Streak!

Streak is a repeated period of success or failure or activities and it drives sportsperson and professionals.

Earlier this month, during the middle of Apr’23, had notched up a streak of doing a run for 54 weeks.

I am not a fast or long-distance runner but trying to be a consistent one.

It’s either a 5k run under 30 mins or 10k run under 60 mins (longer runs comes under those 2 categories) every single week for an over a year.

These Runs happened - amidst rain, across countries, against every possible roadblock - including neighbourhood flooding which lasted for weeks and cut us off from outside world during Aug/Sep’23

Want to share few thoughts about the streak

Believe

It all started from 2019, after a fracture in my feet and believing in a myth – “broken bone grows stronger”.

There are so many stories on, how someone who never did a run, started running during their mid age and doing full marathons across globe.

Almost all of Running is in one's own control - Just start it!

Step by step

Everyone is unique and whoever who hits the road is a runner. Find your feet and people will cheer you along the way!

• In 2019 – Found a track and got into a cadence
• In 2020 - Did a 10k under 60 mins every month
• In 2021 - Half Marathon under 2 hrs
• In 2022 - Over 50 runs in calendar year
• In 2023 – Running streak of over 54 weeks.

Mix it up!

Running is an individual act and though it’s meditative and help to reflect, but it could get boring and hence need to find a way to keep going.

Joining runners in the neighbourhood or signing up for event (there many running events or practice runs happen regularly in most major cities in India)

Also, early morning run help to get over Jet lag and to explore cities during golden hours with empty roads and enchanting sights and sounds.

Some of the memorable runs during last one year including doing 4 runs in a week in Chicago (North, South, Downtown and Lake), Circling an Island in Bali (Gili) navigating parts of unpaved trail, getting lost and finding a way back in Mauritius, Bangalore run(s) with spouse and kid, braving Bellevue rains to do a virtual TCS 10K and getting high with a run in a mountain in Yecaud

Support system

Though running is solo, but only a support system of fellow runners, friends or family only can make it happen and sustain.

After my run we have some family rituals, sons and spouse guess the distance i ran on that day and timing i clocked by factoring many things - they are very close with predictions most of the times.

Also, i get a short leg massage done by kids (occasionally) and it’s not professional but very powerful to keep me going - week after week.

Gratitude to family, friends, fellow runners, colleagues and Almighty

Back pressure

Not too sure, it’s a right English word, but what it means is to set an expectation to people around you, which will drive you to make it happen.

I do post my weekly runs in Strava and social media, which inspires me more than that it motivates others – its mutual

Pressure is a Privilege - Billie Jean King

Exhilaration

I do many things to feel "high" and strive to be in a “flow state”, but very few things come close to feeling it during and after a run

So, all the struggle and sacrifice are worth it.

Timing or distance does not matter in running to start and feel, Just do it!

Morning magic

I do like to party late in the evening, but morning glory is something else, when air is crisp, roads are empty, birds are chirping, morning hues in full spectrum - it’s so much natural and invigorating.

Try early morning, you may fall in love with it.

Most runs start at 5-6 am, so its lot of hustle and effort, but it’s all worth it!

Wellness KPI

In the world of KPI like GDP growth for countries, EPS for stocks, valuation for Unicorns etc running time could be an indicator for a person’s wellness.

To make a run happen within a target time every week is challenging, but the outcome does give an early signal on if there is increase in weight, lack of sleep, not building strength or flexibility enough.

During 54 weeks, timing for 10K ranged from 51:40 mins to 58:43 mins and 5K timing from 25:44 mins to 29:33 mins.

SIP is for wealth and Streak of Wellness Goals achievement is for health!

Mind is mind-blowing!

As they say, if you can’t run with your legs, run with your heart, that’s true and more intriguing is how mind can control the body.

Often, i struggle to get out of the bed or can’t walk from first floor to ground floor without holding rails or limping.

But, within an hour and once you hit the road after warming up, there is no turning back and mind takes over to make it happen, i am sure heart does play along with external stimulus.

I am sure many from performing arts field and others have similar tale to tell.

TL;DR

Every passing year, chasing a new wellness challenge is difficult, and hence streak of a run every week for 54 weeks has been satisfying.

Also introducing people to running, discussing wellness, and taking people along to do their first ever running event is awesome.

Though both my sons (tween and teenager have strong legs) try to beat me in 5k run timing, but streak is my edge!