Runners love to run. Until they don’t. That falling out of love feeling can really sneak up on us, so it’s important to be on the lookout for the signs of burnout.
1: Poor sleep Insomnia has so many different causes, and many people turn to activity to help them sleep. It usually works — until it doesn’t.
Are you suffering more from colds than usual? | Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
2: Frequent colds/viruses If you have young children you may be used to the the colds that seem to always be making the rounds at home. If you’re normally a healthy person and you suddenly start getting everything that’s going around, it’s time to re-evaluate what you’re doing.
Do you find yourself falling more than usual? | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
3: Getting more accident-prone Most of us trip every once in a while. If you find yourself tripping more frequently, or outright falling a lot — it can be a sign of fatigue. I know when I get tired on a long run I have to remind myself to make sure to pick up my feet more. When no amount of reminders prevents the accidents, it’s time to take notice.
4: Heavy legs We all have runs when our legs just feel as if they’re stuck in cement. Sometimes we know why, sometimes it just hits out of the blue. If all your runs feel this way, though, there may be something deeper going on.
5: No longer interested in the things that bring you joy Like running. We all go through rough patches with running from time to time, but if it’s consistently not making you feel happy the way it used to, it’s just another sign that you might be over training.
Final Thoughts Taken one by one the above are all things that happen to runners (and non-runners!) from time to time. I doubt a single one of us has never experienced these types of “symptoms”. If you can nod you’re head yes to more of these than not, it may be time to re-evaluate what you’re doing and shake things up a bit.
Running is supposed to be a cheap sport. I’d like to say it can be, but you need running shoes — and at the very least probably a couple of pairs a year. Running shoes are expensive!
When to Save
I’m pretty sure my “when to spend” list will be longer than my “when to save” list. I think that these lists will be different from person to person — we all have different needs!
Let your running clothes air dry — this will save you energy and ultimately will help save the planet and help your clothes last longer
Make your own running fuel/recovery snacks — it won’t save you time, but it will save you $$ and most likely will be more nutritious, too
This one is definitely personal: being smaller on top, I rarely spend much on running bras (I know many female runners can’t skimp in this department)
Another $$ savings for smaller women: tops with the bra already built in
This isn’t a when to save, but a how to save: try to sign up to be an Ambassador for products you use frequently. There is usually a decent discount for Ambassadors
Sign up early for races to snag deals — just be aware that the weather is very changeable
When to Spend
I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for.
Spend on good quality running clothes (of course I recommend Skirt Sports). Yes, they may be pricey but they’ll last a very long time.
Spend on good socks. No cotton unless you dig blisters.
If you’re going to buy a treadmill that you actually plan to use, invest in a good one. Expect to pay at least $1000 (unless you manage to snag a lightly used one!)
Spend on shoes. Comparison shop and you may be able to get a deal on your favorite shoes, but your feet will thank you.
If you ever decide to hire a coach, don’t just look at the price; again, I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for!
Final Thoughts Hey, my save column was surprisingly longer! Of course you don’t have to splurge on clothes if you don’t want to, Target, Old Navy, and Gap all have pretty good running clothes at reasonable prices. Shoes can be very expensive, but you can look around for deals on a variety of Websites — once you know what the right shoes for you are. Just don’t choose shoes by the price, though, or you could end up paying a steep price with your body.
What do you think it’s important to spend on?
How do you manage to save on running gear?
As I work on this intro, it’s Friday. At least this week I know what sidelined me! I was at my mo. The week went south from there with all sorts of stressful stuff. Getting older just ain’t fun, and caring for the elderly can sometimes make you feel ancient too!
I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and sharing a surprisingly active week although light on running and strength training, but I knew going in that would probably be the case.
Workouts update
Monday: Yoga (30 min), 3 miles easy
Tuesday: Yoga (20 min), Walk AM & PM, took mom to the doctor
Wednesday: Yoga (50 min), AM Walk, 3 mile hike at Olana on the way home
PB = Killer B TM = Treadmill WU = warmup CD = cooldown SB = Stationary Bike
Running Update
Yes, Fall is almost in full swing
Monday Intention: get in some miles before the rain This was the type of morning I usually would have run on the treadmill. I can’t get in 3 miles on the treadmill, so I headed out hoping I could stay dry and I did. It rained most of the rest of the day, though (while I was driving, of course).
