Run Every Day: Why I Am A Run Streaker

Cascade Lakes Relay 2015 - just three weeks into my streak

On July 9, 2015, I registered with the United States Running Streak Association (USRSA) and started Day One of my Run Streak.  I had no idea the places my feet would take me in the days, weeks, months and years that followed.  I also had no idea how much interest other people would have in my streak.  Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that I get.

Q:  What are the rules?
A: The rules are simple.  To be a recognized "Streaker" by USRSA, each runner must  "run at least one mile (1.61 kilometers) within each calendar day.  Running may occur on either the roads, a track, over hill and dale, or on a treadmill" for a minimum of 365 days.  When I first started my streak, other Streakers told me that the mile had to be "one continuous mile" for a minimum of 365 days.  If you stop mid-mile, you have to start your mile over.  Streakers who have been doing it for years are very particular about the Consecutive Without Stopping part.  Rumor has it they have even gone so far as to say you could run a full marathon, but if you stopped in the middle of each mile it wouldn't count toward your streak. This made me laugh.  Talk about rigid.  But I get it.  If you don't hold fast to this rule, people would find a way around it, stopping multiple times per mile because they are tired and say it counts as a mile. I respect the Continuous Mile and on more than one occasion have had to start my mile over again because of red lights, shoes coming untied, etc.

You do not have to run a certain pace to qualify as a run streaker.  It just has to be one continuous running motion for a mile.  Anyone could do this.

The USRSA Director read my post and wanted to include this addendum: " While you may adhere to the continuous mile rule for your own streak, our streak association dropped the rule a couple of years ago."

Sunlight on my face. Sweat on my brow.  Just how I like it.

Q:  How do I register as a Run Streaker?
A:  Go to http://www.runeveryday.com and fill out the registration form.  Send in your $20 annual membership fee and you're off and running (pun intended).

Q:  What is your run streak goal?
A:  My original goal was a minimum of 365 days.  I wanted my name on the docket at USRSA.  But I got to 365 days and I was addicted.  There was no part of me that wanted to stop streaking, so I set a new goal.  1,000 days.  I want that run streak comma.  I'm 85 days away from that goal and that makes me VERY happy.

Track workouts - I have a love/hate relationship with them

One year streaking in the books

Day 900 was Christmas Day 2017.  My whole family ran 1.5 miles with me so that our total would be 9 miles for 900 days.  They are awesome.

Q: Why a run streak?
A:  In July 2015 I was already running five or six days a week and in great shape.  My good friend Paula started a run streak on January 1st, 2009.  She hasn't missed a day of running in over nine years. She inspires me. Paula could tell that her streak intrigued me, so she asked me, "Why are you not streaking?" I couldn't get that question out of my mind. I unofficially started a streak.  Ran five days in a row and purposely skipped the sixth day.  Instead of appreciating the rest, I was irritated with myself for sitting on the Run Streak fence.  The next day, I put my money where my dream was and registered with USRSA.  Then told my husband Curt I was an official Run Streaker.

Paula, Amanda (middle) and I ran a half marathon a couple weeks before I started my run streak.

The timing was terrible to start a streak.  Curt was working a more than full time, high stress job while simultaneously going to full time graduate school to earn his doctorate.  He was one year into a three year program, and we hardly ever saw him.  All four of our kids play sports year round and at the time, none of them were driving, so I spent the majority of my time chauffeuring and coordinating sports calendars.  When I wasn't doing that I was running my photography business.  Adding one more Must Do Today seemed stupid, but I felt pulled to give it a try.  I'm so glad I did.  The streak has been one of the best gifts to me and my family.

My run streak has been a stabilizing force in a chaotic season in my family's life.  No matter what the day threw at me, I knew I would run.  I've done some of the best business planning, talking to Jesus, and friendship building on the run. I come home from a run with a clear head and focused vision for each day. My run streak has made me a better wife, mother and friend. Every day for more than 900 days, I have chosen to honor the commitment I made to run one mile.  It's empowering to know I can do hard things.  God knew I needed this.

Dawn is one of my best friends.  I learn so much about running and life by training with her.  We got DRENCHED in this 10k on Thanksgiving Day 2016.

It was NOT raining on this half marathon day.  We ran every step together and won our age group so we got huge bottles of wine.

Q: Where do you run?
A:  Always outside.  Always.  I'm not sure I even know how to work a treadmill.  I'm never without my Handful Bra because I have a permanent tan line from them.

Never without my Handful.

Q:  What about bad weather?
A:  When you're a streaker, the question is not IF you're going to run, it's WHEN you're going to run. So I just get it done.  I'm grateful Oregon is so temperate and I can run outside every day. Last winter it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained.  I rotated my shoes on the heating vent and was very sick of feeling like a raisin.  I have fallen multiple times due to slick road conditions, ice, tree roots, etc.  Thankfully none of these falls have resulted in significant injuries.

