Friday, April 29, 2016

Runfessions for April

Oh, blogging, how I've missed you this week! And then Marcia hosts Runfessions? Too delicious to pass up, I'm throwing together a quick post because I have a few things to share from our trip. The Big Sur Marathon race recap? I'll be posting that on Sunday, but today's post is all about the shenanigans behind our trip to California. Because our trip was almost perfect. Almost.

Let the 'fessing begin...

Runfessions for April

I runfess...even though the race exceeded my expectations, the Big Sur Marathon expo was a little underwhelming. But there were a few oddities I thought I should mention. For example, as I was walking through the tent, a guy in a lab coat came at me with a rack of porcelain teeth, promising me he'd whiten my teeth in no time. Well dude, my front four teeth are capped. Oh, he'd remove any stains? Seriously? Who let this guy into a race expo? Then another guy came at me with a TENS unit, electrodes at the ready. These had to be the weirdest things I've ever experienced at a race expo. I met up with my husband, who offered to pay for my purchases, and we continued on with our "not a second honeymoon".

Runfessions for April

I runfess that after the Big Sur Marathon, my feet were hurting really badly. Even though I was basking in my post-race glow, I was struggling to follow my husband to the car. To his credit, he offered to pick me up, but nooooo, I had to be the hero. I mean, I ran 26.2, right? We crossed the street and passed an elderly woman walking with a cane. I commented that I could use her cane. "Bless your heart, honey", she said. And I felt really foolish because, yes, I just ran 26.2 miles. #runnerproblems

Runfessions for April
I'm sitting and yes, that beer helped dull the pain...
Yosemite was magnificent. Have you ever been there? My husband totally indulged my need for yoga poses. He even came up with ideas for spots I could do them. Really? Who is he? But it's too bad we had to share the park with other people. When we were snapping pictures of Tunnel View, there was a large group of tourists. Two guys were getting their picture taken. I attempted to snap a photo, and they asked me to move over. "How much room do you need?', I runfess that I asked them. They scooted away. Ooops.

Runfessions for April
Tunnel View. El Capitan, Glacier Point, and Bridalveil Falls all in one shot. 
While in San Francisco, we stayed in the most amazing little boutique hotel. Wine and cheese at 5. Breakfast in the morning. Fireplace in our room. Super comfy bed. Except I runfess I woke up in the middle of the night very itchy. In the morning, I inspected the damage. Only 5 bites, but very red and swollen, and all on the left side of my body. Bedbugs? Spider bites? I don't know what, but something got me. My husband got away untouched. Figures.


We got to the San Francisco Airport for our trip home. Our flight was delayed. And then it was cancelled. The pilot told us that the co-pilot's seat was broken and they couldn't find another plane. Have you ever heard this one? We made a beeline to customer service only to have to wait in line for about 2 hours. Rebooked to Denver with a connection to Chicago, we flew to the gate. We waited to be called. And saw the plane pull away from the jetway. Stunned, we approached the desk and were told to wait for our name to be called. When we were finally called to the podium, the customer service rep immediately copped an attitude. I runfess I may have used air quotes when I talked about the co-pilot's broken seat. And I got the hands on the hips and "ma'am"ed back attitude from the customer service asshole rep. Yep. Bottom line, we went to another customer service agent. Got travel vouchers, a flight home in the morning, and hotel and food vouchers for the night.

Runfessions for April
Oh those "air quotes"....
Got any runfessions? Any travel stories? Do you let this stuff just roll off your back? We did. We laughed about it, except the last one. 

I'm linking this post with Marcia at Marcia's Healthy Slice for Runfessions. It's just the best link up ever. Now I'm going to bed. It's been a long 2 days of trying to get home!

37 comments :

  1. So glad to have a glimpse of your amazing week!LOL on those tourists messing up your photos -- don't they understand you NEED that perfect shot?! YIkes on the itchy bug bites -- I hope it was a one night thing and not an infestation. As for travel woes ... I've had decent luck rebooking by phone even from the airport and have even gotten help through twitter - from United and Alaska. Looking forward to Sunday!

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    1. We tried everything but all the flights back to Chicago were booked. The final customer service rep was amazing, and since I'm planning a few more trips this year, the vouchers were a win. Even tho I had to miss work today....

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  2. I swear airline personnel can be such a'holes sometimes. I too have had great results when I've taken my issues to Twitter. Sorry about the bugs. That is gross. And thanks for dragging your travel-weary self to this "delicious" linkup! Haha!

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    1. I never thought about Tweeting! Interesting. I'll have to remember that for next time--hopefully won't have to use it.

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  3. Omg Wendy!! Go with spider bite instead of bedbugs. That will sit better in your brain . I would have freaked out! How are your feet feeling? Oh and customer service... What is wrong with people? The dental convention was today and mets just say the surgitel until one is going to get an earful from me! Their rep is an a-hole.

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    1. Surgitel customer service... Not sure what happened in the comment. 😂

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    2. I don't think it was bedbugs--I've seen those bites and this looks more like spider bites. My feet are feeling surprisingly good! I'm hoping to test them out tomorrow.

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  4. I'm so sorry your trip ended on such a bad note. No, I have never heard of a broken co pilot's seat. Sounds like a sorry excuse to me. I've never been to Yosemite but it is on our list. I'm so glad you had such a wonderful vacation and the boutique hotel in San Fran sounded lovely.

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    1. We had an amazing vacation. The airport experience was really a crash landing back to reality! But not to worry, I'm still feeling the glow!

