Reflections on a Five Year Run Streak
by
Mark Jimenez
Today I laced up my shoes and went on a run, just like I have done the previous 1,824 days in a row. What makes up a 5 year run streak? Well, 365 times 5 equals 1,825. But there’s been a leap year in there, and technically my run streak started 5 years ago on the Monday before Thanksgiving. Does that mean I’ll hit 5 years today, tomorrow, Monday? Who knows? And to be honest, it doesn’t really bother me that much. My motto, which has translated over to Red Rock Running Company as well, is “Every Run is a Good Run.” I don’t run every day to reach a number. I run every day to stay healthy and happy.
Depression has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it. I’ve been on anti-depressants and I’ve been to see psychiatrists and therapists. I can easily say the best medicine that I’ve found to help me fight depression is running. When my days start out with a run the cloud of depression stays further back (it never goes away completely) and I’m able to get through my days a little easier.
It never goes away, but with running it is something I can deal with. And that’s good enough for me.
And that is the reason why I run every day.
I fully realize and accept that one day this streak will stop. I’m not trying to get to any number. I’m not trying to set any records. I’m just trying to stay healthy and happy one step at a time.
I ran cross country and track in high school, but I was never very good at it. When I started my fitness journey on my 29th birthday, weighing 240 pounds, running wasn’t a goal of mine. But my friend John had other ideas. He kept bugging me and bugging me to run a half marathon. I thought he was crazy. 13.1 miles might as well have been a million bajillion miles. There’s no way I was going to do it.
Mark (left front) practicing for Cross Country at Western High School, sometime around 1993
But John keep bugging me, and eventually I did it.
Even then, I never imagined I’d run every day. I’ve known a couple of people who are on run streaks longer than mine, and before I started my streak I thought they were crazy. But what are you going to do? Here I am, crazy like the rest of them.
There have been great moments in my run streak. Every fall I have the privilege of helping to coach the Cross Country team at Shadow Ridge High School. This year we had amazing success, with the mens team taking 4th at state and the women’s team taking 2nd. I love working with young people and I love watching them develop the passion for running that will carry them through a healthy life. I am very proud of all that they accomplished this year.
Mark with the Shadow Ridge women's team after they won the 5A Southern Region Championship
Mark congratulating a runner after the State Cross Country meet in Reno
Another great moment was at the Surf City Marathon in February of 2020, right before Covid hit. I ran a Boston Qualifying time of 3:08:35. Just yesterday I got confirmation that I will be running the Boston Marathon in April of 2022. That’s something I never thought I’d be doing, and to be honest I have mixed feelings about it. But that’s a blog for a different time.
Mark & Drew after the Feb 2020 Surf City Marathon
In the fall of 2020 I ran a sub-19 minute 5k. That’s something I didn’t think I’d be doing again either. It’s nice that these old legs still have a little bit of speed in them.
That look of pain as you Old Man PR a 5k
And what’s best about this whole thing is that I try really hard not to compare my running to anybody else. Those times I put up there for the marathon and the 5k? Some people will read those and think, “Oh my gosh, Mark is so fast!” Other people will read those and go, “I can’t believe Mark is bragging about those times, I run a sub-19 minute 5k for a warmup and I’ve never ran a marathon slower than 3 hours.”
Speed is relative! I love it! There is always somebody faster than you. There is always somebody slower than you. I don’t run for them! I run for me!
There have been some incredibly difficult times during my run streak as well. Going for a run the morning before my daughter had spine surgery was difficult. Running while going through a divorce was incredibly difficult. There would be times when I’d be out on my run and some random memory would hit me and I’d come to a full stop and start crying. One of those memories happened when I was running with friends and we took a random route. We ended up passing a park that I went to when my oldest daughter was just a little baby. It had snowed (a rare thing in Las Vegas) and we took her there with our dog to play in the snow. The memory hit me like a sledgehammer and I had to sit on a the wall and cry for a bit.
Before
After
Yes, running helps with depression, but nobody’s perfect!
Running after a triathlon or a race can be difficult. Yes, I run on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and all the other holidays. I run when I’m sick, but I can honestly say that since I’ve been running every day I haven’t had more than a cold. I’ve run through injuries. I had an abdominal/groin issue that will still pop up every now and then if I’m not careful. I’ve had knee pain, foot pain, back pain, and sore muscle pain. But thankfully nothing has been so serious that I haven’t been able to run. The worst it got was when my ankle puffed up right before that 2020 Surf City Marathon. With the help of the good Dr. Prince and frequent ice baths I was able to run the race (and PR!).
I’ve developed a few bad habits along the way as well. My shorts have gotten shorter and I have an unhealthy addiction to Roberto’s Breakfast Burritos. Uber Eats hasn’t helped that addiction. I might have more running shoes than I do any other kind of shoe. Ok, truth be told I think all I have right now are running shoes. When they aren’t good for running anymore they turn into walking shoes. I never thought I’d be that guy, but here we are! I’ve got a shoe for every different kind of run! But don’t ask me what my favorite is! I don’t have a favorite, I love them all equally, just not as much as I love breakfast burritos.
Running has become a wonderful part of my life. It’s something I never expected to happen, but I’m very grateful it has. I’m grateful that I’m able to spread the joy and benefits of health and fitness through Red Rock Running Company. To all the people who have helped me along the way, thank you. You know who you are, and there are too many to list here. But from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Every Run is a Good Run. I hope to see you out on a run some day.