Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Wet Runfessions

Another month, another visit to the runfessional. I swear, sometimes these posts just write themselves. Thank goodness for yet another opportunity to cleanse my soles. Marcia opens the runfessional on the last Friday of every month. I have to say it really feels good.

Let's get right to it!

I runfess... I do not understand the allure of Swedish Fish as fuel during running. Or at any time for that matter. I recently republished a post about race mistakes and Lisa shared an experience with chewing Swedish Fish while trying to smile for a race photographer. Her story reminded me that on my recent flight out west, Swedish Fish were handed out as the inflight snack. Umm, that would be a hard NO. They have no taste and are impossible to chew. I want to keep my dental work intact, thank you very much. Plus, chewing and running is HARD.

So is the act of drinking and running, which I have also never mastered I don't know about you, but I always have to stop to drink during a race. I runfess I discovered during my recent Fluid Running 10k, I cannot pool run and drink either. Clearly, I am lacking the essential skills for success. 

I runfess... when I went to the pool for my most recent Fluid Running sesh, I forgot to pack a few essentials. Like my flip-flops. Walking barefoot in the locker room? EWWW. Even worse...when I got out of the pool I realized I had also forgotten to pack a towel. Thinking I'd have to pull my clothes on over my wet skin, I spied the paper towel dispenser and yep, dried myself off with paper towels. 

I runfess... that I find a lot of interesting things by the roadside when I'm running. On a recent Friday morning run, I stopped to examine this package along the frontage road. SO MANY QUESTIONS!  I found something similar a few years ago. Who just flings these things out the window of the car? And I can I ask about the red bra laying next to it? What is the backstory here?

I runfess... that it is no big secret I like to work out alone. Over the years, I've had people want to run with me--remember that neighbor who used to wait for me at the end of his driveway? The one I had to break up with and tell him 'it's not you, it's me'? Now it's happening to me at the pool. I'm tethered to the ladder, headphones in my ears, minding my own business, splashing away in the corner, and the pool people are drifting over to me on their noodles, making small talk. The worst is the man who just floats in place, only his head above the surface. This week he kept floating backward towards me. I picked up my pace, hoping that the turbulence would push him away.


What do you have to runfess? Swedish Fish, yes or no? Can you drink water while running? What's the dumbest thing you've ever done? The most interesting thing you've ever found? 

By the way... As much as I joke about the pool people, I am a huge fan of pool running. Pool running kept me fit and ready for running while I recovered from my injuries over the past 5 months. I plan on continuing to keep pool running in my fitness regimen over the winter. I've been using the Fluid Running system and have tried many of their different workouts. The classes are appropriate for all fitness levels! You don't need to be a swimmer to be a pool runner. 

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




34 comments :

  1. I can drink when running but it took me ages to learn (and I'm super slow, of course). I had to teach myself to open and consume a gel when on the go and expect I've lost that again now. No runfessions here apart from I haven't run for two weeks, with this Awful Cold. But will be back soon. NetGalley and Oxfam Books fessions? Hm, wait till Wednesday for that horror!

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    1. HA! Looking forward to that! I do have 2 NetGalley fessions...one is that I lost my 80% badge because I have quite a few books in my queue to review. The other is that I have a book that I never reviewed and have no desire to read it. What to do?

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    2. You can mark books as Will Not Review and they don't affect your percentage! I've slipped to 82% so eeeeeps.

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  2. I've had coughing/choking fits out in front of people's homes in the wee hours of the morning that I'm sure scared the crap out of neighbors. Swedish Fish are a NO from me!

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  3. I'm with you on Swedish Fish. Just don't get it at all.

    Run/walk works beautifully for fueling & hydrating. :)

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  4. Nope cannot drink or eat while running... I need to walk for that.

    Nah on the Swedish fish. Don't tempt me.

    Weird stuff? A bra hanging from a tree! Yes?

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  5. I'm pretty sure I walked through the water stations for both my PR marathon and half marathon- I've never really mastered the art of running and drinking either.
    It's been ages since I've had swedish fish, but I do remember them being very, very chewy. I know people use them as running fuel but it seems like a weird choice. There are plenty of easier things to eat!
    Glad you're still enjoying the pool. My pool running days are over for now- our pool is too cold. And I'm okay with that! It's not really something I miss.

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    1. Right now, the pool workouts still feel really good. I have a lot of stiffness in my ankle and foot. I'm sure I'll tire of them eventually.

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  6. Maybe you are getting stale Swedish Fish? My husband loves them, so I’ve had a few and they should be about as soft as a Twizzler — but still could endanger dental work.

    LOL on not wanting to make any friends at the pool. Just like on an airplane, the eaerbuds should send a clear signal!

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  7. ha ha I cannot drink from a cup or bottle while running. I either choke on it or splash it all over me. Alas, runner probs. I actually like swedish fish but not for running fuel. Definitely not good for your teeth at all! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving

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    1. It was good--I'm learning to zip my lips when the opinions start flying.

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  8. Haha, you would have enjoyed the aid stations at my last race, Wendy. We were given tiny little sealed plastic bags that contained water. Somehow, you had to rip it open while running.

    I succeeded opening the baggie with my teeth, but then half the contents exploded all over my face.
    I tried to suck the rest out of the bag while running. I think it would have been more efficient to stop and do it properly.

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    1. I can't even get my head around that bag o'water! Sounds like a nightmare.

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  9. I don't get the Swedish fish thing either. I love my hydration pack for races though it might be awkward to wear it in the pool. There's nothing to spill and you can drink exactly as much water as you want (no pressure to gulp down an entire cup), but I must runfess that my favorite thing is that it makes it so easy to smuggle finish line beer off the course. Both of the half marathons that I ran this year gave out unopened beer cans at the finish and had very stuffy rules about not being able to take it off the course.

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    1. Do tell! How do you smuggle the beer in your vest? The pockets?

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  10. I absolutely cannot drink and run. I see it as an opportunity to walk guilt-free.
    Love that meme “You assume I’ve peaked” LOL

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  11. Nope, still cannot drink on the run, and I'm okay with that. At the Hot Chocolate race, Deborah and I had a well-meaning guy give us the "hint" of folding the water cup into a funnel and pouring it into your mouth and we secretly rolled our eyes at him.

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    1. I've seen those cup folders and I don't even hide my eye rolls

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  12. Too funny about the pool people - you would think your earbuds and focused effort would keep them at bay.

    I'm with you on the Swedish Fish - I've never understood the appeal...and especially not for running. I may never master chewing and running, and just forget about drinking on the run. I end up looking like that meme LOL

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  13. I don't succeed in drinking while running. I have to stop myself.
    The most interesting "things" I have found are some birds that I have rescued. I have often found young or wounded birds on the roads.

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    1. I haven't seen any injured birds, thankfully! Just odd items...

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  14. My son gave me a giant bag of Swedish fish for my birthday one year.....I have no idea where he got the idea that I liked those. Never ever have I purchased them for myself.....it was one of those I like these so you must like these gifts! 🙄

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  15. Okay, WHAT? I LOVE Swedish Fish!!! I definitely can't drink and run at the same time, though!

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  16. Ha! I cannot drink and run. Or walk. I'm clumsy.

    I don't love gummy candy in general, but Swedish fish are ok. I think gummy bears are tastier.

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    1. My dentist uses gummy bears to pull crowns off, so I feel that it's probably best I avoid them!

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