I love a good goal. And the holiday season is the ideal time
to set a few fitness objectives. Like many runners, I need an extra push at
this time of year.
The holiday food orgy unofficially begins with Halloween and
runs right through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day, St.
Patrick’s Day, and all the way to Easter. Sure, you know the drill.
I really don't want to turn into a couch potato -- or even a
sweet potato.
I'd rather not wind up in any spud-like form at all. I’ve had
winters in which I’ve become something of a slug, hunkering indoors without
exercising nearly enough. And I’ve paid for this inactivity in the spring, when
races picked up speed again. It's hard to come back, if things slip that far.
(Besides, I have a pretty significant
personal running goal
coming up in 2018,
so I have to stick with the training.
Watch for more on that
in an upcoming post –
when I have the official paperwork!)
This year, I’m doing the holiday streak again.
That means I’ve
committed to run at least one mile each day – from Thanksgiving to New Year’s
Eve. Sure, one mile doesn’t sound like much. But there are days when excuses
can abound:
- Sloppy white stuff can
fall from the sky.
- The wind chill can drop to
dangerous levels.
- Family and friends can
drop by … and stay for a while.
- Party invitations can come
along.
- Holiday baking may beckon.
- Year-end deadlines can
pile up.
- Christmas decorating and
gift wrapping may need to be done.
- Winter flu can hit.
- Or I might just not feel
like doing much for once.
Those are the times when a holiday streak commitment can
come in handy. Even if it’s just a mile.
A race director I know runs an annual challenge called
The Holiday Mile.
Participants sign up to run a mile a day (during the same period) and report
them on the event website. Then they can earn finisher medals (for the virtual
event) and buy the event tee shirts. I didn’t sign up this year, but I’m tracking my own
similar goal. (Bills have piled up lately, and I don’t want to admit how many
running tee shirts I already have.)
Runners World has the #RWRUNSTREAK, which is similar.
Hey, it all helps.
Some of us need an
additional motivator.
At the same time, I’m participating in a holiday fitness challenge
with my fellow Team RWB members in our city. We’re tracking at least 30 minutes
of physical exercise each day, also from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
And we’re posting our workouts in an online group.
This is fun. We check in daily to spot snapshots of activity
trackers and treadmill screens, sweaty selfies, and group gym photos. The game
is on!
So bring on the turkey and pumpkin pie. Pass the Christmas
cookies. Fill my cocoa mug. I’m gonna get out there and burn those calories
anyway! Who else is up for it? The more, the merrier.
Gotta love the holidays … and holiday challenges.
Images:
Adapted by this user from public domain
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