Runfessions - Farewell to Summer

I seriously cannot believe I just acknowledged the Farewell to Summer reality...

I've been in denial for the past several weeks, after all. Even in the midst of all the darkness-laden runs I've done as of late, a part of me kept hanging on to the last semblance of those warm temps that I adore so much.

Oddly, I'm not too sad. Trust me, I AM sad (just not sad enough to cower under the covers and refuse to step outside). In a strange, cathartic kind of way, it does feel good to move forward into the autumn season. Summer will be there waiting for me in 8-9 months. Let's not forget that in another three months, we'll pass the winter solstice and the days will start getting longer...but I'm getting ahead of myself. Glass half full, my friends!

None the less, let's runfess....

Speaking of summer ending, though, I'll start out runfessing that the summer of 2019 seemed like the shortest summer ever. I've lived through more than 50 summers, after all; I have quite a few summers to compare 2019 to. I made the most of it by running or walking or biking outside pretty much every day, no matter the heat or humidity. Still, it didn't seem like there were very many of those early morning endeavors with an excess of early morning daylight. Thankfully, I did get to witness many a beautiful sunrise...

there's nothing like the power of a beautiful sunrise

For the first time, in a very long time, I runfess that I skipped my usual Sunday shakeout recovery run this past weekend. Surprisingly, I didn't feel an ounce of guilt or regret. My back has been kind of achy (I think it's a result of excessive stretching and contorting from helping  my sister paint), and it was raining. I did grab the umbrella and go for a 2-mile power walk, but the run never happened, not even after the rain stopped.

rejuvenated by a walk in the rain

After 12 continuous weekly rides on the hilly bike trail (a 15-mile round trip),I runfess that didn't  happen this past weekend either. I still got in a late afternoon 16-mile ride (on rolling hills with a nasty headwind, just saying), though. Oddly, I didn't feel any remorse for the end of that biking streak. I am still biking a few times each week, though, because it's been a game-changer with MCM training.

riding with Gustavas

We've had a lot of sporadic rain the past couple weeks. The temps have been rather warm, too. In anticipation of last weekend's rainy forecast, most of you probably saw that my friend and I made a spontaneous decision to do our long run after work last Friday evening. As hot and humid as it was, can I runfess that it was oddly empowering to get it done? I've certainly had much easier long runs, but those 10 miles really weren't too painful...but they were very sweaty.

No, I'm not crying, but the salty sweat made my eyes burn

Finally, I pride myself on being very detailed-oriented. As mentioned, I spent time outside almost every day this summer, but I runfess that I did not notice this beauty of a hornet's nest hanging above our driveway until this week. I doubt it was just built over the weekend, so it's probably been there for most of the summer. The thing is, we have not seen any of the nest's inhabitants in our yard or near the house. Everything we've read and heard tells us to just leave it for the time being because the hornets will not survive a hard freeze (and there's a chance we'll have our first frost next week). The nest is easily 50 feet above ground, so it's completely out of reach (not that we'd attempt to do anything with it on our own anyways). Things that make you go hmmm.

Yowza!!!

Anyways, those are just a few things I'm runfessing for now, as I bid my dear summer a (somewhat) fond farewell and welcome the autumn season.

How about you? Any runfessions you'd like to share? Are you sad to see summer go, or are you embracing the autumn season? Did summer seem to go too fast? Ever found a hornet's nest in your yard?

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. 

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