Not sure what these wildflowers are (they look like miniature asters); probably some invasive species cause they’re EVERYWHERE on this path. Pretty, though.
Friday Intention: go long-er The boots I wore while at my mom’s (which aren’t new or high heels or narrow and I’ve worn many times before comfortably) caused the top of my foot to be painful again. I didn’t run while I was down there (never planned to anyway), and added an extra rest day because I need it after a visit.
This run was relatively good. A tiny bit humid. I was a little overdressed, but not too bad, and I ditched the vest I was wearing during the last mile. The standout from this run were the two huge herons (I think that’s what they were). One was white and I saw it flying in the distance; the other was dark and nearly landed on my head! Even the walkers behind me commented on how big it was. Wish I could’ve grabbed my phone quickly enough to catch some photos!
The corn husks started to shake & then a squirrel popped out
Saturday Intention: recover Warmed up walking Bandit, then out for an easy 2 miles. Tried to keep it slow, it certainly felt slow, but was just a tiny bit faster than a recovery run should be. During the Summer this was often my easy pace — and slower. So slow progress.
The trail ends way in the back there with a view of these barns from the other side
Favorites of the week Most of the time I stop at Olana on the way to my mom, but it was raining, sometimes pretty heavily, on the way down. She plays bridge on Wednesdays, so I left “early” — which gave me more time to walk around and finally get to the end of one trail I’ve only been able to do partway before.
Now for something completely different — I looked up the symbolism of herons:
Tranquility and stillness
&
Determination because we are bound to wade through marshes and ponds through life’s journey, but we must never give up
That second one spoke to me! I am definitely wading right now, and of course there were literally marshes on either side of the running path sometimes. Tranquility & Stillness? Not so much!
I met up with a friend I haven’t seen in a while yesterday afternoon & we had a great chat, even if it was chilly out. Normally I would have suggested a walk, but I was pooped! My foot feels fine now, too. Weird!
I do not see the stress dying down anytime soon, my mom’s live in aide has given notice . . . but in the good news department, there are no doctor’s appointments, at least not ones we have to take her to until November.. Of course by then I could be on a jury . . .
Except after I wrote the above she wasn’t feeling well yesterday and wants to see the cardiologist (which I just took her to) again. Oy! I highly doubt she’ll get an appointment, but maybe I can convince her to try telemedicine, which I know the office has.
ICYMI: I’m on a roll with body-specific Yoga lately! There’s a tiny bit of myofascial release in the beginning of this video, and then we loosen up and release tension from our shoulders while also strengthening them. I don’t know about you, but I tend to store a lot of stress there!
Release Shoulder Tension here * How Often Should You Practice? Vlog click here
Coming up on Tuesday & Friday: Splurge or save? Everyone has different priorities with running gear, but I share where I think you should splurge and where you can save. Friday I share 5 signs you might be burning out on running.
After I mentioned that I had completed my First Aid/CPR course online, a lot of bloggers mentioned they needed to renew theirs. Here’s a short review of my experience.
1: A Self Paced Course The course is a series of video lessons and “missions” (I’ll explain that next). You can start, pause, repeat, and stop — and come back to it at any time.
2: What’s a mission? So glad you asked! After the video lesson you will be sent on a “mission” to practice what you learned. It’s essentially a video game, which was interesting. You can click on the injured person, or a bystander, and then choose actions to take. You can move the scene to the right and the left to make sure nothing dangerous is in the way — if there is, you simply click on it to make it go away.
Missions involving bandaging will have a small box with a variety of bandages. You will drag and drop the appropriate bandage into the appropriate location.
Missions involving CPR will have a graphic of your hands which you’ll place in the appropriate location and then you’ll use your hand (or mouse — I took mine on the my Ipad, so just used my fingers) to press the appropriate number of times. There is also a way for you to tilt the head back to open the airway on screen in your missions, too.
My course also covered AED (automatic external defibrillator), so you had to position the pads in the correct locations and then take the appropriate actions in the appropriate order.
It was an interesting way to learn!
3: Is there a test? No! You must pass all the missions. You can retake missions as many times as necessary, although I only had one that I had to repeat. Every once in a while you were asked to practice a skill that hadn’t actually been explained yet — but that was the exception, not the rule. It would be extremely difficult not to pass this course, but you will be learning!
4: How long will the course take? According to the description a little over 2 hours. I didn’t really time mine; I think it took a bit longer than that, but it’s definitely doable in much less than a day.
