500 Consecutive Days on the Run

500 Consecutive Days on the Run

by | Sep 8, 2020 | Article, Guest Perspective, Opinion

By Lucy Chabot Reed

My return to running started on Feb. 16, 2019. That was the day of the Chris Hixon Memorial 5K. I couldn’t remember the last time I ran 3.1 miles, but it didn’t matter. Chris Hixon was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shootings and his wife, Debbie, had been a colleague of mine. Having a high-school-aged daughter myself, my heart was broken for Debbie, for the MSD kids, for all kids, for my country. This 5K was something I could do.

500 Days

Lucy learned about streaking in Runners World magazine. She started and hasn’t stopped.

I ran/walked that 5K in an hour. Well, just under an hour because as we approached the finish line, the seconds were counting up and my friend and I sprinted for the finish — if you can call it a sprint — and we finished in 59:37. We celebrated!

A few months later, lounging on my bed, I read my very first copy of Runner’s World magazine. The cover story was about the magazine’s annual running streak, set to begin on Memorial Day and run through the Fourth of July — 41 days of running one mile every day.  

Nutty, I thought. Who has the time to run every day? Who would want to? One sentence in that story jumped off the page: Run one mile every day for a year and watch your body change. 

OK. That got me. I was at the heaviest weight I’d ever been (except when I was pregnant) and was eager for my body to change. I was willing to invest the year, and I couldn’t wait for Memorial Day to begin. I started the next day, April 27, 2019.

The first few days were more walking than running, but I did them. And they hurt a little. Why was I doing this again?

So I turned to the #RWrunstreak Facebook page and read about all the crazy streakers running through ice and snow, hitting 500 days, celebrating comma day, streaking for four years! They inspired me and kept me going. When streakers completed their runs with icicles hanging off their eyelashes, no way was I going to let a little warm South Florida rain break my streak.

I soon discovered that my streak worked best if I didn’t think about it first. So I woke up every morning, drink a glass of water, put on my running clothes and sneakers, and walk out the door. Before I can think too much about it or reason with myself to stay in bed, I’m running.

I also discovered — much less easily — that the same philosophy is true of everything in my life. If I stop analyzing things before I do them and just get started, I soon discover things get done. Every day, no matter what, I deserve those 10-15 minutes to myself, to get my heart beating, to be thankful that I can actually get up on my still healthy legs and move them the way I want. I didn’t consider myself a runner. I was just taking part in this gimmick, this streak. But I do consider myself a runner now. I’m not fast or graceful and stuff hurts most of the time, but I run, and that’s all it takes to be a runner.

My body has changed since I started running every day. Not right away, and to be honest, it wasn’t until I changed my diet (no sugar, no dairy) that the pounds fell off. I’ve lost 25 pounds this past year. It was running every day that made me want to stick to a food plan that makes me feel better.

Yesterday, Monday, September 7th, I celebrated Labor Day with my 500th consecutive day of running. Yes, every day. I don’t look too far out. I just run today, every day. It’s a habit now, like brushing my teeth. I don’t think about it; I just do it. And I can’t imagine a day when I won’t.

Post script: This story was written a few days before the completion of the 500 milestone. When I wrote to Lucy a couple of days prior to publication to confirm the streak was still alive, this was her answer: “Yup! I am out of town for the day and forgot my sneakers, so I ran my mile in my Birkenstock sandals this morning!! I\’ll do whatever it takes to keep my streak alive”.

Lucy Chabot Reed is a Fort Lauderdale-based journalist of more than 30 years. She started running in high school but only dabbled in it until starting her run streak. She now competes in triathlons. 

 

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

The Journey of a Six-Star Finisher

The Journey of a Six-Star Finisher

by | Jul 22, 2020 | Article, Guest Perspective

By Starr Davis

Editorial note: Last week we talked about the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series. This week, my friend Starr Davis tells her account of achieving the milestone despite some physical problems she encountered along her journey.

