We are two days out from the Marine Corps Marathon and the first MCM 50K. As you might guess, it's the primary thing on my mind. Nevermind that I have one more ZOOMA race to get ready for and my kid still has one more application to get done. All I want to do is think about the 50k, which means these runfessions may be a bit single topic. Thanks to Marcia for the chance to runfess. I must runfess I'm really not excited about the current weather predictions. Rainy AND unseasonably warm? Yeah, I'm not doing cartwheels over here. I did buy a big pack of ponchos on Amazon. I was planning on picking one up from a friend in Crystal City because I hate being cold post race, but if the temps keep going up, I won't have to worry about … [Read more...]
Runfessions of a frustrated runner
How is it the end of August? Wasn't the beginning of the summer just yesterday? Back in June I thought that this summer would be a laid back, time to get things done, plenty of time to run summer. Somehow it wasn't, which has definitely lead to some runfessions for August. I'm heading into the runfessional with Marcia right now. I must runfess that I planned to do a lot of running before and after my Minnesota Ragnar. That's my usual training method and I know it works for me. Instead, I managed to scratch my eye the weekend before, which meant no contacts. In my world, that means little to no running. So, I took three days off before Ragnar and then ran one 3 mile run without being able to actually see where I was going. Not … [Read more...]
Runfessions of running all the miles
I can't believe we are nearing the end of July. I feel like all I've been doing is running, drinking beer, and taking my kids places. Jones and I are currently on another college trip - this time to Ohio. In four days we are hitting four colleges, 2 zoos, an aquarium, and an aviary. I'm tired already. So let's get to the runfessing with Marcia... I must runfess that I've hit that point in summer training when I am just DONE. The heat combined with the miles is just not my cup of tea. That's not to say I'm not doing it, but it's certainly been more of a mental challenge. I am proud of myself for hitting the trail at 4am with a friend for my last long run. Four.A.M. If you've been reading for a while, you know I don't ever choose to … [Read more...]
Runfessing that I’m ready for January to end
Here we are nearing the end of January and I'm gonna jump right in with the Runfessions: This month has not gone as planned. Not from a running standpoint, not from a housekeeping standpoint, not from a momming standpoint. So, yeah, January can just step aside (and take next week's cold weather predictions with it.) I'm joining Marcia to runfess my sins of the last month. So far this month, my kids have already had two snow days and 2 or 3 late starts, in addition to a holiday. They also have this coming Monday off for teacher grading day. I runfess that despite my best intentions, I slept in every day that they did. Sleeping in only means sleeping until 8am, but that means my morning workout time is gone. I've managed to get in most … [Read more...]
Runfessing one last time in 2018
2018 has been quite a year. I'm not one to wish my life away, but I'm happy to see this one close, from a running standpoint. In many ways, it was a good year, but my running left a lot to be desired. But in order to close out the year, I feel the need to runfess one last time, so I'm joining Marcia in the Runfessional. I must runfess that I had the opportunity to run a half marathon in a new state this week and I... didn't take it. Somehow, I'm burned out on running, despite not actually running that much this year. I must runfess that I still felt a lot of FOMO seeing various friends post about the ultra that I was supposed to run tomorrow. I spent about 5 minutes considering running it anyways and then … [Read more...]
Where should we meet for coffee???
I'm not sure how this month flew by so fast. One minute I was running Marine Corps Marathon. The next we are closing out the month of November. I'm not even sure that I accomplished anything LOL. But since tomorrow is the last Friday of the month and Saturday is the first Saturday of December, I am joining I’m joining Deb and Coco‘s virtual coffee date and throwing a runfession or two for Marcia as well. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I recently decided to do a small renovation on my kitchen. My house was built in 1939 and my stove is from 1962. It's needed work for a while, but I kept finding better things to do with my money (ok maybe not better, but definitely more fun.) I almost got it upgraded a year and a half ago … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon Runfessions
I'm not sitting here counting down the hours until the Marine Corps Marathon. OK, maybe I am. I haven't been this nervous about actually finishing a marathon since my very first MCM in 2008. And then I was nervous because it was my first, not because I was undertrained. This weekend should be... interesting. I mostly have to make my self stick to my goal of doing it slow. If my ego gets in the way and I push at the start, my race is going to suck. So feel free to send me "stick to the plan" vibes. And maybe a few, "hang in there, heel" vibes. I must runfess that the only reason I want to run this year is to get into Runner's Club. I know life is just going to get crazier for the next few years between ZOOMA and the kids getting … [Read more...]
