THE STREAK FINALLY ENDS

by Marty Winkel

December 6, 2005

It started on Monday, March 18, 1985 and ended on Monday, December 6, 2005. To save you some time, that’s 7,768 consecutive days running while covering 44,561 miles. That’s 20 years, 8 months and 19 days. This is an average of 5.7 miles per day. My streak started not to see how many days in a row I could run, but to provide me some motivation to be consistent with my training. I accomplished that goal.

I have been able to run through several muscular injuries, sprains, strains and family crises. However, a stress fracture in my right foot ended the streak. My doctor recommended I stay off my feet as much as possible. No running, biking or even elliptical trainer work outs. Swimming is the only activity he recommended. If I did what he said I should be back running in 4 weeks, January 3. This would mean I would miss the Disney Marathon in January but I should be OK for The Lost Dutchman in February, Big Sur in April and more importantly, other marathons. I probably could have run a mile a day at a 12 to 13 minute pace, but it would have slowed my return to running by at least an additional 4 to 6 weeks. This would have meant missing the Lost Dutchman Marathon for sure.

I often thought of ending the streak on my own terms but I knew it would be very difficult for me to determine my terms. I always kind of knew it would be a forced termination. Did it bother me to end the streak? Surprisingly, NO, not at all. As my friend Jim Caprara said, I “had a good run”. When I put everything in perspective, I have absolutely no complaints nor any reservations about the streak ending. It had to end some day. And then, when I think about the number of people who can’t run, no matter how much they want to run and runners who met untimely deaths, that I feel so extremely fortunate to have been so lucky (with a little bit of stubbornness) to have been able to run as consistently, injury free and relatively speaking - good, that I have absolutely nothing to complain about or feel sorry about. The streak itself was not important. It was what I accomplished during these 7,768 days. It was the many great people I met and the experiences I have had. I couldn’t even begin to mention all the people I have met that have made an impact in my life. Some of them have become close friends, some even like family. I have also been fortunate enough to have been able to travel, visit and run a marathon in each of the 50 states (only had Florida and New York completed when I started the streak). I have also completed a total of 63 marathons, 2 Ultra’s and almost 500 races during this time.

I was actually much more disappointed by having to drop out of the inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon, especially so early in the marathon, the 3-mile mark, then ending my streak. What bothered me almost as much as not finishing the marathon was I planned to run the marathon with a good friend of mine, Sarah Guttery.

The doctor says I should be able to start running on January 3. So January 3 is when I start my next running streak. Do I think I can run every day for the next 20 years? I don’t know, but I will try. If I can, I think I’ll end my next streak on my terms, at 26.2 years. For now, as hard as it may be not running, I will try and enjoy the 4-week rest interval.

When people tell me they are so sorry for me that I had to end my streak I ask them not too. I am really OK with the streak ending. It was a great run. I have absolutely nothing at all to feel sorry about or be upset about. I feel absolutely great and blessed that I was fortunate to do what I did. Wouldn’t you agree? So next time you see me, if you want to say anything about my streak ending, Congratulations would be the best word.

Rest if you must, just don’t quit,

Marty