So I only made it two weeks. I guess I shouldn’t say “only,” because for me, that’s really an accomplishment. But it was time for me to be done.
Why I Stopped Streaking:
- My boobs hurt. Yes, TMI I know, but true. Having the impact of a run every single day was hurting me.
- My IT bands and calves are crazy tight, even though I stretched almost every single day and rolled fairly often.
- I didn’t have enough clean running clothes to run every single day. Putting on stinky, used clothes for a run is no fun.
- I was showering twice a day. Sure, if I’d just gotten my lazy ass up and run first thing, I would only have had to shower once, but that just wasn’t happening.
- I was starting to resent having to run, which completely defeats the whole purpose
What I Learned While Streaking:
- There is truth to the adage “If it’s important, you make the time;” but some days, you really don’t have time to run. As the streak progressed, I was amazed at how easy it was most days to squeeze in a mile or two here and there. On days when I ordinarily would have said, “Oh, I’m too busy,” or, “Hmm, the weather is really gross,” and skipped a planned run, the siren song of the perfect streak would be enough to make me put my shoes on and go. BUT, there were truly days where squeezing in that run actually made my day harder and more stressful, and if it weren’t for the streak, I probably would have skipped the run and been better off for it. And that’s ultimately why I stopped; I just hit a day where trying to make myself run would have pushed me over the edge.
- Recovery efforts are critical. I stretched and/or foam rolled after almost every single run during my streak, and even so, my calves and IT bands were super tight after two weeks. I can’t imagine where I’d be now if I hadn’t kept up with the stretching and rolling.
- Runger is real and dangerous. I was CONSTANTLY hungry after the first week, and that was only running one or two miles a day most days. I had to seriously re-work most of my meals and snacks. If I didn’t eat every couple of hours, I started to hulk out and be angry. This was very eye-opening regarding my upcoming marathon training. I need to figure out food/fuel if I don’t want to end up eating all the carbs and gaining 20 pounds.
How I Feel About Ending the Streak:
Honestly? I feel relieved. I was feeling so much pressure to keep up with the streak, and it was stressing me right out. I was running because I felt like I HAD to and not because I wanted to. I’m glad I tried, but equally glad my attempt is over now.
Will I Attempt a Streak Again:
Probably not, unless my life circumstances change significantly. Working full time, doing theatre part time, and trying to keep my apartment clean and still have friends is quite enough to keep me busy; adding a run every single day on top of that is a bit much.
