Thursday, December 26, 2019

One Last Set of Runfessions for 2019


Here we go again...time to lay it all (or most of it) out there.

You know the routine...say a few runfessions, clear your mind and sole(s), and move on.

Care to join the party? Here's what I'm sharing...

First of all, let me runfess it here and now...I am a technology idiot. Give me a paint brush or a fancy palette of  charcoal pencils, and I can do anything. Update my cell phone (overnight, without any warning), and I'm destined for a probable panic attack. Such was the case last Saturday morning. Upon wake-up, I saw that my iPhone had "updated" to some new version or format (see, I don't even know the lingo). I tried taking a few selfies (after my run), and the editing options were all askew on my camera. ((GULP)) This was so NOT good, especially on the morning of this tech idiot's son's college graduation. Thankfully, I had a good hour in the car, en route to the event, so that gave me some time to play with the phone and figure out the "updated" editing options for pictures. Stepping outside of my comfy, anti-tech bubble is painful...

Did you take a peek at your Top 9, on Instagram? Can I runfess that so many of my pics all looked the same? I'm not disappointed, but it does go to show I love doing what I do (running and racing).  And I certainly did a lot of both in 2019.

A week ago, the DAM to DSM registration opened at 10:00 a.m. (on Friday, December 20th).  Like the race it replaced last year (Dam to Dam, which was the favorite 20K race that I've run the past 12 years), the sponsoring company decided to have tiered pricing. Being it was the event's 41st year, the first 500 registrants would get a $41 registration (plus processing), the next 500 would get in for $45 (plus processing), then $50, and so on. I runfess, that I accessed the race site from my work desk, and was registered and done by 10:03, thank you very much. The hubby got in for $45, only 10 minutes or so later. I later saw a meme on Instagram showing that the first 300 spots were gone already in the first six minutes! I'm glad I was one of them. As of one week into registration, over 1,000 spots have been secured and the registration is currently now at $50.
The hubby and I at DAM to DSM 2019
It's a given that I prefer summer over winter. That said, I runfess that I look forward to the Winter Solstice, every year, like a kid looks forward the first day of summer vacation. Why? For me, it's a huge milestone in forging through the winter season. I do so many of my runs in the wee hours of morning, after all. While the darkness can be quite tranquil, it also can be a buzzkill, especially in the freezing temps of my least favorite season. Knowing the days are gradually getting longer (at least in terms of daylight) is a major boost to my morale.

Finally, my 2019 Winter Run Streak is almost history! Typically, I do not focus on mileage, nor am I high-mileage kind of gal. I've never set any goals on yearly mileage. For me, running is not about mileage, but about the experience...quality over quantity, so to speak. I runfess, though, this year the numbers got my attention. Going into the Streak, my YTD mileage was at 935. I've never passed the 1,000 mileage mark, but with 35 days in the Streak, I knew I'd be in contention this year. Sunday evening, a group of us met up for our annual "Under the Holiday Lights Run." Five miles later, I'd done it. Ironically, it didn't feel like anything earth-shattering or special, but it did give me another notch in my 2019 running belt.

Ahhh, that feels so much better! I believe in keeping it real, and sharing a few runfessions is quite cleansing. Onward...to the next month, year, and decade!

Enough about me...what would you runfess? Are you more tech-savvy than yours truly? Do you embrace the Winter Solstice? Have you ever anxiously registered for a favorite race with tiered fees?

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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30 comments:

  1. Ah, you cracked the 1'000 mile mark! Well done! A nice finale to a great year.
    I'm totally tech-UN-savvy and panic whenever something doesn't work or "looks" different. Usually I can figure it out, but I hate that moment of panic.

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    1. This phone update was NOT fun...several apps still look (and act) weird LOL Thankfully, I"m figuring things out, but still. UGH.

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  2. Congrats on the mileage milestone! I runfess I've never calculated annual mileage so I have no clue. I am right there with you on barely knowing how to do anything on my phone. It's kind of a miracle I ever set up a blog. I ducked into the kitchen at a NYE party one year to register at midnight for a marathon. Gotta get those deals! Haha!

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    1. I'm with you on the blogging thing...I really got no business doing this because I'm constantly scratching my head. Somehow, I do manage to find my way out of those technology holes, but not without some anxiety. HA! I love that you ducked into a kitchen to get registered :-)

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  3. Yeah that update was a little disorienting! I'm not sure that it was an improvement on the previous versions.

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    1. The camera on my phone was so jacked up! I'm still confused on some of the "features" or "options." It is what it is, but I don't think it was a helpful change either.

