Hey everyone! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak is over! It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, I absolutely loved knowing that every single day I had to run – no matter how cold it was, or how tired I was, I had to lace up my running shoes and do at least 1 mile. It took away that internal struggle that I always have about working out when I don’t feel like it, because there was only one option. But on the other hand, my legs are tired and I’m kind of looking forward to doing a workout that doesn’t revolve around running. So how did I do in my final week of streaking?
Thursday 12/26: 1 mile on the treadmill
Friday 12/27: 2 miles outside
Saturday 12/28: 1 mile on the treadmill
Sunday 12/29: 5 miles in the Kris Kringle Run (PR!!!)
Monday 12/30: 1 mile on the treadmill
Tuesday 12/31: 1 mile outside
Wednesday 1/1: 1 mile outside
Total miles this week: 12 miles
Total miles for the Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak: 69.1 miles
Week #5 was much easier than week #4! After taking so many easy days last week due to my busy schedule, I was excited to get in at least one longer run. I PRed at the Kris Kringle Run, and got used to running outside in my neighborhood! Even though I did mostly 1 milers towards the end (my friends were visiting from out of town and I really didn’t want to be out running for an hour while they were at my place!), I really ended on a high note. Although the streak is offically done, I might keep it going until I don’t feel like running anymore. It’s nice to have a daily goal that prevents me from skipping workouts. I think it will feel really strange to skip a day! I’ll let you guys know when I finally decide to break the streak!
If you’re thinking about doing a run streak in the future, I definitely recommend it! Before streaking I really wasn’t the best at working out on a regular schedule – I was only running about 3 times per week. I struggled to motivate myself to go for runs whenever I got lazy or busy, and occasionally skipped too many days in between runs. This challenge got me focused on running every day and by the end of the streak it was almost second nature to lace up every night. I found ways to keep myself happy during my runs by trying out new outdoor routes (I’ve never run so much in my neighborhood before!), finding new reality TV shows to keep me busy during my treadmill runs, and signing up for races that would be an easy way to get my milage done for the day. I definitely struggled at times, especially in the beginning when my legs were getting used to the frequent running and during the holidays when I was so busy that fitting in 1 mile seemed impossible. It’s definitely not easy, but it was worth it for me! And now I can say that in the last month and 3 days I’ve run 69.1!!!! That is definitely a new record for me and I can’t believe I did it! I think that doing this run streak has proven to me that I’m capable of running more than I ever thought possible. I’m so excited to see how many miles I can run in 2014!
How was your final week of streaking? Did you finish streaking today or are you keeping the streak alive?
Related articles
- Who wants to go streaking? (mtnmaven.wordpress.com)
- Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak: Week #1 (mtnmaven.wordpress.com)
- Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak: Week #2 (mtnmaven.wordpress.com)
- Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak: Week #3 (mtnmaven.wordpress.com)
- Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak: Week #4 (mtnmaven.wordpress.com)
Mom in the Mtns 
Great job on making it through the streak!
In addition to it taking away the internal struggle to get moving, I loved using the opportunity to explore some now routes as well.
I’m definitely keeping the streak going- I’m loving it right now 🙂
Thanks! It sounds like you had a good streak as well! I’m glad we’re both keeping up with it for the moment. I’m sure there will be a day when I stop running but it won’t be today!
Congrats on the PR! I’m right there with you – I’m not ready for the streak to be over quite yet. So I did another 2.5 this morning at the gym and I’ll just keep going – it’s a good habit to have!
Thanks! I think it’s awesome we’re going to keep running. I think without all the holiday distractions I’ll be able to keep this streak up for a while 🙂
Completing the streak is so impressive! I’ve been considering doing one as well but I probably will focus more on cross-training too.
It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought – once I got through week 1 I wasn’t in as much pain as I thought I would be in. You should definitely try it sometime!
YOU DID IT!!!! Congrats on a great streak lady!! Congratulations on your PR as well. 🙂 What a great way to end it!
I’m…still streaking haha. I have a weird thing with the number 52 so I’m going to go for 52 days. So I have a little less than 2 weeks to go because I started a few days before Thanksgiving. Stopping is going to be so weird!
That’s awesome that you’re still streaking for a while! I feel like you’ll probably get to day #52 and keep going 🙂 I think it’s going to feel so strange skipping a day!
Yay for getting through it and a great finish!!!
I’m hanging up my streaking shoes today- and am perfectiy at peace with it lol!—it worked out because my husband leaves for a work trip and I wouldn’t have been able to continue if I’d wanted to anyway. I’m happy I was able to go start to finish : )
That’s awesome! I just feel too weird about stopping right now, but I’m sure there will be a day very soon where I choose to stop! Congrats on finishing!
Way to go on your run streak! That’s a huge accomplishment 🙂 I didn’t partake in a challenge in December due to work taking over my life but this sounds like a fantastic idea.
Thanks! It was definitely tough with a busy schedule but it was fun too! You should just start your own random running streak 🙂
Good for you and well done on your PR…I was going to do this too but then…well I don’t really have an excuse but I just didn’t do it. Maybe I should start a streak now. Do you think your PR was due to your running each day and your body just getting better at it? If you say yes then I’ll definitely start streaking 🙂
You totally should! It was horrible during week #1 but now my legs don’t hurt anymore (at least not when I’m keeping my milage low). I actually don’t know why I PRed! At first I thought “Oh it was so snowy last year so of course I would run it faster this year” but it was so cold and rainy this year so I really don’t think weather had anything to do with it 🙂 I think I just am a much better runner this year than I was last year and I actually learned how to run in the cold so I think that’s what did it! And I guess the streak helped me do that since I was running so much outside, so I guess maybe in some way the PR is because of that? 😛
I need to join in next time! I need the accountability of something like that.
It seriously was an awesome way to make myself work out daily. I think I’m addicted to challenges now! I just found one today that I haven’t blogged about yet – if you click the winter miles challenge button on the side of my blog all the info is on Run With Jess’s blog! You set your own weekly milage goal and can win fun prizes and since it’s free I just had to join!
Way to go! Once you establish a routine/habit, things really start to take off from there!
So true! I always heard that it takes 21 days to create a habit and I could definitely tell that it was true during the run streak. Now I don’t want to stop!
Congrats on completing the streak and on the 5K PR. Awesome job.