Friday, January 28, 2022

Winter Runfessions

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Time is just flying by, isn't it? At least that's a good thing this time of year. As much as I love playing in the snow, I'd much rather be playing on the lake. Is that a runfession? It's that time again and Marcia's got the runfessional open so we can cleanse our soles! Mine have been full of snow and that's a good thing. 

How about you? What do have to runfess?


I runfess... I love winter running but getting ready to go takes major preparation. There are the layers, the shoes, foot warmers, ankle gaiters, the Yak Trax, the neck gaiter or face mask, a hat, hand warmers, and gloves. I runfess... last week, I forgot my gloves. Crap! Who forgets gloves on a 15 degree day? Fortunately, I had a pair of wool mittens in the car. They worked out just fine. Maybe we don't need all this technical gear after all?

Link to post

I runfess... that I find a lot of items in the woods. For a couple of weeks, I passed a purple headband hanging from a tree branch. I also found an Ornery Mule buff laying on the ground and yes, I runfess... that I took both items home and washed them. I felt a little guilty but I'm pretty sure no one was coming back for them. Too bad I didn't find any gloves.

I finally got to try out my snowshoes last Sunday! I runfess... that I didn't realize it at the time, but Amazon sent me the WRONG snowshoes. I ordered running snowshoes and was sent trail snowshoes. I realized it only when I was preparing this post and I looked back at my order to get the affiliate code. I guess being a newbie, I didn't notice that maybe it was a little more difficult running in them than it should have been? Anyway, I arranged an exchange. Stay tuned to see if Amazon gets it right.

Fingers crossed NO

I runfess... that recently I've had a couple of encounters with older runners (aka men) who felt the need to explain to me how they 'used' to run but had to stop due to age or wear and tear, and followed by tales recounting their accomplishments. Is this a man thing? Um, dudes? I'm not impressed. Maybe instead of running ALL THE MILES, you should have done some cross-training. One of these former runners was at the pool and when he saw me pool running, he asked me if 'it' actually works. 

I runfess... I get a lot of pitches for my blog, but I was astonished by the most recent request. A random guy wants to achieve his lifelong goal of running Boston and has signed up for a charity bib. He reached out to ask me to share his goal with my readers and help raise money for him. I get the desire to run Boston, I really do. But if you can't run fast enough to qualify then you're on your own. 

What do you have to runfess? Have you ever forgotten a vital piece of running gear? Do you ever retrieve lost items on a run and keep them for yourself? Any good Amazon stories? Have you had seasoned runners tell you about 'the good old days'? Has anyone reached out to you with an odd request for your social media?

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

38 comments :

  1. How about Mr. Charity runner start is own blog and raise $$? Too much work? I've not made any of the dropped trail items my own. There is a very nice dog coat...looks like Ozzy's size too...hanging from a tree limb for the taking...but no. I've had many men tell me about their past running glory and then make all the excuses. Two of them doctors.

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    1. It's amazing to me that women don't seem to do this! We just figure out how to keep going. LOL

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  2. My Fingers Were Crossed That Your Snowshoe Experience Would Be For The Better - Snowshoeing Under A Full Moon Is Quite The Righteous Adventure - We Men Tell Stories Because It Is In Our DNA - I Do Agree, Somedays I Just Don't Have The Ear To Offer Up - Good On You For Braving The Cold Even While Wearing Forty Pounds Of Clothing - The Good News, No Bugs Flying Into Your Eyeballs - Have A Delightful Weekend - Big Hugs

    Cheers
    P.S. Why Did I Reference All The Body Parts Today?? Whats Up With That

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    1. You answered my question, lol! I will try snowshoeing again but sheesh, Amazon!

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  3. Um I found a pair of Raybans at work years ago and kept them.

    I had a guy tell that I will not get faster unless I lift weights. Since then I have gotten faster. I am not knocking weights though.

    I do get outside everyday no matter what but I am counting the days until I can use my new SUP. Just sayin.

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    1. There's no proof that lifting weights will make you faster, but it will make you stronger. And help protect against injuries.

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  4. Getting dressed for winter runs is a workout in itself! I do get some crazy pitches usually by DM on IG. I wish I could use my snowshoes more. WE usually only get about 1 chance a year. Older guys often try to tell us about the good old days when we are out on our group runs.

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  5. Well, you definitely know how to dress for the weather! It does seem complicated though- no wonder you forgot your gloves.
    People love to tell me how they used to run but can't anymore. Not exactly inspiring! I keep my opinion to myself (unless they ask for it) which is, they probably got injured and gave up too easily. People aren't willing to stick with it when the going gets tough!

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    1. It's like doing strength training-people don't want to put in the work to get the results.

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  6. LOL I've never picked up any spare items on the trail, so that runfession did give me a chuckle!

    So weird about the Boston runner. How do you even respond to that?

    I probably don't have nearly enough winter running gear as I should, but since I run "hot" it usually works out - though it doesn't get as cold here as it does in Chicago!

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  7. I LOVE that you collect stuff on your runs!! I would totally do that as well.
    Back in Switzerland, I have found some nice scarves and gloves(!) lying hung up on tree branches.

    Yesterday, I went to the pool and forgot my goggles. I was too lazy to go back for them so I just did breaststroke instead. :-)

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    1. Funny that you mention the goggles--I felt like I got absolution in the pool locker room when I overheard 2 women talking about getting goggles out of the lost and found. One of the women said she hasn't bought a pair of goggles in years, lol

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  8. Yes, the dressing for cold, and it's not even as cold as you have here! And the washing, two people's worth with all the double tops, etc.!

