Monday, March 1, 2021

Things That Made Me Go Hmmm


What do you think about when you're out and about, in your running shoes?

Honestly, my mind wanders. A lot. If there's an ADD that exists for runners, then I'm a victim (not that I think it's necessarily a bad thing).

Suffice it to say that many a blog post has been "written" while running. And, many of those blog posts started out as one topic, then morphed into another before the run ended. 

Case in point - Monday's post-workday run...

Care to hear a sampling of what went through my thoughts, as I knocked out three miles, under the late afternoon sun?


Well, first of all, I thought the temps were cold, but comfortable. We've had some very cold weather, in recent weeks. The past few days, though, have given us a nice preview of Spring. That said, Monday's 30F temps (with a 22F feels-like) were quite comfortable. The irony? I've finally mastered the layering technique for 2021...and we're forecast to have temps in the 40F-50F range for the remainder of the week. Go figure. 

I hadn't gotten half a mile when I noticed my shoe lace had come untied. Immediately, I thought "not again." A few weeks ago, I swapped out the boring blue laces for the pretty red ones. Only, these pretty red ones are kind of wide for the eyelets, making it difficult to tighten/loosen the laces. Did I mention that the laces are a couple inches too short as well? Yeah, there's not really any slack for double-knotting. These pretty red laces' tenure may be short-lived.


Having been inside, a lot, due to the recent extreme cold, snow and ice, I thought it felt liberating to be back outside. I'd had a busy weekend (running seven miles, then biking 20 miles on Saturday, as well as a long power walk on Sunday). I had also ridden 15 miles Monday morning. Even though I didn't mean to, I couldn't resist just letting my legs go...and I probably ran those three miles faster than I should have. Oh well. No regrets.  

I had considered wearing my thick fleece gloves (it was below freezing, after all). On a whim, I grabbed my thinner gloves instead. I thought my hands would be cold, but they were just right. Crisis averted.

A short while later, I spotted the perfect spot for a selfie. I mean, does the run really happen if the selfie doesn't happen? I propped my phone on a lamppost, struck a pose...only to have the wind wreak havoc with my ponytail. I thought that was perfect timing (NOT!). 


As I made my way through the college campus, I thought how fortunate I am to have such a beautiful place for a lot of my short runs. The sidewalks are always clear (in the winter). There are ample lampposts (in the wee hours, before the sun has risen). There are plenty of unique buildings to admire. And there are a lot of cute squirrels.

Finally, as I made it back to my driveway, I thought it had been another great post-workday run. My legs felt great. The weather had been nice. The route had been scenic. I'd nailed the correct combination of layers. The fleece jacket and tights were on-point...then I (briefly) thought it kind of sad that this might be the last time I wear them for several more months. Indeed, the things that make you go hmmm...


So, that's when went on, in my head and on the streets, during my Monday run. Never a dull minute!

Have you ever tried to remember all your thoughts from a run? Written any blog posts while running? 

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up


I'm also linking with Debbie, DeborahLisaLaura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup


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30 comments:

  1. Haha, you have to be a fashion freak to exchange shoe laces to liven up the colours! I have never thought of doing that. Very cool idea.
    I think about blog post ideas as well as I run.
    It's also amazing how things that you see on the run trigger other thoughts. Like yesterday - I had bike riders pass me which reminded me that I should get back on the bike, too!

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    1. Well, it's no secret I'm a color freak LOL Why not extend that to my shoes as well? I'm eager to bring Gustavas out of hibernation...even though the temps are still chilly for a ride, the roads are clean (mostly) and clear!

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  2. Now that I'm back outside I am thinking up a storm on my runs. That just doesn't happen while I'm watching TV on the treadmill and I've missed it.

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    1. I don't think I've ever come up with any clever blog posts while running with Milly...other than "I Hate This!" or "Make It Stop!" My bad.

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  3. It's funny how a blog post idea at the start of the run can change to something completely different by the end. I've also had that happen with my social media posts - I will think I'm going to say this, and by the end of the run it has completely transformed to something else, LOL! What a fun post - Oh and you are so lucky to be that close to campus for your short runs, I'm proud to say it has featured on my blog!

