Run Streak

June is usually a time in between races. And hot. And humid. It's no surprise I have no motivation to run. So it was pure luck on my part that Runners World introduced #RWRunStreak this summer.  Starting from Memorial Day and ending on Independence Day, the goal is to run at least 1 mile every day. What is 1 mile after running a half marathon? I am on this like white on rice!

I have never run everyday. Before this year, I have never run more than once per week. I was a weekend runner. But because of the training for my first half, I upped it to 3 runs per week. That is still, at the very least, 2 days of rest in between runs. I can and have found excuses to put off running for another day.

But with the #RWRunStreak, I can't have excuses. Raining? Too hot? Too humid? While it is only 1 mile, it is still something I have to plan for. If I run in the early evening after work, I can't prepare dinner until after my run (luckily, my family has elevated snacking into an art form). If I have to be somewhere in the evening, I have to make plans to run in the morning or at lunch time. It occupies a great portion of my thoughts daily. I have to make sure I bring a gym bag to work or replenish my gym bag with clean clothes, etc. And I have missed a day or two of running due to commitments. I make it up by doing a long run the next day.

I have a pile of dirty, sweaty running clothes at the end of the week. I had to buy more running shorts tops and socks. I suppose I could just do laundry more often, but where's the fun in that?

The first week of the ##RWRunStreak, my right knee hurt like crazy. I couldn't do lunges without pain in my knee. Eventually, the pain went away. But now, I find my left hip stiff and sore after sitting for a long time. Maybe I should stretch more since I am running more often. Shorter runs for sure but more often.

It's a scorcher out there

The worst, more painful run during this whole #RWRunStreak was last night. The Washington DC area is experiencing a terrible, record-breaking heat wave this week. I have been running indoors at the Gold's Gym by my work at lunchtime. But yesterday was the peak of the heatwave and I couldn't find it in me to walk 3 blocks in the heat to hit the treadmill. So I didn't. I ran instead after dinner, close to sunset at around 7:30pm. It was still 95 degrees when I went out. Boy, it was painful. I could only do 1.16 miles. But hey, the streak is still alive!

And that's what the #RWRunStreak is for me. I'm a naturally lazy person - I have to force myself to ignore the excuses and get out there. In the end, there is no medal waiting for me. But I still achieve my personal best. 

You best believe I am counting down the days until July 4th......