I’m running every single day this year. Every single day. Today was Day 223.
Continue reading “For 223, I did 12.0…”
Category: Running/Marathons
24,901
Well, I did it. Finally. Amazingly. I did it.
Quick quiz, what is the significance of 24,901?
Before I give you the answer, I need to go back to the beginning… at least the beginning of when I began to keep track of such trivial things, 1992.
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186 Days
I haven’t updated this quest in a while.
My goal in 2022 is to run every single day, without fail. Today I hit day #186. I’m on target, I’m strong, and I’m feeling good.
I have exercised every day for a year. I’ve done that a lot. But I have never run every day for a year. I tried a few times, but the first time I didn’t make it out of January and the next time I didn’t make it out of February. This year I was determined to make it.
And I am. I’m well on my way.
***
Some days, like today, I don’t feel much like running. I love to run, but doing it every single day is a drag sometimes.
It’s a drag until I get out the door. Once I’m out, and moving, I usually feel good. Today I figured I’d run three miles. Instead, I did six.
My longest run this year is seven miles. That won’t be good enough soon as in a few weeks I’ll have to start ramping up for the 16-week training program for the New York City Marathon in November.
I have figured out how to run every day and not get injured (yet?), but the big test will be able to rebound from real long runs, like 15 to 20-milers, and still be able to run the next day. I’m not how sure that’ll go.
I’ll soon find out.
142 – So Much To Say…
…so little time.
Continue reading “142 – So Much To Say…”
125
Just a quick update to share that today I completed my 125th consecutive day of running.
My goal of running every day in 2022 is going strong.
It’s great to set goals.
It’s great to work toward goals.
It’s great to mark the progress along the way!
Impossible is an illusion.
Dream BIG! You can live YOUR dreams.
Make your dreams your realities!
More soon!
100 Consecutive Days Running!!!
The first HUGE step is over.
Today I hit my 100th consecutive day of running.
I set out this year to run every single day.
And I am doing it!
Continue reading “100 Consecutive Days Running!!!”
80!
I killed my run today. Crushed it.
After 1 mile, I was at 8:56.
After 2 miles – 17:39 (That was an 8:43 mile.)
After 3 miles – 26:17 (8:38)
After 4 miles – 34:41(8:24)
After 5 miles – 42:50 (8:09)
All of that, a faster-and-faster five-miler to celebrate my 80th Consecutive Day of Running!
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#44 On The 44th Thinking About #44
My favorite football memory of all-time is of my favorite football player of all-time running and running and running in Super Bowl XVII.
I’m talking about John Riggins and his amazing performance against the Miami Dolphins that day.
In that game, John Riggins carried the ball 38 times for 166 yards, and one touchdown. That touchdown came on his famous fourth down run where he broke through the defense and ran 43 yards for the score. It’s my favorite football moment of all time.
One day I’d like to meet John Riggins and thank him for that memory. I replay that game in my mind often. Never have I enjoyed such happiness watching a football game.
John Riggins wore uniform #44
***
Today is the 44th day of the year.
Continue reading “#44 On The 44th Thinking About #44”
1,000 Miles!
2016 was a long time ago.
I was still in my forties, barely, by most measures, but I was still there. I turned 48 that year.
2016 was the last year that I was able to accumulate 1,000 running miles in a calendar year. In the immediate years before 2016, I started breaking down, started having multiple running injuries.
But, still I ran. On and on. As I always hope to.
After reaching 1,000 miles in 2016, I was unable to make that mark again. I pushed my body as best I could. I still worked out every day, or almost every day, but I couldn’t maintain high mileage weeks or months.
And, in January 2020, almost two years ago now, I went under the knife to repair the tears in my right Achilles tendon. (The tears in my tendon had led to the tears in my eyes as I pushed and tried to struggle through an injury that just wasn’t going to heal on its own.)
I have chronicled the surgery and its aftermath on these pages time and again.
The surgery went well. The physical therapy went well. And I found myself getting stronger and stronger, day by day, week by week, and month by month.
Well, today I reached a milestone. A big milestone. Huge, if you ask me.
Today, after I ran a nice solid (and somewhat fast for me) seven-miler (57:44), I once again reached the thousand-mile mark. 2021 has been a success. It’s been a great success. Huge, if you ask me.
It’s funny, I never had any doubt that I’d eventually get back and be the runner I used to be. I’m not there yet. I’m older and slower. I might never be as fast as I used to be again. (And that’s okay.) But I still want to be the guy that can run and run and run some more.
I want to be the guy that can reach 1,000 miles (and more) year after year after year.
I don’t ever want to stop.
I believe that in life we have to find ways, many ways, to push ourselves. We have to always strive to be more than we were and better than we are.
I took a big step back today.
I rejoined the thousand-mile club.
It’s great. And I feel great.
I can’t wait to see what 2022 brings.
***
(I’ll be working on a running book in 2022 that will be a completely original, motivational, and fun. Stay tuned!)
My 2021 New York City Marathon
NOTE – This article can also be found at Start Spreading the News.
***
Let me begin by saying that New York City, all five boroughs, are amazing, awesome, inspirational, supportive, and, just plain wonderfully great. I love all of it. Every person, every borough, every street… All of it.
New York is the greatest city in the world.
It just is.
***
Continue reading “My 2021 New York City Marathon”
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