Monday, June 29, 2015

Runfessions for June


Yep, it's that time of the month again. Just like clockwork or a period, Marcia's Runfessions comes around and lets us clear our consciences of all our transgressions for the month. Mine is a few days late because I had a scheduled post on Friday for the Vision Council and National Sunglasses Day. So without further ado...


I got pulled over for speeding. Yep. I was on my way home from Whole Foods and I spotted the cop, the radar gun, and hit the brakes. But too late, because she pulled out behind me. Crap! She didn't turn the cherries on right away, so I stayed at the speed limit. Starting to relax, I glanced in my rearview mirror and oh no, they were flashing. I pulled into the median and waited. This really young female police officer came up to my window. She couldn't have been more than 15 years old, I swear. After going through her questioning, I handed her my license. She handed it back to me. I had given her my library card. We both laughed, and she told me that she was going to give me a warning. She kept calling me ma'am. Maybe I reminded her of her mom. I don't care. What ever it was, it worked. I didn't even have to play the nurse card....


I keep cutting my finger on the foil on the wine bottles. The struggle is real. Every time I uncork a bottle and try to remove the foil, snip! And I'm bleeding. Thank goodness I have my wine to dull the pain. The only problem I see is that my little patients notice my bandaid and ask me how I got my "owie"... I'm now grateful for wine that has the screw tops. No fuss, no muss. Easy access. All good.


I have somewhat of an obsession with running socks. I really like to think that having good socks is just one other way I can keep my feet happy. The other day I was at Marshall's, and I came upon the sock display. I usually walk right on by, but that day, it was chock full of running socks. There were a ton of SmartWool low running socks. I immediately pulled 4 pairs off the rack. Then I saw a pair of Feetures. I added those to the collection. I also had a couple of pairs of a brand I had never heard of in my hands. Feeling like a hoarder, I put those back. But I did leave the store with 5 pairs of running socks. My feet haven't stopped smiling.

Feeling like a badass after a fast 10k in 52 minutes this week
I hadn't been loving my runs lately. Dare I say it--I had been feeling a little burned out. My legs were tired and my runs have been slower than I like. I blame life stress. I blame the humidity. This isn't exactly how I'd like to head into marathon training. Because of all the rain and cool weather we've had, I haven't ridden my bike nearly as much as I'd like to. This has to be the craziest summer weather I can ever remember. I finally got out there on the bike last Sunday, and rode 30 miles. I was pleased with the way my legs felt for the entire ride. After the ride, I felt energized and ready to run again. Sometimes you just have to mix it up a bit. And then there was Thursday's run...BOOM...it just turned things around for me. Running is just the craziest thing, isn't it?


But on a related note, just because I'm riding my bike doesn't mean I'm going to do a triathlon. I know, all the cool kids are doing them. I feel the pressure, believe me. But no. Repeat after me: I DON'T LIKE TO SWIM. Almost all of my running buddies are swim training and partaking in triathlons. I get that. But I just want to run.

What do you have to runfess? Do you feel peer pressure to enter an event because all your friends are doing it? What do you do when you're feeling burned out?

68 comments :

  1. Ok, I love that wine screw comic so much I'm going to go back to your post on my phone and take a screen shot and send it to my friend.... and the triathlon one too!!! I don't know how you find all these things!.. Heat/humidity are also making things hard for me....which is why I knew going for my first full being in February in LA would be prefect for me.... don't really need to get into over 10 mile runs until september at earliest I think....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Living here, it's really a toss up when you train for a marathon. Either you have the heat and humidity of summer for the fall marathon or the brutal winter cold for the spring marathon...I need to move to California, I think!

      Delete
  2. I have been feeling burned out from running too. I try to mix it up and run different routes or just go easy on myself and run what I want to run. Right now I'm not training for anything so I'm not too strict about getting in my track workouts if I'm not feeling it. I also started spinning once a week and that commitment to go to a class helps me get out the door.

