Connecting the Dots(mini)...with streakers of the world (A Run Streakers Study)

This week on 'Connecting the Dots,' I explore a unique aspect of my daily life—streak running. I've been included in an international study that delves into what it means to run every day, no matter what. Join me as I break down the study's findings and reflect on my own running streak of over 3,814 consecutive days!

Transcript

Speaker: 0:00

Week 27 of connecting the dots, which is going to be a little bit different this week. Since I, so week 27, since I turned 49 and I connect the dots with different people and ask them about them. And well, this is a different type of connecting the dots. This is connecting me with other streak runners. Did you know I'm a streak runner? Probably anyhow, back in January 21. So a little while ago now I was, I think I responded to something on Facebook and next thing I know, I there was a study happening and they were doing a study on streak runners. And so I just sort of, yeah, happy to participate, be a participant. And they reached out. And so back in January of 21, I spoke to one of their people there in an interview and answered a whole bunch of questions. I think I did a, maybe I answered questions and there was an interview. Well, what, why am I talking about that now? It got published this week, got sent to me this week. So that was pretty cool. So I've got it here all of the study. It's got a it's got like a One page of summary and then it's got the you know the whole Study bit of it as well. So that's pretty cool. And it talks about what streak running is. It goes into I guess the summary talks about the findings and stuff like that how streak running works. It forms hardcore habits, helps with motivation, develops a streaking mindset, not that type of streaking. And and then it's got pros and cons. It's positive on health. It's gives you a sense of accomplishment. The cons are running through injury and lack of rest and recovery to keep the streak alive. I know a little bit about that. Streak stress, trying to fit the daily run into busy schedules, especially when running a lot. Routines are disrupted. Probably know a little bit about that too. Impacts of run streaking. Streaking can impact other areas of the life. Yeah, I'm a lot less. There's less of me. Streaking may boost Confidence and self esteem and help with other tasks of daily living. I'm not sure, probably. Streaking as a technique needs more research. Streaking has the potential beyond running. And that was one of the things I was talking about is what other things do I You know, having that conversation about what other things do I streak and do in consecutive. I'm like, Nope, just running. And I think that, you know, in this, there was this I want to streak runners. Don't streak anything else. They, it's, it seems to be that it's running that's streaking. So I started to look over there, a streaker. A study on examining streaking as a behavioral change technique for habit formation and recreational runners. So I spoke to Megan, Megan, Megan, when it's got a H in it, it's pronounced differently, right? Megan. And back in 21, and that's who interviewed me, and I think she ran lead on this. I don't know how, I don't know how to read research papers, but her name's first. Sounds like it's something you'd, you'd read. Take lead on right? They interviewed people from around the world that were anywhere between in, well in this data collection, between a hundred and fifty people. 4, 500 consecutive days. My fellow streakers. I don't know who the others are. And it's funny. I'm particip I figured out I'm participant three because I was reading one of the quotes there and I'm like, Oh, that sounds very familiar. Oh, and at the end, it's got participant three male. I'm like, all right, I'm participant three. They had runners from USA, Canada, Australia. Italy, Norway, England, South Africa. And then they've just got little random notes, well not random, it's structured here. I've picked up on some random things throughout there. For some participants, their run streak started organically without a goal of running every day to develop a streak. Those participants recounted retrospectively finding out that they had been doing a thing that others also practiced. And then it's got the summary of one of the participants. I remember a conversation I had with a guy and said, yeah, yeah, I'm still running every day. And he goes, oh, you're on a streak. And I went, a what? And he's, I don't even know what you're talking about. So I went back and looked it up and I'm like, all right, that's me. Perduceban3, male. And that was a real story. I was on something like 783 days in a row. And I ran into somebody. An acquaintance from a committee years before and he said, Oh, you're still running. And I said, yeah, I'm running every day. And he goes, you know, running every day. And I'm like, yeah, I'm up to 783 and he goes, Oh, you're a run streaker. And I just, I had no idea what he was talking about then. And well, you know, we're, what are we today? 3, 814, 3, 800, 3, 814 days in a row today, as I, Read a study on streak runners. Lots of lots of data stuff in these things. I skipped past that. I'm not a big reader. Several participants reported having done or doing a streak within a streak whereby they set a higher minimum distance or time and additionally monitor the number of consecutive days achieving this I, I don't, I know what that is and I know that, you know, like, for instance, I've been doing a minimum of eight kilometers a day for a long time. And I guess that's a streak within a streak. If I wanted to look at it that way, I can go back and look at, go, when did I consistent or consecutively do this eight kilometers? I think it's four or five years. I don't know. Before that it was sort of five and, and it's been higher, you know, sometimes over Christmas breaks I'll do 10 in a row, you know, 10 day 10 kilometers every day. But it's been eight for years and years. But I don't count streaks within a streaks, but some do. And I've heard of that before. I used to, I've seen when other streakers post, yes. Connected with other streakers on the internet they will have their run day streak and then they'll have their five mile streak or you know, and so they've got these streaks within a streaks, but I don't do that. But it was interesting to read about the others that have their streaks within a streak. Another section where I, you know, sounds familiar. Some participants who got health professional advice reported ignoring that advice. As it was not in line with their ability to continue run streaking. Or they were sought different health professional advice, which was in line with their ability to keep track. Streaking. And then it has a little quote there and it's got participant 3 male at the end of that again. So, but there's others as well. So I'm not alone on that. That's for sure. There's a section here about streak attachment. Most participants displayed a relationship to their streak akin to having an attachment with a person, a pet, or a desired object. Yeah, I guess so, a little bit. Most participants, I'm sure I'm stuck in that one. I don't see participant 3 male written in any of the quotes there. I do connect to that. In part of the wrapping up of it, streaking may be a promising behavior change technique to support habit formation in running behavior, and potentially other behaviors. The current study examined the experimental accounts of individuals who had used streaking for an extended period. Don't know about that. And, and so there's a lot of data here and in conclusion. It then goes, streaking is a behavior change technique with the potential to support the formation of behavioral automaticity indicative of habits as examined in the context of recreational running. Further research needs to study this promising, organically occurring technique to understand its potential to support long term behavior change. That's it. That's it. That's the conclusion. Ah, so, that's my connecting the dots story this week, where it's A whole research paper connecting this weird little thing I do to other people in the world that do this other weird little thing. So, if you didn't know I was a streaker, you do now. And I met one a little while ago in Brisbane and I'm looking forward to, he'll be on here soon. He doesn't know this yet but I will be asking him to come chat to me. Because I've never really sat down and Well, I've never really chatted to another run streaker, so that'll be interesting. Sounds like we're a bit alike if the study's correct. Anyhow, that's week 27 of me turning 49 and connecting with, well, me today and other streakers through a study. Have a great week!