Thursday, January 28, 2021

January Runfessions

Are we runfessing today? It is the last Friday of January, after all, and I runfess that I am happy about that! For those of us in Chicago, January is not usually a treat. The cold, wind, and relentless gray...it kind of wears a runner down. I guess I feel like with the continuation of the pandemic, this January the weather is merely a footnote. I runfess that I am enjoying the snow. But there is always something to get off my chest, so here we go:

Normally whenever I run a race, I share a full recap--of the race and lessons learned. Last year, with so many races going virtual, I runfess that I stopped writing race recaps. Do virtual races even count? Apparently, my most recent race, The Frozen Gnome, counted! Because this was supposed to be a live race almost up until race day, I felt conflicted. Especially when I recently received my age group award, a beautiful glass trophy. In the future, I may need to make an exception and share recaps for live-gone-virtual races that ask participants to run on the course and submit a finish time. It's a fine line, isn't it?


Recently, I received a HALO sports mask and shared a mini-review on one of my weekly recaps. The marketing company reached out to me and asked me to share another recap because my original review was done without the filter.  I blogfess that I ignored the request because they sent me the mask with no request for any type of review or sharing--and no compensation. I do like the mask, though, and recommend it.

tenor

Speaking of masks,  I runfess I haven't been wearing one when I run. All year. I truly believe the risk of transmission outside is extremely low. Still, I get my share of dirty looks from walkers on the bike path and the trails. Now that I've had the COVID vaccine, I runfess that I want to shout out: "I'M IMMUNE! I've had the vaccine".  Or wear some kind of sign or a shirt or something. 

Too much?

If you read my weekly recaps, you know that I've been working on my powerlifting, with a goal towards a one rep max on my deadlift, back squat, and bench press. I strengthfess that I'm feeling a little burned out on heavy strength. This kind of reminds me of marathon training. You know that feeling when you're building mileage towards the end of your training cycle and you don't want to run another mile? That's how I'm feeling. Don't get me wrong, I love the results I'm getting and I know the end is near. But I am ready to be done.


I receive a ton of dubious requests from marketers asking me to share their products on my blog. Most of the products aren't even remotely related to running or fitness. This week, an email for a Valentine's Day gift set ended up in my inbox. I blogfess that it was too good not to share. I had to ask myself how the marketing rep wrote the pitch with a straight face...and even better, when I shared it with one of my coworkers, she wrote down the info and ordered the nut rub...

If you're interested...


What do you have to runfess this month? Do you share recaps of virtual races? Do you mask when you run? If you get requests for products to share on your blog, what's your response for product only? Have you experienced burnout while training for a big goal? Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

I'm linking up with Marcia for Runfessions and with the ladies of Fit Five Friday:  DarleneMichelleReneeJenn, and Zenaida !





42 comments :

  1. OK I just about chocked on my coffee laughing at that VDay gift! LOL! I bet that email pitch was priceless.

    That vaccine t-shirt has me written all over it ;)

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    1. Right? If loving social distancing is wrong, I don't want to be right!

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  2. Um. Ball wash? Ok. I'm all for hygiene...

    I stopped writing race recaps. While I do like to read a good race recap, I think sometimes they are boring. In general. Not yours LOL . Probably mine are boring. Unless you adore the person writing it (see previous comment) or you are interested in the race itself, no one really cares what happened at each mile of your race. I runfess that sounds really cranky. I will own that for now hahaha!

    I do not wear a mask whilst running. In the beginning I had a buff with me that I would pull up over my nose and mouth if I ran near someone. We have never had a full-on mandate for masks. Nowadays we have to wear them in shops and in public transport. And many people wear them on busier streets. Including moi.

    Burnout - yes for sure!! So I get that.

    Valentines Day - nope! no holidays!!

    Product review requests - I only get these occasionally. Last one is for an app and the guy is still bugging me to write about it (the app is cheap so come on buddy give me a chance to fully use it). On IG I always delete all comments that weirdos leave "love your feed! DM us to collab!" No time for IG BS!

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    1. Those DM comments make me crazy! Are they even real companies?

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  3. Since I haven't run a real race in . . . a year & a half? Not quite sure how long really. Anyway, no, I don't write recaps. I'll usually write something short on the blog, which is kinda more for me than anyone else.

    I don't anticipate getting vaccinated for many months, so I usually have a mask at least around my neck (and it can feel good for a few miles in winter!), but we don't wear masks when we walk Bandit. Our neighborhood streets are nice & wide.

    I do celebrate Valentines. It's my birthday. :) Not that I'm really expecting much from this year. last year it was just a month after my Dad had passed & my brother had come to visit so I actually had a nice birthday. This year just me, Bandit, and Mr. Judy.