    I hate to swim too but I love the idea of a triathlon. I would never do one though...they would laugh at my 3-speed road bike as I drove it up :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mixing it up has been really helpful to shake off the funk, for sure.

      Delete
  3. OMG! The library card. Classic! Do not feel one bit of pressure to do a tri. Because they suck. Swimming sucks extra much. The drowning part is real. Thanks for linking up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry it took me so long! Can you believe I gave her my library card? smh.

      Delete
  4. So much more to multisport than just tris. You would love a duathlon if you like riding a bike. Lots of strategy on pacing the runs...a fun challenge. The wine comic is very funny - we have lots of BYO restaurants around here so that pain is real.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Seriously, who doesn't have an obsession with running socks? Except those weird people who don't run in them.

    This summer's weather has been annoying, but the first summer we moved here was worse. It was constantly raining. We almost never grilled. We've managed to grill pretty much every week, I just have to watch the weather carefully but of course I already do that.

    I might try a tri if I biked, but I'm not gonna. You could do a duothalon! I love to swim, but even the thought of a wetsuit & all those limbs flailing is off putting, is admit.

    Apparently you do everything fast. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never thought about it, but I do like to move it, move it!

      Delete
  6. Chicago needs to figure its issue out, weather-wise. But it won't, so we are just going to have to deal. And I got some really bad cuts from the foil at the top of wine bottles when I worked in the wine bar in Cville. There was one bottle in particular (the brand I mean) that was notorious. It cut many of us on staff! I want a bike a) because I would love to do a du or a tri, but also because I want a freaking bike. And they are pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad I'm not alone in the struggle with the wine foil. It's really distressing and slows me down from getting the wine to my lips...

      Delete
  7. I'm kind of itching to attempt a tri....but not in 2015. And I'll be the dork with a nose plug (is that what they're still called?) because I can't stand the sensation of water in my nose. But, I am looking for a duathlon to do later in the summer. After my ultra, I have a feeling I will be ready for something different to focus on..... I love running, but I know it's time to ease up and let some of my aches and pains hurt less :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've still got some goals that I want to achieve...after that, who knows? But I do know I won't be attempting a tri. I just have no desire...

      Delete
  8. I love Feetures and I'm jealous that you scored a pair at Marshall's. I'm going to have to go check my Marshall's when I get back home. You know how I feel about my running lately: hot, humid and hell. The change in scenery has helped this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The change in scenery helped me too! Amazing how mixing it up can recharge the batteries!

      Delete
  9. Looks like everyone is jumping on the 'tri' bandwagon. I am with you. No thanks! I love balega socks. I start running again today, so we shall see how my legs feel.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yup. Me too. I have so many pairs of socks but keep buying more. I love the feel of a new pair. I like to bike for fun but i HATE to swim so just running for me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Being pulled over is never any fun! But at least you were both able to laugh off the fact that you handed her your library card!

    ReplyDelete
  12. One of my running buddies is a police captain and head of a precinct (and female -- go girl!) ...oh yeah, I WILL play that card if necessary! I found a $3 pair of Feetures the other day. What???? My run this morning didn't suck. Awesome!! The Tri does sound interesting but my swim technique would look hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  13. GAH! I hate speeding tickets!! Of course, if I slowed down I wouldn't have to worry about it, right? Fat chance of that happening, though - ha! I got one on the way to a race last July; it really pissed me off, but I still had a great time. I love running socks, too, and no...definitely no triathlons in my future. I'm just going to get that on the record now. I can't even stay upright on my own two feet, so this does NOT sound like a good idea for me - ha! Hope you have a great day, Wendy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously! Now if kayaking counted, I could do that kind of triathlon!

      Delete
  14. It's ok to not always like running. Some days I don't.... we just have to remember how it makes us feel when we are done! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'll confess that I don't have any desire to do a tri! I'll also confess that new running socks make me just as happy! -M

    ReplyDelete
  16. YES for getting out of speeding tickets and finding running socks! I haven't been feeling my runs for a while. Marathon training season is starting this week, so I'm hoping that will give me the kick I need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seems like there's a few of us dragging a bit before marathon training starts. We need to perk each other up!

