Tag Archive: Running

Thinking About Quitting The Streak

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November 21, 2012

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So as many of you know, I’ve been running every day.  I have run every single day since June 1, 2009.  I started the streak as a way to motivate myself to run more.  I would run into weeks where I hadn’t run all week, saying “I’ll run tomorrow”.  The streak eliminated that, tomorrow was not an option.  I had to run today.  And it was great, and it worked.

[Disclaimer:  PLEASE do not respond to this post about how running is bad for me, or how running every day is bad for me.  I know how it affects me physically and I have had zero running-related issues over the last 3 1/2 years.  THAT is not the issue here.]

The problem is now that I feel like the streak rules me, rather than me ruling the streak.  It doesn’t feel motivating, it feels like a chore.  Running has lost it’s fun for me.  And I don’t run nearly the distances that I used to.  Not because I can’t, but because I don’t want to.

So I’m thinking of quitting the streak.

But there is a lot of emotion tied up in that simple sentence.  Running every day for 3 1/2 years has become a part of me.  Part of who I am, part of my identity.  It isn’t a decision I can make lightly.  As goofy as that may seem to some of you.  I know I’m close to ready.  There were times during the streak when circumstances looked like I might not get my run in and I was heartbroken.  I don’t feel that now.  Maybe just sadness and relief.

I haven’t decided anything at this point.  I’ll still run today.  And definitely tomorrow (to work off that Thanksgiving pumpkin pie).  But after that?  Not sure.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am so grateful to all of my awesome friends who supported my running habit.  Those of you who said “not on my watch!”.  Thank you.

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Wowee Zowee 3 Years Batman!

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May 31, 2012

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Yeppers, it’s happened.  I was traveling today, so I got up at 2:45 AM in order to make sure I got my run in.  But I did it, 3 years of running. every.  single.  day.

There isn’t much to say that I haven’t already blogged about.  It’s been both hard and easy to accomplish this goal.  I have no reason to stop now, so who knows how long I’ll keep this going.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me get here, and there are a LOT of people who have helped me.

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More on Nike Fuelband

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May 6, 2012

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I wrote about my new Nike Fuelband here.  Now that I have had it for a few weeks, I wanted to say a little more about it.

I love it!

First, the battery life.  It lasts roughly 9 days per charge.  It charges up pretty quickly, and has a nice little reminder indicator as it is getting low.  For something I am using all day, every day, that seems pretty good to me.

I wrote about Nike Fuel in that post.  When you first activate your fuel band, you are asked to select a goal.  I picked the lowest goal “suggested”, which was 2000.  (Remember, these are not calories, but “Nike Fuel”, a converted number so anyone with a fuel band can compare on equal footing).  Sadly (and a bit surprisingly) I did not easily meet the lowest suggested goal every day.  Many days I had to do a little extra to meet it.  But in a way, that was exciting, that meant that thanks to the Nike Fuel band, I was moving a little more each day.  Also, that I wasn’t as active as I may have thought.

After a week at 2000, I increased it to 2100.  We’re doing baby steps here, people.  I made my goal every day except one!  Where I missed it by 7 measly fuel points, and only because I wasn’t paying attention and midnight passed me by before I noticed.

They track some fun stuff, for example my best day was 3,194.  I’ve hit the 10k, 25k, and 50k Nike fuel milestones.  My average day is 2,300.  I can track my fuel against Women age 30-39 and the entire Nike+ community.  I see I lag them in most fuel in a week, and average fuel per week, but I am smoking both comparisons in daily goals hit.  So no surprise there, I may do a little less, but I’m consistent.  Still, it’s motivation to beat out the comparisons in all categories. Â

So here I am at 27 days with the Fuel band and I still love it, and I still wear it, and it’s still motivating me.  I’m increasing my goal to 2200 today.  I’m hoping to increase 100 points every week or so.

Anyone else got one?  Want to compare stats?  Let me know!

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1000 days

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March 1, 2012

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1000 days.  One thousand days.  A grand.  1k.  One thousand days.

Saturday, February 25th was my thousandth day of running every single day.

Wowsa.  I never expected this when I started.  I believe my first goal was to get through the week. Â

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Happy Running New Year

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January 1, 2012

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It’s the new year, and I’ve got some new running goals.  First up, I had to update my running log.  I’ve been running a lot on the treadmill, which means manual entry (rather than auto-entry from my Garmin).  Today will make 2 years and 7 months on the streak.  Crazy and I never thought I would go this long.

The treadmill is great because it allows me to run any time in any weather.  But, it also makes me very lazy.  I don’t actually like running on the treadmill, so I find myself just running the minimum for the streak.  That is a habit I would like to break this year.  My  average running distance has slipped from 3 miles down to 2.  To that end, a friend of mine has signed up for a half marathon and asked for a virtual running partner (virtual because she’s in another country), so I’ve agreed to run a half marathon “with” her.  Luckily I found one here about a week after hers, so we are good to go!

After a less-than-enjoyable marathon, and a DNS (did not start) marathon, I am looking forward to training for “just” a half.  I really find the half marathon distance to be much more fun, and the training to be soooo much more bearable.

So running longer distances, tracking better, and a half marathon.  Those are my goals for running this year.  What are yours?

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