by Adolfo Salgueiro | Oct 3, 2023 | Article, Guest Perspective, Opinion, Reflection
In my last blog post, I wrote about learning the hard way. Within the same theme, today I bring you the story of Javier Mota, a journalist and friend who despite going out of his way to not consider himself a runner, put together a 1000+ day running streak. Given his accepted stubbornness, he is currently paying the consequences of not listening to his body. With his permission, I am publishing an article he wrote about his experience.
Good and bad consequences after running every day for 3 years and 21 days.
By Javier Mota
August 24, 2023
The diagnosis by Dr. Luis Valenzuela from the Meds Clinic in Santiago de Chile, which stopped my 3 years and 21 days of running every day, was forceful:
“You obviously have internal femorotibial osteoarthritis, with a degenerative tear of the internal meniscus. Also, chondral lesions in the patella. There is bone edema of the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau due to joint wear and overload.”
Javier Mota is a renowned automotive journalist and a friend. (Photo: courtesy of Javier Mota)
In simple words, the MRI results showed how badly I messed up my left knee, mainly due to a clear case of the fine line between stubbornness and stupidity.
In hindsight, I should have stopped running when the pain and discomfort began on March 15, 2023, but out of my stubbornness, rather than determination or discipline, I ran 5 additional months in pain, first trying to reach the 1,000-day mark and then, 3 years.
The additional 21 days only confirmed my lack of good sense and probably made things worse.
“Pain is not normal”, another orthopedic doctor once told me during a casual conversation in a bar in St. George, Utah, after I insisted on running for a couple of months despite the discomfort.
Long before that, when I reached the 2-year mark, in August 2022, Dr. Scott Lang, University of Central Florida´s Professor of Family Medicine, warned me: “Never run in pain. If you have muscle pain or joint pain when you run, ice it and rest. If the pain persists for more than a week, see your doctor”.
Obviously, I did not pay attention and on August 21, 2023, at the end of my annual ski trip to Chile, I finally decided to have my left knee checked by Dr. Valenzuela, who after a quick visual and tactile examination, immediately determined that an MRI was necessary.
Of course, between the time that passed from the end of the MRI and the time I received the diagnosis, I went out for the last run (2.75 miles in 30:36) because I sensed the end of the streak was approaching, under medical prescription.
The truth is that the discomfort never reached the point of paralyzing me, although, between March 15 and August 21, 2023, I reduced the distance and speed of each run, thinking that the pain would be reduced. That didn’t happen, but it didn’t get worse either.
This is Javier’s messed up left knee (Foto: Courtesy of Javier Mota)
Dr. Valenzuela attributed this to the fact that through constant exercise for 1,115 days in a row, I was able to build enough muscle mass to absorb most of the impact on my knee.
Now, the next challenge is to dedicate myself with the same intensity to a rehabilitation program and incorporate other athletic activities, without impacting the knees to maintain the physical condition and weight (165 pounds).
Those last two were undoubtedly the biggest benefits of the running streak, which began on August 1, 2020, during the Covid pandemic, thanks to a private Facebook group, to get out of lockdown.
In all, I ran 3,257.3 miles, an average of almost 90 miles per month. The equivalent of driving from Miami to Seattle.
All this, despite the fact that I have never felt like a “real runner”. If I was, I would have followed the 3R advice of the experts to replenish, rest, and recover, and not become a “slave to the streak”, as Running Coach Adolfo Salgueiro warned me. But that’s exactly what I did.
I never warmed up before a run, nor did I stretch at the end. I have never undergone a serious training program to achieve a specific goal. Nor did I pay much attention to the advice not to wear old and worn-out shoes or to buy ones specially molded for my feet. As a consequence, I never improved my time or distance in these 3 years.
And as I said before and I repeat now, I don’t like to run. I think it’s boring, so much so that for the last few months of the streak I tried to entertain myself by picking up trash on the road, sometimes at an astonishing rate of 10+ pieces per mile. Thanks to that, and in a very unscientific way, I verified that the Modelo Especial has indeed become the most popular beer in the United States, given the number of empty cans I have found in recent months during my runs.
I also started stopping to say hello to all the dogs I saw on the trail, perhaps to justify my slower pace and to give my knee a rest, until one of them bit me on the left thigh, something unrelated to the injury, which eventually ended the streak.
