It’s the last Friday of the month, the day that Marcia encourages us to take an honest look into our running shoes and cleanse our soles with our runfessions.
Since I’ve got five things to runfess, I’m also linking up with Courtney, Cynthia and Mar for the Friday Five Link Up. Check out both of these great link ups for motivation, support, and camaraderie.
September Runfessions
- Facing up to the truth on Garmin Connect. My running shoes are too new to be tattling on me, but Garmin Connect knows the whole story. My Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday running schedule is giving way to a Tuesday/Saturday schedule. Looking back over the past few months, there are a few weeks each month that I’ve only run twice. I can’t even blame my business trips since I tend to run more when I’m away–especially when I get to go to Chicago or New York City. (Check out my recent #runrise pics from those cities here).
- Facing up to the truth on my Garmin. Running is one of those activities that you can’t cheat at. If you don’t put in the training, you won’t see the results on race day. While we do speed and incline intervals at Orange Theory Fitness, those few minutes a week don’t make up for the hill repeats and track workouts I haven’t been doing. I adjusted my training to fit in other activities. Now I have to own that decision and adjust my race goals.
- Facing up to the truth my calves are telling me. I have been really, really bad about stretching and foam rolling lately, and my calves called me out on that during the Reston Perfect 10 last weekend. (Read more in my recap here.) This week I paid someone to work the knots out, but I need to take time to stretch and foam roll in between massage appointments.
- Facing up to the truth on the clock. One reason I’ve been running less on weekdays is because I have been tired when my alarm goes off at 4:39 am. I can hit snooze once and still have enough time for a run, but if I hit it twice I’m more likely to opt for a quick strength workout or yoga DVD in my basement. I need to face up to the fact that I need more sleep and get to bed earlier.
- Facing up to the truth on the scale. I know the scale can lie, but since runfessions is about being honest, I know my scale isn’t lying to me when it says I’ve gained 5 lbs since spring. It’s not a lot of weight, but if I don’t start making different choices it will continue adding up. I’ve been telling myself that for a few months now, but now I’m telling you so I’ll do something about it.
[Tweet “Facing Up To The Truth #runfessions”]
Despite all my transgressions (rungressions?) I was blessed with an age group second place finish at the Reston Perfect 10 last weekend!
Chugging along at the 2016 Reston Perfect 10
Thanks for listening to my runfessions. Come back this weekend for the Ultimate Coffee Date link up–grab the badge from my sidebar.
What truths do you need to face up to?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
What is it that Carla Birnberg says? WYCWYC? Do the best you can…it’s what we all are doing!
I well know how a simple thing like foam rolling can slip away. Why do we do this to ourselves?? Congrats on the AG place! Thanks for linking up!
Thanks, it was a huge surprise!
I’ll have to check out your race recap! I haven’t been the best with foam rolling, though I do use The Stick and stretch post-run as often as I can. I’m sure you’ll make the adjustments you need to get back to where you want to be!
I have been slacking off a bit on stretching too and I always feel it. I have to get back on a better self care schedule. See you for coffee tomorrow
It is so easy to skip the foam rolling and stretching oh and a run or two also. I have quit beating myself up over things like this and just try to enjoy runs and exercise when I can. Sorry about the weight gain, but hopefully that will come off too.
Due to all the stress, I lost weight. Or maybe because I’m at the peak of this training cycle. Sometimes I get to the point where weight comes off easily (not often for me), but I tend to also gain about 5 pounds during winter.
Maybe all the halfs I’m signed up for, which will keep me training at least until April, will help counteract it.
I can get by on 3 x week, but I know from personal experience 2 x week doesn’t cut it for me.
I actually wake up earlier in the winter naturally, but getting out the door when it’s dark & cold . . . not so easy!
I tend to stress eat. I only lose my appetite over stress when it’s really bad. Yeah, that first step out the door in winter can be brutal.
There was a day when I was a stress eater, but it rarely happens these days. And yes, the stress was really bad last month plus I often barely had time to eat. I’m sure my training had something to do with it too, because there was also severe lack of sleep & that often causes me to eat more & gain weight.
My calves have been sore too. I am so bad at stretching and foam rolling. Luckily I just got a massage and that helped alot. Oh I hear ya on the scale. It bumped up a few lbs since spring for me too.
It’s so easy to slack off – I’ve been taking more time than I really need post Ragnar DC, too.
Heading over to checkout your Reston Perfect Ten recap now!
I slack off on stretching all the time! It’s so hard to remember to do that. By the time I get home from the run, my first thoughts are food and then shower so I typically forget to stretch. I have been getting monthly massages which feel good and loosen up the muscles, but I need to get back to a stretching routine.
Exactly! Once I am done with my run I want to get clean and caffeinated! Stretching is in the way of that.
I recently had a massage and he worked out some knots in my shin muscles…. pure heaven. And getting up before 5 a.m. ? Boy do I admire you. 6:15 is early here in France !
That sounds really painful, although I’m sure it felt good when he was done!
Oh I’ve been so slacking on the foam rolling and my ITB is starting to have something to say about it. Why do we all do this to ourselves!
We’re a stubborn bunch, for sure! I hope you can nip the ITB issue in the bud!
I think we all slack off with stretching. I’m trying to get better about warming up before the actual workout begins but it’s tough, so many things nipping at our time you just want to get in and go.
Well done at the Perfect 10! And yeah – I know I should be stretching more, especially given my mileage but I am not great about it…
I’m an early riser too, but I couldn’t set an alarm to get up that early! That would cause me to stress all night. I think adjusting your schedule to fit in other activities is perfectly fine. It’s fun. It’s challenging. Do we need to always run X number of days every week? Nah.
Yes to the sleep thing. I’m BOTH a night owl and an early bird, and so far-so good, but I know that is gonna bite my booty someday. I just cannot get my brain to turn off before 11:30 (or later) and most days I wake up before my 4:48AM alarm. Crazy!
Great job on the AG placement! I just went through the same thing with neglecting to foam roll, I have been making it a priority post run lately and my legs are thanking me!