Friday, May 31, 2019

Runfessions over Coffee

This May has felt like the longest month ever. Between the inclement weather and the never-ending cold and flu season, I am ready for summer. Since it's the last Friday of the month, it's time to runfess. Marcia hosts this monthly cleansing of the soles and I've been ready to head into the runfessional for a while now! Grab a cup of coffee and join me, Coco, and Deborah while we runfess over coffee!

Cocoa is a great listener. Plus she wants some coffee...

If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I am wrapping up the month of May with only 49 miles. I should be more upset about this than I am, but I'm starting to accept that running for me is going to be dramatically different from what I'm used to. I've had to call it quits on my runs more often over the past couple of months than I ever have. So ok, fine, I'm running slower, which sounds like it would be easy but it's not! While I realize my slow is not most people's slow, it's all relative and it is taking some getting used to, both physically and mentally. 

Earlier this month, a company that was promoting its new elastic laces (not Lock Laces, a product I love) asked if I wanted to try them in exchange for a product review. They also wanted me to host a giveaway. If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I could not get the laces through the locking device. In fact, I spent about a half hour messing with the product. This made me mad. Even after I contacted the company for more instructions, I still couldn't get them to work. I couldn't provide a positive review for this product and when I responded to the rep to tell her this, I never heard another word.

I had to...
In a strange twist of serendipity, the day after my doctor ordered an event monitor to evaluate my high heart rate I've been having while running, I received an invitation to become a Heart Zones ambassador. If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that in the past I would never have considered this, but timing is everything. When the fates speak, I listen. When the sensor flashes red, I slow down. Hopefully, I'll find some answers AND improve my running. Or maybe I'll just have fun with the whole thing. Anyways, I'll share more on a future blog post.

That is, if I remember to go get my event monitor. If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I missed my appointment earlier this week at the hospital. I blame menopause, the gift that just keeps on giving. Did you see my post from earlier this week? Damn brain fog.


Last week, I had lunch with Marcia. I hadn't seen her in the longest time. She's been a little busy running the last 2 of her marathon majors and earning her 6 star medal. Fangirl that I am, if we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I begged her to bring her medal to lunch so I could see it. Yes, I had all the feels (and goosebumps). So proud of my friend!


Since my local running route takes me along a couple of really busy suburban streets, I see a lot of trash along the side of the road. Sometimes I see interesting things. If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that seeing the words "9 inches" made me stop in my tracks. I'll just leave this here and let you think about it...


Hey now...you won't believe what I found on the run /via @oldrunningmom @teamarcia @got2run4me @deborahbrooks3 #runchat #running 

What do you have to runfess? Ever receive a product for review that you couldn't put a positive spin on? What is the most interesting thing you've ever found along the road during a run? Have you done heart rate training? Does anyone else know a 6 Marathon Majors finisher? 

If anyone would like me to send them some of the offending shoelaces to see if they can make them work, let me know! I have 2 pairs. High frustration tolerance essential.

I'm linking up with Marcia for Runfessions, Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date, and with Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness. Have a great weekend!





34 comments :

  1. Um, so someone couldn't wait to get home to try that product? Maybe they'd like the laces too? I don't think I ran many more miles than you, but since we had pretty good weather I did put in some miles on the bike. Will be interested to hear about your heart rate monitoring.

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  2. I should do a post about all the dud products I've chosen not to review over the years. The earbuds that completely sealed out ambient noise comes to mind. And the guy argued with me when I told them they weren't safe for runners. By heart rate is the only way I run anymore. I train tons of people that way too. Enjoy the Heartzones!

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    1. I may hit you up for some advice. I keep running in the red zone, even when I run slow. Grrrr

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  3. OK, that trash that you found is just gross! I usually pick up trash that I find, but I would not touch that thing! :) I have to admitI'm kinda jealous that you got to see and touch the Majors medal. And I love the title of your post this month (I went with the same one)!

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    1. I seriously had goosebumps when I touched the medal. Yep, I'm a dork.

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  4. I have thought about doing HR attaining before but never followed through. Really looking forward to hearing how that works for you! Thanks for linking up

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    1. I've never felt the need or desire to do HR training, but with my endurance struggles, I think now is the time!