Now the benefits
I always appreciated what happens when you run every day. You feel better physically and mentally, you sleep and work better, and you can eat and drink more. And you always feel good after every run, unless you get bitten by a dog.
Also, it was great to receive encouragement from other runners, non-runners and even from companies like New Balance and Apple who sent me products as an incentive to keep the streak alive; and from car brands that celebrated some of the streak’s milestones when they coincided with some of their test driving programs around the world.
One of the 1,021 consecutive runs that lead to the devastating injury (Foto: Courtesy of Javier Mota)
It was also a pleasure to run in 16 countries and over 100 cities.
But what I enjoyed the most was the daily challenge of finding the time and place to run every day, despite the complications of constant travel as part of my job as an automotive journalist.
The longest run (almost 9 miles) was in Munich, Germany, on September 2021, not because I wanted to run that distance, but because I got lost. The fastest run was a 10K at a pace of 7:58 minutes per mile, at home.
On December 31, 2022, I checked out at 11:30 p.m. to complete the daily 5k and then did another one starting right at midnight and ending on January 1st. 2023 to start the New Year.
Several times, I landed at an airport and got out of the car on the way to the hotel so I could run before the end of the day. I also ran inside various airports, before and after flights.
So, in the end, it was a good run while it lasted, but I have a few points to consider now that this is all over:
First, I do not recommend it to anyone! It’s easy to become addicted, even a slave to personal achievement like this one.
And most importantly, as I’ve learned the hard way, it’s essential to recognize that running every day for an extended period, not only can, but surely will cause injury sooner or later.
In conclusion, listen to the experts and to your body; take adequate rest when necessary to prevent exhaustion and possible long-term health problems.
Without a doubt, this streak of three years and 21 days was an extraordinary journey, which some have called “an example of determination, discipline and the pursuit of personal goals”, but it is also important to remember that the physical conditioning process of each individual is unique and must be approached with care and respect for one’s own body.
Maybe I will run again someday, but I will never run every day for 3 years and 21 days.
Javier Mota is a renowned automotive journalist and a friend. You can follow him on Instagram @javiermota, or at his website: https://autos0to60.com/. He made a YouTube video with his original post. If you want to check it out, you can do so by clicking here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sdfsl0c9w
by Adolfo Salgueiro | Dec 14, 2021 | Article, Reflection
By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro
I met Manish Kuman Jaiswal in a WhatsApp group of international runners I was invited to participate a few months ago. Every day I would find cool posts on what runners are accomplishing all over the world, and in a handful of languages. One of the things that intrigued me was this guy from India who kept posting a half marathon every single day. So I had to ask. At the time he responded, he had run one for 475 consecutive days.
So let me introduce you to Manish Kumar Jaiswal, a 46-year-old runner from Raipur, in the state of Chhattisgarh, who started running in 2007. A teacher by profession, started his running journey just like most of us, to keep himself fit, healthy and with enough energy to keep up with his son, who is now 15.
When I approached Manish, he told me his goal at the time was to get to 500 days in a row, which occurred last Sunday, December 12th. With some simple math to put this monumental task in perspective, we are talking about 6,550 miles (10,539 kilometers) in the lapse of one year, four months and 15 days. A Ruthian-sized accomplishment, whatever way you want to analyze it.
A collage of Strava posts from a handful of Manish’s latest runs.
Manish quickly fell in love with the challenges and satisfactions of long distance running and promptly became a marathoner. During his years as a “regular runner” he completed 5 marathons (Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari and Mumbai) as well as a bunch of half marathons.
One day, some friends challenged him to run 21 half marathons in 21 days. For those of you who live within the Imperial measurement system, the 13.1 miles of a half is equivalent to 21,097.5 meters. So, therefore on July 30, 2020, he embarked on this short streak that little by little has become enormous.
“In the beginning I just wanted to do 21days, 21 Half Marathons–confesses Mr. Jaiswal—But I enjoyed it a lot and now that I completed my 500 Consecutive days, I don’t want to stop. Now I am addicted to running.”
The new goal has been moved to 730 consecutive days with a half marathon. Equivalent to two years. Something tells me it is not going to stop there and 1,000 will suddenly become the updated goal, come July of next year.
No streak like this happens without taking risks that otherwise you wouldn’t have. Manish has run during heavy rains, thunderstorms sweltering hot and freezing cold temperatures. “Sometimes it would have been almost impossible to complete my half marathon, but I didn\’t give up. I put on my raincoat and managed to get my run in.”
