Runfessions: January

Here we are again, standing in front of the runfessional. Yes, it's the last Friday of the month and it's time to clear our running conscience of all that is staining our runners' soles. Nothing to runfess? That's a runfession right there. Come on in. I promise you'll feel so much better and lighter on your feet!

I runfess that I won't be shopping at Lululemon anymore. After completing the Lululemon/Strava 80/40 challenge earlier this month and seeing how many people--34,571--finished the challenge, I had my doubts about any kind of significant prize. I wasn't expecting anything like last year's prize of a shirt and shorts, but receiving a 25% coupon off full priced merchandise didn't feel like much of a prize at all. Here's how I see it: my prize requires me to shop at Lululemon and spend money? Sounds like the only winner here was Lululemon. I'm good with my accomplishment of running 52 miles and my 80k badge from Strava, thank you very much!

I runfess that I am ending my longtime love affair with Asics Gel Nimbus. The Mizuno Wave Riders that I have been running in this winter have been a game changer for me. I don't know if something has changed in the way I run, be it RA or age or CrossFit, but I have regained speed and strength while training in the Mizunos. It isn't a fluke. It really is the shoes! The Mizunos are much lighter and that may be why but whatever it is, I finally was convinced to move on.

This winter, many of us have been complaining about running outside in the bitter cold. Let's not sugarcoat it: it's been awful. True story: when it's cold, it takes me longer to get ready to run than the actual run itself. With all the layering, the laundry is out of control. But dare I runfess that I'd rather run in the bitter cold sunshine than the damp, gray chill of milder temperatures. It seems to me that we've had many more sunny days than usual for the month of January. I have no way of knowing for sure, but what I do know is that I love seeing the sun. Even if it means it's cold.

I runfess that along with having to layer up in this cold weather, there has been recurrent wardrobe malfunction with my tights. I can't keep them up around my waist. As I run, the tights start making their way down my hips to the point at which I can feel my thighs touching when I'm running. Ewww. Since these are compression tights, they're a little hard to pull back up. So riddle me this: why do they keep falling down? Isn't the purpose of compression to compress? Wouldn't you expect them to stay in place? This doesn't happen with my regular tights so I assume it's the fleece lining making them slippery. Guess I could wear a belt. Or maybe I need to do more squats.

I runfess that I am done running marathons. I've only done 4, but that is 3 more than I ever set out to do. I'm loathed to admit it, but I am really starting to struggle on the long runs. When I turned 50, I declared that age was just a number and I wasn't going to let it slow me down. Naturally, the karmic gods had a good laugh at that one, and for good measure, they threw RA at me. I'd be lying if I said that RA isn't affecting my performance on the road. For all my "push outside your comfort zone" bravado, it's not a whole lot of fun when your comfort zone starts pushing back! Here's to accepting limitations and doing what you can! Oh, and having fun while you're doing it!

What do you have to runfess? Are you tired of the cold? Have you ever changed shoes? Do you have trouble with your pants falling down when you're running? Did you run the Lululemon/Strava challenge? What do you think about the "prize"? Have you ever called it quits on a distance? Will you still love me even if I don't run far?

I'm linking up with Marcia's Healthy Slice for Runfessions and Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for the Friday 5.0.