"Dad, is it hard to run in the snow like that?"
"No. I actually like it. But it IS hard to run when I'm so tired."
That was my conversation this morning after my tenth run in my first 100/100 challenge. I used to hang out here alot in 2008 and 2009, lurking for info. It's been along time since I was on Slowtwitch regularly. Then somehow the invite to the 100/100 Challenge got into my primary e-mail (not spam) and I was incredibly happy to see it. It was just what I needed as I was wondering how I would ever get back into running regularly again for 2019.
I'm super happy to be here, and glad this challenge exists. A couple years ago I started my own 5k-a-day challenge for 30 days and lost it at about day 17. My goal here is 100 days straight with at least a single 30-minute run per day. Day 10 and I'm super tired, as evidenced by my first "maladaptation" reading from HRV4training app. I've been running mostly 4-4.5 miles/day but yesterday I went for 10k and paid the price this morning.
Somebody wrote in an earlier post that it's not about who can do the most but who can do the least. That is so true.
I'm trying to embrace Matt Fitzgerald's 80/20 principle this year, and of course this challenge works well for that I think because I am being forced to find my slow pace for the 80% portion. I was doing well incorporating some Sufferfest bike sessions the last two weeks and maintaining a "coping well" reading with HRV4training, but now it's catching up to me. I don't know how I'll get my swimming going again next week; I haven't had to worry about it with our pool closed for maintenance recently. And swim is my favorite.
I think you have a point when you say that people should post what they are trying do and why. Although it takes a bit of time to write something down, it provides a great community. If you've ever done the Sufferfest Tour of Sufferlandria and watched the facebook community, you can see what the community-support posts can do for overall motivation.
So, as for why I'm doing this, I need to build my running back up after a rough 2018 with lack of consistent training because of a new job, two-week business trip, minor injury during elk hunt, all kinds of stuff. I'm looking at getting back into some races in 2019; I haven't done any racing since 2015 I think when I met my goals at 70.3 St George, but I've been swimming/biking/running to various extents all the time because I simply enjoy it. Maybe I'll do my first 140.6 this year as a local just-me event. Maybe I'll do it at the
Bear Lake Brawl , and I'm certainly looking at my first Ironman-event 140.6 in Boulder in 2020 (would do it this year but schedule didn't work out). I need to get back down to 185-pounds from high-190s now, and this run challenge should help do that. I also have a huge
backcountry ski adventure planned for April that I need to be in-shape for.
As for how this challenge has been going: I started out with a no-run on Day 1 because I did a local backcountry ski day that was awesome, followed on Day 2 (my Day 1) with a scheduled 9 miler run that felt much better than expected after that ski day wore me out. Some days I feel great; other days like today the real success comes from just doing the minimum. At some point in the future, I expect to do a double run day and get back on track for 100/100, possibly even get ahead of the curve at some point. My goal is 100 runs in 100 days. Stretch goal is 99 consecutive days of running (I missed Day 1) with 110 runs in 100 days.
Best of luck to everyone!