Thursday, August 29, 2019

Runfessing my current reality


My current reality is one I've never experienced before.

I've been dealing with the (looming) change of seasons. The daylight is dwindling. My fitness has been evolving. Yadda yadda yadda.

So, there's plenty to runfess...

First of all, it's quite ironic that I recently published a post (By the Dawn's Early Light) highlighting so many beautiful sunrises that I'd had the pleasure of witnessing on my early morning fitness adventures. The following week, we were blessed with foggy mornings and some rain. Even when the precipitation was at a standstill, it was cloudy. UGH. I runfess that I was actually feeling "at one" with Momma N...until she jilted me.
Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, sky, cloud, shoes, outdoor and nature
There's a hint of a sunrise...and some clouds
While I'm on the subject of the lack of recent sunrises, where did all the daylight disappear to? Honestly, this has felt like the shortest summer, ever. I'll just runfess it here and now....the recent late-to-the-party sunrises are a buzzkill. I'm still getting out there, most mornings well before 5:30, but the increasing darkness is a bit of a downer to my early morning reality. As I have said before, at least it ain't snowing.
Yes...light colors, Knuckle Lights and the Noxgear vest
I should apologize to the fine sport of walking. I runfess that I have been doing less and less of it as the biking has happened more and more. Can I runfess that I actually feel guilty about it? I published a post, not too long ago, about all the benefits of walking, too....

And, about all that biking....if all goes well, I will be taking on the hilly 15-mile bike path (again) this weekend, on my 10th trip to the lake west of town. Sadly, we've decided to move these weekly rides to the weekend (instead of early Friday mornings), for the sake of safety (and daylight). The bike path is safe, in terms of traffic, but the hills are crazy fast (on the declines). With limited visibility, anything could jump out at you without warning, leaving one with split-second reaction time to avoid a mishap. That said, I have to runfess that all this biking has really been a great avenue for my fitness, not only in terms of leg strength, but also for recovery. No regrets.
I've grown to really love my time with the bike
The Iowa State Fair was a couple weeks ago. Who would have thought two consecutive late nights, both of which involved awesome music and (probably) too much dancing, would require so much recovery time?  I runfess, those first few post-concert days felt worse than if I'd run a marathon. We're talking sore leg muscles, blisters on the ankles and toes (from a pair of borrowed boots), and major fatigue. Also, my ears were ringing for almost two solid days following the second night's concert. Just this past week, I was finally able to wear something other than running shoes and open-toe sandals. Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat! No regrets on that, either.
It felt so good to finally be able to wear the pointy-toe shoes again!
Anyways, this is just a sprinkling of what's been happening. Summer is winding down, and I'm not ready to see it go.While I do like the autumn season, I just prefer summer over everything else. After all, I wait a good a good 9-10 months for summer to return...I just wish it would last a bit longer. That said, I try to get outside almost everyday and take advantage while it lasts.

So, onward!

Your turn...anything you'd like to runfess? Are you mourning the end of summer? Or, are you ready to kick it to the curb and move on to cooler weather?


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

I'm also linking this with Meranda and Lacey for the Friday with Fairytales and Fitness link-up. 


Are you following me on social media? 
Let's connect : Facebook Instagram  Pinterest Twitter


28 comments:

  1. I'd seriously take some earplugs next time you go to a concert like that. OK, I edit the British Tinnitus Society's newsletter and that's made me hyper-aware, but I've used them at an immersive music and film event and I could hear through them and no ringing the next day.
    And yes, autumn seems to have come quickly! Oh dear! But then again my new reality is being on anti-anxiety meds that have raised my heartbeat a bit when exercising - the doc is onto it and aims to keep me running, but that's dispiriting me more than the autumn leaves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I honestly didn't think I'd need earplugs LOL It was an outdoor concert, and we weren't too close to the speakers....but, wow. Maybe that's a sign of age (and I'm in denial). Sorry to hear about the issues with your meds; I hope things work out for you ((hugs))

      Delete
    2. Thank you xx. It's a shame I can't talk about the issue on my blog (family ...) but I'm feeling a lot of love from my spread-out, lovely running community as I work through this rough time.

      Delete
  2. I runfess I've worn earplugs to various concerts in the past. It seems very geriatric, but hearing loss is not my bag. The darkness is probably my least favorite part of fall. Thanks for linking!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems like it got dark SOOO quickly this year! We missed a Friday morning ride (a couple weeks ago). When we returned last week, it was dark for the majority of those 15 miles. UGH. I want my summer back....

