Day 22

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 6am
• From/To Home
• First time I really considered discountining "The Streak"-- just feel like crap.   My Father was complaining of a sore throat and now I seem to have the same, head is still messed up as all I want to do is sleep, plus I've hocked up a half gallon of snot varying in color.   Knew the run wouldn't be that bad and it wasn't about not being able to complete it, but rather the thought that it really could be "The Streak" that is preventing me from getting over these various undesirable feelings of ill health.   Anyway, "The Streak" goes on....

Day 21

• 1.6 miles
• Slow
• 8:30pm
• From/To Home
• Very close to not doing this one -- absurd cold symptoms back, just feel like crap when I get home.   Seriously considering going to the doctor to have them draw blood.   Bec thinks maybe it's an ulcer?  Anyway, cool evening, easy run, knees feel tired...have though that perhaps "The Streak" is causing the health issues, at this point plan to run through it.   As always, we shall see...

Day 20

• 3 miles
• Slow
• 8:30am
• From/To home
• Felt a little better today, still feel sinus issues...debating going to the freakin doctor.  Taking today off from work as my folks are in town -- in even more exciting news, today is the relaunch of The McRib, Case and I will be going there for lunch.

Day 19

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 7:15am
• From/To Home
• Pushed Case in the Burley bike trailer.   Huge difference from the Maclaren, negligible difference from running with no stroller, which is nice.   Still have this stupid sinus thing, Motrine seems to help it, but I can't take that every day, want to wake up feeling good to see how that will affect my running.   Today was not difficult though, nothing hurt except my sinuses.   (Did feed Finn from 0130-0310...have to see how that affects me rest of the week)

Day 18

• 6.2 miles
• Slow
• 5:55am
• From/To Home
• The cold/sinus thing in still lingering -- giant and discusting snot coming out with every blow -- but not real bad, just makes me feel sluggish.   Went especially slow so this wasn't hard, but I still find myself looking forward to considering any run "easy."   18 is not my favorite number...three 6's is just not something I like, so here's hoping I survive until tomorrow to get past it.  

Day 17

• 5 miles
• 9 min/mi pace
• 6:25am
• From/To home
• Woke up a bit dehydrated resulting in this run being far more difficult than any slow 5 mile run should be...wasn't bad, but it wasn't as easy as it should have been.  Thought of 17 as I ran, Kip Winger played in my head and then I also recalled that the first girl I ever really "dated" was #17 on the SPX soccer team.  Anyway, "The Streak" goes on....

Day 16

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 6:30am
• From/To Home (around the block)
• Case was awake so I decided to take him with me, in the Maclaren stroller.   Maclaren strollers are not built for running, this was much more difficult than intened, but Case seemed to enjoy it.  "The Streak" goes on...

Day 15

• 3.2 miles
• 8:45/mi pace
• 5:45am
• From/To Home (Over walking bridge over 101 and back)
• Continue to feel better each day with regard to the sinus/cold deal, but stomach a little jacked today -- probably from eating to much at Black Bear diner last night with Jenyang and his girlfriend and Case.   Didn't feel as sluggish this morning and knee didn't bother me once I got going...though it was concerning when I woke up (seems I hurt it when playing with Case regularly).   Anyway, nothing special about this run, just stressed about work for half an hour then I was done running and could stress while making breakfast etc.  "The Streak" goes on...

Day 14

• 5 miles
• 8:50/mi pace
• 5:25am
• From/To Home
• Well, the shoes I ordered did come in and right on the day they were supposed too...but they're ALL BLACK.  Yeah.  Probably the ONLY color scheme I won't tolerate, except that, yeah, I opened them and ran in them this morning.  I honestly do hate the look of them, but I needed new shoes and almost immediately I was happy I hadn't sent them back to await the white/blue/gray color combo I had ordered because my knees felt significantly better with every foot strike (more runner dork speak, not doing well with this, could be a problem).   Anyway, nothing special about the run, again promised myself not to pick up the pace until Thanksgiving...not sure why really because I imagine I can pick up the pace now and not injury myself, but I'm going with that thought for now -- perhaps it is a patience test I'm giving myself.   I am getting over the cold or sinus infection or whatever, so hopefully I'll feel 100% soon, though the night with Mr. Finn (Becca says maybe it's a growth spurt?) may delay me feeling fully recovered a bit as I was up at 2am and again at 4, without any real belief that I fell asleep between them.   Anyway, "The Streak" goes on!  2 weeks, a milestone I guess.