5: How quickly will I get my certificate? I needed mine in about a month, and we had been warned that some courses can take a while to process and send you your certificate. I got mine as soon as I had completed the course.
Final Thoughts The cost of this course was $35. I found some online that were only $15, but the reviews seemed a bit iffy so I just went with it. You can’t take the course on your phone, apparently, or using Internet Explorer. You do have access to the course after you’ve completed it — I don’t remember for how long (and couldn’t find the answer quickly on the site. Since I haven’t been certified before, I like the fact that I can go back & review information. Will I? I should but I’m not sure — that is one of the beauties of online learning though!
To sign up for the course I took click here (not an Affiliate link)
Do you think you would renew your certification online after reading more about it?
I was walking Bandit one day last week, thinking about my “long-er” runs and how much more manageable short long runs seem (if that makes sense). I had already decided on this topic for todays post, then I was texting with another runner friend. She is also not running very long these days or racing, although our reasons are different.
We both mused about how we might get back to longer runs and races — some day
Prepping or grabbing that post run snack
It’s not just the run If you’ve ever trained for a longer distance race, you know that the long run can start the night before. Laying out your clothes, your fuel, your hydration, perhaps your recovery snack. Making sure you either have the ingredients for breakfast, or getting breakfast ready so that it’s ready to just grab or heat up. Making sure any electronics you need are charged. Making sure you get to bed at a decent hour so you’re rested.
The morning of your long run there’s dressing. Maybe applying anti chafe gel and sunscreen. Eating breakfast — if you’re like me, that means leaving a couple of hours, 90 minutes at the least, to digest said breakfast before you run. Probably drive somewhere to run. Dynamic warmup.
Finally it’s time to run!
If you’re meeting up with friends, there might be chatting beforehand — and after. Before you know it, more than half the day is gone!
You may not include all these steps in prep for your long run, but there’s no denying that for most of us there’s some prep work that goes into a longer run.
Now it’s time to actually run! If you’re a faster runner, this may only be a few hours out of your day, depending on the length of your long run. If you’re a slower runner, it can take a much longer time. You may or may not need a pitstop before, during, or after, too!
Recovery foam rolling
Now it’s time to recover That might mean a snack, or it might mean a meal with your friends and more chatting. Maybe some stretching and/or foam rolling. Depending on how long you ran, or how hard that run was, you might even need a nap.
Well, you get the idea. Sometimes if feels as though running long is a job! Not necessarily in a bad way, but it can consume a lot of time.
Now imagine this . . . Your long run is between 5 – 8 miles. The run itself takes less time. There’s no reason to carry fuel (although you should definitely still hydrate!). You are less likely to feel really tired afterward. Breakfast can be easy — some toast or a sprouted English Muffin with some butter (in my case ghee) and honey and a little salt. No prep the night before!
There’s really no need to alter your eating much before or after. I foam roll before, personally, rarely afterwards, although I usually do stretch afterwards.
Because it takes so much less time it’s much easier to squeeze into my week, on a weekend or any other day, really. I’m also able to do some strength training later in the day
The biggest benefit? I’m not so tired. It’s really just a run, a slightly long-er run.
Final Thoughts I still have more than half the states to run a half marathon in! That isn’t a goal that I’ve given up on, just but on hold for now. Someday when life is less stressful I may feel differently, but for now, running less suits me. I also really enjoy how easy it is to fit shorter runs into my life.
I know for some people maintaining that long run is a way to feel more normal in a world that is still not at a new normal. Whatever floats your boat! Just be on the lookout for symptoms of burnout (which just might be an upcoming post soon).
Another busy week; mostly in a good way. Finally got to check something off my to do list that I’ve been struggling with for months. Getting that done, the RRCA course done, the First Aid/CPR course done — all those things were a big relief to me. Then the jury duty notice came in the mail yesterday . . .
I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, still juggling activity and helping out my mom — tomorrow I head back and will take her to a follow up visit with one of her doctor’s assistants on Tuesday. My brother is in town visiting her, so I’ll get to see him as well, which is always nice.
Workouts update
Monday: Yoga (45 min), 3 miles easy, PB Walking with Weights (25 min), Dogwalk, PB ST ( 25 min), Yoga (20 min)
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
Running Update
Gnome like fungus
Monday Intention: change of scenery New shoes. Fall temps. My fastest run in a very long time that was also negative splits. I beat the rain, too! Tempted to run 4 but since I ran so littler mileage and was in new shoes — I wasn’t going there.