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  5. Thankfully our trash is not all that interesting usually. Usually just unpicked up dog poop (which is its own level of grossness & makes me angry -- sometimes I pick it up as my good deed for the day -- on the dog walks, that is, not on the run).

    Seeing Marcia's medal up close & personal must have been fun!

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    1. I don't stop to pick up trash and I didn't pick this thing up, but it was photo-worthy!

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  6. I had a similar experience where I tried out a new brand and I just couldn't give it a good review because quite frankly, it was awful, lol.

    Umm...I have SO much to say about that "item" that your found while out on the run, but I'll just keep all the bad/inappropriate puns/jokes to myself LOL

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  7. I have had to rely on setting alarms on my phone for years now for everything...and with the meds I've been taking lately, that has been a godsend. Funny, I used to set my alarms for running and workouts, now it's for doctor appointments and medicine reminders. Lovely.

    I've gotten offers for products that have so many strings attached for a review and giveaway and promotion that I've declined - I just don't want to be bothered with doing all of that for a free something. Unless it was a car. Or a vacation to Maui. THEN I would jump through a few hoops, LOL.

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    1. I'd love a trip to Hawaii! but for now I'm content with a free pair of socks...

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  8. Been running by heart rate the last couple of times--I'm guessing it's from surgery but I cannot get my heart rate to stay where it normally does. I think I'll run by heart rate all the way through radiation (so for the month of June). Frustrating, though, I feel like the slowest slug.

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  9. OMG - 9 inches!!! What the hell! I found an empty bottle of vodka in a park on my run this morning, and I thought THAT was good... but not even close. :-)

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  10. Oh my goodness! I can't believe that you saw that package on your run. Too hilarious! That's cool that you are a Heart Zones Ambassador.

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    1. Living in suburbia...it's not the bubble everyone thinks it is!

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  11. It's no secret that I've been ready for summer since, like, March. I thought you were gonna talk about plogging with the trash you discovered...but, eeewwww. I'd leave that untouched, too.

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  12. Our May has been really great and I really don't want to see it end.
    You win the award for seeing the weirdest thing ever on a run. It looks like someone was in a hurry to get that thing out of the package...eewww!
    The most out of the blue thing I've seen on a run was probably one of those beer tap handles. I wonder if someone was using it as a weapon?

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    1. I was pretty excited when I saw this. I ran by and then I was like what the? I turned around to take a picture. Seriously. You can't make this stuff up!

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  13. Hmm I have definitely not come across something that ...ummm...interesting on any of my runs!

    Congrats on Heart Zones - I'll be curious to see what you think of heart rate training.

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    1. I don't think I have a choice right now. I have to figure this out.

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  14. I've come across some interesting things on my runs but nothing THAT interesting (if that's what we'd call it)! I'll be interested in seeing how your running evolves using the HR training. I'm so happy for Marcia having earned the Six Stars. I am doing NYC in November, which will put me at four. That leaves 'just' Tokyo and Boston, of course the two most difficult if not impossible for me to get into. I will get there some day!

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  15. To say you come across interesting things is an understatement! I have never found anything interesting on a run! Several years ago I started using heart rate training to run because my HR was super high. It took a while to accept that slow was really effing slow but oh my goodness did it help my HR! Good luck.

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    1. I'm not sure why it's shown me as unknown even though it tells me I am signed in... It's Missy from Getting Fit to Find Myself.

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    2. I'm glad to hear that HR training was effective! I'm already running better just keeping an eye on it.

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  16. You saw Marcia's great big majors medal - squeeee! The heart rate thing sounds interesting and I hope you manage to pick it up soon. I am glad you admitted to the frustration with the laces, I would totally be like that, too!

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  17. Oh that laces meme <3
    BUt so frustrating
    True runfessions: I can't tie a double knot and my shoelaces make me so mad. Luckily I can have a friend double knot them and I treat them like slip ons. I need to look into lock laces

    Cute pic of you two!

    My giveaway issues have been more book review related. There's a lot of self published clutter. I'm always happy to read a book but then you occasionally run into the "if you don't have anything nice to say" issue with the review. And I don't want to do nothing if I've been given a copy

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