Day 13

• 3.1 miles
• Slow
• 5:50am
• From/To Home (roundtrip to walking bridge over 101)
• Feeling better today though still a bit congested -- when hearing that my teeth hurt yesterday a friend diagnosed that I may have a sinus infection, since that moment it has seemed as such.  That stated, I did feel much better today and had no difficulty extending "The Streak" today.  (Unassociated but noteworthy, Finn slept in his own room for the first time last night, which may be another reason why I feel better today.   Somewhat associated, I believe my new shoes, ordered on-line, a first for me, should arrive today...man, I think that sentence just confirmed that I'm leaning towards runner dork tendancies....have to keep an eye on that to see how it plays out)

Day 12

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 6:45am
• From/To Home (loop around the block)
• Just to continue "The Streak."   Have a cold, hate it more with every passing minute.  F, how did I get this cold?!   "The Streak" goes on...

Day 11

Sunday October 16, 2011

• 3.2 miles
• 9:07/mile pace
• 8am
• From/To Home (over walking bridge crossing 101)
• Did this with Becca, schedule called for 9 miles, no way I would've even done 1 if it weren't for this streak.  First challege if it can be called that, have full on cold.  I hate colds.

Day 10

Saturday October 15, 2011

• 5 miles
• Slow
• 7am
• From/To Home
• Went well considering that I was very tired and congested, feeling like a cold coming on.   I hate colds.  Hate.

Day 9

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 6am
• From/To Home
• Felt fine, warmed up with exercises listed below.
• 100 sit-ups, 25 pull-ups

Day 8

• 3.5 miles
• Slow
• 6am
• From/To Home
• Right knee still feels brittle when starting out, but OK thereafter.  Ran with Becca and discussed the fact that this could be our last run together for years...(last night felt fatigue in my legs same as night before...this every day stuff is already taking a toll, which is pathetic -- guess I'll have to hope to play my way into shape..).

Day 7

• 5 miles
• 8:59/mile pace
• 6am
• From/To Home
• Felt pretty tired last night, legs exhausted to the point of reminding me of Ironman Training...this is not very encouraging since I barely eclipsed 20 miles over the past 7 days, but whatever, hopefully I'll start feeling better.   The slight chaffing (underwear too small?  Man, I am fat) noticed only yesterday was not noticed today.   Right knee felt a little old until maybe half a mile...sped up as I went, finishing final mile in around 8 minute pace, marking the first sub 9 pace I've felt like doing (not counting treadmill runs) since beginning "The Streak."  
• 100 Push-ups (20 of which were with Case on my back), 125 sit-ups

Day 6

• 3.1 miles
• Slow place (9+mins/mi)
• 6:45am
• From/to Home
• Body felt a bit better today, though I felt wrecked last night...ran with Becca today for the first time in forever, very cool, Gran watched the boys during our short run.  (Longest run for Bec since Finn was born 29 days ago)

Day 5

• 1.7 miles
• Slow pace
• 5:40am
• From/to Home
• Felt a bit creaky, knees felt a little stiff and old, considered only doing 1 mile, pressed on.  Officially decided to blog about "The Streak."
• 120 push-ups, 150 sit-ups:   Not yet pushing any efforts to exaustion/failure, wondering when I might start. 

Day 4

OCTOBER 9, 2011

• 8 miles
• 9 min/mi pace (roughly, not yet wearing Garmin or any watch)
• From/to Home
• First run in a year with headphones/i-shuffle, concentrated on keeping pace slow as I feared I wouldn't be able to finish -- had resigned myself to run/walk if necessary, but didn't need to.   Afternoon had slightly upset stomach, which I call the long run feeling, but still don't know if it may just be that I regularly drink too much chocolate milk after long runs, as I did this time as well.   No I don't plan to stop the practice.

Day 3

OCTOBER 8, 2011

• 5 Miles
  • 9+mins/mile pace
  • From/to home
• Felt Fine, went very slow, though training program said "Pace," I just wasn't up for it this early in the plan.  Hip ached in mid-afternoon, as if I had run 10+ miles...concerned about next days 8 miler planned.

Day 2

OCTOBER 7, 2011

• 1.7 miles
• 9+mins/mile pace
• From/to home
• Felt Fine
• 20 pull-ups

Day 1

As stated in the first posting, which I consider the Intro-Blog, the streak started 10/6/2011 in Somerset, NJ.   Ran on the treadmill of the Crown Plaza Hotel.