For me, 2018 was the year of comebacks. In October 2017, I began having hip issues. Surgery was recommended to remove a bone spur and repair/replace the labrum. My surgeon and I decided because I had amazing marathons ahead of me, we would postpone surgery until after I finished them. Then, he would be able to repair any additional damage. We weren’t sure if this would end my running career. From October through December 2017, I ran the Chicago, Marine Corps, Berlin and Havana marathons, plus a 50K Ultra Marathon.

Six-Star Finisher

Starr at the iconic finish line of the Berlin Marathon.

Still postponing surgery, in April 2018, I was able to complete both the Boston and London Marathons. Boston was a challenge as temperatures were in the 30’s with constant rain.  I wound up in 11 medical tents with hypothermia symptoms. However, because I had raised $6500 for charity from friends and I knew this was my one opportunity to do Boston, I finished the race.

Six days later, I ran the London marathon. The temperature was in the 80s. Between the contrast in weather and my hip, I wound up walking the marathon from mile 8. But I was totally overjoyed to complete two races in 6 days.

Three weeks later, I had hip surgery. I was truly fortunate that it was not as major as anticipated—the labrum wasn’t torn but had a bone spur sticking out of it that was labor intensive to remove. Of course, when I woke up, my first question was “when can I run?” I had been offered a sponsorship race entry to the NYC Marathon in November, and I really wanted to do it. I was told that running it would be impossible, but I should be able to walk it.

Six-Star Finisher

Receiving the coveted Six Starr medal after finishing Tokyo in 2019

Twenty-four weeks after surgery, I was able to walk the NYC marathon. My body had done so much better than I expected. There were hours and hours of therapy and minimal training. I feel so blessed to have been able to have the “perfect” conditions. I was joking with doctors that Boston was too cold and wet; London was too hot and finally, New York was “just right.” He has now nicknamed me “Goldilocks.”

I ran the Tokyo Marathon just March 3rd of this year, and it was epic, albeit miserable race conditions. It was 43 degrees with constant rain—but it was 8 degrees warmer than Boston and rain was coming straight down instead of at an angle.

Let’s focus on the good things. After Tokyo, I became an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher. What does that mean?  I am one of 4,989 people in the world who have successfully completed the six major world marathons: Berlin, Chicago, New York, Boston, London and Tokyo.  Of these finishers, 1,376 are women and 929 are from the USA.  I’m so over the moon that I was able to successfully complete this, especially as a 50-year old who overcame crazy health challenges.

That stretch of 19 months of running was amazing for me—they’ve given me the opportunity to meet amazing new people, travel to great locations and most importantly, change my attitude of what can be accomplished. I have changed my eating habits and developed a better relationship with myself. It’s amazing what running some miles can do for you.

Starr Davis is a lifelong educator who has a passion for helping others grow in their career. She earned the coveted Six-Starr medal in 2019. She lives in South Florida and is a newly retired marathon runner.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER
Trends, Challenges, and Going Back to Basics

Trends, Challenges, and Going Back to Basics

by | May 27, 2020 | Article, Guest Perspective

By Amanda Long

The unexpected arrival of a global pandemic changed our way of life almost overnight. We miss our friends, our routines, and for many of us, the gym. Being locked up in a tiny two-bedroom townhouse with little more than some dumbbells and a jump rope, my options for keeping fit seemed pretty limited. Aside from the ability to run the half-mile loop around my community, I felt that there was little more to do with parks and gyms being closed.

Now, if anyone is a social media user or occasional YouTube browser, chances are you have come across a Buzzfeed video at least once or twice as you\’ve scrolled. Buzzfeed is an American internet media outlet that focuses on trends and viral content. One of the prevailing trends that have circulated the social media world the past few years has been various types of challenges. Flipping water bottles, stacking cheerios on a sleeping baby, eating really hot peppers, we\’ve all seen some form of a challenge video.

