Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Bad Attitude Runfessions

Another month, another bunch of runfessions. Not a month goes by without me needing to cleanse my soles. Thank goodness Marcia opens up the runfessional. I can't wait to be absolved.


As an ambassador for All Community Events, I've signed up for all their virtual events. I'm supposed to promote them. And there have been many of them.  I runfess that I haven't done a good job of that nor have I run them all. I mean, I've run those distances on my training runs, so I guess I could count them. However, I haven't actually designated those runs as the virtual events. When I've done the distance for the virtual race, I haven't been going to the website and recording my time. Does it even matter?


While I'm on the subject, I runfess that I am over virtual races. Over. I don't mind the mileage challenges as much, because it gives me a benchmark to aim for. But these 5ks, 10ks--I run those as much a part of my training as anything and they don't feel meaningful like a real race does. 


Last month, I runfessed about all the new issues I'm experiencing on the trails. The learning curve is steep. I runfess that my newest and most distressing issue--and I thought blisters were bad-- is butt chafing. I've tried every anti-chafing cream known to runners: butt paste, triple paste, trail toes, vaseline, calmoseptine, pjr active...you name it. Seriously, I am ready to buy Spackle--the stuff for the walls. 


After having the trails mostly to myself the past couple of months, I runfess that I'm not happy about sharing them with other people. Although I guess it is safer for me to run alone when more people are around. I find myself getting annoyed with walkers on my trails, taking up the whole path and then giving me resentful looks when I pass them by. 


This blog comes to you on the Blogger platform-thanks Google. By the end of June, the old platform is going away and is being replaced with an upgrade. I blogfess that I can't help but wonder why Google couldn't leave well enough alone? While I've had a love hate relationship with Blogger, I've figured out how to navigate it pretty well, including inserting code--hello, click to tweet! I've had a few challenges learning the new platform and not everything works well.


I blogfess that I'm sick and tired of all the spam I'm getting on my blog. It makes me wonder how much of my traffic is real and how much is due to bots. I hope that Google is going to do something about all the spam and the bots. You know you get a lot of spam when you see the same names ending up over and over in the 'awaiting moderation' file. Repeat offenders roll call: seo services, Ubitrak, awais, abarie, mtom, yoyo, markthomson, Mehak Khan, and Muhammed Rafey, I see you. But no one else will...go find someone else to troll. 


What do you have to runfess? Are you tired of virtual races? Or are you still doing them? Have you ever experienced butt chafing? Ouch. Any Blogger users out there getting used to the new platform? Spam much?










26 comments :

  1. I detest the Blogger changes...but I have been able to navigate my way through them as well. For now. I have seen/heard so many frustrations with Word Press, though, I'm not even considering switching.

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    1. I had some issues with Blogger too, but I messaged Google and they made the changes I suggested! So I found that encouraging.

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  2. I’m so confused. Why does trail running cause butt chafing but road running doesn’t? Different movements? I don’t have the issue but do like Butt’her for cycling chafing issues, in case you want to try one more thing. I get not wanting to share the trails. I bet a year ago we wouldn’t even have noticed or thought it was a lot of people.

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    1. I have no idea why I'm having new chafing. So odd. I figured out the blisters, though--my shoes are GoreTex and don't breathe, so my feet sweat more than in regular shoes. Ugh.

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  3. I really like wordpress and I find all the plug in options useful. I have a great antispam one so now I only get maybe 10 spam comments a week. Learning new programs is always stressful though. I am getting tired of the virtual races and yet I still have a few more to achieve. I am liking the step challenges just to get me outside more.Ugh the chafing!

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    1. I think your antispam is why I have so much trouble commenting on your blog, lol!

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  4. I've noticed so many more people outside during my afternoon walks. It's great that people want to get out of the house, but it just makes for way more congestion out there!

    The butt chafing is odd - I wonder why it was never an issue when you weren't running on the trails? I hope that you find a product that can help! If it's anything like underboob chafing, I know it's gotta be painful :(

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    1. It is so painful, lol! I've had the underboob chafing too, so I know of what you speak!

