5 ms·

It is only a mile and you can run really, really slow. I am also a run-streaker (3 years by now). I am not proud of running when i have the flu. But I run real

It is only a mile and you can run really, really slow. I am also a run-streaker (3 years by now). I am not proud of running when i have the flu. But I run really slow and only the required amount. Effort comparable to going to the store to buy food and aspirin.

pinkmuffinere 1y ago
I don’t feel strongly on either side, but I do want to point out that “I am not proud of running when I have the flu” immediately suggests a course of action that could make you more proud. It seems that not-running when sick would make you happier? Is it really worth doing just for the completionism?
- fifilura 1y ago
  Then I would loose my streak and the magic would disappear. I am not a pro athlete. I think there are many days where athletes go beyond what they should to win some gold medal in some competition. This is for me only and I am fine with it. Can you tell me what you think you'd do?
  - pinkmuffinere 1y ago
    Ya, that's fair, arbitrary motivators are arbitrary, but they still give motivation. I strongly dislike running, so if it was me I think I would give up once I get sick, or likely would not start the streak to begin with. I'm not saying that's the right solution, just trying to address your question.
  - igouy 1y ago
    Perhaps I misunderstand and misread and then dislike what I feel about that first sentence. I take it to express fear of losing the streak and fear that the magic would disappear. It's the feeling of fear as motivation that I dislike.
    - fifilura 1y ago
      Probably not for you then. I think what's important for me is that for me this does not feel at all unhealthy. It is more a way to maintain a good habit, like brushing my teeth. And I don't feel like I need to be saved by anyone. Some days I run farther but most days I run 2 miles. As much as a lunch break allows.
      - igouy 1y ago
        > And I don't feel like I need to be saved by anyone. You seem to have read what isn't there. I was attempting to check if I had read what wasn't there. And perhaps I did, if it's "more a way to maintain a good habit". When less-than 3 times-per-week my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. When transitioning from distance runs to intervals my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. After a 10-day vacation break my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. And soon it feels familiar again.
- Elixir6419 1y ago
  i am not sure about the OP or the motivation and I am not a Streak runner/mover myself, but I do see the appeal of it, that will keep someone moving and exercise more or less consistently. Overall maybe the bad it is doing on bad days, is compensated with the good it is doing on good/average days. It is a long term motivator. For me now that i was cycling about 2-300km per week last year, going to nearly 0 this year so far because life and stuff, makes it pretty hard mentally to get back into the saddle, because of reduced performance, fatigue and just the general feeling of what it felt like to be in a faster group ride that I would get dropped from and i need to work my way back up there in performance and endurance. Having a streak going might have helped with this.
  - kaffekaka 1y ago
    The way I see it is this: maintaining a run streak can be hard, but what is even harder is taking rest days when needed and every time get back on it. The (amateur) runners that impress me the most are those that keep running for years, decades, not through some neverending streak but through determination. The skill to abort a long run streak without quitting running is admirable.
    - fifilura 1y ago
      Ok, happy for you that you have the intrinsic motivation. You seem to be equally intrinsically motivated to tell me what to do and not do based on your experience.
      - kaffekaka 1y ago
        I am not describing my own motivation, nor am I telling you what to do. I am only describing what to seems to be the most difficult thing to do. It matches well the expressed view that "if I break the streak I might stop running for good". Sorry if you feel pressured to do anything.
        fifilura 1y ago
        Apology accepted, and mine was an over reaction too, sorry. Just that opinions are very high in this thread in general. I drink coffee too, if someone wants to take a stab at that.
Imme_Play_5550 1y ago
Just gonna say, as a fellow excessive exerciser... exercise doesn't make you stronger. It's the recovery afterwards and the resulting growth/adaptation that makes you better. Don't let rest feel like weakness. It’s where the real progress happens.
- fifilura 1y ago
  You have to appreciate how short a mile run is. And either way, yeah runstreak is probably not optimal for improving your stamina. I am sure there are more rigorous programs for that.
  - grumpy-de-sre 1y ago
    I've been running five miles roughly every other day for fifteen years. If I've got a flu or not feeling great I'll take a few days off, no loss. Not sure how one would objectively determine "stamina", but my resting HR is in the bottom 3% for my age. Obsessively run streaking one mile every day sounds completely bizarre to me and a complete PITA. Almost as bizarre as those poor bastards that I see doing laps around tiny parks / basketball courts (the monotony would drive me crazy).
    - verisimi 1y ago
      But the stats! The streak fail! That's what running is about, right? Imo, this is OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) expressed as running stats, rather than thimble collections or hand washing. It's about gaining/regaining a sense of control of one's life.
      - fifilura 1y ago
        I am surprised by the emotions in this thread! Where do they come from?
        mns 1y ago
        The running community is intense. As a former "runs way too much" runner, you get very into it and it kind of takes over your life, it becomes your whole identity. Until you get injured from it and it wakes you up.
JKCalhoun 1y ago
If you "know better" are you a "run-streaker" because of some innate need to not break a streak? Is the streak the thing that keeps you motivated? I can see how you might worry that if you take off one day when you are sick that somehow you'll start taking more and more "sick days" out of perhaps laziness. But I also feel like someone with such a level of dedication would not be in much danger of doing that.
kaffekaka 1y ago
I have also done a couple longish run streaks, but would have rested if ill. Why do you run with the flu of you feel bad about it? What is the point of fulfilling the "rules" of run streaking? For me the by far biggest positive effect of run streaking was that I knew every morning when I woke up that I would something i enjoy that day. The training is too low intensity and volume to really matter and doing it for the rules would have felt pointless.