Time management is an important task for an enterprise of this magnitude, yet Mr. Jaiswal assures me it hasn’t interfered that much in his daily life. “My daily half marathon running didn\’t affect my personal or professional lives. I did it with proper time management, planning and in a well-organized way.” He averages about 2:05 per run, with his PR at 1:48 and his slowest at 2:25.
Runners everywhere have one important question for Mr. Jaiswal: How about his running shoes?
He wears Kalenji shoes, the Decathlon model and he needs to switch to a fresh, new pair every 30 to 35 days. So far, he estimates he has used 15 pairs during his quest.
“At last -said Manish to conclude- I would like to thank my friends and family members my wife and son for their motivation encouragement and support.”
by Adolfo Salgueiro | May 15, 2021 | Guest Perspective, Reflection
By Patrick O’Dea
EDITOR’S NOTE: Patrick is a 66-year-old runner who participates in both of my running groups in the Fort Lauderdale area. Last year he decided to extend his running into an everyday activity, putting together a streak that now covers 365 days and counting. What follows, below, is his own account of his start in the sport and how he became a streaker. As someone who has ran hundreds of miles with him, I can attest on how much he has improved during this last year, proving that a well-managed life can allow for this type of endeavors.
Hello from a fellow runner who has not missed one day of running in the last 365 days. My name is Patrick O\’Dea and South Florida has been my home since 1979. I grew up in Ireland and graduated from college there. I followed my brother Stephen to Miami, and I am still here. Why? You can only handle so much wind and rain in one lifetime. Ireland may have 40 shades of green according to Johnny Cash, but it takes lots of rain to keep it that way.
Back in November 2020, Patrick, Nohra and Ted (all in the red singlets) ran the Virtual Marine Corps Marathon during a Hurricane Watch.
I came in search of sunshine and adventure and I\’m glad I did. I spent most of the last 40+ years as an educator, especially at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, here in Fort Lauderdale.
Now I am enjoying a slower pace, learning a little Spanish and Irish, serving on my condo board, and on the board of two Irish cultural organizations. I volunteer at St. Sebastian Church and I just finished a Leadership program with the City of Fort Lauderdale. I also run every single day.
I got seriously involved in running about eight years ago. Three factors got me going:
1 – My friend and school colleague Orestes, needed runners for a faculty team for the Mercedes Benz Corporate Run.
2 – Orange Theory just opened a gym in my backyard.
3 – New Year\’s resolution.
All three kicked in at the same time, and I am still running.
What has kept me going is the wonderful community of runners that I am privileged to be a part of four times a week. Every Tuesday and Thursday, we meet at Runners Depot, our local running store, for a 5-mile run, or we run bridge-repeats over the 17 Street Causeway Bridge, “our local hill” in a flat area. On Saturdays and Sundays, we meet at our favorite Colombian bakery and we run the Hollywood Broadwalk. I have also run with several local groups, which motivates me to run faster.
So far, I have finished 3 marathons including the Marine Corps virtual last year with Norha and Ted, during a Hurricane Watch, no less. Yes, we are crazy! I also ran the Marabana, with Orestes and a handful of buddies, during a torrential downpour in La Habana, Cuba. Maybe the rain is following me from Ireland. Both are memorable events in my running career. I would love to run the real Marine Corps Marathon, one day. It’s a cool way to see a great city.
Patrick with his 2020 1K Medal at his favorite Saturday Morning post-run breakfast joint.
I have met my 365 goal, already but I want to achieve 1,000 miles this year ASAP. I am amazed by runners who have already done it in 2 or 3 months! Unbelievable!
What really keeps me running every day is my local running family, where we are there for each other in good times and bad. I appreciate their support and encouragement and I am blessed to be part of an amazing group of people who talk the talk and walk the walk. That is what gets me up before dawn every Saturday and Sunday.
During my 365-day streak, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, and I am proud of my achievement. I never felt like quitting as I had come too far to throw in the towel. Even now, I run every day and want to continue as long as I feel good. I am blessed that I have no pains and aches as I run to keep up with my younger friends. I have no special diet and I take a handful of vitamins every day. My advice to aspiring runners: Just do it! Lace up your sneakers, put one foot in front of the other and let’s go! See you on the asphalt.
Let\’s run!
by Adolfo Salgueiro | 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.
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.
