Streaking with Emily Altman

EMILY ALTMAN

As I sit down to write this blog post, it is Day 1,413 of my Covid-19 Running Streak.

  

The odometer reads 15,366 miles. 

DAY 1: MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020

New York City was locked down. 😷

Something inconceivable was happening and the future was uncertain, unclear, and indeed very scary. 

I recall my apprehension.  Despite the thick cloud of fear looming over me, I rationalized the following:

I may lose my job, all of my savings, my apartment and my life.  But, there is one thing that the situation can not take from me:  the ability to put on my sneakers and go running. 

STREAKING

The pandemic would not stop me from running.  I focused on this mantra as I started to run every day.  I decided I would run every day until Covid was gone.  

In my mind, each daily run represented one more chunk of 24 hours of survival.  Between each run I navigated the horror of going to work at a hospital. 

I estimated that we’d make it through it all in around 3-6 months.  It did not work out that way.  Covid-19 is still with us, and will be for the duration, but we have figured out how to exist with it.

There was so much uncertainty.  What would be the definition of Covid-19 being over?  When I can drive to Massachusetts with New York plates?  Fly in an airplane?  Ride a train?  Stay in a hotel?  Attend a conference?  Eat at a restaurant?  Go to someone's house?  Go see a movie?

Gradually over the months and years we all began to do those things again…but Covid-19 was not gone.  So I kept running....  Every single day.

In time, I began to create challenges within the overall challenge of running every day.  They have included things such as:  The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 2020 and 2021, a marathon in November 2021, running 100 miles in a week, getting to certain average-per-day milestones, beating previously achieved yearly mileage totals, and more!

MY FINISH LINE FOR THE
GREAT VIRTUAL RACE ACROSS TENNESSEE 

In general, my focus is on miles only.  I don't do speed work and I don't really care about pace.  The one exception was when I chose to run a marathon.  I did about 3 months of weekly speedwork sessions.  When I ran the Northern Central Railroad Trail Marathon in November of 2021 I did not meet my own time goal, but I did qualify for Boston!  I then forgot to enter during the "window".  Oops. 🤣

I go through phases of setting slightly different mileage goals, based on nothing very scientific...mostly "I wonder if I can do...this...or that".  My pace doesn't vary much.  So far, knock wood, I have remained injury free.  It does help that I am a physical therapist so I have a pretty good sense of the status of my own "machine."

Dome of Silence with Amy

I run many many miles alone, but I have also run hundreds of miles with my good friend and running buddy and longtime Flyer Amy Stern.  When I'm alone, I think mostly about the projects I am immersed in at work.  I am convinced that more oxygen is getting to my brain because I figure out a lot of things while I'm running.  When I'm with Amy, we talk about so many things.  We run in what we call the "Dome of Silence."  Anything that is said in the Dome is OK, and will not be judged or repeated elsewhere (what happens in the Dome, stays in the Dome 😊)!!  Also, of course, very many miles with running partner/life partner Ed Altman. 💕

Have there been threats to the streak? 🌋  Yes!  Apologies for TMI, but, the biggest challenge was navigating a routine colonoscopy.  For those who know, you know!  I ran 3 miles on a treadmill at 2:00 a.m., in between doses, on the day of the procedure.  Not so bad.  

There were other minor challenges like a snow storm ⛄ and a day-long family event, but I have always been able to eke out at least 2 miles.

• Before the streak I was happily running 5 days a week, 6-8 miles each run.
• Yes, there are quite a few days that I am not excited about going running.
• I ran with a mask for an entire year.
• For 2 years I ran only counter clockwise on “the loop” so I could be on the outside and could move away from oncoming runners.
• I run early in the morning, starting at 4:30am on some days and up to 6:15am on other days.
• I use 8.5 pairs of shoes per year.

COMPLETING 10,000th MILE!