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  9. I'm cold enough as it is (thanks #HRT for no more hot flashes but now I'm freezing haha!) I can't even imagine getting in all that gear first to run! Goodness! I believe that goes way over my line (I may WALK in it though). Sometimes I forget my gloves and then I suffer all the rest of the day with cold hands... I never do find anything though, only crap that I wouldn't touch is laying around here :(

    no amazon stories from me I'm afraid - I am fully against giving Jeff Bozos any of my money. But I DO hope you get the right shoes!!

    I do notice the older male runners on my running groups are a bit like this! And they just want to run, they don't want to "fuss" around with other stuff. Um. OK.

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    1. I never find anything worth picking up along the road--although I do find some 'interesting' items on occasion. The good stuff is in the forest preserve along the trails!

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  10. Good thing you had those spare gloves! I cannot run without gloves in the cold, although one of the reasons I like convertible gloves is I usually take the mitten cover off at some point when my hands get warm.

    I runfess I have never used either hand or feet warmers. Not for running, not for walking. Yesterday I was out walking in just barely the teens with wind . . . my gloves actually keep me warm enough but taking a few photos -- quickly! -- left my fingers hurting!

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    1. I love hand and feet warmers. If my hands and feet are warm, then the rest of me is ok!

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  11. I cannot believe that a charity runner reached out for fundraising support on your blog?!

    The reliving the "good old days" is most definitely a guy-thing.

    Some days it does feel like it takes forever to layer up to head out the door, but it's worth it to be comfortable during the run. I forgot my handwarmer on a recent run and it was pretty miserable!

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    1. Yesterday, I walked and I had everything, but for some reason, my handwarmers weren't up for the task. It was miserable!

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  12. I've always thought running snowshoes looked intriguing, but no snow where I live.
    I've never found any good clothing items. I have found and taken home a hose sprayer nozzle, a really nice hammer, and an injured possum. Things I found but didn't take home were a carry on size suitcase (I did peer in to make sure there wasn't an animal inside or worse) and a dildo (ewwww, which my dog really wanted to investigate). Evidently there's not just hiking and biking going on on the trails.

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    1. Ha! i found a dildo package once, but no dildo. People do some really strange things, don't they?

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  13. Scooby gets so impatient when I have to put on all the layers — and a headlamp. And now that I’m taking time to warm up, I get half dressed, do that, and then put on the other layers. Such a process!

    I hope the correct snowshoes come soon. I’ve never snowshoed!

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    1. This is shy I can't do a run streak in the winter! Not that i'd do one any other time of year, lol.

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  14. I certainly have found items while out running. I usually leave them (at first), but circle back to see if they’re still there. I have scored a few nice hats & North Face gloves :-)

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  15. I can't believe someone actually asked you to post about their fundraiser! I'm barely willing to do that for people I know and like, much less strangers. As far as winter running, I swear some days it takes longer to get dressed to run than the time I actually spend running.

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  16. You know how running in the snow! I have never found running items during my runs but this morning I have found 5 euros!!!!
    Sometimes I meet former runners, old or less old, who talk about their "glorious past". And you are right this is a habit of us, the men!
    Just last Thursday I went to run with a friend and I needed the car to go to the start. I forgot the sweatshirt and I came back with my running gears wet!

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    1. Nice find! This morning, i found a single yak trax hanging from a tree branch. It was great timing because one of mine had just broken!

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  17. Yeah, I love those pitches: can I use your blog to promote my message? Nope.

    So cool that you find so many things!

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    1. Today I found one Yak Trax and since one of my was broken, it felt like I had to take it home!

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  18. That is a bold ask from a stranger to share their charity. I would do it for a friend, but not a stranger.

    Winter running has a lot more gear! Especially when traveling- we are going to Montana for a ski trip and I want to bring running stuff in case the trails are clear enough, but that entails a lot more packing! (though to be fair, I can wear a lot of running stuff under my snowboarding pants and jacket.)

    I think only men have told me how running is so bad for my knees. I need to direct those people to your blog to prove that you can run happy and healthy into your 50s! Its a lot healthier than sitting on the couch.

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    1. I was just talking to my mom about this--the guy at the pool who asked me if pool running 'works'. lol. I wish I could run all the miles. But I'm happy to run the miles I can.

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  19. Another reason why I dislike Winter running. So much gear! Give me shorts and a top and I am good to go. Sigh, the Boston Marathon is an interesting topic. I get the whole thing of qualifying for it but how many times does one want to run it? I'll be happy with once but I don't know if I will qualify for it. If I do get a bib (very unlikely) for sure I will take it!

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  20. Walking on the beach I sometimes find the occasional quarter or cheap, scratched sunglasses (which I do not need) but on my walk-runs or hikes I only seem to find one solitary glove at a time or scrunchies. I was tempted to pick up a blue, velvet one...in a sense it is recycling, right? Not letting something useful and pretty go to waste.

    I generally don't mind when people like to share about their good old days, if it brings them joy...provided it's not done to brag and make others feel bad. I'm also wondering if us and the younger generations aren't more used to challenging old fitness assumptions...thus showing what we can do at any age. Plus we have more advanced medicine to keep us going!

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