Running Streaks - Consecutive days running

ThePiedPiper

There was a thread similar to this that started back in January 2011 or 2012 which was over for the most of us in 10-15 days. As I recall, a couple of people, such as TFB went a fair bit into that year without missing a day. KC I think also went through a good few months last year with no Rest days.

At the moment, I'm closing in on 100 days, which is way greater than the previous longest steak of 20 days I had. I've considered a couple of times during the last three months that this has become a bit of an obsession, for example when I went out for a couple of miles after two or three beers on holidays or jumping on the treadmill for easy miles at 11:40pm for fear that a day would pass without having gone for a run!

What's the longest running streak you've done?

Is it bordering on OCD, or is it an extra motivational tool to maintain consistent training?

RayCun

141, in that streak at the beginning of last year.

I think it's like following any plan - some days it's a useful extra motivation to get you out the door, some days it pushes you to run when you'd be better off having a rest, and it takes a better man than me to tell the days apart.

ThePiedPiper

That's serious Ray. As a comparison, have you ever come remotely close to equalling that again or was it a one-streak wonder? I think once I pass the 100, I'll probably start having the odd rest days, and certainly can't see anything similar happening again.

TFBubendorfer

I deliberately do NOT start counting consecutive days of running because I do not ever want to put myself into the position where I feel I need to go out running to keep the streak alive even though I'm injured or sick. My running OCD is bad enough as it is.

Since I train every day my longest streak is reasonably long. I once checked it at it was well over 100 days, but that's not deliberate.

RayCun

...em... log says there was a 60 day streak after that... but September, October, December I missed at least one day, lots of days in February, and after that...

Ososlo

On a related note, are complete rest days from running really necessary? If one is comfortably running 6 days a week with the odd double, is there a real benefit to be gained from taking a rest day, just cause you feel you should? I recently read an old post by tergat saying that you lose a tiny bit of fitness for each day you take off. What's the current thinking around here on this? Are there mental benefits to be gained?

Krusty_Clown

Like Thomas, I've never been one for counting streaks, as if I'm taking a day off, there's usually a good reason for it (e.g. the day or two after a raced marathon, injury, or trans-continental travel). I run all of the other days. So if there's a streak, it's usually an indication that I haven't run any marathons or travelled for work!

Ososlo wrote:

On a related note, are complete rest days from running really necessary?

I've never really found a need for 'em myself, but everyone's different. I always feel worse after a rest day, which I reckon is because it gives the niggles a chance to regroup and team up on ya.

nerraw1111

Last month, one guy's 45 year running streak came to an end. He started it in 1968.

http://m.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/45-year-running-streak-will-end-tuesday

I reckon 14 days is probably my max.

ThePiedPiper

I used to be of the opinion that a day rest before or after a 20 mile run was necessary, but this summer the easy running seems to be just as quick if not quicker recovery.

I think I'll take a rest day next week, not that I need it, more that the whole OCD part of it would be kicking in.

pico84

RunForestRun wrote: »

I used to be of the opinion that a day rest before or after a 20 mile run was necessary, but this summer the easy running seems to be just as quick if not quicker recovery.

I think I'll take a rest day next week, not that I need it, more that the whole OCD part of it would be kicking in.

Id be the same I wonder is this streak having an effect on your recovery at times. Is your body always trying to catch up because you have to do a couple of miles a day

BeepBeep67

Done 116 a few years ago and this was my post at the time

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Wed:
8.4 / 43:00 / 5.07
I've been lucky in this running streak that all but one of my runs have been enjoyable, tonight was a run that really wasn't fun at all. I this the combination of a poor night's sleep (kids) and eating out of my normal sync meant as soon as I headed out the door for a planned 12k I knew I wasn't feeling right, really fatigued and breathing heavy, so just after 4k I made a u turn and headed home.
Thu:
Day off!!!
The first one in 116 days, got changed to go for a run, but realized my head or heart wasn't in it, so had a steak and a few beers instead.

Don't bother counting anymore, work off a weekly mileage target and don't do silly things anymore like running at 4am when I'm doing an out and back to the UK just to keep a streak going.
Now, sometimes I'll run 30-60 consecutive days and sometimes 3-6.

ThePiedPiper

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Last month, one guy's 45 year running streak came to an end. He started it in 1968.

http://m.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/45-year-running-streak-will-end-tuesday

I reckon 14 days is probably my max.

That's mental, I think there's a lad down in cork that has a streak going on about 15 or 20 years..

It would indicate an unbelievable ability to avoid injury apart from the obvious dedication of getting out there daily.

pconn062

Earlier this year I tried to increase the number of running days I did. I started by doing 13 days on with one day off, so only one day off every two weeks. I quickly started to find myself more tired especially at the start of the second week and when my coach found out about it he pulled the plug on it. So now I do six days a week and take a day off every week (every Monday). To be honest, mentally I need the break from running more than physically, I like having one day a week that I don't have to worry about when I'm going to squeeze my run in between work and study. Plus it leaves me fresher for my main session which I usually do on a Wednesday.

jlang

I go the other way and try to minimise streaks of non-running. If I miss a single day even with a dodgy excuse, I don't find it too hard to get out the next day but it seems that if I go 2 or 3 days without running, laziness sets in very easily and I may well end up taking a week or more off and longer to get back to the "want to run every day" happy place. I suppose the easiest way to avoid an off spell is not to let it start.

Outkast_IRE

Was doing plenty of consecutive days running earlier in the summer but wouldn't you know it injury hit and for the last month im having problems with a pain from my outside upper tigh to my hip after running or during running.

I can walk long distances fine, but If I run in the morning and go walking in the evening its painful for periods

The dog is getting walked plenty though so its not a total loss.