Boxing Day - The Raven

The Raven began his run streak in
in 1975

Today, Boxing Day 2017, is the 15th day of #AllanNation EARC Secret Run Streak.

We're currently going through a cold snap.  -10 in the Cowtown. -6 in Eagle Lake. -18 in Stoughton. It's 66 degrees in Phoenix and 15 degrees in Flagstaff. I haven't heard from Soni in a few days, but know that Ab has been running outside in Arizona.

So, it begs the question - how bad does the weather have to be so that you refuse to go outside to run?  For me, as I've aged and gotten softer, I think once it gets in the 20s or if its too windy, it's unlikely that I'll be venturing outside to run. I think maybe if I got some kicks that would allow me to run without the possibility of falling on my ass, then it would be more likely I'd get out there.

For some people, the truly committed, weather won't get in the way.  Witness, for example, the Raven, who has taken an eight-mile run on Miami Beach every day since Jan. 1, 1975.  Here's another story on him (there's several if you look for him on google).

You go, Raven.

For me - a mile on Christmas day on the treaddy at Rich & Mary Jo's it is. And a few miles here tonight in a bit at Planet Fitness.

Only 85 more days to go. 

#KeepGrinding #AllanNation

Christmas Eve Eve - Ab Checks In

Challenges - in every walk of life, it seems, we are challenged.

For me this running challenge is great motivation. Recently the temps/climate have been interesting.  In the 40s/50s in Phoenix and it seems cold.  Meanwhile in Flagtown, it's been in the 20s. Clearly, I'm getting soft in my "old age."

Coupled with all of that whinery, I've developed a cold.  Something I haven't experienced in quite some time, but because of our challenge, I got out there and put in a couple of miles.

So, thank you Hogan, for coming up with this idea - we love challenges that put us in a positive place.

Merry Christmas 2017.

One Week Down, 13 More Weeks to Go

#AllanNation in the Grand Tetons - 2017

Ran a mile today. 

Yup, the minimum needed to keep the streak alive.  Also, today signifies the end of the first week of our 100-day challenge. I'll say this. Hoping not to jinx things here, but this seems doable.

Unquestionably there will be challenges in the coming weeks.  Providing things go as planned, Day 100 is March 20.  DA has already indicated that he is invoking #AllanNation EARC Secret Run Streak "special dispensation claus 10.9a" in which said participant requests a pause in his or her streak due to "surgery, illness, natural weather disaster and /or marriage/divorce proceedings." Based on the information provided by said participant, he qualifies for the special dispensation.

Things could get a little tricky when our men's hockey team travels to Alaska for four games in January and we'll be up there for ten days, so will have to figure out how the travel days in which we fly will work.  There's also a trip to Alabama Huntsville in early Frebuary, but we should be o.k.

In any event, all systems go and hoping to mix in some longer runs along the way.  I registered for the Scheels Spring Half, which is here in Mankato on April 8. So the running we're doing now dovetails nicely with that trek.

Lastly, this piece entitled What a 100-Day Run Streak Has Done for Me.  Gonna start concentrating on breathing through my nose. “Your mouth is for eating, your nose is for breathing.”

Ha ha. #KeepGrinding #AllanNation #We'reMetis

How 'bout today?

So far, so good.

Streak Day #5

Up and early this morning to get couple of miles in.  Still too cold for my liking to go outside, but at some point it'd be good to get off of the dreadmill. We're supposed to have a few days in the 40s next week, so maybe then.

Are you good to go when it's cold or windy?  How 'bout running in the snow and ice? How about your shoes?  I know Ab has a few. What about you, Soni?  I don't normally use more than one pair at a time. I find something I like and stick with it. I'm on my second pair of Saucony Guide 9s and have started to look for another pair.

I saw this list on run streaks the other day.

The benefits of a running streak?

• Getting in to a routine
• Pushing through mental barriers
• Crushing invalid excuses about time, energy, life
• It can increase motivation
• It leads to other good habits
• More chances to improve
• No new special equipment needed
• You’ll learn to adapt to different situations
•  

 It all sounds pretty good to me. Here's a quote from  Amy Lawrenson, Beauty and Fitness Editor at Women's Health, who finished a 500-day run streak in 2014.

"Usually I would do a few one-milers per week and a couple of longer runs. In the end jogging that mile around my block became so easy that it was like a rest day. It just became a habitual part of my day, like brushing my teeth."

