‘Tis the season to go streaking

I’m probably not the only one who has a love/hate relationship with the holidays. On one hand, you have the glorious opportunity to indulge in all kinds of food and festive cocktails with your family, friends and coworkers. Pie, mashed potatoes, sugar cookies and more tempt us, satisfy us… and lead us to regret eating them in the first place. Wait, what?!

Isn’t it true, though? These days there seems to be a double standard of enjoying ourselves around the holiday appetizer, dinner and dessert tables, and also feeling shameful after indulging. I mean for crying out loud, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is tomorrow night—I know I won’t be the only girl comparing my body to the unrealistic, stick-thin models.

While I totally believe that the holidays are a time to give back and invest in others, I think it’s also extremely important to invest in ourselves. Think about it. We tire ourselves out shopping, spend tons of hard-earned money on “stuff,” and race to send out the most perfect Christmas cards. It’s a stressful time of year, right? Heck, there’s a song about it!

But it’s the best time to invest in yourself, and that’s why I fell in love with the #RWRunStreak last year. I loved it so much that I decided to do it again this year! Created by Runner’s World magazine (details here), the run streak involves running at least one mile every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. I swear that I wanted to quit after like three days, yet the support I received from thousands of other participants on social media kept me going. Now my own experience is driving my motivation to do it again this year.

Day 1 (I use the Runmeter app to track everything and measure progress)

Day 2

Day 3

Because I did almost all of my running last year around my neighborhood, I contemplated opting out this year. With a full-time job, I can only run at dawn or dusk when it’s dark out. Not to mention, I just moved to a brand new area that is still very much unfamiliar to me. At the same time, I knew I couldn’t keep avoiding working out. I thought about it a lot, then decided I was stronger than my excuses. I replaced the reasons not to do it with the reasons to do it: I’d get to know the streets where I live, and I’d have a head start on beating the people waiting until 2018 to reshape their exercise regimen.

While the official start date has passed, it’s definitely not too late to join the streak! Truth be told, I joined a day late this year, so I’m making up for it by going until January 2. At the end of the day, it’s one mile. Whether you’re running it, jogging it or even walking it (but I hope you at least try to jog, even if you have to take a few breathers), you’re still going in the first place. You’re going faster than the couch potatoes and barstool bums across the nation. And most importantly, you’re investing in yourself and your health. Doesn’t that beat any gift under the tree?

Join me in cheering on fellow Streakers on Twitter and Instagram using #RWRunStreak. Catch you out there, champs!

~Remember to follow Fit by the Fork on Instagram~