• 3 Miles
• 8:20/mile Pace
• 1.0 degree incline
• Felt fine

Prior to 10/6 my "Exercise Streak" started on 10/3 with the following:

1. 10/3   100 push-ups, 125 sit-ups at home
2. 10/4    2.6 Mile run around neighborhood in Glendale, AZ
3. 10/5    100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups on hotel floor in Long Island, NY (Holiday Inn Express, JFK, awful hotel)

Starting a running streak -- and a running streak blog

"The Streak" as I will call it even though that may be the least creative name for it possible, started 10/6/2011, my 39th birthday.   That day I ran 3 miles on a treadmill in Somerset, NJ (Crown Plaza, because I couldn't get my friends John or Mark to pick up their phones and therefore couldn't stay at John house as I usually do when in the area).   Actually, I started an "Exercise Streak" 3 days before, so I'll effectively be keeping track of that as well, but for now let me just define "The Streak," type out a few goals and then catch up on the postings so that hopefully this can be easily maintained through the duration of the streak...which, yeah, could end tomorrow...

• "The Streak" refers to the consecutive number of days I have run at least 1 mile.   
• The 1 mile distance is what "running streaker’s" who formed the United States Running Streak Association (USRSA) Inc. have deemed the minimum required for an official running streak to be recognized by their organization and certified with publication on their website.   I don’t have a desire to be on their website or certified by them officially, but the 1 mile minimum seems to legitimize the effort simply because of the USRSA existence and apparent mastery of the concept.  (Read more on this website if you care to learn more about those freaks:  http://runeveryday.com/)
• I may make my minimum distance requirement 1.5 miles; a) just because, b) one loop around the block I live on = 1.7 miles (roughtly…gmaps-pedometer.com measures it at 1.7, whereas my Garmin 305 usually has it between 1.65 and 1.67) and c) that seems like a good amount of time to get warmed up properly so that I can then stretch, which I plan to do after every run for cliché reasons.
• “Exercise Streak” refers to the consecutive number of days I have done some exercising…yes, running counts, however, if the exercising completed is something other than running I have come up with the following minimums, strictly out of my own head:
• 100 combined reps of push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups.
• Hiking longer than 45 minutes
• 20 minutes of continuous distance-covering swimming  

Goals:

• Well, I actually do need to lose a few pounds.  Most people, possibly just being nice, say I don’t appear to, but I think that’s mostly just because I am still quite a small guy.  Fact is, my pants don’t fit…I can still wear them, but they don’t fit and I’m far too cheap to buy new ones, so I had to do something.   I weigh 155 lbs. right now.   (If I redistribute that is fine as well, I weighed 164 in college and my pants fit...yes, some of the same pairs, my wife has many reasons to hate me)
• Just see how long this streak will last…another week?   (Blog started at day 8 of Exercise Streak and day 5 of Running Streak)
• Put down my very brief (this may be the most text I write on any single blog as I envision very short statement-style postings each day or each week...we shall see) thoughts as I go.   I want to have a record of starting an exercise lifestyle from close to zero fitness…it has been forever since I worked out with any regularity at all and I’m probably in as bad a shape as I can remember being…well, ever.
• Build base for a Marathon in 2012…I’ve done 4 of them, but since I’m in rather soft shape they seem like a billion years ago and completed by someone else.  Right now I’m eyeing the Missoula, MT marathon with a friend who is an entirely over the top triathlete guy named Elliot.  (Since I generally do best on a “plan” I printed out Hal Higdon’s Intermediate I plan for running a marathon and will follow that, plus the 1.7 mile jaunts on off days and additional push-ups/sit-ups/pull-ups/whatever-I-feel-like stuff.   Hal will run you into the ground, so using that as a base builder should put me in position to ramp up the speed work thereafter as a few month tune up to Missoula…best laid plans right?)

How I plan to accomplish…well, conceptually it isn’t very hard.  Just run every day and if that streak, excuse me, “The Streak” gets broken then see if I can at least exercise so that I can continue that streak.   Right now Becca and I have settled on the morning feeding of our newborn, Finn, being the starting gun for my various efforts…eventually I’ll have to lay out a more formal plan as the runs/work-outs may take longer to complete, but for now this should allow me to keep “The Streak” going provided that my head stays in it.  I’ll also have to always have gear with me and think ahead a little bit when traveling….not sure how I’ll settle on making sure “The Streak” continues when I travel to Asia for instance because on the clock at least I miss complete days when doing that, but I suppose I could look up Greenwich Mean Time and always go by that, or something.   Again, we’ll see, but if I remain mentally committed to it then there should always be a way and if I don’t, well, then it will end and I’ll post one last entry stating “THE END.”   So, here goes I guess…