enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Run

Last year, I ran a mile every day from Thanksgiving until New Years. You can read about it here. This was challenging adventure and something I am planning on undertaking again this year.

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The biggest thing to note before you start is that this is hard. The first two days or so are fun. Maybe even the third day. By day five you're kicking yourself (except not really because your legs hurt). What I found more interesting about the challenge was how different I felt about it each day. Some days I loved running. Some days I hated it. But because I refused to give myself an out, it didn't matter how I felt. I had to run anyway. It was a good experience because I was pretty no-excuses about the whole thing.

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Perhaps the best part though was how good I felt on January 1st. It's not like I dropped a bunch of weight over those six weeks. It's not like I gained a ton of muscle. But I got outside and moved around every day and I felt like I was able to start 2012 with a clear head and an established habit for being active. My  schedule has been all over the place this fall, and so I am looking forward to getting a similar feeling at the start of next year.

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So consider this your invitation. It's not fancy and it's not formal. Just sign up for the challenge mentally and embrace it fully. (Or pick a different staying active challenge that works better for your body and your own schedule.) I will be documenting my progress on Instagram again this season with the hashtag #mileaday. Taking those photos of my feet in different spots was probably the most fun part of the whole thing, so it makes sense (for me) to do it that way again. Please feel free to use the hashtag and document it the same way if that works for you.

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Happy running.

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40 responses to “a mile a day.”

  1. orange gearle Avatar

    Thanks for the challenge. I may just take you up on that (but it may be walking/jogging). 🙂 Are you still doing a December book, even though you’ve fully embraced (and still love) Project Life? Just curious.

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  2. Mitchell Kraft Avatar

    Totally joining in this year. I need something to force me to get out there – especially after all the holiday treats.

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  3. jesslonett Avatar

    i’m not a runner and never have been. however, i am moving back to my hometown for a bit and want to start a new exercise routine to get back into feeling more fit. i think i am mentally committing and ready to embrace this. shhh i’m not telling my legs yet. it will be a fun surprise for them 😉

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  4. Sonja Avatar

    YYYYEEEESSSS – Thanks for the challenge! I’ll run every day and I’LL use the hashtag! And then it feels like running together…

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  5. Stacy Avatar

    You are always so inspiring! This was just what I needed to hear this morning. I’m dealing with a knee injury right now and was told I will never be able to run again. So I am going to walk a mile a day!! Thanks for the idea Elise 🙂

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  6. Hannah Avatar

    Hi Elise, I was thinking about this challenge the other day when I was out running. I’d had a feeling you’d run each day of November, so thought perhaps you weren’t doing it again this year. But I am excited to see that I was wrong, and I can still join in the challenge! Hooray! Will definitely be joining in on Instagram too : )

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  7. Ashleigh | Love Stoned Avatar

    What a great challenge…I’m not quite sure that I’m up for it yet (just keeping it real!) but I might try to incorporate it after the 1st of the year once things slow down a bit! Good Luck 🙂
    xx Ashleigh
    http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com

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  8. lori Avatar
    lori

    I am going to join you! I will be tinydropsofrain on instagram!

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  9. Vee Avatar

    I totally loved your mile-a-day photos & thoughts last year! I wanted to join but my motivation didn’t match my physical body lol. But this year I’m so down to participate.. even if it means I have to walk/jog a mile. I’ll be hashtagging with my instagram as @veebhu `=]

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  10. Megan Avatar

    I’m in! I needed a kick in the butt!

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  11. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    This rocks! 2 1/2 tears after giving birth to my son and I still haven’t gotten active- I’ve actually gained weight. I recently got fitted for running shoes and I have been stalling on starting the Couch-to-5k program. I know the only reason I got here is myself and can’t wait to start this. Thank you for the inspiration!

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  12. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Oops…years*

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  13. CarlyMaria Avatar

    Amazing!! I’m tempted to do this with biking, and make it something like 3km a day. (less catchy, but I have no concept for miles.) I’m moving this month though, so I think for myself I’ll give a moving day day-off. Thanks for the challenge!

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  14. Megan Anderson Avatar

    I might just have to take this on! Thanks for the push 🙂

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  15. tonya Avatar

    Like you, I set a goal for 2012. Mine was to elliptical/run/hike a total of 1000 miles in the year. Right now I am sitting at 927.44. Yesterday however, I was shooting a family session and full-on fell onto the muddy pavement and jacked up both my knees, which are now the size of softballs! Not sure if I’ll be able to complete it and I am so close. I like the “not giving yourself an out” part, so maybe I’ll just walk slow until I can move fast again. A body in motion…

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  16. lisa fine Avatar

    Nice! I don’t have Instagram anymore, but I’d love to do this – as long as my knees cooperate. If I make this a plan, I’ll definitely take photos to chronicle the experience on my blog.