      Delete
  3. I saw the most gorgeous sunrise this morning on my way into work after Orangetheory — the sky was a deep pink-orange, and I drove by a marina where the reflecttions on the water were amazing. By the time I got to work, the color was gone. I thought about stopping to take a picture, but the park srevice still had the entrance blocked because the marina/park technically doesn’t open until it’s light out. All that to say I’m trying to figure out how to time my runs with the sunrise these days!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was on a roll, getting to see the sunrise almost on a daily basis, but it's gotten so dark in just the past couple of weeks. Now, I'm seeing it as I finish my runs/rides rather than during.

      Delete
  4. Love those pointy toed shoes. So cute! One of the best things about being retired is the fact that I don't have to get up at zero dark thirty and run. I was always pretty timid about running in the dark, especially if I was running alone. I think you are smart to bike those hills in the daylight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The biking in the dark wasn't much of an issue until recently. We'd start out in the dark, but we'd have daylight (or the start of it) as we approached the first hill (a couple miles into the ride). Not any more ;-(

      Delete
  5. I love to walk, always have, not fond of biking. That said, it's awesome cross training for running!

    I don't love Summer as much as you, and am loving the cooler mornings, but I also don't like to see it go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems like our Iowa summer is ending about as quickly as it began...without much warning or transition. I just hope we have a decent fall season and not an early winter.

      Delete
  6. Sigh, in the past few weeks I've progressed from wearing a reflective vest, then I stopped using headphones, and this week I started bringing one knuckle light on my runs. Next up is two knuckle lights and then back to the treadmill...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It just got so dark so quick! I still usually only use one Knuckle Light (for me, one is sufficient), but I'm having to keep it on for most of my early morning runs now (instead of just for the first few miles). UGH, I want my summer back.

      Delete
  7. You made the right call on moving those bike rides to the weekend - safety first!

    I would love to attend the Iowa State Fair one day and test out all the yummy foods!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, YOU will have to come to Iowa and I'll be your tour guide at the Fair ;-)

      Delete
  8. Not a fan of the dark mornings and earlier darker evenings either but such is the cycle. Biking in the summer is fabulous I’m going to head out today too for a ride here in a California. A fun way to explore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, such is the cycle. It dawned on me this morning that I"ll be in darkness now for most of the next 9 months in regards to the majority of my runs ;-( First World Probs, right?

      Delete
  9. I get made fun of but I have a special set of muscian ear plugs just for concerts to avoid the ear ringing days after. I know it's probably not fun but it's good that you're moving your bike rides. It's best not to have to deal with declines with no light. Maybe a bike light would be a middle ground? Still, better to be safe than sorry!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do use a light, but the declines are so fast! Even the 20-50 feet that is "lighted" is probably not enough time to react if an animal crossed the path (like a deer or a skunk). SO, thus, the rides will be happening in the daylight...not a crisis, but a shift in my routine.

      Delete
  10. The later sunrises are so difficult for me on Tuesday mornings. Before, I had been starting my workout by 5am in order to finish by 6:15 so I could coach. I actually saw the moon AND stars when I went to the track this week - in the middle of Chicago! I had to run with a flashlight for the first part since the track doesn't have lights. Yeesh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have a nice college track, near my house, but it's not well-lit, either. It's set back, behind the football field, so I'm not too keen on hanging out there in the dark.

      Delete
  11. I heard that we had a gorgeous sunrise this morning, but I was in my basement training clients so I totally missed it. My husband was out riding and saw it.

    I love summer, too, but I also like fall. I just wish fall lasted longer. I even put out some of my fall decorations this afternoon.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw a lot of gorgeous sunrise pics yesterday...there must have been something in the atmosphere ;-)

      Delete
  12. I'm not a fan of the dark mornings but I am so ready for fall weather. It's great that you have been enjoying your time on the bike - such great cross-training!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I have said many times in recent weeks, this biking thing totally caught me by surprise. It's been a great asset with my training this summer ;-)

      Delete
  13. I cannot wait for fall weather. This was (is) the hottest summer that I remember.
    I admit that I love to see the sunrise while running.
    Glad your are enjoying the bike: it is a good cross training and a wonderful way to explore more routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love seeing the sunrise on my runs, too! I feel bad for the peeps who miss it.

      Delete
  14. I always love all your sunrise running / walking pics. I runfess that I've always loved that "Feeling one with nature" feeling on an early run, but I really haven't been able to capture it this year. I think I was so focused on getting back into running itself, that the nature stuff just slipped away. Does that make sense? -M

    ReplyDelete