Being uncomfortable is overrated: Runfessions April 2017

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

may2017runfessions

It’s true, however, that we have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.Yet I runfess that it can be very hard to do. Join me, Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and other bloggers to see what we’re runfessing; if you haven’t joined us yet maybe it’s time to get outside your comfort zone!

I runfess . . .
I managed to spray some sunscreen all over the bathroom floor one day while Lola was in there. I barked at her to leave it, and went into the kitchen (past our very large bay window) to grab some paper towels.

Naked from the waist up. If someone got an eyeful, I apologize but #sorrynotsorry.

I also had to raid the dirty clothes hamper for the top I wanted to wear that day.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
–Neale Donald Walsch

I runfess . . .
I was scared to try group running again. The truth is that while there are people that run my speed, they’re few and far between. So going to a new park, hoping I can find where to meet with everyone, which I’ve had trouble with in the past, and hoping not to be hopelessly lost because no one runs my speed and the sun will be setting by the time I’m done?

Yeah, I ended up not going. Except that was the night we were removing the tint from my car’s windows, so it actually turned out to be a good thing.

The next week? I just didn’t have the time, too busy prepping for my trip. It’s still going when I get home. Maybe . . .

I runfess . . .
I am a little nervous about my upcoming (like in a couple of days) half. Because it’s new: it’s a trail half. The good news is that Rachel @ Runningonhappy and I agreed that it would be a training run for UT.

The looping, the trail running, the potential for it to totally live up to its name (Mud & Chocolate); yeah, I’m wondering just what I’ve gotten myself into. Hopefully I’ll have a good story to tell you and I won’t have to runfess how I raced instead of treating it as a training run — then again, as it’s my first trail race, I’ve kind of got only a little idea what I’m doing.

I’m also a little nervous about injuring myself. But of course we can all do that at any point, on trails or the road, sometimes even just walking down the street. It’s just that I have another half to run in short order and I’m really looking forward to it!

Gaiters rock!


I runfess . . .
That even though I’ve just been running on trails 50% of the time in April, I’ve gone ahead and ordered some new socks and some gaiters. Last year I said I was going to try to do trail running one time a week. It fizzled quickly.

This year, going forward, I hope to make it a reality — maybe not every week, but now that I’ve spent some time exploring the trails that are actually not that far from my house, it’s not as scary.

Now it’s time to find some more trails . . . although time is always a factor. Most trails are a good half hour’s drive away, so driving an hour plus the run . . . it’s not always easy to squeeze all that in. Which is part of why trail running fizzled so quickly last year.

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I’d like it to look like this — not a muddy mess!

I runfess . . .
I was a little PO’d when I did my weather stalking. It was cool — one day downright cold (for spring), and windy, most of the time before I left. There were a few lovely days, but few and far between.

So what is forecast to happen as soon as we leave? Beautiful spring-like weather. Whereas that nasty, cool, rainy, windy weather is waiting to greet us for my race. It’s not so much that I mind running a race in those conditions — I knew where I was going and what the weather could be like — I was just frustrated that I was missing out on beautiful weather back home!

I would, however, like to freeze the forecast from last Saturday — it was showing near perfect race conditions on race day. Pretty please?

Do you buy all the gear for new types of running (or running in general)?

Wouldn’t you like to get some runfessions off your mind? Come join us

Runfessions

I am also linking up with the  Friday Five 2.0  from Fairytales & Fitness and Rachel @ Running on Happy today.

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33 thoughts on “Being uncomfortable is overrated: Runfessions April 2017”

  1. These runfessions were fun to read. I’ve always admired your grit and love for running, something I wish I had too. I can barely run half a mile without panting. Yes I’ve got core strength from a decade of practicing yoga but no stamina to run miles. But knowing that you might have fears too makes me feel more human. I took to swimming in a big way last year and that built my stamina a lot but since I’ve moved to Edinburgh I haven’t put in the effort of finding another pool close by. But your post has inspired me to get my shit together and find a pool! 🙂

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  2. You look like a trail pro in your gaiters! That’s one article of gear I haven’t gotten yet. Although I’ve been in situations on the trail where I wished I had them. I think it’ll be “easier” to treat the trail race as a training run. Just enjoy it. Thanks for linking!

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  6. Love the gaiters! It is supposed to be HOT here this weekend. I am so not ready for it! It is hard to force myself to be “uncomfortable” in my at home workouts, which is why I get more out of my studio classes. On the other hand, I’m so sick of being uncomfortable in my dress shoes – I’ve declared today jeans + sneakers Friday!

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  7. No I never spend money on running gear (other than clothes and shoes). All the gear I have is stuff that I’ve gotten for free. I’ve run a trail race with regular running shoes on trails and they were fine. I use cut-off knee socks for arm sleeves and have done the same for gaiters.

    If it rains, at least you won’t be hot and you’ll have a story to tell. Many of my halfs (5 I think) were in the pouring rain.

    Anyway. Enjoy your training run half!!

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    1. It doesn’t usually pour here but sometimes does. Haven’t checked the weather in a couple of days.

      The gaiters weren’t super expensive (less than compression socks) & worth every penny already.

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      1. I guess I don’t run on trails often enough. I’ve never had a problem without them. Probably the soft dirt is good on the body …it’s just hard not to run slow enough so I don’t fall LOL.

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  14. I’ve never seen gaiters like that – great idea to have on a muddy trail run! I hope you enjoy your trail race, it’ll be a fun new experience and who knows, maybe you’ll get hooked?

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  15. I’m glad that I’m not the only one who has to retrieve kit from the laundry bin now and again. I think that’s a sign of needing to buy more kit😋😁

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