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    1. I think recaps are more for ourselves too-I like to go back and re-read them!

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  4. I missed the memo that you snagged an AG award! Awesome! I wouldn't write virtual recaps but since yours was on the course that's a little different. When I looked deeper in my inbox I found that same nut rub email and wondered who could work there promoting that stuff. Lol!

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  5. I shared the part about the gift set with Bill. We both enjoyed a good laugh about that! I did a few virtual races last spring and I did write about them in some posts but I don't think I did a specific race report for each of them. Congrats on your AG award! This winter, I have been wearing a buff when I run. I pull it up over my mouth and nose only when I encounter someone, but I don't encounter too many people on my typical run.

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  6. I don’t wear a mask running, but I know people who run on more busy trails do. My understanding is that we don’t know if the vaccine keeps you from passing it on. The study endpoints focused on symptomatic subjects, so it’s possible you could still get a mild case and be contagious .... but I hope they figure out that’s not the case.

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    1. I just think that the risk of passing anything on while running outside is so low. I really don’t think masking is necessary outside on a trail.

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  7. I agree. I have written a few virtual race recaps but they were half marathons and I had paid for the real race. Al the others were just part of my weekly mileage. I don't usually even upload my times (unless required).

    I don't wear a maks when I run. I have a gaiter around my neck in case I get close.

    I feel the same as you and wonder about the travel restrictions. Do I still need to quarantine if I have gotten BOTH vaccines?? Maybe I need to wear my card as a badge.

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  8. I have also had some strange requests for reviews come across my emails. I did also try the halo mask w the filters and it has become one of my favorites to wear. I always have a mask w me on runs and pull it up when I approach others. In the cold temps I often have some sort of face covering going on anyway. I can see how the lifting can get tiresome and feeling ready to move on is a normal reaction. I am sure the training was really beneficial!

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  9. Oh my gosh! Nut rub? What exactly is it supposed to do? Curious minds want to know.

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  10. I don't wear a mask outside and almost never see anyone else wearing a mask outside, so I can't imagine ever being "shamed" for it. With the races, it just depends on if there's "something" to write about. Whether it's virtual or not, some races have a bunch of cool things (like your recent "stud" race) that need to be talked about, some races are "I ran the race and that's all there is to say about that".

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  11. I'm glad you recapped the Frozen Gnome because it was a great read.
    So many unusual things happened to you (how often do we have a buttslide hill or give our Yak Trax to fellow runners??) that made it worthwhile.
    And congrats on the AG award!

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  12. Those Valentine's Day products just made me laugh out loud, literally! I guess I will give them credit for packaging it as a bundle well.

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  13. Lol that Valentines Day set!! I don't get too many weird requests. Sometimes things related to dogs, which is weird because I dont have a dog and never talk about them because I'm not a dog person at all. It just tells me the person has not looked at my content at all.

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    1. My favorite are the emails addressed to my blog title, lol. Just phoning it in, I guess!

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  14. I don't wear a mask while out running or cycling. A few people do wear them and they are usually the ones walking with traffic as opposed to facing traffic. I runfess that I have to tell my inner Karen not to say anything as I step into the street ;-)

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  15. I wrote a few recaps of virtuals, mainly because they were for real races that went virtual by default. And, one of them involved "biking" the race, which was something I never would have foreseen happening when I registered for the event, almost a year prior.

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    1. I’m not sure I would have biked a virtual race, but hey it was a strange year.

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  16. OMG...I know a blogger who was actually promoting that product....lol And No, it has nothing to do with her blog!

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  17. OMG, that product!!!! Are you serious?! I don't wear a mask while running but do use a gaiter but I don't see too many people on my run anyway. Haha, I love that shirt. I would like to get it when I get vaccinated too.

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  18. I don't wear a mask when I run. I agree that the odds of transmitting the virus outside, while moving like that, are very slim. If I see a runner or walker coming towards me who is wearing a mask, I'll give them a very wide berth out of courtesy. Now I'm hearing that wearing two masks at once is being recommended as being more effective than one... no... I can't do it... when will this all be over???????

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  19. I've never heard of wearing a mask while running. I feel you can avoid people pretty well when outside.

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  20. I love that shirt!

    I don't mind product only, if it's something I use and like. I would not be cool with asking for a second review if there was no other compensation. But that's just me.

    I will write race recaps for virtual races if it's a race I need or want to bring attention to.

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  21. I think the mask wearing while running is regional. I’m in Los Angeles suburb and most runners and walkers wear a mask or like me have gaiter they can pull up. I agree risk of transmission is low but after getting yelled at for no mask, I now pull a mask up around others to be polite and avoid a hassle!

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    1. I do see a fair share of masks on the paths but most runners do not wear them here.

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