Fall decorations
Tuesday Intention: recover Back in the old shoes, much slower — but of course it’s supposed to be! Enjoying not having to get out early, Fall temps, and Fall decorations.
Assuming those marks were man made but since a collapsed beaver dam recently damaged a local road who knows?
Friday Intention: go long-er A beautiful (and busy) Fall day. Chilly — down to the low 40s when I first got up, but had warmed up about 10 degrees by the time I got out there. I was wearing my vest over a very light long sleeve top, and I worried I’d overheat, but with most of the path shady it was fine. The paces were kind of all over the place, but still faster all over the place with the new shoes. They sure do seem to be magic!
More Fall decorations back there
Saturday Intention: recover Another beautiful day. Took Bandit for a walk and then went out for a 1 mile run, which was the same pace as most of my long run yesterday. Oops. Wasn’t wearing the new shoes either!
Teaching Yoga in my little slice of Yoga heaven (photo & Yoga platform thanks to Mr. Judy).
Favorites of the week An acquaintance had won a 30 minute Yoga class with me way back in the beginning of the Summer. Between her schedule and my mom’s problems, it didn’t happen until Friday. She enjoyed it, I always enjoy teaching — but Bandit was barky so he had to be contained. I’m glad to get that off my plate though! Because of her patience I did a longer class than originally planned.
Love the bright colors too!
Loving the new Saucony Endorphin Speed.
Anyone know what this is? It was on my back window but thankfully not aggressive when I had to get into the trunk
ICYMI: It’s a really quick practice to keep your neck happy (yes, I know there’s a typo in the graphic above). Another short talk about why Yoga teachers put so much emphasis on a strong, straight spine.
Release Neck Tension here * What are Nadis? Vlog click here
Coming up on Tuesday & Friday: How long is your long run really? Then I’m sharing my experience with the online First Aid/CPR course, since quite a few people seemed interested in that.
Thanks, Cocoand Deborah, I’m sitting here with my hot chocolate, and now the weather is appropriate for it! The subject doesn’t refer to races; I’m talking about this post.
Seriously how cheerful is this mug?
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . . I’d tell you I collect mugs. I use them, too. I got one from most of the states I ran a half marathon in. I already have one from ME. This should be a runfession, but I have to tell you I bought another ME mug while we were there (at an outside crafts fair). I need it like I need a hole in the head, yet it makes me smile every time I use it.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . . I’d tell you we still do see Albie (the albino squirrel) from time to time. I was worried, once, because I saw regular squirrels chasing him through our yard. Then another time there were a couple of regular squirrels and Albie back there peacefully coexisting. Last time we saw him he was way towards the back of our neighbor’s yard — so easy to spot due to his color.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . . I’d tell you speaking of critters, the other day I spotted a really big one making its way quickly across the backyard and literally said WTF is that? Then it dawned on me it was the groundhog that lives under our neighbor’s shed — I hadn’t seen them at all this year but apparently they’re still there.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . . I’d tell you normally I start this post well before it’s published, and I thought I had — until I sat down to “finish” it yesterday and realized that I hadn’t even started it! Another runfession!
It’s not all about how I look, it’s more about a healthy lifestyle & feeling good
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . . I’d tell you the reason I keep a closer eye on my weight than some is that I’ve looked like the above photo much of my adult life. In addition, my family tree is riddled with cancer, heart problems, blood pressure problems, diabetes, and dementia. All things that maintaining a healthy weight is one part of the puzzle of prevention.
Do short days (less sunlight) make you more forgetful?
What critters are you seeing around your home now?
Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.— Carl Jung
It’s funny how stuff from Carl Jung aligns with Yoga Philosophy, and yet, apparently, despite some Yoga practice, Jung absolutely felt Westerners shouldn’t practice Yoga (there’s a lot of interesting blog posts on the subject, and one that I like its this one here).
Yet the quote above could easily be seen as an interpretation of some of the Yoga Sutras, a very famous set of aphorisms about Yoga that are quite ancient. Ok, I can almost feel your eyes glazing over now. It’s fascinating to me, anyway. I totally agree that becoming clear is about going inward, and Fall moving into Winter is a great time for that.
Getting in scheduled runs September brought continued trips to mom, although not as many as I thought there would be. Still no scheduled runs, but still running — short running — when I can.
