Who's (not) heard of the Dead Runners Society? It's a mailing list for runners, divided by geography. The original US version is pretty busy though the UK chapter needs a kick.
Anyway, I had a mail earlier from them announcing their 100 day streak challenge, which starts on Jan 1st 2010. You can undertake to run for 100 days in a row, or do some activity for the same period, and log your progress on a shared Google-doc spreadsheet. I am giving it a go, aiming for the latter category. The spreadsheet has a 'leader board', and I thought it might be a good way to top up the new year motivation.
You will need a gmail or googlemail account. You may or may not need to be a member of the DRS - it doesn't say. It's free to join up if you want to, but I suspect this isn't essential.
To be added to the spreadsheet, you need to mail
crshuby@gmail.com. But the full details are below (in the second mail).
PLEASE NOTE -- if you mail him, send him the gmail / googlemail account you want him to give share permissions to. I've just had a frustrating hour trying to get full permissions to the spreadsheet because he signed me up using another email account, which I couldn't get to work as needed.
For more info on the DRS:
Main --
Main DRS portal
UK --
UK DRS
This is the mail received earlier:
Hello deads,
Just like last year, the runners in the main DRS list, are planning to start the new year by running every day of 2010 for 100 consecutive days. There is a minimum of 30 minutes or 2 miles per day, or you can also log your workout sessions.
Here is the original message, in case you want to sing up and participate.
Happy holidays
Indro
> Subject: The 2010 DRS 100 Day Streak
> From: Carl Shubitowski
>
> Here is a link to the 2010 DRS 100 Day Run Streak spreadsheet.
>
> https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ar6lSeYkdjWOdEMxX29GVHlYUkFRazRfVVZ6LVNiVnc&hl=en
>
> You have to have a Google account (which is free) to be able to edit the spreadsheet (i.e. add your name and enter mileage and minutes). If you sign up with a Gmail mailing address that should be all you need. If you sign up with any other mailing address it should still work but you will need to also get a Google account to edit the sheet.
>
> Again like last year there are 3 sheets:
>
> *Run* - is for the Deads that are trying to run every day for the first 100
> days of 2010.
> *Work Out* - is for the Deads who are trying to work out, but not
> necessarily run every day for the first 100 days of 2010.
> *Leader Board* - will show the leaders in minutes and miles for each of the
> first two sheets.
>
> I am trying something new on the *Work Out* sheet. On the very bottom left
> of the sheet as an "Activity Key".
> I have added the following:
> R = Run
> W = Walk
> S = Swim
> B = Bike
> WT = Weights
> RW = Row
> Y = Yoga
>
> In your activity column use these abbreviations and if you need more, I can
> always add more, just let me know. I think this will make it easier to read
> that sheet and hopefully keep all the columns the same width.
>
> I also have one other suggestion for the *Work Out* sheet. In order to
> calculate the leader board in miles we need some equivalent miles for the
> work outs that do not record a distance. I would suggest that we take the
> time of the activity in minutes and divide by 10 to get an "equivalent"
> miles work out. For instance if you pumped iron for an hour that would be
> an equivalent 6 miles for the purposes of the spreadsheet or if you had a 45
> minute Yoga class that would be 4.5 equivalent miles. That way it would be
> more fun to watch the leader board.
>
> Once again just send me an email if you wish to participate and I will add
> you to the list. Once you are in you can put your name in row 1 in one of
> the empty slots on one of the sheets and start recording your miles and
> minutes starting 1/1/2010. Everyone in DRS land can view the spreadsheets
> whether participating or not by just clicking on the link. I would suggest
> you bookmark this link if you are going to be participating or viewing
> often.
>
> Many thanks to Karen for suggesting this last year and happy streaking!
>
> Carl in Clarkston, MI
