Tuesdays on the Run subject today is running pet peeves, but wouldn’t you know I already wrote a post titled that — you can read it here; it was part of another linkup, Wednesday Word, but I’m sure I can come up with a few more (this week’s word is carefree, by the way, if you’re searching for a subject for a blog post).
I’m going to try not to repeat a peeve.
Empty gel packages on the ground
If you run with me, chances are pretty good I have a ziploc bag with me. Maybe more than one.
If it’s a long run, I also have a few gels, some gogosqueez or other fuel in a pouch, and probably some bits of home made date oatmeal bars.
I don’t want to litter. I don’t want to see litter on the road or path or trail. I don’t want to step in someone else’s litter. And I especially don’t want to have my dogs try to eat somebody else’s litter!
Side Stiches
I get them; often. I’ve read about them and some supposed causes:
- Eating too close to running
- Running too fast
- Running distances you’re not trained for
- Generally being unfit
Except for running too fast — for me, that is — even a slow runner can run to fast for their fitness level — none of them seem to apply to me.
If you’ve ever had one, you know they’re totally annoying.
Phantom “injuries” in the taper
If you’ve ever trained for a race you need to taper for, you probably know what I’m talking about.
You’re running great, you are actually looking forward to your taper, and boom! Suddenly something that wasn’t bothering you hurts. You’re just sure you have a stress fracture, or IT problems, or plantar fasciatis.
Maybe it’s the running Gods way of taking our mind off the race?
Monster hills at the end of a race
Why do race directors love to do this?
Is it because they don’t have to run the race?
I mean I’m sure that’s not the reason; race directors are runners too, after all — but it feels that way, doesn’t it?
Clothes Amnesia
Training for a fall long distance race can really suck sometimes. The heat! The humidity! The bugs! The rain! We go through it all because we figure the weather will be so much nicer for our race and we’ll be faster after all that training in the heat.
And then race day arrives, and hopefully it is cooler, but we’ve spent all this time training in tanks & skirts (sorry guys) and we don’t remember how to dress for cooler weather! Not to mention we have “practiced” our outfits on our long runs but because it’s cooler we’re wearing something different and who knows whether or not it will chafe?
Do you suffer from clothes amnesia, or is it just me?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Love these! I feel you on the hill at the end of every race–when I first started running in northern Virginia it seemed like every race I ran had a giant hill at the end! I only suffer clothes amnesia in the winter, I just don’t know how to dress for below 40 degrees–otherwise I’m in shorts and a tank or a short sleeved top 🙂
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We have below 0 weather up here, but I usually draw the line at the teens. I hate being cold, tho, so by 40s I’m in capris.
But a cool race day might call for a jacket & it’s been months!
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My upcoming marathon has a mammoth hill from mile 21-23. Wth was I thinking?? I get clothes amnesia at the beginning of every season. Especially winter. Just don’t know how to dress. Gosh who are these litterers? That is unthinkable to me.
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Or people who don’t pick up after their dogs, too!
My condolences on the hill at the end of your marathon.
When I did heartbreak hill half, I thought anyone doing those newton hills at the end of Boston is nuts!
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It’s not litter, but people don’t pick up after their dogs in the nature preserve I used to use. I know a runner’s supposed to be looking up as they’re running but you always have to look down on those paths.
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Oh, yrs, I agree & I’m a dog owner! It’s VERY annoying.
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Trash and dog poop….boo!! I haven’t had a side stitch in a while but they are bad.
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I still get them often!
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OMG!!! Hills at the end of the race! WHY!!!!!
At the Frederick Half, they have this hill-like really it’s the last .5 of the race!!! Come on Man!!!
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I know; right? Almost every half I’ve done has had a monster hill at the end. Except Smuttynose — that actually has you coming in on a downhill! No wonder I liked it so much. 🙂
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Huge hills at the end of the race always get me too. It’s like you’ve gone that far and even the smallest of hills feel like Mt Everest.
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Exactly!
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Thankfully I now have the experience to know the phantom taper injuries are just in my head. 🙂 It used to really freak me out!
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For me they’re often real, sadly. Don’t why.
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I’m worried about the clothes thing for Chicago. I’ve run in as little as possible all summer but that race may be COOL (here’s hoping). No idea what I will wear. Clueless.
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I’m on the same boat for VT – I’m hoping, anyway. And praying we don’t get an early snowstorm!
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Love the running pet peeves idea! My son and I are running a half on Sunday and here’s the course – first two miles are downhill, next nine miles are gently rolling hills with net downhill, final two miles are uphill! Jeez!
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Sounds like most of my halfs . . . good luck! How cool to run it with your son, though.
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I had a side stitch this morning! Which I’m going to blame on this horrendous humidity we’ve been battling. I’m sure I was pushing too hard. I got through it but I’m so over summer. What happened to moderation?
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Out summer was actually on the cool side & we had great running weather for the most part – not this week! Although that changes tomorrow & sat should be a great day to run again. Plus running with the group forces me out earlier than I’d ever go on my own.
Here’s hoping your weather cools down, soon.
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