Friday, July 29, 2016

Runfessions for July

It's that time again...time to runfess! This monthly clearing of the conscience feels so good! Marcia makes it all happen and there's no penance. So come on in and share your deepest, darkest runfessions!


I refer to my early morning pool running sessions as a geriatric happy hour. Usually, I am the youngest person there. Mostly there are the pool noodle ladies and elderly men in speedos. Which shouldn't even be a thing, IMHO. But wait...hello!
I runfess that for the last couple of weeks there has been a perfect male specimen in the lap pool. He's anything but geriatric, but not jailbait, and did I mention perfect? Even the suit he wears, which is kind of a speedo but more like snug booty shorts, is perfect. Not at all revealing but snug in all the right places. It's been a pleasant way to start the day. With every lap around the dive well, I check out the lap pool to see if he's in view. Waiting for him to climb out and shake the water off...


Have you played Pokemon Go? You'd have to be living under a rock not to have heard of it. I runfess that yes, I've caught a few Pokemon over the last couple of weeks. My favorite training spot, the retention pond, has 4 Pokestops! I guess it's a good thing I'm not training there because there are a ton of people walking the path and playing the game. A hot run this week had me looking for Pokemon on the last mile. Why not? There was not any hope of getting a decent pace out of it.


Don't judge me. I runfess I don't even know what I'm doing. All I'm doing is catching the little guys. I'm not in this for the competition. It's a distraction from life. And it's kind of fun. By the way, there are a bunch of articles on running and playing Pokemon. Lifehacker posted an interval training workout, but Runner's World and Competitor have also gotten in the game.

Captured this guy yesterday! Yes, I was running...
Do you still have a landline?  We do and it's a mixed blessing. I runfess that we only answer it if we know the number on the caller ID. Because we get a ton of robocalls. I finally checked the answering machine after 2 weeks and out of 8 messages, only one was legit, a reminder for a doctor appointment. The rest? "Credit card alert". I get those at least once daily. All different numbers too. Oh and that IRS fraud call we get regularly. Dude says I'm going to be arrested for tax fraud. The callers are quite aggressive.


This past weekend, I took a spontaneous trip to my parents' place in northern Wisconsin with my youngest son and his girlfriend. It was his birthday! His broken leg is healing and he wanted to do ALL THE THINGS that we usually do on our trips up north. I did my best to keep up with them. We kayaked and SUP'd. We did yoga poses on the SUPs. We swam. Played ping pong. I managed to run. We dined. And I wined. But I runfess that our last night there I begged off mini golf. I didn't think I could do 18 holes. Bonus runfession: I took some satisfaction in that they both slept the entire 5 hour ride home. Although I did go to bed at 8 that night.

This was tougher than headstand!
As you know, I've set some strength goals for myself this year. One of those goals is to do a pull-up. I've never, ever refused to do something Becky has put in front of me but I runfess that I finally told her that the pull-up prep work is too hard. All while fighting tears of frustration. The awesome coach that she is, she ignored my tears and instead gave me the pep talk of all pep talks. Like the kind of pep talk that a sergeant gives his soldiers going into battle. Seriously. Becky told me how surprised she was about this because I have never quit on anything with her. She reminded me that I've done lots of hard things. Like, run a few marathons. She also shared a personal anecdote about a strength challenge of her own. By doing this, she gave me the courage to do try again.


Are you playing Pokemon Go? Ever cry because a workout was too hard? Got anything to runfess? I know you do...

Let's continue the Friday Fun! Next Friday, August 5, I'm hosting a link up I've creatively titled Running Treasure Hunt!  In the spirit of the Friday Five, I challenge you to find and post pictures of 5 fun/odd/weird things you've seen on the run! You don't have to be a blogger to participate. You can link your FB, IG, or Twitter post as well as a blog post. All I ask is that you link back to my post. Bloggers can link up with the DC Trifecta's Friday Five as well. If this goes over well, I may make it a seasonal thing--think summer, fall, winter, and spring finds. 
Here's the link up badge!
Besides linking up with Marcia at Marcia's Healthy Slice for the official Runfessions linkup, I'm also linking up with the DC Trifecta aka Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia for the Friday Five. I've got 5 Runfessions tucked into this post, right?



52 comments :

  1. I wish I saw fun things on my run. Jack Sparrow definitely sees better things. I"m glad that you have some pool eye candy. Otherwise.... pool running would just be BOOOOOO-rah-boring, in my opinion!

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    1. It's so boring. But every lap around the dive well makes my eyes focus on the prize...

