Run(streak)fessions

Well, it's my final appearance at the Runfessional for 2018. It's only appropriate I chat about my last running hurrah of the year.

Have you all heard? I have been streaking!

Not running naked (sans clothing), mind you. I'm pretty open minded, but running in the buff ain't gonna happen for me (you can thank me later). I have done the majority of these streak runs, though, via a different kind of "naked," sans music or technology. And I have done all of them outdoors.

Here's a few highlights and a few runfessions about this experience...

First of all, let me runfess that this streak did not begin with the greatest attitude. I have done the Runner's World Winter Streak for the past five years, so it feels like an annual obligation now (previous recaps from 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013). Since I know it's for a relatively short time (Thanksgiving through New Years Day), I temporarily ignore all my misgivings about the (potential) dangers of daily running. This year, however, I was just coming off a really tough marathon. My hamstrings and glutes (and, I believe ALL of their corresponding tendons) were feeling alright, but not great. I'd had a month of recovery, but I knew I was not quite back to my old self yet. I made a promise to myself (and to anyone who was listening) that I would try streaking for a week or so, and bail on it if things would begin to feel worse.      

Thanksgiving morning...three miles to start the 2018 Winter Streak

Much to my surprise, the daily running actually made all my residual aches and pains feel better. The first 10 days or so had streak runs of only 1-2 miles, and they all were easy-paced. I gotta runfess, I was expecting things to feel cranky and strained, but everything felt great. In fact, things were starting to actually feel better than before the Streak had begun. So, I kept streaking...

And the Streak goes on.....

By the third week, I started (conservatively) increasing the mileage. I could feel my paces getting a little faster, on some of the "longer" runs (which were only 3-4 miles in length LOL), because my legs were feeling so good. I think the Iowa weather played a major part in this since we only had a few light snowfalls, with nothing really accumulating. We even had several days with temps in the mid-upper 40F's, which is usually unheard of this time of year. Let me runfess, for the first time (in a long time), I was actually enjoying Momma N's choice in weather conditions. Yes, there were some sub-freezing days, but with no snow to wade through or ice to slip on....things were very runner-friendly for December in Iowa. Even the wind played nice.

One of the few runs with actual snowflakes!

This would be my the longest Streak, ever. I'll runfess it here and now...the reality of that was a buzzkill. Because this Winter Streak runs, quite literally (see what I did there?), from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day, it's a different length every year (due to Thanksgiving's constant change of date). Since Thanksgiving 2018 was so early (a full 34 days before Christmas), this Streak will max out at 41 days. Yes, that made for some challenges in coming up with different routes and venues to make each daily run a little different from all the others. I also tried my very best to not wear the exact same outfit more than once.

Some of my runs happened after work, amidst the holiday lights 

During the week, the majority of my runs were in the wee dark hours. What can I say? I have a job to get to by 8:00 every morning. There were a few random runches (runs over my lunch break). On the weekends, though, I took advantage of the daylight and allowed an extra hour of slumber before heading outside. I shouldn't have to runfess it (but I will)...the early mornings, right as the sun was starting to rise, were my favorites

How can you not love a beautiful sunrise, especially in your running shoes?

One last runfession....come January 2nd, I think I will kind of miss the daily running routine. It's amazing how much of a ritual a simple thing, like running, can become. But, as I have said many times before, the daily running thing is not my year-round gig. Sure, I can do it for a few weeks at a time, and maybe even enjoy it, but I can also walk away with no regrets.

Yes, I did a lot of my Streak runs in festive, holiday-inspired gear.

The main reason I even consider doing this run streak each winter is because I have nothing else happening (training-wise). All of my fall races are over, and there's quite a bit of time before any of my spring events need attention. The handful of winter races (in January and February) do not require any excessive or specific training, so I am able to take an authentic off-season after the Streak ends. For myself, it's a perfect ending to a near-perfect year. 

This particular Streak seemed especially easy this year. Thankfully, 2018 was a pretty strong year for me in terms of running. A lot of that was due to my attitude of gratitude (being sidelined for three months in 2017 gave me a substantial spotlight of the "bigger picture"), and I did not take any run for granted. Also, this year's winter weather was optimal for daily streaking, I even was able to do a couple of my runs in shorts; believe me, that does NOT happen in Iowa very often during this time of year. Some ask me why I do these streaks each winter, and my reply is "Why not?"

So there you have it. All of my 2018 runfessions have been runfessed....here's to a fresh start to 2019!

Enough about me...it's your turn. Any runfessions that need to be shared? Has it been a great winter thus far? Any plans for 2019?

I'm linking this with Marcia for the monthly Runfessions link-up.

I'm also linking this with Meranda and Lacey for the Friday with Fairytales and Fitness link-up.