pinkmuffinere 1y ago

I don’t feel strongly on either side, but I do want to point out that “I am not proud of running when I have the flu” immediately suggests a course of action that could make you more proud. It seems that not-running when sick would make you happier? Is it really worth doing just for the completionism?

fifilura 1y ago
Then I would loose my streak and the magic would disappear. I am not a pro athlete. I think there are many days where athletes go beyond what they should to win some gold medal in some competition. This is for me only and I am fine with it. Can you tell me what you think you'd do?
- pinkmuffinere 1y ago
  Ya, that's fair, arbitrary motivators are arbitrary, but they still give motivation. I strongly dislike running, so if it was me I think I would give up once I get sick, or likely would not start the streak to begin with. I'm not saying that's the right solution, just trying to address your question.
- igouy 1y ago
  Perhaps I misunderstand and misread and then dislike what I feel about that first sentence. I take it to express fear of losing the streak and fear that the magic would disappear. It's the feeling of fear as motivation that I dislike.
  - fifilura 1y ago
    Probably not for you then. I think what's important for me is that for me this does not feel at all unhealthy. It is more a way to maintain a good habit, like brushing my teeth. And I don't feel like I need to be saved by anyone. Some days I run farther but most days I run 2 miles. As much as a lunch break allows.
    - igouy 1y ago
      > And I don't feel like I need to be saved by anyone. You seem to have read what isn't there. I was attempting to check if I had read what wasn't there. And perhaps I did, if it's "more a way to maintain a good habit". When less-than 3 times-per-week my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. When transitioning from distance runs to intervals my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. After a 10-day vacation break my run-habit will feel unfamiliar. And soon it feels familiar again.
Elixir6419 1y ago
i am not sure about the OP or the motivation and I am not a Streak runner/mover myself, but I do see the appeal of it, that will keep someone moving and exercise more or less consistently. Overall maybe the bad it is doing on bad days, is compensated with the good it is doing on good/average days. It is a long term motivator. For me now that i was cycling about 2-300km per week last year, going to nearly 0 this year so far because life and stuff, makes it pretty hard mentally to get back into the saddle, because of reduced performance, fatigue and just the general feeling of what it felt like to be in a faster group ride that I would get dropped from and i need to work my way back up there in performance and endurance. Having a streak going might have helped with this.
- kaffekaka 1y ago
  The way I see it is this: maintaining a run streak can be hard, but what is even harder is taking rest days when needed and every time get back on it. The (amateur) runners that impress me the most are those that keep running for years, decades, not through some neverending streak but through determination. The skill to abort a long run streak without quitting running is admirable.
  - fifilura 1y ago
    Ok, happy for you that you have the intrinsic motivation. You seem to be equally intrinsically motivated to tell me what to do and not do based on your experience.
    - kaffekaka 1y ago
      I am not describing my own motivation, nor am I telling you what to do. I am only describing what to seems to be the most difficult thing to do. It matches well the expressed view that "if I break the streak I might stop running for good". Sorry if you feel pressured to do anything.
      - fifilura 1y ago
        Apology accepted, and mine was an over reaction too, sorry. Just that opinions are very high in this thread in general. I drink coffee too, if someone wants to take a stab at that.

Imme_Play_5550 1y ago

Just gonna say, as a fellow excessive exerciser... exercise doesn't make you stronger. It's the recovery afterwards and the resulting growth/adaptation that makes you better. Don't let rest feel like weakness. It’s where the real progress happens.

fifilura 1y ago
You have to appreciate how short a mile run is. And either way, yeah runstreak is probably not optimal for improving your stamina. I am sure there are more rigorous programs for that.
- grumpy-de-sre 1y ago
  I've been running five miles roughly every other day for fifteen years. If I've got a flu or not feeling great I'll take a few days off, no loss. Not sure how one would objectively determine "stamina", but my resting HR is in the bottom 3% for my age. Obsessively run streaking one mile every day sounds completely bizarre to me and a complete PITA. Almost as bizarre as those poor bastards that I see doing laps around tiny parks / basketball courts (the monotony would drive me crazy).
  - verisimi 1y ago
    But the stats! The streak fail! That's what running is about, right? Imo, this is OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) expressed as running stats, rather than thimble collections or hand washing. It's about gaining/regaining a sense of control of one's life.
    - fifilura 1y ago
      I am surprised by the emotions in this thread! Where do they come from?
      - mns 1y ago
        The running community is intense. As a former "runs way too much" runner, you get very into it and it kind of takes over your life, it becomes your whole identity. Until you get injured from it and it wakes you up.

JKCalhoun 1y ago

If you "know better" are you a "run-streaker" because of some innate need to not break a streak? Is the streak the thing that keeps you motivated? I can see how you might worry that if you take off one day when you are sick that somehow you'll start taking more and more "sick days" out of perhaps laziness. But I also feel like someone with such a level of dedication would not be in much danger of doing that.

kaffekaka 1y ago

I have also done a couple longish run streaks, but would have rested if ill. Why do you run with the flu of you feel bad about it? What is the point of fulfilling the "rules" of run streaking? For me the by far biggest positive effect of run streaking was that I knew every morning when I woke up that I would something i enjoy that day. The training is too low intensity and volume to really matter and doing it for the rules would have felt pointless.