Thursday, April 28, 2022

April Shower Runfessions

It's been a cloudy, cold month--I heard that this is the cloudiest April on record for the Chicago area. I figured as much. It certainly has been tough to motivate myself to get out from under the blankets and head outside for a run. But the running doesn't stop just because the sun isn't shining, am I right? Plus, what would I have to runfess? Yep, once again, it's the last Friday of the month and Marcia has opened the runfessional so we can cleanse our soles. 

Maybe, just maybe, May will bring us some sunshine and warm weather?

Speaking of soles, I runfess that I am STILL wearing my old beat-up trail shoes. It's still so muddy on the trails. They've gotten me through some tough miles including that 15 mile trail race earlier this month. I'm just going to keep going with them, wearing them to my final spring race next month. Hopefully, after that, it will dry up and I can break out the new ones. 


And yeah, about that trail race...I runfess that I don't know what was going through my head by not fueling for that last lap. Actually, I was feeling kind of out of it as I started my 3rd loop. I probably should have fueled earlier in the race. When I was driving home, I stopped at a light and someone honked at me to go when the light turned green. Oops.


I runfess... that I'm trying to use up all the Tailwind that I have left from when I was an ambassador. I even used it when I was prepping for my colonoscopy. Of course, it's expired. The expiration date is 2019. But truly, what would have been the worst thing that could have happened? I'd get diarrhea? I promise I'll purchase a fresh supply for my fall races.


I runfess... that just as I was preparing this post, I was responding to comments on IG. I noticed an unusually high amount of comments when I realized it was all from one person. The comments went back to 5 YEARS AGO. Ok, not too creepy. I checked the profile and it's a runner from another country. The thought of the amount of time this person spent looking through my photos feels a little disturbing.


I runfess... that I always get a kick out of the odd things I see on the run. Part of my route takes me along a frontage road that borders a highway, so there are always a lot of liquor bottles and beer cans. Recently, there was a pint glass sitting next to the sidewalk. Adjacent to it was a pack of 'gummies' and I don't mean the candy ones! This had me thinking for a while...

Are you still enjoying winter-like conditions where you are? Have you ever felt really out of it after a long distance race? Would you be using the expired for 3 years Tailwind? Have you ever had a person comment on a large amount of social media posts? What the oddest thing you've seen lately on the run?

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



22 comments :

  1. I just pitched out all of my expired Tailwind - there was so much of it! I had debated whether I could still drink it - doesn't sound like you had any ill effects. Every now and then I get someone on my IG who makes a lot of comments on old posts and I always find it so odd. But you're right 5 years is a lot of scrolling...

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    1. He follows other runners and looks like a runner, so I'm just going to chalk it up to lack of awareness?

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  2. I've had a lot of creeps on IG lately. I suspect they search on a hashtag?? It is disturbing for sure. Yes, I need some sunshine already. April has been tough!

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    1. Lots of crypto people too. I would agree with you about the hashtag thing.

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  3. After our race, last Sunday, we were stumbling through the wind to the restrooms (thankfully, those were inside). I made the comment to Barb that I felt like I was in a zombie fog...and I had to repeat myself to her because she was in the same fog-like state, too. Oh gosh...I had a guy just yesterday leave a lot of comments and likes on my Instagram...some of the pics were from a few years ago. Sheesh, get a hobby, Dude!

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    1. Ii've never had the post-race zombie fog before and it lasted pretty much all day!

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  4. I have come to appreciate the benefit of fueling even when I don't think I need to. I know it has made a huge difference for me lately. I can't imagine the expired tailwind will hurt you unless it tastes weird. I tried it a while back and it was so salty. I get you on keeping the new shoes clean but you know there are always more where those came from :) #runhappy

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    1. Isn't that the truth? I actually need a new pair of road shoes and I'll have no hesitation about slipping into them!

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  5. I might not drink expired Tailwind for a race, but it sounds perfect for colonoscopy prep!
    Yes, that's a little weird about the instagram comments. It's like this person decided to take a deep dive into... you... and it would feel a little creepy.
    I'm SO GLAD I no longer live up there! The cloudiest April on record- I would be in a mental institution. I'm going to remind myself of this when you're having beautiful weather and I'm tempted to complain about the heat here.

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    1. It's been really tough to not see much sunshine. When it does shine, we're all like, 'what is that?'

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  6. I have definitely been known to use things that are expired, like that HS waffle I ate before my race last week. Hey, I had a good race!

    I'm still wearing my old hiking boots whenever I think it'll be muddy. The newer ones are just so clean. :) However the old hiking boots are REALLY old! Like decades old. They don't make them like they used to.

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    1. Now that just sounds like something an old person would say! :p

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  7. Yes, I am positive that some of my fuel has expired. I'm still alive.

    Yes on the brain fog... after races and long runs especially.

    I saw a bra hanging from a tree... !?

    It has been SO WINDY here that the temps felt like winter and I've been frozen on my runs. Today it was sunny and of course, I overdressed because it was sunny. I can't wait until I get the outfit right.

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  8. I would totally drink the Tailwind, and hold off on breaking out the new trail shoes too. No one wants to get their new shoes super dirty on the first time out. ;-)

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  9. I once used expired gel and it was disgusting. Of course I didn't know it was expired until after which explained the taste. While running I've seen shoes (only one of various pairs) and ladies in night outfits. :-) My runs are very early in the morning.

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    1. I wouldn't take an expired gel, but I figured the powder would be ok. So far so good!

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  10. I still have some Tailwind I need to use! I am not sure the expiration date... when I was still training for the Half (that I decided to drop out of) we had no fuel at all. So dumb. Right before my last long run we bought a 4 pack of king size snickers. How bad could that be as fuel? LOL

    I get random likes and comments sometimes on Twitter! Last one was a comment from a tweet in 2012! WHAT THE? I mean, how bored are you with your life if you've gone that far back to my into-the-void tweets??

    do you means gummies like trippy gummies??

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  11. Occasionally, Ill get weird activity on my social media. l'lll block those folks. Problem solved. I probably would skip three year expired anything. "Gummies" can be fun!

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