Selfie after another skin-drenching run in the rain

After one of my falls.  Darn tree roots.

Q: Don't you get sick?
A:  Yes.  Those are the days when I just run a slow mile or two.  Those are also the days when being a Streaker feels hard.

Some running days just feel like this.

Q: What about injuries?
A:  Yep.  Paula has a motto, "Run yourself better" and I've adopted it.  When I'm hurting, I modify my workout to baby whatever is not 100% and do what it takes to get back to running injury free.  I've utilized yoga, physical therapy, massage, and easier workouts to keep bouncing back. Fortunately none of my injuries have been Streak Ending ones, but streaking does take a toll.  I am currently addressing lingering tendonitis in a knee that has been very sore for months.

Q: What are the craziest places/times you've run?
A:  When we hike, I still have to run at least one mile. One time I ran circles around the lake we hiked up to, but most of the time, I run the road from the trailhead back down the mountain for a mile and then my family picks me up.  I've run laps around high schools in between water polo games, before photo shoots, in between soccer games, and circles around the traffic lights downtown Portland so I didn't have to start my mile over.  On day 699, I almost forgot to run.  I remembered when someone at a graduation party asked me how far I ran that day - it made for a late night run on a belly full of party food, but Curt and I got it done.  I have run down Mt. Hood, on Huntington Beach, and along the Deschutes River.  Through the forest, around neighborhoods, down country roads, and through the urban core of big cities.  I've run on gravel, single track, pavement, cement, and the track. I have run by myself, with my friends, and with my family. Curt and I run together every Sunday.  It has been incredible.

Running down the trail above Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood

Running has given me some of my best friends.  And Oregon is not an ugly place to run.

Q: Has the streak made you a better runner?
A:  YES!  Running every day without a purpose is boring.  To keep it interesting, I started racing more.  With each new training schedule, I got stronger and faster.  I won the 2016 Vernonia Marathon, shattering my previous marathon PR by twelve minutes.  I also won a local 10k with a sub-7 pace, something that is super hard for me.  This summer I finished an ultra relay, splitting 216.6 very difficult miles with five other runners in 29 hours.  My portion was 40 miles   It was the most difficult and exhilarating accomplishment to date.  My run streak helped me accomplish these things.

I will never forget this moment - crossing the finish line of a marathon with a shiny new PR and as the first woman. 

I ran so much faster than I thought I would that Curt missed the finish.  LOL.

finishing the Eugene Marathon this year was bittersweet.  Second fastest marathon, but not the race I trained for.  This race wrecked me for weeks.

10k Winner and a sub-7 pace!

My Ultra Relay day taking one for the team and running one very stiff and slow mile with me the morning after our race.

Q:  How many miles do you run a day?
A: In 2016, I averaged a 10k a day.  This year, I had to reduce my mileage starting in September because of tendonitis in my knee.  It brought my average to 5.6 miles a day. The days when I just run one mile are few and far between.  If I'm going to get sweaty, I might as well make it count.

during the Cascade Lakes Relay 2017

Q: How many miles have you run?
A: In three years (January 1, 2015 to date), I have run more than 6,000 miles: the same distance it is from Portland, Oregon to Bucharest, Romania. This boggles my mind.

I ran with Curt up the backside of Mt. Bachelor during his ridiculously hard leg of the Cascade Lakes Relay.

I was his water sherpa and his encourager.  We both wept when he finished.  It's one of the greatest things we've done together - top ten dates for sure. My run streak gave us this memory.

Q: When will you quit?
A: I used to say, "I have no plans to quit."  However, I'm feeling compelled to end the streak after 1,000 days.  Curt graduated in June with a doctorate in Education Leadership.  Having him around again to help me navigate our crazy life makes me less needy for a run every day.  My continuing achy knee is also nudging me toward taking a break from running. So that's where I'm at right now.  Ask me in another thirty days and I might feel compelled to keep streaking.  It's pretty addicting.

Starting my first leg of the CLR ultra.

Q:  What does your family think of your streak?
A:  They have been very supportive.  It's nice that Curt worked in orthopedics for so many years.  He's my sounding board for all my aches and pains and I trust his advice.  I was recently interviewed by Runners World about my streak.  The article focused on what it's like to live with a streaker.  Here's a link to the article.  I still can't believe I got to share my running story in such an iconic publication.

So there you have it.  The most frequently asked questions I get about being a run streaker.  If you have one for me, leave it in the comments and I'll gladly answer it.

Run on Friends.

#runeveryday #runstreaker #whyirun