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  4. We have a local race that starts at $1, then $5, etc. I've heard there are only five each of the $1 and $5 spots and I've never gotten them, but I have snagged the $30 spot a couple of times, which was still an amazing deal. Congrats on hitting the 1000 mile mark. That's a lot of running! Happy new year!

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    1. There's a race in Iowa City that has a similar $1, $5, etc. pricing registration. It's a race I've never done, so it's not on my radar...thus, I've never gotten in on the real deals LOL

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  5. I did chuckle a bit at your iphone update! :) Congrats on the mileage for the year that is quite impressive. I am not a fan of tiered pricing either as sometimes it causes the site to crash. Glad you got into your fave race

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    1. I did see some comments from anxious runners who weren't able to get their registrations to go through for that very reason. Who needs that kind of stress, right? The iphone is still not my best friend...but I'm getting more accepting of the changes LOL

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  6. Welcome to the 1k club! I runfess that this was the first year that I hit it and sure it's nice to have the bragging rights, but nothing magic happened. I also runfess that I snapped up a few really nice Christmas race registration specials...the deals were just too good.

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    1. I was a bit surprised at how lack-luster that 1K milestone actually felt. I guess that just reinforced how much the numbers really aren't a priority for me. None the less, I'm thankful I was able to do it without injury or any "extra" last-minute work.

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  7. So you reached 1000 miles? Magnificent! I did the iPhone update and find the new photo editing cumbersome. There are more options but now it takes time ot “load” the photo, which is annoying if I just want to crop it. Not every pic needs the Instragram treatment!

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  8. Congrats on the mileage milestone - you've had such a great year it does seem fitting!

    I runfess that I postponed that iPhone update because, like you, every update causes me a little angst. I'm going to get my son to help me with it LOL!

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    1. I must have accidentally hit the "update later" option...becasue it totally took me by surprise when I woke up and saw it had happened LOL

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  9. I hate when my phone updates overnight! It's so annoying because the "look" of the phone is different and then I feel like I have to re-learn certain things, lol

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    1. I totally felt like I had to re-learn the photo editing stuff...not pleased with the new format at all

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  10. LOL I think I'm a little more tech savvy than you, BUT I just had to have Siri help me navigate our new Apple TV remote so maybe not.

    Winter Solstice is much like every other day here. Even though it gets dark earlier in winter we don't notice a huge difference in the days. However, with summer comes running, so I'm excited to mark the passage of time.

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    1. It might be self-fulfilling, but I swear I can see a noticeable difference in the daylight after just one week.....

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  11. I'm somewhat good with tech, but man, all the video stuff . . . it has me pulling out my hair on a frequent basis. Probably should've been some runfessions over that.

    I once wanted to register for a race while on vacation, thought I had it all set up, but then just couldn't get it to accept a password when I tried to register. Back at our hotel room it worked just fine. I still got a low rate, but not as low as Darlene (who didn't even run the race, but was just lured in by the potential for a low entry fee).

    Don't really pay attention to yearly mileage, usually I try to tally it up, but I have to manually add in the mill miles usually. Couldn't begin to tell you where I am. But sometimes it is nice to cross off a mile stone!

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    1. I keep a daily/monthly log of my miles, so I know where things are. I don't "plan" to run XXX miles each year or month; I just go with what's on my training plan(s). I have had a lot of upper 900's years, but they have never been disappointing. It is nice to see the 1,000 happen on its own without my planning on January 1 for it to be there by years end.

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  12. I always take forever to update things as I'm always afraid I'll have issues. Right now both my phone and my computer need updating...

    I like to hit 1000 if I'm close, but if I'm nowhere near it, I don't stress about it.

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    1. I usually procrastinate the updating for the SAME reason LOL

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  14. I don't do well with technology updates either. Mostly because it takes me a while to get use to something and then when I finally do, I don't like change!

    Congrats to your son the college graduate!
    Looking forward to following more of your journey in 2020.

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    1. I hate updates because change is difficult (at least with technology). But, I do feel a great sense of accomplishment when I eventually master the changes LOL

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  15. I love hitting the winter solstic for the exact same reason you mention. It's fun noticing the days getting longer. I do just fine with technology when compared to friends my age, but not when compared to my younger friends and kids. LOL

    Happy New Year!

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    1. I swear I can notice the days getting longer almost immediately :-)

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  16. Congrats on the 1,000 miles for 2019! You have had an awesome year! I checked out my IG Top 9 and I'm not too crazy about how mine turned out, lol.

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