Run Streaks

Running Streaks:

To get outside and run takes motivation, a lot of people never get past the idea that they want to get in shape and they want to run.  They never step outside their comfort zone to put one foot in front of the other; never take a deep breath that will soon be replaced by a shortness of breath; never to take muscles full of energy and deplete them to the point of pain.  To run just one day takes drive, to run two consecutive days takes willpower, to run 30 consecutive days…you have to be determined…and to run 100 or more days in a row takes something special.  It takes, A Streak Runner!

The official definition of a running streak, as adopted by the Streak Runners International, Inc., and United States Running Streak Association, Inc. (USRSA), is to run at least one continuous mile (1.61 kilometers) within each calendar day under one's own body power (without the utilization of any type of health or mechanical aid other than prosthetic devices).  Running under one's own body power can occur on either the roads, a track, over hill and dale, or on a treadmill.  Running cannot occur through the use of canes, crutches or banisters, or reliance on pools or aquatic devices to create artificial buoyancy.

Myself, I have never been a good “Streak Runner.”  The logistics of my life and the fact I love, no really “LOVE” my rest days works against me.  I admire those who can in fact run everyday, never failing.  I once had the opportunity to run with this fellow nicknamed the Raven.  The Raven you may have seen or read about, he has run on Miami’s south beach for over 110,000 miles running on consecutive days for over 37 years.  But if you can’t run on consecutive days can you still be a streak runner?  Maybe not according to the USRSA, but I believe you can, running streaks comes in many forms and fashions:

A running streak could be running in your favorite race year after year, a friend of mine (Jill C.) has ran the Monument Ave 10k in Richmond, VA for 10 consecutive years.  There are runners who have run races on consecutive New Years Days, Turkey Trots or other special “race” occasions.  I’ve read about runners who have logged over 2,000 miles in consecutive years.  There are runners who consecutively run 50 miles or more a week.  And we have all marveled at the runners who run marathons on consecutive days, consecutive weekends, or consecutive months.

Before getting injured in June of this year I had two pretty impressive (to me at least) streaks of my own.

-        13 consecutive months running 100 miles or more

-        9 consecutive months running a 20 mile long run

What is your present running streak?  What “streaking” goals are you shooting for?