500 days of running
Still going!
Today marked my 500th day in a row of running.
Why am I doing this? I don’t know, ha ha. I started something and now I don’t want to stop.
On Nov. 13, 2023, one day after I turned 49, I thought a good way to welcome in my 50th year would be to run every day. I had done various daily running streaks in the past, like running every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. My only requirement was that it be at least one mile. Pace didn’t matter; a slow shuffle would count. I also could take a break if I needed, but more than half of the distance needed to be a run/jog.
I’ve been running since I was a girl. I’d get antsy over summer vacation and when I’d had enough of the CBS daytime line-up (the morning news, The Price Is Right, and then the soaps), I’d head outside and jog around the perimeter of the homestead. We lived in the country, next to my grandpa’s farmhouse. Corn and soybean fields surrounded us. No one told me to run. It felt innate. I went into a meditative zone when I ran.
So I know a little about running. And lest you say, your body needs a rest, you’re just going to get injured, I say this: I run slowwwwwwwwly. I’ve never been fast. A fast pace for me is a 10-minute mile. Most of my daily runs are slower than that. I’m basically doing a fast walk. You’d never tell someone to not walk every day, would you? I’m taking care of myself. I buy good shoes and replace them when needed.
Some observations:
There have been very few days when I haven’t felt like running. Knock on wood, but I’ve been relatively healthy. I’ve had a couple of colds, but I went slower than usual if I haven’t felt 100 percent.
If I don’t feel like running I remind myself that it’s a huge gift to be able to.
On those challenging days I tell myself to put on my running gear and don’t think. Just do it. Don’t think about being tired or being busy.
Running on the back end of traveling has been challenging, but I tell myself it’s just one mile. I’ve done my mile after serious jet lag coming back from Amsterdam and Hawaii. After the run I actually felt better — the fresh air did good.
It’s been so fun to run in the places where I’ve traveled. It’s a good way to get an up-close look of new places.
It’s inspired me to live a little healthier. I’ve always been pretty good about eating well, but I pay more attention now to my water and protein intake. Or if I have alcohol in the evening, I think about how challenging the next day’s run will be if I decide to have one glass too many :)
I’m busy. At times, really, really busy. Like so busy I get panick-y and wonder when I’ll get everything done. But I’ve come to welcome the 10-15 minute break even during super busy times. It gets my head back into a right place.
I’ve been blessed with a couple of mild winters. I mostly run outside. I have a crappy treadmill at home that sometimes decides not to work. I have a gym membership so sometimes I run there. Probably 90 percent of my runs have been outside.
I’ve run during intense grief — after my mother-in-law’s funeral, after my sweet dog Nina went to sleep in my arms. That was brutal, but again, desperately needed.
This feels like a big deal but also like not a big deal at all. Now it just feels like something I do, like brushing my teeth.
Will I keep going? As long as I can. I just take it one day at a time.
I love that you remind yourself that it's a huge gift to be able to run. That is so true and it is so important to be thankful. Great reminder!
Not even I can run every day—kudos to you!