{"id":1102,"date":"2026-06-30T19:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T23:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lifelessonsfromoz.com\/blog\/?p=1102"},"modified":"2026-06-30T19:51:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T23:51:53","slug":"a-bad-break-a-long-streak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lifelessonsfromoz.com\/blog\/a-bad-break-a-long-streak\/","title":{"rendered":"A bad break. A long streak."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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And I will walk 500 miles and I will walk 500 more. <\/em>—The Proclaimers<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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I started counting my steps last July after my darling T\u2019s horrific bike accident. A careless driver caused a chain reaction of quick stops that left my beloved with a broken hip and pelvis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mark’s wheel bent from the fall’s impact.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

T couldn\u2019t walk for six weeks while his bones healed. Our neighbor Derek described my dearest as a wolverine, referring to his determination to be back on his bike in 10 weeks and NOT needing a hip replacement when T recounted the accident. Indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while he was healing and couldn\u2019t walk, I decided I would walk for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miles Elroy and I are longtime walking buddies, and he needed his daily rounds. With one less parent to spin him through the neighborhoods, Alex and our friend Norm stepped in to help. It was the \u201csweltering heat wave from hell summer\u201d in Maryland, and we all sweated through the midday walks. Miles, with his black coat, most of all. But we persevered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, I was averaging 11\u201314K steps a day, already besting the 10,000-step benchmark, and started a streak measured by my faithful Lily Garmin watch. As the days passed, I kept moving the goal another week. When I hit 25 days, I thought, \u201cWell, why not go to 50?\u201d So I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At day 50, with T back at work and able to share some walks with our boy, I lowered the baseline to 7,500, just in case I had a day when 10K wasn\u2019t possible. Most days I still topped 10K. But every goal needs a little grace, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So on it went. T got stronger. I walked longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

75 days. 100. 200. 275.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter the weather or my schedule, Miles saw every outing as a great adventure, oblivious to my grumbling. I laced up my Hokas or Keenes, and off we went on our merry way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except, it wasn\u2019t always merry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I hadn\u2019t hit my number by 10 p.m., I\u2019d groan and take my boy out for one more stroll. He was thrilled. I was not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The steps weren\u2019t all outdoor walks. I took extra trips up and down the stairs, out to the gas grill making dinners, and back and forth between the shed and the garden beds. Sometimes I marched in place while brushing my teeth, then circled the downstairs rooms to hit my number, especially when I hovered near 10,000 instead of 7,500. You gotta do what you need to when a streak is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began to consider giving up in January during the Arctic Freeze. I could use my WalkFit app to get indoor steps, but that meant A LOT of workouts. I\u2019d rather suffer outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One exceptionally bitter Sunday afternoon, sweet Miles got an abbreviated jaunt down the street to avoid frostbite on his paws. Wrapping my face in a warm scarf, I donned my pink wool hat and headed back out alone to finish the day\u2019s goal while he watched through the picture window. I\u2019m certain the extreme cursing I spewed helped push me to my watch displaying \u201cCongratulations!\u201d when I hit 7,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T kept my resolve on the days when it weakened. “After all, 7,500 steps is only 3.5 miles. Not so much, really.” I kept my reply to myself when he offered this wisdom, and I congratulated myself every time I finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, T completed PT and began riding short routes again. A hard-won victory and testament to his strength and grit. As I strode into the 300s, he rolled into longer rides\u201421, 37, 44, then a 50-miler this past weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back on his bike– 50 miles here he goes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The countdown began in earnest after 350 days. Late nights and crappy weather notwithstanding, I knew I was going to make it. After all, if my darling could push through his recovery and get back to the joy of riding, who was I to slack off with the finish line so close?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

On Monday, June 29, at 6:40 p.m., my watch told me I made it!<\/strong> 365 days, 3.8 million steps<\/span>, 1,474 miles!!!<\/strong> I also averaged 10,626 steps a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MADE IT!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t ever claim it was easy, but I\u2019d do it again if fate sent catastrophe our way. I pray that time never comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a year. T recovered. I retired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My big black dog still needs three walks a day, and now I have the time. So I\u2019ll walk for the sheer joy of time well spent with sweet Miles, and sometimes with T, greeting neighbors, hiking with family and friends, streak be damned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe one day I\u2019ll break the streak. July will be tough with multiple family trips. Or possibly horrendous weather. Later this week, the Weather Channel is predicting 100-degree-plus days. That means early mornings and late evenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t imagine there will be a 730-day streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But maybe I\u2019ll crack 400\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to lace up and head out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patiently waiting for Mom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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