Last racecation: Runfessions October 2018

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

runfessoct18

Yes, another month, and another racecation — but this time it is also the Another Mother Retreat on Cape Cod — I’m writing this the week before the retreat, but by the time you read it, I’ll already be there. With Running Buddy J.

I’m joining Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice and getting a few things off my chest for October, which brings a close to the racecations. I runfess I am both happy and sad about that.

The acupuncture isn’t the hard part — getting him in the crate is the hard part!

I runfess . . .
I take my furkids to a holistic vet in addition to a regular vet (and any specialist they may have to see, too). It’s a lot of $$. Sometimes you’re not even sure it really does anything. On to my catfession.

So Gizmo takes a while to eat, as I’ve mentioned, but a few weeks ago his appetite was noticeably off (but nothing else seemed off). One night I had to leave out his food overnight to get him to eat.

Some acupuncture, more of the unGodly expensive homeopathic mixture she makes for him, and voila! I can put the food down and he eats. Not the whole thing at once, still, but it’s back to taking maybe 20 minutes vs half a day. The difference was truly dramatic.

That’s warm water with bubbles, not ice in there!

I runfess . . .
I finally hauled out my foot spa after not using it for like . . . a year? And like all things you enjoy but don’t do often enough, I asked myself why it’s been so long since I used it.

Because the damn thing is awkward to fill and empty, of course. But I think I’ve finally hit on a method that will work — use a measuring cup to put in the water (you don’t want it going over the controls) and then dump it into the bath tub.

I used to be resistant to dumping it in the bath tub, because Gizmo got in there, but one way I knew something was up with him was that he was insistent on going in there and licking the bath tub. So we now close the bathroom door. He can’t get at the tub, problem solved, and my feet will thank me.

I runfess . . .
I, along with most everyone else going to the retreat, are struggling with what to wear for the half. Every long distance race I ran this year has been hot, hotter, hottest. And I basically wore the same outfit for all three.

This race won’t be hot. It might be perfect, or it might be rainy and windy, and who knows, it’s not predicted to be really cold but it could be. I seem to have forgotten how to dress for cold runs, but I’ve sure been getting plenty of practice lately!

I runfess . . .
I told Rachel @ Runningonhappy that I wanted to dial back my training after Ocean City (read about it here). It’s been a long, hot, humid, training summer. I ran 2 halfs, and an 18 mile race, and tomorrow I’ll be running the last half of 2018. And all those races were within the last four months!

That last half is tomorrow. Of course I’d be happy with a PR, but hey, I already have a pretty awesome half PR for this year. I’m running it with a friend and it’s part of the AMR retreat. As long as the weather is halfway decent and I remain uninjured, there’s just no way this will be a bad time!

BTW, it doesn’t look as though there is wifi in the rooms. So bear with me as it might take me a while to comment back to you!

I runfess . . .
I have been much more consistent about doing my PT exercises. And while the on again/off again pain on the side of my foot isn’t gone, it is much better.

Or is that due to the fact that with the colder weather, I’m back to running in compression socks?

Do you have a gadget you love but rarely use?

Do you find it harder to figure out what to wear for colder races?

Arms sleeves — yay or nay?

What do you have to runfess from October? Come join us

Runfessions

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

frifive2

24 thoughts on “Last racecation: Runfessions October 2018”

  2. Love arm sleeves but the ones you make yourself…bring them to most races because it usually cold in the morning but sometimes I wear them for the whole race. Yes, I have been freezing on my recent runs because I refuse to get out the winter gear. still in capris and no beanie yet.

    We have an outdoor hot tub but my hubby uses much more than I do.

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      1. I felt I was underdressed with my recent race. I was shivering before and after but fine while running. I wish I had had a throwaway. I did have those $1 ponchos & race tinfoil thingie but left them both in the hotel.

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    1. The hard part really is getting him into the crate! Although I certainly wouldn’t want to be sticking needles into him!

      I met Dimity (briefly) 3 years ago. I’d never met Sarah. Yes, it was a lot of fun.

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  6. Have a great time at Cape Cod! My sister lives there in the summertime (she lives in Florida in the winter), and I love going there to visit. So pretty. Hope your half goes well. Maybe I will have to try dogupuncture for my dog Benji. His appetite has been “off” lately. Maybe that would help. Now that I think about it…maybe it would help my hip too!

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    1. I am really enjoying my foot spa again!

      I wrote the post ahead of time, scheduled it, and just linked it up and then ignored it the rest of the weekend pretty much. 🙂 Which is why I’m replying half a week later . . .

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    1. OMG, I’ve been taking cats to holistic vets for well over a decade. Which also tells you how long I’ve been caring for animals with illnesses . . .

      Usually I get that comment when I say I’m taking my dog to a cardiologist. Most normal people have no idea they exist for animals. Unfortunately I do & this is the second dog that will see the same cardiologist.

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  9. I have a couple of things I ordered and don’t use. I keep one on the bottom shelf of the coffee table so it’s not like I have an excuse!
    I use arm sleeves on occasion. They’re a good extra layer without overheating.

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  10. Arm sleeves—YAY all the way!!!! I was so bummed…at the expo last weekend, the gal (who has been there every year with the arm sleeves) was MIA. I really was looking forward to splurging on a few new pairs, but now I’m gonna have to search online for some. Not a huge crisis in the grand scheme of life, but it was disappointing that “my gal” wasn’t there. Good luck with your race…I know what you mean about tricky weather and figuring out what to wear 😉

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  11. Have a good retreat! I’ve never worn arm sleeves although I have some for working in, so I suppose I should say I’ve never warn them for running. What about the gap between them and your top?

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    1. I have worn arm sleeves a few times but in general I’m not a fan. Either I want the arms covered or not! I believe that the gap is simply because the arm sleeves are there to warm the working muscles (although I don’t really know).

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