Not so humble: Runfessions February 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

bhumble

February may be my birthday month, and I was happy there was no big snowstorm. That’s usually when the big storms hit. I enjoyed all the festivities. I runfess that right now I’m not so much enjoying the running (until last Sunday, when we had almost Spring-like temps, no wind, and sunshine.

As I was finishing this up, however, it was raw, gray, and dreary yet again. But those bulbs are coming up, and before you know it we’ll be complaining about the heat.

I would tell you . . .
I’m a pretty modest person. I would even say humble. Except . . . I remember a day fairly early in February when I was running and saw another woman out there running. I think I’d asked her in the past what her easy pace was, thinking we might be compatible, but it was faster than mine and she didn’t take the bait.

I have to admit that I got some satisfaction from the fact that I was running faster than her, without trying to.

I wrote about being a humble runner five years ago here, when Deb @ debruns.com was still running her Wednesday Word linkup. I’d say that post was fairly accurate.

Lucky I don’t have to run in the dark & cold

I runfess . . .
I’m an early bird, but I just have no desire to run earlier in the morning when it’s colder out in Winter. So I *sometimes* (but not always) choose to run on my own so I can pick a time and place I prefer.Lately it’s been a lot, but mostly due to all the stress I was under. Then my friends made that generous donation in honor of my Dad and I felt badly!

I runfess . . .
The April half, after much back and forth, can be run. Except there’s some other things going on in my life that still makes it iffy. I don’t feel a really strong desire to run it, I must say. I think that’s mostly due to the Winter blahs. Pretty sure I’ll have a good time if I do get to run it.

Seriously, aren’t they the cutest?

I runfess . . .
I got some birthday gelt (Yiddish for money), and I’ve been hard at work putting it to use. Maybe a little too hard. There are Yoga books, there are some new clothes, new socks (regular, not running), a tiny little singing bowl and statue of Ganesh (remover of obstacles, the God of beginnings), and a rose quartz vibrating face roller — it’s supposed to promote collagen formation. I have absolutely no idea whether or not it does, but it feels great, looks pretty and wasn’t expensive. You can find it on Amazon here (Amazon Affiliate link).

I would tell you . . .
I keep putting on my goals to try out other minimal drop shoes. Yet I don’t. Which is why I end up (or Mr. Judy ends up) buying shoes from England. Truly, I need to try out Altras! I used to like Brooks minimal drop shoes way back when, but haven’t heard good things about recent models.

Do you have recommendations for minimal drop shoes other than Newtons? 

Are you excited for you next big goal race?

Is your running suffering from winter blahs?

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

Runfessions

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37 thoughts on “Not so humble: Runfessions February 2020”

    1. You tap the bowl with a little wooden mallet and it makes a tone — I’ll be using it in my videos at some point. 🙂

      Although I used it with my student this week and for some reason the it didn’t hold the sound as long (usually it lasts a while, hence the name singing bowl). I’d already tried it out, so not sure what I did wrong.

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  2. Do you have recommendations for minimal drop shoes other than Newtons? Altras are great. I was fitted with them when a running store came to town & I am on pair 4. Pain is at a minimum.

    Are you excited for you next big goal race? Yes. Since I bonked my last half, I am looking for a re-do.

    Is your running suffering from winter blahs? Yes. Without sun my motivation is tanked.

    BTW-Love the singing bowl.

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  3. Halfs are hard so you should only do one if you really want to. That is why I do run them even in pain. I am hoping that the next one is foot pain free. And the one after I can actually do the long runs.

    I tried Altras and didn’t like them. My dr recommended more support to run in Hokas. So that’s my next one.

    I am looking forward to spring but I don’t mind the cold and gray. It’s the NE and this has been just a great winter for running. I think I only ran on the TM once and I only run at 4:30 pm. It’s just the time putting on all those layers. Ugh.

    Hope to see you at some point but it’s does not look likely for awhile.

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      2. Yes, of course SAD is real.

        I am grateful for running because before it, I would stay indoors ALL winter. Now I tell myself that there are people who cannot RUN so just DO it.