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  2. We cancelled our landline at the end of last year and I sort of miss the Indian guy who called himself "Steve Martin" and threatened us with appearing before a grand jury for tax something or other. You can do the damn pullups!

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    1. I was so frustrated yesterday! Everything she had me do was really hard. I feel so weak!

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  3. Oh Pokemon Go...everyone's doing it! I do wonder if I should give it a look, since I did grow up watching the TV show as a kid and my little cousin used to have all the video games. You look great on that surfboard! And I'm sure you'll be doing pullups in no time!

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    1. I don't know about no time--those pullups are seriously hard! I've never felt so frustrated in my life. I don't take no for an answer. And I don't do well with failure.

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  4. I feel like I'm one of the few people who hasn't caught onto the current Pokemon craze. Call it too many other things going on, or I just don't get the point of it, but regardless, I just haven't seen the appeal of it. I guess I'm crazy!

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  5. I don't have a land line and the only reason my parents do is because of the security system. They don't answer the phone because the only good people who have that number are the security people. I don't even know what that number is.

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    1. We actually have a 2d number too--when we re-upped with Comcast they gave us a "free" landline. I don't even know the number. So stupid.

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  6. I'm not a gamer so I haven't tried PokemonGo, and I'm not a much of a cryer, either. At least not when it comes to exercise. I shook like a leaf doing SUP -- and more than just at first -- but no tears. I tend to get angry when frustrated.

    Now Bandit? He has caused a LOT of tears. As did Chester. Simba, Puss, Cleo . . . yeah, the furkids definitely bring out the waterworks sometimes.

    We don't have a landline, per se, but we do have an Ooma (internet phone thingie). I don't answer for numbers I don't know, typically, either, but thankfully we don't get IRS fraud people trying to track us down!

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    1. I cry when I'm frustrated. I'm not proud of it, but it is what it is!

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  7. Wow, I know 3 people that still have a landline. No, Pokemon Go for me but I have heard of it. :-) I like the linkup but this girl rarely finds anything odd/weird/fun on her run but maybe one day I will get lucky.

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  8. Do you and Marcia swim at the same place? she has a Jamie Dorman, and you have another hottie! Here the pool has more of a Jim Gaffigan type of guys... except for my fiancé, who is the George Clooney of the gorup and I catch women ALWAYS starting at him.

    ugh ! those robocalls are just annoying!

    I'm going to piggyback on Becky and say that you got this! you are strong! you can do it!!

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    1. I thought that when I read Marcia's post--it's like we know each other or something..

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  9. Your treasure hunt sounds fun! I hosted a scavenger hunt a few summers ago and that went well. I planned to do it again but honestly it is a lot of work. I'll try to participate in your though.

    We still have a landline because our Internet is through the same company and can you believe it would cost me more $ to NOT have the line. I never answer the phone though.
    Funny that you now have some "eye candy" at the pool! Good for you!

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    1. I hope you do join me in the treasure hunt! The things we think about on the run...

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  10. We still have a land line and get those phone calls too! No pokemon for me. I have a 13 year old son, and he's not into it either. My stepson, who is now 26, was way into Pokemon about 15 years ago! I'll have to ask him if he's gotten back at it with this new game.

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    1. We still have all the Pokemon cards from my sons when they were little. My oldest has been playing Pokemon Go a little, like me. But no one is seriously into it. It's kind of entertaining.

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  11. Can I come swim in your pool??? Lol! I'd be swimming all day long for that view!

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  12. We still have a land line and I don't know why since we never actually answer it! No Pokemon for me. Runfession: I ran 5 miles today, that has been my "long" run distance for the past 2 months. I start training for marathon #5 at the end of next month and I am not feeling at all ready.

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    1. Your long runs sound like mine! I think when I hit 6 miles, I'll retire...

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  13. Cocoa looks like "crazy lady, why are you jumping off this bridge?" in that first picture, LOL.

    I am capturing Pokemon but I don't know what to do with them. Whatever, it's entertaining, right?

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    1. In the video my son took, she ran away once I hit the water! We were crying, it was so funny.

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  14. We have a landline, but we don't get as many calls as we used to. When I was a stay at home mom I used to screw with the telemarketers. Sometimes I'd answer in a kid voice and tell them my mom couldn't come to the phone because she was wrestling with the mailman. Maybe this has something to do with us not getting as many calls anymore.

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    1. My dad likes to mess with the telemarketers! I don't have the patience for that.

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  15. I should take up swimming...

