Thursday, August 26, 2021

Got a Few 'Fessions?


Got a few 'fessions? 

Rest assured, I have a few. Actually, I have several things worthy to 'fess-up about...but I'll spare you a lengthy post and just share five (you're welcome).

There's been a lot of things going down, and some exciting things on the horizon...

Shall we get started?

First off, the Air Force Marathon. Most of heard, by now, that my marathon is off the calendar. It was the right decision for the race officials to make, though it did leave all of its registrants in a state of disappointment. Myself? I was just getting into "the meat" of high mileage when my hip/groin "issue" arrived on the scene a few weeks ago. While I was able to momentarily scale-back the long weekend runs, and sub in some extra cycling to keep the legs (and endurance) in motion...I was feeling a little bit of apprehension about the September 18th race day. Let me runfess, this announcement actually came at an opportune time and has left me feeling most grateful for how Fate intervened. My body is feeling almost fully recovered, and there's no pressure (self-imposed or otherwise) to push the miles now. WHEW!


With the AFM off the table, I'm now free to focus on "just" a couple of half marathons coming up. Well, truth be told, one of those is actually a 20K, and it's happening on Saturday. You all have heard me mention DAM to DSM a few times, and I'm usually gushing in unabashed excitement as I do so. Formerly known as Dam to Dam, this was my first-ever distance race, and it quickly sealed my fate as a distance runner. With the exception of 2020 (when I had to complete the virtual event on my bike, due to my stress fracture), I have run it every year since 2008. This weekend's D2D will be a bit different, in that it's being held in late August instead of its usual Saturday-after-Memorial-Day time slot. We've already received news of a weather advisory (it's gonna be #HotHotHot), but I'm not running this for a PR anyways. I DAMfess that I'll simply be happy to just be back on the route of my favorite race, and I'd already planned to take things easy with my recovering hip. Besides, the heat never bothered me anyways (paraphrasing Elsa, from Frozen).

with the hubby, the last time we ran D2D, in 2019

This week, I hit a milestone...my 12th consecutive (weekly) ride on the hilly bike path! In 2019, I also hit that 12-ride milestone, but not until a month later, so the odds are ever-in-my-favor of surpassing it next week. I've bikefessed before, an I'll bikefess again...biking has really served me well. I came across an article that said, on the average (which is very relative, depending on the bike, the athlete, and the difficulty of the route), there is a 1:3 run-to-bike ratio. In other words, you have to ((roughly)) do three times the distance on a bike to reap the benefits of running (for example, 30 miles of biking is ~approximately~ the same calorie burn, fitness equivalent, etc. as 10 miles of running). Again, that's an average...so it will vary depending on the factors mentioned above.  Interesting, huh! 

BTW, that's a vintage Dam to Dam shirt (that I made into a tank)

Ever since my 88-mile biking adventure, via RAGBRAI (recap HERE), the thought of doing a century ride has been dancing around in my head. Since there's no longer a fall marathon happening, that gives me plenty of time to play around with biking in September (since my next half marathon isn't until mid-October). So...if I can share another bikefession...a few of us are scheming a century ride route next month. Yes, you heard it here first. Not sure what's happened to me; I certainly never could have seen this biking thing coming...


Finally, I did it again. I have to FullMoonfess, another full moon run happened last weekend (this was my fourth consecutive). The temps were warm and humid, and the moon was shining bright and bold. Honestly, it felt (again) like a real summer run. We'd had a somewhat cool weekend, with more comfortable humidity levels, but there's just something about a hot summer evening that makes me smile. I know, I know. I'm kind of all alone on this, but I'm just not wanting my summer to end.



So, sigh. Summer is winding down, albeit my best attempts to hang on to it. Thankfully, I've been able to get outside everyday, so I can maximize what's left of it before all the cold stuff settles in. And, I'm grateful I can runfess about (almost) everything that's happening. All is well; the glass is half full.

Talk to me...
Do you have anything to 'fess-up about? Has the summer heat got you down, or are you trying to hang on just a bit longer? If you had a marathon cancel, would you try to find another, or just let things be and move on? Did you catch the full moon? 

 I'm  linking this with Marcia for the monthly Runfessions link-up.

