Run # 477 - The End of Streak # 1

While I've joked about it in the past and knew it would someday end, I honestly didn't think it would come this soon.

Sunday was my last run on this streak. I say "this streak" because I'll start a new one today but I need to define a new goal of how long I want it to last.

My biggest problem I felt after hitting the year one mark was a combination of things: I stopped training for marathons, slowed down considerably in terms of time, and - perhaps most importantly - I didn't have my sights set on a date to clear like I did when I started this initially.

I have done a terrible job keeping this blog updated as well, which obviously didn't help me any to keep it going, even though I did.

Officially, the number for streak one is 477 days.

Why did it end? I felt terrible pretty much all day on Monday and, as I have done numerous times, decided to fall asleep around 9 pm and go run around 11:30 pm. When did I wake up? Exactly 12:26 AM.

I will learn from this experience and become a better runner because of it.

It wasn't easy, but it was worth every day, every element of weather, every city, and every supporter and person who told me I couldn't do it as well as those who said I could.

So with that I'd like to again thank my readers of this blog, especially the one or maybe two who didn't quit checking it months ago as well as everyone who ran with me.

I'll let the few people who've read this know the new link for Streak # 2 once it is up and I'll leave you with the following:

"To fail is a natural consequence of trying. To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and to limit your enthusiasm for trying” - David Viscott

Run # 429 - The Fred Norris Run

Ran by Sirius' building today in NYC. Saw Fred Norris get out of a cab on his way to work. I said 'morning Fred' and he said 'what's up dude?'

It was pretty cool.

An Update at Long Last - July 2008

What was once a daily (or an attempt at a daily) blog update has now become a monthly update I guess.

That's ok with me as long as the streak continues...which it does.

No big highlights worth mentioning in the last month...I guess a run in Laughlin, Nevada would have to be the most significant jaunt I made.

For the first time during the streak, I had started a run and abruptly had to stop at .75 miles or so because I ran into a guardrail/dead end; so a new mile had to start and it wasn't fun..around 7 pm in Nevada on a June night.

Upcoming highlights abound, however.

I'm in Minnesota again this coming weekend for three runs and then off to New York City...a run in Central Park there should be pretty exciting.

Until then I'm still running in the dreadful AZ heat...run # 421 is set for Sunday, July 13th.

I am alive and so is the streak....

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know dedicated reader.

I am so far behind in updating the blog I'm surprised you still have a reason to live.

One of these years I'm gonna update it so you can read the glory of run # 383, #384, and #385 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico...including the barbwire incident.

Then there were run's 386 - 391 back in Phoenix, run #392 in Minnesota, and run # 393 in Phoenix again.

Laughlin, Nevada will be the next out of town run I do.

In other news, the SF Marathon has been scratched from my schedule. As I've always said, no headphones allowed, no deal for me.

Run # 382 - The Pre-Mexico Trip Run # 2

A repeat of # 1, an exact duplicate....until I realized I needed to get cash.

So, out of nowhere really, this became the latest/earliest run of the streak.

I started it around 3:30 AM and ran to the bank to use the ATM.

Then I walked to the C-store for a couple of drinks.

Pretty adventurous in my book.

And now it's on to Mexico.

Run # 381 - The Pre-Mexico Trip Run # 1

Tuesday, June 3

Did you miss the dates? I got a lot of reader e-mail complaints so they are back...unless I forget again.

So I'm going to Mexico in about 8 hours at the time of this writing.

Don't want to spend my first day there having to run so I developed a plan.

I'll do Tuesday's run at 11:45 pm...this is it and I just did it.

So tomorrow's run (# 382) will be done around 1 AM or so June 4.

12 minutes for the first run (a hill run)

I'll be interested to see if I do better in a few minutes here.

The blog will be down until I recap runs # 383, #384, and #385, all of which will take place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Check out the resort. Here is a link.

Thanks for reading.

Run # 380 - The Keisha Run

This one is named after a waitress of mine I once had the pleasure of being served at a local Denny's.

Her name was Keisha (duh) and while running this specific route that night I felt she did a good enough job to earn the naming rights.

So, Keisha, if you ever read this, I hope you're honored.

Run # 379 - The Downtown Phoenix Run

Somewhat of a classic run.

I stopped by the office to lift weights and then tour our beautiful (sarcasm, yes) downtown area.

Ran by a motorhome, a lot reserved for drug dealing, you get the picture.

Also stopped by my friend Vince's loft.

Then I managed to find my way back to the office without incident.

Here's a tip if you're ever bored: go downtown and run around for a while.

It's not boring if you pay attention to the people and sketchy landscape around you.

Run # 378 - The Party Run

Saturday, May 31

Like how I'm adding the date of the run to the blog now since I rarely update it same day?

I knew you would.

I called this one the party run since I passed an outdoor "kegger" on the way.

Runners like me enjoy being hooted and hollered at by drunk people.

I'm thankful for headphones and it always makes me run faster when people yell at me.

Run # 377 - The Diamondbacks Hill Run

Friday, May 30.

After watching the Diamondbacks lose- what their 6th straight? - I went for the hills.

Well, the hill that is.

A late night Friday run.

Typical for me.

Run # 376 - The Migraine Headache Cure Run

Running has often cured headaches for me.

This run was no different.

I barely made it because I wanted to puke to start but I felt better along the way and finished strong.