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      3. I get outside most days because of the dogs. Even before the dogs, when we lived in VT (which is much worse than here), I still often walked outside in Winter because otherwise I’d get cabin fever.

        There’s a big difference between not liking Winter and being depressed by it, though.

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  4. I tried on the minimal drop shoes and they felt weird on my arches. Since I have had PF before, I don’t think they are a good idea for me. My daughter is using one of those rose gold face rollers. Let us know how it works for you!

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  7. I love the little birthday gifts you got for yourself, they’re so pretty! And I think it can be hard to keep up the excitement about running when the weather’s been so dreary. Hopefully it will come back with Spring 🙂

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  8. I’m with you on the humbleness. Even with the good races in the past year, I don’t like “bragging” about my accomplishments. There’s a fine line between being proud and being boastful…and I am leery of crossing to the wrong side LOL That face roller sounds relaxing!

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  9. I was absolutely in love with my Altras!!! I would recommend them to anyone looking for a zero drop shoe. I like that they have a wider toe box. However, the zero drop just didn’t work for me and I always wonder if that is why I had the horrible IT pain. I didn’t want to chance it so I never went back to them after I recovered. What size do you wear? I have some like new Altras I would be willing to send to you if you wanted to try them? -M

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    1. Of course it depends on the shoe & I don’t know how Altras run, but I normally wear a size 9 (I know, a big foot for such a petite girl).

      I have found that I can’t just run in zero drop — I have to alternate them with more cushioned shoes. But I do always race in them. Every body is truly different (they don’t trigger IT problems for me, and I’ve had my share of those).

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  10. I’ve tried minimal drop shoes but I didn’t like them. Probably because I’ve always run in shoes with a rise..I don’t know what it’s called, but you know what I mean. My legs were in shock!

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  11. I don’t have a goal race. I’m running Cherry Blossom, but that’s for fun & scenery. It’s weird not to have a Half or anything longer than 10K on my calendar, but I’ll get there. Goal has been healing for Q1
    This winter has been so wet — really weird.

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  12. Oooh! I have heard great things about those quartz and jade face rollers. I’m thinking about one.

    Altras are great. There are some really comfortable models out there (the Escalantes are super well-liked). Kinvaras are usually great, as well.

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    1. The rollers aren’t at all expensive. Get one! I don’t know if it does a thing really, but it feels great!

      Yup, everyone always seems to recommend Altras. Now I just have to figure which model to try. Poor Mr. Judy’s head might explode. 🙂

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  14. I overtook a runner the other night and it’s so rare I did feel quite good (I did run beside her for a bit with my light on the pavement in front of both of us and told her where I got my hi-viz kit (she did ask)). Great birthday loot and happy birthday.

    No winter blahs here although we were a bit cross with All The Puddles And Rain today. I have pulled myself out of my massive anxiety spike for the time being so enjoying being able to run without falling apart. That’ll do for now.

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      1. Well, the running didn’t cause the anxiety spike, the cats did, but as a result of being constantly jittery and not being able to eat properly (I hated that!) I was unbalanced and upset on runs, too much so to enjoy them, relax or run long happily. But the anxiety is down and I can fuel myself better now and am more on a level footing so not scared I’m going to dissolve all over my friends (it’s fine to have support but I don’t like to lean on everyone too much). Hope that makes sense.

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  15. I can’t do minimal drop shoes because my Achilles and tight calves feel worse when I do run in them. Anything under 8mm is really pushing it for me.

    I’ve struggled with motivation in the past regarding running but right now I’m gearing up for my spring races and I’m really excited! Shamrock in Virginia Beach is only 2.5 weeks away! I think for me it was doing “new” races, i.e. ones I hadn’t done before that got me out of the rut. I wasn’t really excited for the ones I just did this past winter because I’d done them like 4 or 5 years in a row.

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    1. I love running/racing in a new place! It’s always so fun. I’ve heard great things about VA Beach. I still haven’t decided what half I’d like to do in VA! There are so many great ones! Which is a problem in a lot of states, LOL!

      For you guys, it’s flipped — I’m sure the motivation in Summer is lower.

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