Grade Earned:A for Effort
Recording my runs I have veered off course here again . . . seriously, I need to start using my planner again because it helps me to keep focused. It’s a broken record, folks! But hey, I did finally got a haircut, LOL!
Grade Earned: C
Dynamic Warmup As the mornings get cooler the warmups get more important. I did have one morning recently when it was in the low 50s — yes I did my warmup, but I shivered my way through it and the first half mile or so. Then I was fine.
Grade Earned: A
Foam Rolling
Most days I roll the calves (you can see my video here). Occasionally I do the whole leg. I’ve kind of gotten away from doing things like my back . . . although just last weekend I did do it (and the whole leg).
Grade Earned: A-
There were more treats than normal this month, less running although a fair amount of activity, but I still try to keep it healthy
Nutrition I actually haven’t weighed myself since before we went to ME. For a while I felt like I’d lost some weight. At least my clothes feel a tiny bit better. Every time I get into a groove with better nutrition it seems I go to my mom — I can’t eat in her dining room, so I have to bring all my food with me. Then I’m too drained when I get back to cook for myself! I still have a couple of pieces of chocolate from ME, but OTOH there’s been some (unphotographed) cake before and after my Yom Kippur fast (it was so good) and then it was Mr. Judy’s birthday recently.
I finally did weigh myself. Definitely higher than it should be but this week in particular we ate out three times and while I’m sure some of that is due to water retention, not all. I’m not gonna stress but I’m also not letting it get away from me.
Grade Earned: B+ (for trying)
Way back at the beginning of the month this short walk around Olana yielded plenty of pretty photos which I never got around to sharing. Never disappoints me. Always something different to see.
Cross Training
Yoga, ST, lots of walking recently. Not a lot of hiking, sadly, it’s been raining so much! We’ve had 40″ (that was a few rains ago) so far this year. I checked Seattle, which has had 20″ so far this year . . .
A fun morning walking with friends & looking at the tugboats
Grade Earned: A+ again for effort
September 2021 gets . . .
. . . an A. I’d like to say my mom is doing fine and well settled in. Physically her hip healed up well and she’s using a rollator and steadier on her feet than before her accident. She also has diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart failure, and we haven’t yet been able to really quite balance all that. In addition there are mounting signs of growing mental issues.
September Goals:
Run 3 x week. Y. Even 4 times once. The mileage is quite low, but that’s okay.
ST 3 x week. Y/N.I think I hit it most weeks, but last week there was only twice. I meant to do three times but somehow it got away from me on Sunday.
A project with a friend. N. Still on hold, but we have gotten together a few times. For fun. She’s just had surgery so it is probably on hold for a while.
At least one hike. Y/N. I’m not sure my walk around Olana is really hiking, but it’ll have to do. Just too rainy lately! The tugboat walk was at a local park and could be considered an easy hike.
Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up. Y. Another fast (this time for Yom Kippur). My clothes feel better, but the weight? Who knows? Well, now I do know.
Which leads me to October Goals:
Run 3 x week. I’ve been fairly successful at 3 x week and even squeezed in 4 x week a few times. I have one doctor appointment to take my mom to in October (so far, anyway).
ST 3 x week. I’ve mostly managed this lately. I want to keep up with that!
Get back to a different course that’s been on hold for a while. I am almost through the reading and videos for this particular course; there’s a lot of homework still to do. But I’m finished with the RRCA course and the First Aid/CPR course so now it’s time to tackle what’s left of this course.
At least one hike. October is a pretty time to hike. If it would just stop raining, I really want to get out there more than once — it’s our anniversary, too.
At least one real rest day a week. Sometimes when I’m staying at my mom’s it just doesn’t happen because what would be my rest day is spent taking care of her and then driving there or home. I thought our most recent visit would just be social, but I had to take care of some things. I’m definitely trying to get more rest, and sometimes I’ve managed it and other times I’m just too busy carertaking.
Continue to try to eat intuitively — unless the weight starts to creep up.It’s always a goal, of course. I’ve just been at a plateau at a higher weight than I’d like. I want to continue to try to limit frozen foods (when possible) and maybe it’s time to downsize some portions, too, while I’m not running as much.
Having the RRCA test off my plate was a huge relief, and I also knocked out my First Aid/CPR course this weekend — so I should get a certificate as a running coach in the next couple of weeks. The online First Aid/CPR course was interesting — no Zoom, self paced, and you are sent on “missions” (helping a choking victim, a burn victim, etc.).