Friday Runfessions: 58 Days and Counting
This month has flown by as I madly juggle all of the balls I have in the air. Some days I predict things will completely fall on my head, but most of the time I manage to pull things out. As we approach the first of the fall ZOOMA races, I'm only mildly in panic mode. But it's the last Friday of the month and time to join my buddy Marcia in the runfessional. I have to runfess that this is the worst training season I've ever had for a marathon. I just can't find my ability to care. At least in the past, I've at least been trying. Maybe because it's my fifth MCM, which means I get into Runners Club when I finish. I think I might be suffering from a case of senioritis. I must also runfess that I've totally given up on a training … [Read more...]
Here we are, runfessing again
I swear it was just yesterday that I was runfessing about my lack of running in June and here we are in July and I'm still not running much. I must runfess that I have no real excuse not to run a lot of miles - my ankle/heel is probably 90% pain free and even more so when I massage it and foam roll. I've even done some icing lately after the few times I've run this month. I know, who am I? I must also runfess that we are now down to 93 days before the Marine Corps Marathon and the last double digit run I did was the half marathon in New Zealand on July 1. Between work, the weather, my son's econ class... I can't seem to get my runs in. I really need to start training. OK, even more than that, I really need to start caring about … [Read more...]
Do you have to run to make a runfession?
Seriously, I feel like I've forgotten what it's like to run 5 or 6 days a week. Now it seems like I'm running 5 or 6 miles a month. Sigh. Runfession #1: I think I ran fewer than 50 miles in June - 30 of those miles were at Ragnar. That's right - more than 75% of my miles were run in one 36 hour period. Runfession #2: I was lucky in that my foot did not hurt when I ran at Ragnar, but I must runfess that I would have run my miles anyways. Thankfully, an amazing friend set me up with a pain preventing protocol (seriously, I've never spent so much time icing, massaging, rubbing essential oils, foam rolling, etc after a run in my life) and I was able to keep the pain to a dull roar when walking and it didn't hurt to run. Runfession … [Read more...]
Runfession: I need more endorphins
I must runfess that I haven't run in over a week. Yeah, I'm not even going to preface that runfession with anything because it pretty much says it all. I've been using my exercise bike and lifting weights and *some* walking - all of which means I'm fit and strong. It also means I'm about to lose my mind. I'm thankful that I don't have anything too stressful going on (just normal life crap like a cat with a UTI and too many end of year activities), because I'm pretty sure I'd just have to run through the pain otherwise. I must runfess that to take my mind off of not running, I'm starting to pack for my trip to Colorado and it's 90% Skirt Sports. Yeah, my trip involves the Skirt Sports Retreat, but it also involves hiking and brewpubs. … [Read more...]
All my runfessions are “racefessions”
How are we nearing the end of March already? I feel like we have been in the middle of winter all month and now suddenly April is days away. Of course the fact that it has felt like winter for much of March this year might have something to do with it. As we roll into April, I've suddenly realized I have a big deal race coming up in mid-June - my first ultra Ragnar. My horrible lack of running this winter has me a bit panicked and played a part in my runfessions this month. I runfess that I'm running my first timed race. And it's a trail run. That will probably be muddy. Why yes, I am going out of my comfort zone. I signed up for the three hour option of the Rise Run Shine race. If I run more than 13.1 miles, it will count as another … [Read more...]