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    1. I usually have my phone with me, and I have been tempted to do an "audio" log of all my thoughts...but I don't know if that's even possible? A lot of these random thoughts disappear once I return back home LOL

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  4. I never know how to dress and this winter I decided to be under-dressed rather than overdressed - just 2 shirts and no jacket. Sometimes I add a vest. Usually by the end of the run, I'm ok.

    I don't think about my blog when I run but I do obsess about work-related stuff.

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    1. I tend to overdress, more often than not, because I hate being cold. I’ve been taking a few more chances, though, and doing the “less is more” approach...

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  5. Of course you master the layering technique as the temps start to get warmer - same thing happens to me too, lol. That's a bummer about the red shoelaces - they look really cool with the color of your sneakers.

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    1. Fortunately, I have a few pairs of laces on standby, so all is well. But the red ones were perfect ((sigh)).

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  6. Always writing posts in my mind -- and rarely remembering them LOL!

    I am never sad when it's time to put away the fleece. Unfortunately, today it's 10 with very windy conditions and a light dusting of snow overnight. I suppose I could put away the heavier stuff, since today it's the mill!

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  7. I think as runners we can truly appreciate our neighborhoods because we see it all.
    I find it hard to believe you’re going to miss fleece lined tights. ;-)

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    1. Ha ha, oh I’m not sad! I just seldom ever realize which run will be the “last one for the season” LOL

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  8. It's just so interesting how many things we can actually think about while out running. My brain just churns through information.

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    1. So many say they run to "zone out," but that seldom happens with me. I'm not solving all the world's problems (though I am analyzing them at great depth), but my mind is in constant "motion." That said, it's rare that I remember all that was thought about when I return home LOL

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  9. ha I have written a few blog posts while on the run. I almost always think about the weather and what I might eat when I am done running!

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    1. There have been many blog posts "drafted" as a result of my thoughts while running....some that actually come to fruition ;-)

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  10. I think about alot of things when I run! Usually I start out thinking about how Im feeling, and then my mind wanders. Half the time I dont even remember what I thought about when I was running!

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    1. I don't remember everything either...that's probably a good thing!

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  11. Ha! I've most definitely written blog posts in my head while out on a run. Half of them I don't end up remembering. What I really detest is when running shoes come with laces that don't really stay tied. So dumb.

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    1. I usually don't have problems with shoes coming untied (because I always double-knot them, as a habit)...but these pretty red laces are too short to do so. Not a world crisis, but still. I can remember some of the blog ideas, but there's usually a couple of key points that get forgotten and never return to my active memory.

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  12. I agree with you about trying to remember what I am thankful for during runs. I am also thankful to have a safe outdoor space to run that is clear of snow! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes! It's always a great thing to be thankful, and to dwell on those things.

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  13. I'm always torn between listening to a podcast when I run or just letting my thoughts wander. I love the information from my podcasts, but lately I've been doing 2-3 runs a week without them. I did my long(ish) run last Sunday with no headphones and I loved it. And yes- every time I start a run with a blog post idea, by the end of the run it's morphed into something else! I'm sure that's a good thing.

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    1. I have never been a podcast gal, but for the longest time (up until about a year ago) I usually ran with music when I was by myself. It took my iPod dying (during a rainy marathon to realize that as much as I loved music, I was not dependent on it. Whew! Was that a revelation!

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  14. It's funny how the mind can bounce around when you're running. I have written blog/IG posts (which I usually forget as soon as I'm done. I've also written letters to the editor about things that annoy me as I run. Like can we turn on those flashing lights for the crosswalks at the new roundabouts? Before someone gets run over?

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    1. Oh gosh, roundabouts are a nightmare! We don't have any in my town, but they are a hazard to drive through. I'd be terrified to try to cross one on foot...

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  15. It is so fun to read about what others think on their run. I've never been good with propping my phone on a lamp post or anything else for a selfie. I just take it!

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  16. My mind bounces all over the place while I run. Sometimes a song I have not heard for a long time pops in my head, or I'll write an entire blog post.

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