...and just like that, it's time to enter the 'Fessional and bare the soles...
Let's just say there's been some stuff going down recently. It's always best to 'fess-it-out on the blog (you know, among friends and such). A runner cannot keep all this stuff unmentioned, am I right?
Shall we get started?
First off, I fall-fess that maybe (just maybe?) I have acclimated to the crazy suddenly-winter-like weather in Iowa. Yes, you heard that right. Me, the gal who begrudgingly bids farewell to Summer, may already be (somewhat) accustomed to the cooler outdoor conditions. I went for a short run, in 68F temps (with 18mph wind)...and had to roll-down the arm warmers shortly after leaving my house. This was in the wee hours, so there wasn't any bright sunshine overhead, either. Things that make you go Hmmm.
Speaking of the much cooler weather, I have been reunited with my indoor bike, Sebbe. Can I bike-fess that it's been fun to break a sweat while pedaling without having to worry about traffic? Even though it's quite a bit warmer indoors than outside in the open air, I don't have to deal with helmet hair or helmet head (I sometimes get a headache from my helmet). Don't worry, I'm still hoping to sneak in a few more outdoor rides before any of the "white stuff" appears and I'm saving my Sebbe time for when the weather is inclement or it's too dark outside (like in the pre-sunrise - or post-workday - hours).
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On a related note, this week saw my final hilly bike path ride for the 2022 season. I set a goal of surpassing last year's 20 weekly rides, and I made it to 25! It's bittersweet to see this weekly ritual come to an end, but I brrr-fess it sincerely was getting too cold in these final weeks! Most of these rides were with my friend Amy, but Barb joined us a few times as well. I even did a couple of these rides all on my own. If you care to do the math, these rides were usually at least 15 miles in distance (there were a few times I tacked on some additional bonus miles, though), so that's 375 miles of crazy hills (and usually wind, LOL) right there.
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Most know I ran the Principal 5K Road Race a couple weeks ago. At the expo, they always have a place for donating shoes...and this year I finally remembered to bring some! This is something I'd been meaning to do for a long time. I shoe-fess that it really felt quite liberating. I parted ways with six special pairs of shoes and had no regrets, or remorse, in doing so.
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Finally, can we talk about the beauty of the sky? It's a given that I dread the the diminishing daylight. The sunrise is coming later and later, and it won't be long before I'll be chasing the sunset on the drive home from work. But, let me sun-fess, the colors never disappoint no matter how early (or how late) they appear. Just this week, Tuesday's sunset was a show-stopper...
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And Thursday's sunrise was a spectacular of showcase of cotton-candy-colored delight...
So, there you go! There's plenty more where these 'fessions came from, but I'll just leave these to stand on their own. You can thank me later.
How about you? What do you have for this month's 'fessions? Are you acclimating to the change of seasons and diminishing daylight?
I'm likely more sad about the growing darkness than I am the sudden-onset cool temps. Yeah we're freezing already but it doesn't bother me. It'll get so much worse. I runfess I'm thinking about donating some race medals! Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe increasing darkness is such a bummer this time of year...salt in the "wound" of the cold temps.
DeleteI don't catch that many sunrises but the sunsets are so pretty this time of the year. I do miss the longer days of summer light but I am loving these fall temps. That's a lot of bike miles!
ReplyDeleteI'd love some fall temps if they didn't feel so much like winter. I swear, our temps go from one extreme to the other in 24 hours in my area.
DeleteCongrats on your 25 week bike streak! That's great that you were able to donate some running shoes - I really need to find a place for mine so all of my old shoes stop taking up space in my mudroom.
ReplyDeleteI really need to donate more than the six pairs that went bye-bye. I have let too many retired shoes pile up because I still wear them for walking and (indoor) biking.
DeleteA big NO. Ii hate the dark mornings and I have not gotten myself out the door. Even after work now, I have to rush the run... UGH!!!
ReplyDeleteMy poor stationary bike sits unused. Maybe this winter. But I prefer to run if I have the time.
I have a big of shoes... I need to bring them and donate.
I'm not a fan of the dark mornings, either, but they're my reality for about 8-9 months out of the year.
DeleteJust this morning I was thinking, "WHEN ARE WE TURNING THE CLOCKS BACK???" November 6th... one more week and then falling back will help the early morning darkness, somewhat.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of nice to switch things up a little, get off the hilly (and windy) bike path and onto Sebbie for a while... then when spring comes you'll be excited to get out there again.
Our weather has gotten more comfortable, at least for early morning runs. We're still waiting for our first big "cold" front, but running in the upper 60s and low 70s feels pretty good!
Turning back the clocks does have a refreshing feel to it...kind of a nice little "procrastination" gig (in denial of winter approaching, LOL).
DeleteEurope is turning the clocks back this weekend - at least they will have lighter mornings then. South Africa doesn't switch at all, which I'm quite happy about.
ReplyDeleteDonating shoes is a big thing here in Cape Town. Good running shoes are expensive and desperately needed. I stop using my shoes earlier now so that they are in good shape to donate.
I need to donate several more pairs of shoes, I still have an excess supply. There are a few states that don't honor the time change (in the spring or the fall). I've always lived in a place where we do turn the clocks ahead/back, so it would feel odd to not do so.
DeleteMy "runfession" is that since I stopped running 100% of my workouts are indoors and...I kinda like it. It's really convenient, I have zero cares about the weather, etc, etc. Back in my running days it was much harder to be a good sport about being stuck inside on the treadmill.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to not have to be stalking the weather on the daily!!! That was one of the most stressful things about the weekly bike rides...Wednesdays were our ideal day, but sometimes we switched the riding days around depending on the forecasted wind or rain. Running in the rain is one thing, but it's a deal-breaker on the bike (especially on hills).
DeleteI'm so ready to turn the clocks back to get some light for my morning runs. Not a fan of running in the dark! But those sunrises are pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteI want a little more morning light back, too. I know it's only for a short while, but it's a nice "boost" when we set the clocks back.
DeleteYes, we've both had some great skies lately. Yay! I feel you on the shoes, plus we're always making room for another pair to move in. Congrats on 25+/375 hilly miles. Awesome
ReplyDeleteBah. Trying again. If not, hi it's Cari
DeleteYou’ve got some gorgeous sky views. I’m either out too early on weekdays or too late on weekends to catch a sunrise these days.
ReplyDeleteThis week I was leaving work at 6:30 and struck at how DARK it was. Another reason to escape early!
I am all screwed up with time. I'm up so early and go to bed so late these days. It's not my favorite. I'm glad you're acclimating nicely.
ReplyDelete