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  5. Welcome back - I've been thinking about you had hoping you were having a spectactular time in California! I swear, it's always something when you travel, but I've never heard of a broken seat causing such a mess. Ugh to the attitude of the "customer service" lady...guess she didn't remember that was her job title!

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  6. I recently had a 7 hour flight delay but they kept saying one more hour, one more hour, one more hour... until I had been sitting there for 7. Yeah, crappy customer experience from Silver Airways in Florida. Can't wait to read your recap !

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    1. We've had that too--the long delay. Never had a flight cancelled before. This was only our flight. I can't imagine what it's like when multiple flights are cancelled, like with bad weather.

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  7. Sorry you had those travel issues! That stuff is the worst. And your expo sounds very interesting! Looking forward to your recap!

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    1. After Chicago, it's hard to get excited about any expo. But I did score some awesome gear!

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  8. I'm glad the race when well, but sorry it wasn't kind to your feet. Time to really hit that PT!

    I've actually heard good things about TENS units, but teeth whitening? That's is pretty odd. And my front tooth is bonded, so no thank you. I'll just be the little granny with the gray hair and yellow teeth, thank you very much.

    We did go to Yosemite -- once -- actually before we got married! I think we were engaged, but lemme tell you the fact that pre-Mr. Judy and I traveled together did not sit well with my parents (the trip was for my brother's graduation from law school).

    It's stunning!

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    1. My feet were just sore from all the pounding. In fact, I think they were downright angry! But by the next day they were fine. Good thing because we had all that beauty to explore in Yosemite!

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  9. You look stunning with your post race beer! I get it. You are one of thoooose people that look beautiful all the time, even post marathon. :) No seriously, you look beautiful and congratulations on your huge accomplishment! I was tracking you!

    I am very excited to hear about your race and I hope you post more about your vaycay. We love San Fran and we really want to go to Yosemite someday. Just last night when we were laying in bed talking about possible vacations, Northern California was at the top of the list. "I'll pay for Colorado with my credit card and you pay for Cali with your credit card," I told Paul. Hahaha.

    You can't laugh about flight delays/cancellations/and customer service. You just can't. THAT SUCKS. I hate airlines so bad and I hate them even more when I hear stories like yours! Glad you are home sweet home and hopefully you never have to fly that airline again???

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    1. You are too kind! It had to be my post race glow. Or relief! This was THE HARDEST thing I've ever done. It sure was nice not to have the pressure of a time goal!

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  10. I would LOVE to run Big Sur someday. Although our kids almost got car sick on the drive along historic Hwy 1, the views were breath-taking! I want to go back (someday) and do the San Fran marathon (probably the half LOL)....care to join me? Sorry for all the issues getting back home! Glad you made it back to the Midwest, just in time for a rain-filled weekend ;-)

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    1. That bus ride down to the start line was a little nauseating!

      SF half you say? Maybe in the future...

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  11. I runfess that we came home to California a couple weeks ago and I left both pairs of good running shoes in Hawaii. So I've been doing lots of cycling and a little bit of slow running in old shoes. We go back to Hawaii on Monday and I have a 10k next Sunday - amazing training cycling ;) I also haven't blogged in about a month.

    Air travel can be so frustrating and customer "service" people can get my blood pressure up faster than any others!

    Yes, I love Yosemite! That is where my husband proposed!

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  12. why oh why is it so dang hard to get home???? air travel has become more frustrating than Wal-mart on a Saturday morning! Well I am glad you are back safe and sound! Looks like a beautiful trip and I hope the hubby had fun even if he says it was a race-cation!

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    1. Haha! That is a great comparison! Even that whole debaucle couldn't ruin my post marathon glow!

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  13. Yeah ya gotta love airline "customer service" - they've got to be some of the worse. Sorry about the bug bites! That would have sent me over the edge! Congrats on Big Sur - can't wait to read your recap!!

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    1. Interesting how the bugs didn't bite my husband, isn't it? Hmmmm....

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  14. eeek to those bites and the flight drama. can not WAIT to read about the marathon. btw, i'm back in chicago in june - hope to see you then!

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  15. Exactly what I needed this morning. I'll be picturing your 'air quotes' and thinking about your 'how much room do you need?!' Hahahahah. I love it. Sounds so much like me. Plus the fact that I always itch at a hotel. ALWAYS. Regardless if I end up seeing bites or not, I'm scratching all night. Next on to your race recap :)

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    1. Well those tourists were so obnoxious! They were sitting on the trunk of the car parked next to us and wouldn't get off. The guy finally put his car in reverse and started backing up. Then they moved!

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  16. It's fascinating to read about the downside, the little (and big) things that went wrong that don't show up in the initial stories. A bit of reality biting you in the a** (Sorry, I couldn't resist. And sorrier for sure that you had to deal with the bug issue. What's with not taking a nip from your other half?)

    The cane, the photos, best of all the weird vendors at the expo:priceless.
    Love your stories. Love you.
    Welcome home.

    Rest, and get ready for your next run. You are truly back.
    (Sorry for the delay; just got home from my needlework convention).

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    1. I guess I just tasted better than him... ;P

      Love you and all your support. You are the best!

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  17. I am so very glad you had a good trip and loved these "behind the scenes" you shared! Even with the bed bugs it sounds like an amazing trip!
    I am totally impressed with hubs take on the yoga pictures. It's taken Mr. Sippi some time but he is coming around. He does know to ask me if I want to take a picture before we leave sometimes. And he'll slow down for me to snap away too!

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    1. I don't know who was with me on my trip, but I really liked that guy! I hope he sticks around. I remember marrying a guy like that...

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  18. It sounds like an amazing trip! Congratulations! Sorry about the delays, they suck!

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