It’s been a minute since I’ve posted an article, but I haven’t been sitting still. In fact, I’ve been busy.
I finished running a mile a day for 50 straight days. That’s 50 miles total. I didn’t actually intend to go that long; it was only supposed to be a one-week challenge. But after those first seven days, I challenged myself to just keep moving—and that’s exactly what I did. I ran through rain, snow, and the frigid cold. I ran in the dark before work and even hopped on a treadmill once, though every other mile was done outdoors.
That challenge turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Here are a few things I noticed along the way:
- It quickly became a routine: After the first week, I actually started looking forward to it. It became a staple on my to-do list that I couldn’t wait to check off.
- The “post-run” high is real: Maybe I’ve gotten a bit of the runner’s high because even on the mornings when I dreaded getting out of bed while everyone else was still asleep, I never regretted a single mile once it was finished.
- Discipline over excuses: There were days when the temperature was in the single digits or low teens. I told myself I could handle a little discomfort for a few minutes until I warmed up. I stopped making excuses and just got out there.
- The power of positive self-talk: I rarely listened to music because I wanted to stay alert. It was just me and my thoughts. I started every run with affirmations: “I am disciplined. I am capable. I am a runner.” That mental shift was huge on the days I didn’t feel like moving.
- Running isn’t so bad after all: I’m used to cycling through different neighborhoods, but experiencing them on foot hits differently. It was cool to see how far I could actually go.
After those 50 days, I took a short, well-earned break, but the momentum didn’t stop. I’ve officially started training for my first half marathon. It’s wild to think I went from someone who didn’t care for running to a 50-day streak, and now I’m nine weeks out from 13.1 miles. Wow!
To top it off, I also signed up for HYROX NYC, which is just a month after the half marathon. This is so crazy, I mean I signed up for these challenges and I am fully capable to completing them but it’s wild that these events are almost here.
I’ll be back soon with more updates on my half marathon and HYROX progress. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you, what challenges are you trying to conquer? Let me know!
You can also follow my journey and see the training in action over on my YouTube channel: Rollingwithtay.
See you later.