My reward came in the form of the headache returning even worse. I guess I should have kept running.

Run # 375 - The One Headphone Run

Decided to run to Summer Moon/Sleeping Moon for this one.

An old pair of headphones I realized why I no longer wear were with me.

They kept falling out so I went with just one.

I probably looked pretty odd but the annoyance of the situation led to me running with anger. At least that's what the look on the face of the pizza guy I passed suggested.

Run # 374 - The 20th St. Run

My ambition to run to 16th St. and back was thwarted with a typical decision to only run to 20th St.

In this case I was actually pressed for time and didn't start this run until 11 pm.

The highlight of this one for me was avoiding traffic as, for some reason or another, I stepped out in front of an oncoming car but had a good 4 or 5 seconds to run past it.

Run # 373 - The Forerunner Returns for Aimless Mile Run

I do enjoy running aimlessly whenever I feel like it.

Monday night was one of those aimless nights.

I ran fast by my standards, with about an 8:30 mile, for just over a mile.

Run # 374 on Tuesday, May 27th.

Run # 372 - The No Music, No Watch Mile

A run down to Summer Moon and back where I went "neanderthal style."

I define that as no music and no watch; I enjoy doing this from time to time. Well, not really but when I am too lazy to go back upstairs to get my I Pod and watch, I do a run like this one.

Run # 371 - The Hill Run

If the Hoh Run was a favorite in 2007 (and I think it was for a few months), the Hill Run is a favorite in 2008.

I still think it's funny how small and short it is compared to Nikki's Knocker, and what's primarily funny about that is how I think about it almost every time I run it.

I should try Nikki's Knocker again soon.

Run # 370 - The Blades of Steel Run

I took another timeout from one of the best video games ever to run just over 1 mile.

The streak is alive and well.

Unfortunately so is this blog.

Maybe in the coming weeks/months/years I will find a reason to have an entertaining blog.

In the meantime, thank you for continuing to check in.

Run # 369 - The Sleeping Moon Downpour Run

In an odd turn of events, the weather in AZ went from 112 at the beginning of the week to 54 and pouring ran by Thursday.

It was around 11 pm and raining cats and dogs when I started this one so I chose to run down the water filled street by my house to Summer Moon (that I've re-named Sleeping Moon) lane.

The rain felt great as usual but I was soaking wet by the time I was done.

I'm still not sure if the shoes I wore have dried out, but it was well worth it.

Year One in Review

I'm taking a time out from my current game of Blades of Steel to review Year One. As you may have read, I received a Nintendo Wii for my birthday. The Wii is great for many reasons but the ability to download and play games from my youth is especially tremendous. Blades of Steel is highly addicting and I can't stop playing.

So run # 365 took place in Denver on Sunday and I really wanted to post with some highlights from year one. I've decided I'll post bullet points to make it easier to read through.

• I want to start off by thanking the following people for actually running with me during the streak: Chuck, John,Derek, Erich, Amy, Chris, Steve, Bobby, and whoever I'm forgetting but I think that is it. Also thanks to those who I ran with during the Tucson Marathon and P.F. Chang's Marathon.
• I'd also like to thank my Ragnar Relay teammates. They are Zack MetroMint, Biscuit/Bushman, Chris, Tyson, Paul, Pat, Jerry, Sarah, Panda, Dan, and Dan. That race gave me my best mile time during the streak over more than a mile run when I ran 2.9 miles during my second leg, got passed by a guy with a mullet, finished as strong as I could and ended up puking at the exchange. This was after I slept sitting up in the van and was running on just a few hours of sleep at the break of dawn.
  
• Speaking of the relay, I have to mention and thank Nikki's Knocker for giving me character. I'm not sure I've ever been happier than when I finished that one.

Now on to some more thank yous/ highlights:

• I want to thank John again for telling me I wouldn't make it to 3 months of the streak.
• I want to thank Chuck again for telling me I would make it at least a year.
• I want to thank the cops for radaring drivers by my house. It was fun to run by you and have you look at me with anger.
• The girl who pulled over and yelled something out the window at me was definitely a highlight. I still wonder what she said.
• The drunk girls who yelled something to the effect of "we just saw your life flash before your eyes" as they slowed down to avoid hitting me.

Which reminds me to offer some numbers here:

• Total number of near collisions with a car: 3
• Total number of collisions with a person: 1
  
• Total number of times I fell: 1
• Total number of times I watched Chuck fall into a bush: 1
• Total number of times I puked: 1
• Total number of times I ran in street clothes: 1
• Total number of kills during the relay: 3 or 4
• Total number of times I was called disrespectful: 1
• Total number of times I discovered a snake: 1
• Total number of times I thought about ending the streak: 56

The Hoh run was an early favorite but it was 2.25 miles long.

The "mode" of the streak is by far a 1.0 - 1.3 mile run over various courses and I honestly wouldn't want to have a streak of 3 miles every day like some do. It's really incredible that there are people who do that because I would have given up by now if that was the minimum.

There are many more highlights I can't think of without going back and reading through the blog.

With that being said, I'll keep the blog up but I'm not sure how often I'll update or how extensive it will be in year 2. The USRSA requires me to have a record of the runs, and I'll use this space for that, but I've found I just don't have the desire or motivation to make this even remotely interesting.

Thanks again to all for making this a memorable year and thank you for reading.

Run # 368 - The Wii Run