      Delete
  17. I hate that burned out feeling. Take a break - do something new or different. You'll be glad you did.
    I need some real good running socks.
    Yipppee for a young sweet cop with warnings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm mixing it up a little bit, and going to Wisconsin sure helped.

      Delete
  18. Runfession? I only ran about 5 miles last week...and I'm training for a marathon. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  19. You must have been rushing home to use the yummy stuff I'm sure you found at Whole foods! My runfess is sometimes I actually walk lol

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've only ran twice in June and I'm not even sorry about it.
    My body needed the break after marathon training and I'm finally ready to get back to it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The library card...lol Now that's funny! Glad it worked! I was in a rut the first part of the year, but I came out of it. Sometimes rest and/or changing things up is what you need to recharge. Btw...you always have the cutest socks!

    ReplyDelete
  22. LOL! funny story! I've used the I've been called to the nursing home story- emergency and flashed my name badge, what can we do???? I am with you, I love screw tops - it is just faster and I never remember to pack a wine opener if I am going on a long weekend. I also have no desire to do a triathlon , I don't want to swim or ride the bike, just run, that is all for me. We can be in the, " we are so cool we only run" club :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is a great quote on triathlons!! Ha! You know, I have never pressure do try something new...I've always just loved running and stuck with it but recently, I've decided to try a tri because it's something new for me. I'm enjoying the change up. I suppose that since I stick to myself a lot with running/training and I'm so rusty on blog world, I don't notice everyone jumping on the tri train. However, it is HUGE here in Bend. And now add one more hopefully. :) But running is the best! For life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holy typos. That was supposed to say: I have never really felt pressure to try something new just because others are jumping on the wagon. :) HOwever, being in Bend, I can't help but take on trail running as my main form of exercise. And just too many places to swim, hike, bike, climb, etc. to not try it. But this girl is a runner at heart!

      Delete
    2. Seems like everyone is jumping on the tri and ultra bandwagon! Can't a girl just run a marathon?

      Delete
  24. Too funny about having to tell your patients about the wine casualties lol. I'm normally the opposite, after I drink wine I wake up the next day with bruises and have to wonder how I got them lol.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Aaahhhhh humidity! It's KILLING me and my running mojo. I swear, I think I'm running race pace and I'm about 2 min/mile slower. My body just wants to shut down!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only solace in that is that your fall runs will be amazing!

      Delete
  26. Haha, everytime I drive home from work I always make sure I keep my ID badge on me...just.in.case. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See, you knew exactly what I was talking about...that has saved me many times (I'm ashamed to admit it).

      Delete
  27. I have gotten out of many tickets using the nurse card. I use the a special cutter thing ( not sure what it is called) to remove the foil from the win, never fails, no cuts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm too lazy to pull that foil cutter out...I just want to get to the wine...but I probably need to do it!

      Delete
  28. You are in fantastic shape my dear! So glad you got out of that ticket. Also, I love the part about triathlons. Hey if you don't want to do it, you don't have to!

    ReplyDelete
  29. My runfession... hmmm... I am "running rachel' yet i find that I am doing a whole lot more walking than running. The darn heat and humidity is getting to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The humidity is taking a toll on everyone this summer! The good thing about it is that you'll have some awesome runs to look forward to in the fall!

      Delete
  30. This post had me in stitches! I LOVE your runfessions cuz they always make me LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the whole point..it's the stuff we should be so embarrassed to talk about, right?

      Delete
  31. Reading about tris is fun but, I confess, I'm not one of the cool kids doing them or that even wants to.

    ReplyDelete
  32. My non-runner husband absolutely does not understand how important the right socks are but they are KEY. I would have absolutely loaded up if I'd run across a rack of Feetures too. :) Those are my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a few brands that I like, and it was nice to see 2 of them on the rack at Marshalls!

      Delete