    And we have a landline but I haven't set up our voicemail. And no one knows our number except family. But I'm right there with you... if I don't know the number I don't answer.

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    1. I should take up swimming too! Like in the lap pool, like a boss!

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  16. We never answer nor check the machine on our land line. I'm glad you had a fun and spontaneous trip. All of that water play would be right up my alley. I'm seriously entertaining the Pokemon idea for my next long run. I need all the distractions I can find.

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  17. I am trying to draw a mental picture of that perfect guy you get to see swimming! That sounds like an awesome way to start the day!
    Sounds like you have an awesome coach!

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    1. He's yummy. I don't know where he came from. He sure doesn't fit in with the morning swim crowd!

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  18. That will be a challenge.I don't usually see odd things when I run.

    There is an old guy that runs in the lake (shallow part).I have never done pool running but this is tempting.

    Haven't had a landline in years.

    Could never do yoga on a SUP. I feel off twice just trying to stand on it.

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    1. So you know that pool running isn't touching the bottom, right? You are running in the deep water. I think I could play water polo after all this.

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  19. I've yet to try Pokémon although my son does want me to incubate his eggs. (Now that's something I never thought I'd say!) And your treasure hunt sounds fun, I'll be at the beach so I'm sure I'll see some fun/odd/weird things on the run! ;)

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    1. I haven't gotten any eggs to incubate. And now that I think about it, at 53, I shouldn't have any, right? :p

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  20. We have a landline and I'm already dreading all of the election-related robo calls to come.

    I'm still trying to get my pull-up done unassisted...so close, but not quite. You can do it Wendy!

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    1. We haven't gotten any political robocalls yet. Oh joy, something to look forward to!

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  21. YOU JUMPING INTO THE LAKE AND COCOA WATCHING OMG THAT PICTURE IS EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I tried SUP for the first time this past weekend. It was so much fun!

    We have a landline only because it lowers our bill. Go figure. We don't use it. It's always turned off and I don't even know the number!

    What do you do for pull up prep?

    Thank you for that very detailed description of the perfect male specimen at the pool. :) I like looking at men's bodies except penises. I think those are ugly but all the other chiseled body parts are good.

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    1. This week, she had me lifting a 20#kettlebell up with one arm x 6. Then on the other arm. My left arm is a wimp. I couldn't get the f--er above my head. So so so frustrating.

      I totally hear you on the male body. Penises are ugly.

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  22. Your first runfession is absolutely the best... I bet the senior ladies are checking him out, too!!! I refuse to play pokemon, and I just banned both my sons after they had used 90% of our data limit within the first 2 weeks of our cycle from using it.

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    1. Idk if the other ladies even are aware of him. They're yacking away on their noodles. I get him all to myself...

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  23. I hate computer games but yes guilty on Pokemon Go. It's fun catching them.

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    1. I think so too! Especially the last, hot, sweaty mile of my run!

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  24. I am not allowing myself to download Pokemon Go. I don't need something new to obsess over! :)

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  25. Late to the party---again---just got back from a glorious week on Newfound Lake NH and am catching up.

    1. Nothing wrong with a little eye candy, diversion from the noodle ladies, etc. No penance, not even an Our Father and three Hail Marys (You may guess rightly that I've heard THAT a time or two in my long life).

    2. No Pokemon for me. I don't begrudge others their fun but I'm so not into games. Except for bezzewizzer. With my family. I've even "outgrown" my beloved Trivial Pursuit." The brain's pistons are no longer fully charged. I used to be quite sharp but now find myself slow on the uptake. One of the downsides of senior citizenship (but there are upsides, a story for another day).

    3. Yes, we still have a landline as well as our two cell phones. We've had this phone number for over 38 years. I dread having to change my contact number. Plus, it's tied in with a package deal along with internet and cable. Hey, get rid of the phone AND the television. Now there's an idea!

    4. You're allowed to cry. It's not baseball. A temporary derailment. We all deal with them (Just look at me, back and forth on this endless journey!), suffer breakdowns, pick ourselves up and start all over again (Hey, I think there may be a decent song lyric somewhere in there). Don't worry. Even though it will take time, with Becky's help and "gentle" coaching, you will prevail and conquer that pull-up. No doubt about it.

    5. That board head-stand blew my mind. You have a habit of doing that, my friend. Keep on keeping on.

    6. We had the same vacation week. Maybe some day we'll have them in the same place, too. Insert heart emoticon here. And a hug emoticon while I'm at it. ;)

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  26. Can I come to the pool with you?

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