of the neighborhoods he passes through; kids have dubbed him “the weatherman” because rain, snow and heat doesn’t stop him.


Calkins: Happy 901 Day! There are plenty of things to celebrate — including the end of a miserable year.


He’s so consistent that people get concerned if they don’t see him jogging in the morning.

“Running this route and knowing these people, it’s become part of my identity,” he said. “It’s ingrained in me.”

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, he experienced a first.

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St. Mary's Episcopal School 901 Day Education exercise Jeff Fioranelli Subscriber Only

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John Klyce

John Klyce

John Klyce is an enterprise reporter with The Daily Memphian who writes a wide range of in-depth features, as well as profiles about local leaders, scientists, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else doing exciting and important work in this city. He previously spent four years with the Memphis Business Journal, where he covered public companies, startups, and innovation, and a fifth year with The Commercial Appeal, where he covered education, and chronicled how gun violence and poverty were affecting Memphis youth and their families. He has also been a fellow with the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. John has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Memphis and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Boston University.


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