Tuesday, 12/11

I wonder if my streak is soon to come to an end?

Long time readers of this know that I've been keeping track of the weirdest “streak” the past few years. For those of you who are new or whose eyes glaze over when I talk about running, here's the deal—every time it's above 32 degrees, I wear shorts when it's running. Doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing or just clear, if it's above freezing I wear shorts.

Someone has to, right?

Anyway, because of the way the weather has been changing around here, I've got quite the streak going. Every month since March of 2015—almost four years now—I've been able to wear shorts while running at least once. That means that every month for almost four years now the temperatures have been above zero for at least one day. And that's even during the coldest months of the year, January and February. I've worn shorts while running at least once a month for 44 straight months now.

But I'm starting to get worried the streak may be coming to an end.

I've been writing a lot about the cold weather in which we've been mired the past few months, so I won't get into it. But the last time temperatures were above freezing, at least when I was running, was November 30^th. And while the long range forecast does call for the possibility of temps above 32, I don't know if they'll fall on days on which I'm scheduled to run.

Hmm.

So what do I do? If there is a day when the temperatures are above freezing, do I go running in shorts just so I can keep the streak going, even though I was supposed to do something else? Or do I do like I've done the past (almost) four years. If it happens to be above freezing on a scheduled day for running, I wear shorts. Otherwise, I don't.

I'm leaning toward the latter; after all, I haven't altered my running schedule at all the past 44 months just to keep the streak going. And after all this time, it would almost be like cheating just to extend it. On the other hand, it might mean the streak will end this month, and while I'm the only person on the planet who cares about it it IS something weird that I've been keeping track of, and it would be a bummer to see it disappear.

Maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe we'll get into an extended period of warm weather, and maybe I won't even have to worry about. Of course, maybe pigs will fly, or hell will freeze over, or the Lions will actually get to a Super Bowl. ANYTHING can happen.

Even though it probably won't.

So that's my story. By the end of the month we'll know if the streak continues, or comes to a natural, fitting end. And don't worry—you guys will be the first to know. Because, I'm sure, you're just dying to know.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)