I’m joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and an unplanned for cut back week. I probably would have run tomorrow, as it’s supposed to be lovely, but I’ll be heading down to visit mom. Just a short visit, then a week at home, then another overnight visit to take her to another doctor’s appointment. Hoping she stabilizes soon and we can all get a little more rest.
Won’t be home til late afternoon/early evening so commenting will be delayed (again).
Sunday: Yoga (50 min), some dogwalking probably, probably not much else
Running Mileage: 8 (-3.5)
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
Running Update
Monday Intention: recover It’s Wednesday as I write this, and I’m really trying to remember this run. It was cool, I remember that now, because I actually wore a heavier long sleeve top with a skirt, and was concerned I would overheat, but I was literally shivering at the beginning and fine by the end. Didn’t hurt it was only 2 slow miles, either.
This short photo stop meant yet another mosquito bite
Thursday Intention: easy long-er run It’s Friday as I write this, and yes, today would have been a much better day for my longer run, since the pouring rain stopped early in the morning. We make the best choices we can. It was warm (70F) plus plenty humid — some of that humid falling on me in the first few miles (aka rain, from drizzle to pretty steady and back again) on this run. The rain was fine, really.
Around mile 3 my Garmin apparently lost its mind. I was on a walk break, and at some point realized I’d been walking way longer than 30 seconds. Which is when I discovered that somehow the walk setting in my intervals got changed to 54 minutes and 34 seconds. No joke. Not only that, the data screens also got changed so I couldn’t see distance or time elapsed. Those settings are 5 setting deep, and somehow got changed while I was running.
So I finished up my run just running & walking when I felt, which means it was positive splits. The pace wasn’t horrible for a very humid morning.
I had considered going to 5 miles, but by the time I got back to where I was parked, I was so over this run. The good news? I actually didn’t feel as wiped out as I have by my long-er runs lately. Being home for a while and getting a couple of rest days in helped a lot, I think. Sorry for the long ramble!
Friday Intention: treadmill test Again. Mr. Judy tried some new things. Nope, it didn’t work, and just added to the mounting frustration of this week. Mostly first world problems, but by the end of the week they were beginning to really get to me.
The photo really doesn’t do the full moon justice. Somehow looking at a full moon is very calming even if I don’t always sleep well during a full moon.
Favorites of the week Did you catch this month’s Full Moon? Wasn’t it beautiful? I may not love our house, but I do feel lucky that we get to see both the sunrise and sunset & the moon.
Don’t they look cool?
Aren’t these Daikon radishes pretty? I didn’t know what to do with them, so I just had Mr. Judy cook them on the grill. I know they’re very healthy! I am also grateful that Mr. Judy has been going and getting our veggie box every week. Now that I’ve tried them, I have 3 sets of them in next week’s veggie box.
Now I also have some pie pumpkins to cook and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them, either. I used to make pumpkin bread pudding with them years ago when we lived in VT. Maybe I need to search for InstantPot ideas! Except unfortunately they don’t fit in the InstantPot, although I’ve read you can cut them up (hello, Mr. Judy!) and still cook them in the InstantPot.
Someone wanted deli for his birthday (that’s my sandwich, his was different)
No, it wasn’t Bandit’s birthday but he did want some too. That blurry tail was really wagging!
Look, ma, a pocket for my phone!
It’s been quite some time since I shared anything new from Skirt Sports (you can buy them here). The top is the Free Me Tank, which has always been one of my favorites.
I probably won’t be wearing these shorts again this year, but it was warm enough for them on this particular day this week. I love all the pockets (5!) on them and that fact that my small phone fits into the back pocket.
Speaking of my phone, there was a software update due to the security issues even for my iphone 6, so I have some more time to consider phones. On the other hand, I think the treadmill research really needs to commence.
ICYMI: I’m still working on that transition into Fall! Today it’s a great Yin Yoga practice to work on that Posterior Chain again (physically), while also working on your Lung Meridian in your Subtle Body. Not sure what a Meridian is? Or what the Lung Meridian does? I have a very quick vlog that explains a little bit more about it.
Yin Yoga for Fall Equinox here * Lung Meridian Vlog click here
Coming up on Tuesday & Friday: It’s time to wrap up September, and I’m ready for that, quite frankly. On Friday join me for some hot chocolate, tea, or coffee & let’s catch up.