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  17. elise blaha Avatar

    Yes, totally planning on filling a holiday book. Will probably start right after thanksgiving. 🙂

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  18. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I just did this in October….it was awesome!!! Loved having no excuses.

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  19. Casey Avatar

    I was just thinking about this concept when I was out running the other day. I am planning on doing a 3ksaday challenge from the 1st Jan till the 31st, as November and December are just too busy. I plan to continue to normal exercise habits for now. Looking forward to following your journey 🙂

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  20. Chrystina Avatar

    Maybe this is the whole problem. MAYBE I don’t like running because my sneakers just aren’t cool enough. I like those orange laces a lot.

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  21. Freckled Fawn Avatar

    i love everything about this post 🙂

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  22. Ashlee Avatar

    I’m not much of a runner. In fact, I really detest running. Yet, most of my life I’ve been a very active person. I played softball all the way up until college (with daily practices, workouts, dreaded running for conditioning, and games/tournaments). Since I’ve been at college I haven’t quite found a way to be active every day in the same way (gym time is no bueno). I really think that I may accept this challenge. It seems wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Taking you up on the challenge!

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  24. AminehE Avatar

    Actually we are not celebrating Thanks Giving here in Austria. But I think I’ll taking up on the challenge!! You are always so inspiring!

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  25. sophie Avatar

    i am totally in this year! i’ve missed getting out daily for a walk (i’m not a runner, but maybe one day i will be), so i’ll go walk a mile a day at the high school around the corner from my house. you should do a feature picture of the day on Instagram of the people who join you in this challenge. it’ll be funny to see what other peoples feet find while out pounding the pavement.

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  26. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    I’m inspired to give this a try. I’m not really a runner, I fail at it miserably and injured my foot in August so still have a little trouble with it, but it would be a great incentive to start out again, and strength my foot a bit more. I’ll probably walk more than I run though.

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  27. Amanda Avatar

    So glad! Your holiday books always make me feel more festive. Seeing how you fill it up fills me with extra holiday cheer 🙂

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  28. Little Italy Avatar

    I broke my foot in March and ended Physical Therapy last month. Maybe it would be good to start something like this if my ankle is up to it 🙂

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  29. Erika Avatar

    I’m trying this! Went for my first run today… and it wasn’t as bad as I thought! Thanks for giving me the idea:)

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  30. julie // juliekesti.com Avatar

    You kinda blew my mind just now–it’s never occurred to me you could just run a mile each day and keep it at that, not have it keep ramping up. A mile is such a doable amount of time. What a great idea–more about getting out each day than “working” towards something else,…nice twist.

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  31. Marian Griffin Avatar

    I’m in. So excited to do this!

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  32. Betty Avatar

    LOVE this idea!! Especially during the holidays. I’ve recently ramped up my running…but this would be good to do even on my days ‘off.’

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  33. Leah Noble Avatar

    I like how you say, and it’s true, that doing this means that by the time New Year’s rolls around, you’re already in the habit of being physical. So much easier to continue with something than to start something brand new.

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  34. Danielle Avatar

    L-O-V-E this! My Dr has told me to stop running for now and stick with low impact exercise which is insanely challenging for me, so I’m thinking a workout everyday…fun!

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  35. Jeanne M Avatar

    I love, love this idea. Not quite sure I’m up to it, but I plan to just start and see where it takes me. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

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  36. Margot/NZ Avatar

    Yeah, I’m in too. Have just set up a Daily Diary account to ask me “How many minutes have you been active today?” and can only input a number of 30 or more! This post was just the push I needed. Thanks!!!

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  37. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    I have fallen off the running bandwagon and need something like this to push me back on! I’m in. Thanks for the motivation, Elise!

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  38. julie Avatar

    i was so inspired by your description of this that i adapted it slightly to do with my crew of people (and anyone!) i moved far away from my friends and family this year, so it occurred to me this would be a fun way to feel like we are hanging out together, and be connected across time and space. thank you for sharing the idea! (here’s my post about it: http://juliekesti.com/2012/11/1mile1photo-challenge-4-u/ )

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  39. dana a. Avatar
    dana a.

    going to join in as well! didn’t start on thanksgiving but the day after with running 2-3 miles. but 1 mile sounds great on the days i don’t want to workout or a light rest day.

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  40. Cerise Avatar

    I love this. Just found it from someone who is participating, but I really think I might have to start myself. Just start tomorrow and see how long I can go. Thanks for the inspiration.

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