Trends and ChallengesOne day, towards the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, feeling bored and unmotivated, stuck inside my house, I came across a Buzzfeed video of four coworkers taking on the \”100 Squats Per Day for 30 Days\” challenge. My immediate reaction was, \”that is ridiculous\”. However, after giving it some thought and watching the four people go through the challenge in their unique ways, I was inspired to give it a shot myself, besides, what else was I doing?

Day one of the challenge, the first thing I did was watch a couple of videos on YouTube about how to do a proper squat, because the last thing I wanted to do was injure myself and not be able to run. After a quick refresher on the proper form of an air squat, I took my measurements and began my challenge. Not having very strong glutes or quad muscles, I decided that the best technique to successfully do one hundred squats a day was to break it up into four sets of twenty-five. I set four daily alarms on my phone to remind me to get my squats in throughout the day.

The first three to four days were, for lack of a better word, challenging. My legs felt weak and started getting sore. However, after drinking a lot of water and making beetroot and turmeric shakes, the soreness subsided. I continued the challenge and began to feel stronger every day. The sheer curiosity to see if I would gain any tangible results is what motivated me to continue the challenge each day. By week three and a half, I was strong enough to do all one hundred squats in one set, a feat I never imagined I could accomplish.

Trends and ChallengesDay thirty rolled around and I was excited to get my last one hundred squats in so I could measure myself and see if there were any results. Regardless of muscle measurements, I knew that I felt stronger, could see definition in my legs, and felt more powerful during my training runs. I got out the measuring tape and was surprised and excited that I had gained three and a half inches overall in just thirty short days. My glutes stayed the same, but my quads became bigger and stronger.

By day thirty I was almost sad the challenge was over. It was difficult at times but also fun and rewarding. I learned that consistency, even in very small actions, produces results. I was also reminded that sometimes simple is good. When we are forced to suspend certain activities and ways of life, going back to the basics can also yield results. I am looking forward to life going back to normal, but I will not forget that my body is quite capable of keeping fit without gym equipment or the need to leave home. So, do not be afraid of taking on a new challenge, even if you do not think you are capable. Going back to the basics may very well strengthen your foundation.

 Amanda Long is a runner based in South Florida. She completed the Chicago Marathon in 2018 and has ran multiple half marathons.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

Winter, Pandemic and a Runner’s High

Winter, Pandemic and a Runner’s High

by | Apr 8, 2020 | Article, Guest Perspective

By Bernardo Garcia Carrillo

Pandemic Running

Bernardo running on his home treadmill during the Canadian winter

Let’s say you’re going through your second winter since you moved to Canada.  It’s -30C (-22F) outside, you’re not that tough (I’ve seen people running outside at -4F) and you have no choice but to use the dusty treadmill.  You don’t love it but you’re not fond of gyms, either so you stay home and run in front of the TV.  It can be quite boring even if you’re watching a good show.

Then, the new reality of the pandemic hits us all and we are forced to spend even more time indoors.  You’re thankful that you are staying healthy and that spring is finally arriving… and then you go out for the first run in the open, after a very long time, at the end of a long winter. Your head is suddenly filled with heavy thoughts.  

And this is what you find:

  • Pandemic Running

    View out of Bernardo’s window on March 30th, 2020

    The sun and the wind in your face feel as good as ever.

  • It’s lunchtime during isolation and you can smell what they’re cooking in nearly every house you pass by.  It’s a feast!

  • You’re enjoying yourself so much that you just don’t want to keep track of distance, time, pace or heart rate.

  • When you finally check your watch you realize that your performance is way better than it was the day before on the treadmill. 

  • You feel like you have wings on your feet, which comes as a surprise as you’re supposed to put more effort when you run on the asphalt than the treadmill.

Bear in mind that I’m not what you can call an avid runner.  I have never been really that consistent, but in days like this I can fully understand Adolfo’s passion about running.  I remember something he told me a while ago about this thing called “runner’s high”. I think it makes sense now.

Bernardo Garcia Carrillo lives in Calgary, Canada. He has been training under Coach Adolfo Salgueiro since 2016.

 

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER
Skip to content