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  5. This is why I haven't gone in and logged my miles for the Race Across IL. WHO CARES???!!! Is it worth my time to do so? For a finisher certificate? Seriously.
    Crazy about the butt chafe. Must be the terrain + humidity. Cheeks crossed, I have not experienced this. Did you try diaper rash cream?
    I used to love Blogger but everyone said Wordpress was the way to go. I don't love Wordpress but knock wood, spam is not a problem.

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  6. Ouch on the butt chafing! Ha ha try new things get a whole new world of problems. I hear you on the virtuals, though it's been a good experience for me b/c I'm in a place where I can chip away at my PR's. It's "something" instead of "nothing".

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  7. How odd about the chaffing, especially if you are experiencing it only when trail running?!?

    I'm with you on the virtual races - I've tried but I just haven't been able to muster any excitement for them.

    Count me as another vote for Wordpress.

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    1. I'm just over the virtual races. If I wasn't training for Ice Age, I'd be content to just run.

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  8. I am glad to not have to deal with the new Blogger. I stayed with it all these years because like you, I finally understood how to use it. I did a test run with Wordpress a while ago, thinking I might move my blog but it was just too hard to figure out at that point in the game. Hopefully the new Blogger won't be stupid.

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    1. Interestingly, every time I use the new Blogger, improvements are made. I have written to them on a few issues and they addressed them all, which is encouraging!

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  9. I have, indeed, experienced butt chafing. And down there chafing, occasionally, too. Never on the regular, which is even more frustrating. It's the worse (especially when you need the facilities).

    I have only done two virtual races. Well, I'm in the midst of doing the second. I did a dry run today, and it could end up being the one, because it was actually a really nice day to run today. We'll see.

    Because I didn't sign up for all the virtual races, it's okay. It was never, ever my thing, but it's just something I'm doing to occasionally push a little harder & support races I've enjoyed.

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  10. I runfess I have had the butt chafing issue, too. I use Aquaphore and that usually works well and seems to hang around a lot longer than vaseline. I read this article from Outside magazine https://www.outsideonline.com/2347596/best-anti-chafe-creams-running-ranked
    I was very tempted to order the Assos Chamois Cream (the name seems soooo appropriate) but Aquaphore is much cheaper and seems to do the job. I order a big tub of it off Amazon that will likely last me my entire running life. Hope you find a solution. It makes the post-run shower a real zinger.

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    1. Oooh that chamois cream sounds good. I'll try it. My concern with aquaphor is that being water soluble, it will melt...

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  11. I think I am over virtual races too. I am supposed to do a mile one for Brooks though in about a month. I am nervous because I've never done a mile race but it seems like a good challenge. I hate all the spam on my blog! Right now I am so frustrated with Pinterest. I was getting most of my traffic from there before and now with the new algorithm it hates me because I've repinned other peoples' stuff too much.

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  12. I have zero advice about the butt chaffing and wonder why you get it on the trails and not the streets. Do your shorts stay wetter from sweat without the sun to dry them out since you're in the trees?

    I have one more virtual race to run (I'll be walking) on Independence Day. My friends and I always do it together so we decided to do it this year to support PR Races.

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  13. I should be signing up for a virtual race in October, a Cape Town virtual marathon. I think I will do it because I like a good challenge.
    Hope you get the butt chafing under control... I imagine it can be quite annoying!
    Haha, I wonder what else is going to come up on your trails?

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  14. I did the Run the Edge full 12 weeks of virtual races, and that was enough for me. As it warms up, and it gets harder and harder to roll out of bed at an early time, finding the motivation is run is getting hard. Pressure because I "need" to do a certain distance doesn't motivate me, it just makes me (more) anxious, for I probably won't sign up for any more virtual races this summer. As for butt chafing, yes, I have definitely had it! I have used body glide and another natural glide, and it worked well. I hope you find something that works for you!

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