When people tell me I can’t get lost going somewhere, my usual response is don’t challenge me. It’s amazing how lost you can get in a short amount of time! You’ll see in a bit.
I runfess . . . Lately the universe seems to be fighting me. When I took my mom to the orthopedist, I noticed where some of the parking for the rail trail not too far from her was. I made a mental note and thought maybe next time I was there I would drive over there to run. The very hilly, narrow country road she lives on is not great to run on — people really zoom through there.
Then the car trouble started
I runfess . . . Speaking of the car trouble, I also had plans on that trip to stop at Olana on the way back to stretch my legs. I’d stopped on the way there, but couldn’t spend much time because I had food with me. I’d finished anything that needed to be kept cold.
Except I couldn’t stop at all because we weren’t even sure the car was going to make the trip. Was the transmission just going to stop? I had that happen to me once in a parking lot — but this would’ve been on a highway. Would the brakes fail? Yeah, it was a fun trip. Not.
Not the worst drive I’ve had — that belongs to the time I had to stop every 2 hours on the way home from my parents to my apartment in MD to let the radiator cool down. Or maybe it was that white knuckle drive through a snowstorm in VT, until Mr. Judy started to drive & then decided we should really stop somewhere to stay overnight. We are grateful none of this happened on our trip to ME, anyway!
I runfess . . . It seems as though every time I fix something, something else breaks. My Achilles is pretty good, and so is that high hamstring tendinosis (if that’s what it was). Why I thought it was a good idea to run a 6 mile long run when I’d only run about 5 miles the previous week (hello, vacation!) — despite plenty of walking and hiking — I don’t know.
I should have known better
The foot feels relatively normal again, although there’s still a slight twinge occasionally.
Were the views worth getting THAT lost? Maybe?
I hikefess . . . Speaking of hiking, I have a whopper to confess. I told my sister and a couple of friends about it so far. It’s no secret that I am directionally challenged, and often lose my way, although I always find my way home eventually. Except . . .
I decided to go back by myself after sitting a while on the rocks with one of the friends that had invited us to ME. As I started back, though, it just didn’t look like the right way. So I thought maybe I’d head the other way, where the other friend and Mr. Judy were.
Somehow I got off the trail and completely lost in the very narrow woods. It was very frustrating (and embarrassing) because I had a fairly good idea of where I was, I just couldn’t backtrack and find my way out of there!
I knew I was very close to the road, actually, even located it on a map at one point (thank goodness I had signal back there), but it was just a bit too steep and rocky for me to scramble up there (remember, I was completely in the woods!).
Just as I was finally realizing I was going to need some help, Mr. Judy called. I tried to explain approximately where I was. They got close, and asked me to yell. Even more embarrassing but I did! The host husband finally found me, and helped me out. He led me out the way I knew led to the road, but even then I needed a hand from him at one point. The ground back there was very springy (and all sorts of weird fungus and no, I didn’t take any photos!) and there was some big rocks/ledges to climb over.
I imagine if I hadn’t been able to get signal and talk with them, eventually I would have crawled my way out, but they would have been a lot more worried because it would have taken more time! I got lucky. I also got lost there really fast! It was just bizarre.
For those who wondered why I didn’t just share my location — I couldn’t. At least not as far as I know. My phone no longer can update the OS and that’s one of the apps that no longer works.
Yes, I’m in the market for a new phone
My Garmin does have a feature to get you back to the start — except you have to start it before you’re lost, which I didn’t.
Not a difficult walk but not completely easy either
I hikefess . . . Our hosts also suggested a short walk/hike on the way home. It was a walk along a breakwater to a small lighthouse. Mr. Judy wasn’t feeling it, but I joked, as I did after my spectacular hikefail above, that I couldn’t get lost on that walk. I could fall in the water, of course (but I didn’t).
It took a long time because you had to pick your way over all the cracks!
So I walked out the mile or so on the uneven rocks, as Mr. Judy stayed behind (and got some really great photos!). I don’t think he was happy with me because due to that little side trip, he had to drive through some pouring rain. Oh well, I enjoyed it — and I didn’t get lost.
Fresh off the boat. Photo by Lloyd Litt.
There were plenty of birds hanging out on the breakwater. Photo courtesy Lloyd Litt.
Any great getting lost stories to share?
I am considering the iphone 12 mini. Anyone have one?
What do you have to runfess from September? Come join us