Truth be told, I may have a tendency toward streak-like behavior. 🤣  

From grade 10 - 12 I ran 10 miles per day with my best friend Michelle. 🏃🏃  

Michelle and me

And for the past 27.5 years, I have shown up, on premises, for work every single day without one unplanned day off.  Not one sick day or unable-to-show up day! 🤧

Run Distribution:

Miles/day Frequency

2	5
3	15
4	39
5	10
6	187
7	30
8	83
9	10
10	118
11	102
12	406
13	36
14	281
15	34
16	35
17	5
18	1
20	7
21	1
22	1
26	1

People often ask: "When will you end it?"  It will end.  That is for sure.  Something will come up, something will happen.  I don't worry about it and I will not be upset.  In the meantime, I just keep going.  It has very much become a part of my life and I like the consistency of it.  

Many elements of my day-to-day life are challenging and unpredictable.  Running helps offset that element.  Although I am often tired, I like the sense of solid baseline fitness.  My streak was absolutely a critical anchor to windward during the intense, horrible days of the first 2 years of Covid-19.  And I remain eternally grateful for running as an extremely important part of my life.

-Emily Altman

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Rock ‘n’ Roll in Arizona

Joanna Gunderson

January in NYC can be rough for us cold-averse runners!  The air can hit hard and the sun sets way too early.🥶Delightedly, I escaped the frigid temperatures for a long weekend with fellow NY Flyers and friends Lisa Konorty, her daughter Romi and Manuela Montagnana. We welcomed the warmth of Phoenix, Arizona along with each other's company, great brunches, happy hours and Personal Records at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Race Series!  (Of course, good music too!). 😎🌞🍸🥞☕

This annual event always takes place during Martin Luther King Day weekend, which can make for a quick getaway to recharge⚡right at the start of the new year!

This was not my first time, rockin' (so to speak) Arizona's Rock 'n' Roll series.  In 2022, I took on the marathon, though as a training run. Lisa and former flyer Vanessa Koury opted for the half instead. 

Hot, sunny, 68 degrees and a late start would not lead to a PR (4:15:06) but I embraced the opportunity to escape NY's cold 🧊 while practicing a long run with my new hydration camelback.  The dry desert's heat 🌵🔥, rolling hills and bridges made for a challenging run indeed, and it was no surprise that  they cancelled the marathon option moving forward.  

Now they offer a 5K, 10K and Half Marathon; much more enjoyable distances in such challenging conditions.

FLYERS ROCK THE HALF AND THE 10K IN 2024

Lisa with her daughter Romi graciously hosted me at Lisa's house in Sun City.  Manuela opted for a hotel, but joined us for brunches and happy hours as we ate and ran our way through the fun-filled weekend! 🥳

Flyer women Manuela Montagnana, Lisa Konorty, Joanna Gunderson, and Lisa’s daughter Romi attend the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona expo. 

I was pleased to learn that Rock ‘N’ Roll moved the start time of the event to 7:15am to accommodate the heat. The weather was a lot more comfortable than in 2022, with a 42-degree average temperature. 🎉

Since I was on the mend from COVID and also busy with life's obligations, I choose to run the 10K with Romi, while Lisa and Manuela raced the Half. This scenic race was beautiful!  The sun rise in the desert made those rolling hills and three bridges more bearable. 

Runners running during the desert sunrise of the 10K

Congratulations to Lisa and Manuela!  They both ran strong half marathons and both of them PR'd -- Lisa ran her PR in 1:52:33 and Manuela beat her prior PR by 3 minutes! 

Reflecting on her race Lisa said: 

“The half was a PR for me by  more than one minute. I thought the course was fun and full of energy with the bands along the course. I especially loved the challenging two miles of hills; mile 10 and 11 in Papago Park. It was so cool to run through Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix all in one race. And I loved the Flyer ladies’ camaraderie.”

A stunning sunset in Sun City, Arizona.

 While you're out there, take the time to see the surrounding region of Phoenix including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Sun City.  We also enjoyed a few walks through Sun City with "Harley the Corgi" and Lisa's neighbor Marv -- (Marv just finished his 90th marathon in December and is 83 years old!).  

With Romi, Marv, and Harley the Corgi 😊

The colors of the  desert are stunning, Arizona is beautiful, the desert desserts were delicious and the coffee flights are fantastic!  

A tasty coffee flight at JOJO Coffeehouse in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Overall, I would recommend Arizona's Rock 'n' Roll Running Series for a beautiful long weekend getaway and a healthy dose of vitamin D for those of us trudging through these frigid and frosty NY winter months!  🌞 

-Joanna Gunderson

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