Yup, just like brushing your teeth. Easy peasy.   Remind me about this one I reach 50 days in a row.

Have a great weekend #AllanNation.  #KeepGrinding

We're Streaking | Day #3 and #4

Daisy on a walk this
afternoon (post workout).
Photo's blurry 'cause
she was hustling.

My Canadian math tells me that if you ran today, congratulations are in order 'cause you've completed 4% of our goal!

So what's the deal with streaks?  Why are people drawn to them? What's the significance? In our case, given that it's just us, I guess it's just a fun thing we can share.  We have this common interest - running and it's something we can do together.  Like if we went golfing together, if we were avid golfers. Or made it a goal to ski the Bugaboos together. If we were avid skiers.  Maybe if we were avid hikers we hike the Bright Angel Trail of the Grand Canyon (almost). But then two members of the group would barely make it out. Sorry.

So #AllanNation EARC Secret Run Streak it is.

But I don't know that what we're attempting to do is all that unual. It is for us, for sure. I don't think I've ever ran more than six or seven days in a row. Others do it though. I think many runners participate in the Runners World Run Streak, which lasts 40 days and goes from Thanksgiving 'til New Year's Day.  Here's the LINK. Maybe we should have started with that.  Oh well. There's always next year!!!!!!

We have a home men's hockey game tomorrow night, so going to have to get creative on timing for the run.  Maybe at lunch.  Or if I can get up that early, do the 4:00 a.m. treaddy with Lori at Planet Fitness.  And, by the way, at some point I've gotta get back outside. A bit of a dilemma, of course, due to the fact that I don't like running in the cold. Maybe it would have been a better idea to have started this streak in the spring.  Damn you spur of the moment decisions!

And I've gotta get some new headphones. In the past six months I've sweated through a couple of pairs of Iphone ear buds and a cheap blue tooth head set I bought at TJ Maxx.

How's it going???

#KeepGrinding #AllanNation

Day Two: Enjoy the Ride

Otto Arena - Put in two miles on one of these today

It's a marathon, not a sprint!

We've all heard this expression. Usually when we face some sort of daunting task or are going to participate in an event that's going to take more than a few hours. Or days. Or weeks. Or months.

For us in the #AllanNation EARC Secret Run Streak group, the saying is apt. Only to say that it's a marathon probably doesn't really do this justice. Even if we do the minimum of one mile over the course of 100 days, that's still 100 miles and that's nothing to sneeze at.

But to put things in perspective, I had a conversation with my buddy Scott Nelsen today. About running. As you are aware, Scottie's a runner and he's been known to string together runs over the course of several months.  The first one he was on, four or five years ago, the only reason he stopped was because he got into a car accident. I think that  streak was over 200 days.  He's currently in another streak that he began during Easter.  Let's see. Easter is in April, so it's been eight months he's been at it.  That's a tremendous accomplishment.  (Disclaimer, he's not aware of our pact and by the way, in the event you were curious, the longest running streak ever lasted 52 years and 39 days and ended just this past February.)

So for us, we're just barely into the path to our goal. Common interest is good.  So is working toward having good health. As George Carlin said in an email forwarded by Glen Hansen today..."Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help."

Keep grinding #AllanNation.

It begins Dec. 11, 2017

Sonja, Paul and Doug and others in Wyoming, 2017

It started as a lark, really.

A text between a brother, his sister and another brother. "Thinking the three of us should start a "run streak." Just us. Our club. A mile a day (at least) for it to count. See how far we can go."

They were runners.  Not necessarily hard core, but enough to have worked their way up from 5Ks in 2010 to several half marathons and a marathon by 2017.  And not youngsters, either.  Two of them were in their 50's and one was in his 60's. 

The unofficial start came in 2004 with a casual jaunt along the Bow River in Calgary where Sonja lives.  Doug, who resides in Flagstaff, Ariz., began running consistently in 2010 after following his daughter around the robust high school cross country circuit. Doug coerced Paul to joining in when, along with their wives, they participated in a 5K in Mankato, Minn. (where Paul lives), in 2011. Later, in 2013, the trio ran together with other family members in a 5K in Sedona.  The next time they all ran together was in June of 2017 when they met in Wyoming (along with others) and ran the Grand Teton Half Marathon.

Looking for a new challenge, the #AllanNation EARC Secret Run Streak club came into being late in 2017. A common interest shared by a sister and her two brothers thousands of miles a part.    It starts Dec. 11. 100 days of at least a mile a day.

Pretty cool.