Thursday, September 29, 2022

Trailfessions

Sadly, September is coming to an end. I love this month. I don't love what comes next. But before we turn the page on the calendar, we get to runfess! Marcia opens the runfessional on the last Friday of the month and it's a great opportunity to cleanse your souls and soles.

Let's get to it!

On a recent long trail run, I spotted an apple on the side of the trail. It looked shiny and fresh. There were no apple trees anywhere that I could see. Clearly, someone dropped it and I was so hungry, I runfess that no... I didn't eat it, but I seriously considered it. 

A few weeks ago, when I finished another 9 miler on the IAT, I actually saw 8.95 on my Garmin. Guys, I never do this, but I runfess that I ran in circles around the parking lot until I hit 9 miles. I had hoped for 10 miles on this run but ran out of trail, so it was the least I could do, right?

A few weeks ago, one of the women in my trail group had 5 bibs to give away for the Chicago Marathon. I runfess... and you know what I'm going to say here, don't you? I runfess... that I seriously considered claiming one of those bibs. Thank goodness they were all snatched up before I could. You're never too old to do something stupid, am I right?

This past week,  I runfess... that took another hard fall on the trails after catching my toe on one of the many tree roots that traverse the single tracks. I do my best to keep focused on the path ahead, but I was thinking about extending my run and I let my mind wander. When I hit the ground, I landed on my knee and slid down the path. After I recovered and stood up, brushing the dirt off my clothes, I saw a dead mouse on the ground. Yikes! Was he already dead or did I kill him? Or maybe he had a heart attack when he realized that a giant was falling towards him?


I runfess that I signed up to do the Mammoth Hike Challenge again this year. If you recall, I participated in this last October while I recovered from my broken ankle and foot. It was the 41st year for the challenge and we were required to complete 41 miles on the Ice Age Trail as well as visit 3 Ice Age Trail communities. This is the 42d year, so...42 miles. It was such a great experience that I want to do it again. This year, I'll be able to run most of my miles! I signed up knowing that I will be out of town for a week in October. But you know me...I will find a way to make it happen!

What do you have to runfess? Would you have eaten the apple? Do you run in circles to end your runs on a round number? Would you jump into a race at the last minute if someone offered you a bib? A marathon bib? A Chicago Marathon bib? Did I kill the mouse? 

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


34 comments :

  1. Oh yikes on the mouse! Was he still warm? No I would not eat the apple. Too many weirdos out there doing bad stuff. Where'd she get 5 Chi Marathon bibs??

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  2. Eww to dead mouse! If he wasn't twitching then he probably already there when you landed on him, right? I have definitely run in circles at the end of a run - some days I just like to see the round number ;)

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  3. LOL I doubt you killed the mouse! I have seen my share of dead ones in my neighborhood (cats, no doubt) and on the trails (birds or just who knows?). I'm sorry about the fall though!

    I don't think I'd think about eating the apple -- good thing the ones I usually see out running are partially eaten!

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  4. LOL on the apple! I also would have been tempted to grab a bib for Chi too. I know you will love the trail challenge again this year. You will knock those miles out in no time

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    1. I got lucky because there's a bonus 10 miles for participating in an IAT sanctioned event. I had already signed up for an 8 mile race on the trail where I run.

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  5. The Chi bib would have been oh-so-tempting (or any marathon bib, for that matter). Given my current state of glute/hip drama, I'd still have grabbed the bib...even knowing I'd probably be walking much more of the course than desired.

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  6. Classic - Gr8 RunFessing For Sure - Sending Love And Light My Friend

    Cheers

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  7. Haha, yes, I always finish my miles/kilometres with a nice round number - my neighbours have got used to seeing me run up and down our street at the end of the run.
    YAY for the Mammoth Hike Challenge! I remember you doing it last year during your recovery. How different it will be this year when you can run most of it!
    Where are you going for that week out of town?

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    1. I'm going to California--my sister bought a winter place and we are going to spend some time in Santa Monica. Really excited!

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  8. Oh, poor little mouse! I doubt you killed him- I think you would have heard a loud squeak if you landed on him. I'm glad you're okay though.
    ha ha.. love the "free marathon bib" "me" "my body." Yes, lucky you didn't end up with one of those. it would be tempting though.
    I'm excited to hear all about (and see pictures from) the Mammoth Hike Challenge this year. I'm sure it will be incredible once again. And no.... I wouldn't have eaten the apple. But like you I would have thought about it!

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    1. You know I would have done it but man, it would have messed with the Mammoth Challenge. So it definitely wasn't in the cards for me.

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  9. The story about the mouse killed me! I'm glad you're okay after your fall. Those trail roots come out of nowhere sometimes.
    I'd jump at the chance for a free half marathon, but no way on a full. Four was enough.
    I'm 50-50 on getting a round number. Of course Strava sometimes rounds down anyway. When Les rode across the country he often ended with 99 miles for the day, which drove some of his friends a little nuts. They call it "the Rule of 90" - if you cross 90 miles, you must cross 100.

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    1. This trail is so rutted out that it basically is all tree roots. Painful.

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  10. My cat has killed plenty mice. Used to it.
    Sorry about the fall. Now you know why I avoid trails.
    I runfess, once on a long run, I spotted a box of fresh donuts on top of a fence post. Obviously left for a running group. Yes, I ate one... quickly before anyone saw me.

    Yes, I've been offered a marathon bib and for a millisecond I'd thought about it... but no!!

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  11. I love your run/trail confessions and your humor, makes me smile. Definitely yes and all the time to getting to the round number by ending a run with parking lot finishes or circling my neighborhood! It would drive me batty if not. I make sure I run a tad over my mileage because Strava is bad about not accepting at 5.0 so I would run 5.02 in ensure that 5! lol

    No to the apple and the bib to any marathon but Chicago would be the one I would love to have done. So sorry for your fall. That is why trail running makes me too nervous to do. I agree the little mouse was already done . . . I am sad to see September go too with the light and warmth. I am a summer gal and struggle to accept the season being done. sigh.

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    1. Oh, I'll just keep on risking my knees and leaping over tree roots. i do love my trail runs!

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  12. LOL on the apple. Wouldn't we all have run circles around the parking lot? It's too hard to round up on the bike, so I am getting used to odd numbers.

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    1. I normally don't mind odd numbers but I was disappointed at finishing under my goal of 10 miles!

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  13. haha I would NOT have come anywhere close to that apple LOL! I usually round up any run I do, it bugs me for some reason to not have round numbers. I runfess (and you aren't going to believe this) you truly are never too old to do something old and stupid... I just entered the lottery for London next year. DOH! Ron did it so I followed suit. WHEN will I learn? Probably won't get in but won't that be my luck. Could have been kind of fun to come across the finish in pieces together in Chicago, no? :D

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  14. Poor mousie!
    Glad you can laugh about the fall
    I'd have no temptation on the Chicago bib, but a Half? Absolutely.
    My front teeth are crowns. I miss being able to pull an apple off a tree and eat it, Now I want one.

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    1. My front teeth are crowns too! I should know better than to bite into one...

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    2. I'm glad you can. Eat an apple or six for me, but not a snow white apple which this reads as.

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  15. You did not kill the mouse. And I wouldn't have touched that apple. I might take the bib. I'm adventurous like that.

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  16. Oh the mouse! I would have been too frightened to take a pic! Hope you weren't hurt too badly on that fall.

    The 42 mile challenge sounds fun, I haven't been hiking in far too long and the weather is perfect for it.

    I usually don't mind if I don't get the exact mileage but the OCD does hit me once in a while and I keep going back and forth to get the round number!

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