I'm also linking this with MichelleReneeDarleneJenn and Zenaida for the Fit Five Friday Link-up.


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21 comments:

  1. I think it's great that you're planning a century ride! I love how you have embraced cycling, and it seems to benefiting your running which is a nice bonus!

    Good luck with Dam to DSM!

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    1. Thank you, Michelle!! I'm so thankful for all that cycling has brought to my fitness world...it's one of those rare disciplines that offers both a workout (in many aspects) as well as a recovery vice. Total win-win!

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  2. I'm actually not missing running right now! The heat and humidity are never fun to run in. I'm looking forward to getting back at it this fall.

    Good luck on the century ride and with your race!

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    1. While I can tolerate the heat/humidity, it has really been pretty extreme this summer... especially in recent weeks.

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  3. I’m so bummed about the dark mornings — and struggling to get out of bed in the dark! I need you to come rouse me! Interesting run:bike ratio. I am wiped after our 40 mile rides — or maybe it’s the IPA at our local brewery that does me in. ;-)

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    1. UGh...I hadn't done my #5at5's for two weeks, and this week it was really dark...for almost the entire five miles! Total buzzkill....

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  4. I'm totally with you on the hot summer evenings. I think I've finally figured out my electrolyte situation, so summer running is starting to become fun instead of something to dread. We're going to be super sticky this weekend and then things will cool off.

    Enjoy your race this weekend!

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    1. It's gonna be a hot DAM race tomorrow...but that's what I know LOL

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  5. sorry about your race being canceled. But, as you say, maybe it was good for you not to push that distance at this point. I still worry mine could be canceled and I am so close. September is pretty hot for a full marathon around here and we usually don't have them until later in the year. Taking on a few half races sounds like a great plan

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    1. It really was a relief to have the race cancel...the decision was made for me, so that took so much pressure off of myself.

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  6. I grew up in the midwest and felt just like you do in the summers- I loved every hot minute of it. Living in Florida the heat and sun can be a little too much, but I remind myself of those cold, gray winters and then our weather seems pretty good!
    Good luck with your race this weekend! I'm so glad your hip/groin thing is better. Looking forward to the recap!

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    1. It does get hot here (and humid), but our winters are far more brutal with all the crazy extreme cold. In comparison, summer is far a better deal LOL

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  7. Good luck on the century ride and the DAM.
    The full moon run is something of special, I'd like to organize something of similar with my running mates. Great shot!
    Here summer running is always tough but I solved the situation doing my workouts at 06:30 a.m. when all the streets are shady.

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    1. I'm really looking forward to the century ride! The 88-mile ride I did, last month, really wasn't that bad because we stopped every 15 (or so) miles for a break.

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  8. Aw I'm sorry to hear about your marathon! But I know how you feel about the pressure being off. You are always making lemonade and I'm sure you'll have a great experience with Dam to DSM and your century ride! I'm going to be buying a bike soon and I'm excited to get some miles in this fall!

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    1. Biking has really been a game-changer for me, Janelle. It seems like the more I've ridden, in the past couple years, the better my running has gone (fewer injuries, better recovery, and faster finish times). Too bad I didn't figure this out in those early years!

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  9. Interesting about the bike to run ratio. I’m happy that you’ve fallen in love with your bike. Such great cross training!

    Sounds like the universe intervened in a good way re: the marathon.

    Although I’m not looking for summer to go, the heat & humidity can! We were lucky to be by the ocean this week because even up here it was hot & humid, but the sea breezes are fantastic!

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  10. That is exciting about the Century Ride! I don't want Summer to end but I do want the hot and the humidity to go away. It is just awful.

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  11. DAMfess might be my favorite variation. I need to get back into full moon stuff (and sunsets) now that they're earlier. I love the long summer daylight but I am not a night person anymore

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  12. I love that you got to run that familiar route. I know you loved that race.

    The humidity has been pretty awful here, so I won't miss that. Not one bit.

    I would try to find another marathon. The training and mindset is so grueling that I would personally need an outlet for it.

    A century ride sounds so exciting!

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  13. Sounds like you're the AFM cancellation in stride and I love the idea of a Century Ride. Everything has a way of working out for the best.

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