Happy Friday! How was May for you? I hope that you had a great month.May was a good month for me as I wrapped up training for the Cleveland 8K and Half Marathon (you can read my race recaps here). It was also my 35th half marathon! At the end of last year I set a goal to run a half or full marathon in 4 new states this year and I’m on track since this was state 2 of 4! Unfortunately I’m currently dealing with a cold but I’m hoping that I’ll feel better by the end of the weekend.
Since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions. Let’s get started!
I runfess that I was a little annoyed with an article in Runner’s World
The June edition of Runner’s World magazine features an article about Amelia Boone. I don’t really follow OCR or Ultra Marathons so I had no clue who she was, but I was really enjoying the article and getting to know more about her. She was describing her comeback from a major injury, specifically running her first mile after that injury. Here’s the part of the article that annoyed me:
“I thought my first run back – one whole mile – was supposed to be glorious and pain-free. Instead I spent the entire mile freaking out that my sacrum still hurt. Nothing felt right. I wore a heart-rate monitor, which is funny because I don’t think it got above 100 beats a minute. It didn’t even feel like running – I wasn’t allowed to go faster than a 10-minute mile.”
While I’m sure she didn’t mean to offend anyone, I was certainly offended. I’m not a fast runner at all and often average over 10 minute miles, and trust me, I’m running! Just because you’re a fast runner doesn’t mean that you negate the effort of other runners that might no be as fast as you – it’s insulting. The beauty about running is that it welcomes everyone – different genders, ages, paces, religions, races, etc.
I runfess that I need to get over my hate of running hills
Running in Cleveland made me really realize how under-trained I am when it comes to hills. When I say “under-trained” I actually mean no training at all, lol. Connecticut is not exactly flat, but I always pick the flattest route when I’m running. Now the hills for the 8K and the Half Marathon weren’t awful, but to me a small incline feels like climbing Mount Everest! I avoid hills for two reasons:
1 – My stamina isn’t the best and I feel like I’m going to die when I get to the top of a hill.
2 – They tend to hurt my back.
I’m going to attempt to gradually add more hill work to my runs. Slowly but surely maybe I won’t end up totally hating them at some point! If you have any advice on running hills, please let me know.
I runfess that I have no plans for Memorial Day Weekend, and I’m fine with that!
I have absolutely zero plans for Memorial Day weekend and I’m totally okay with that. I’m going to use the long weekend to hopefully get over my cold and relax and recharge. Last week I was averaging about 4-5 hours of sleep a night so I really need to get back on track with quality sleep. I’m looking forward to watching some Netflix, maybe renting a few movies from Redbox and enjoying a grilled hamburger on Monday. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a completely free weekend to do whatever you want!
I runfess that I can’t wait for summer fruits to come back in season
While I hate the hot and humid weather in the summer, I absolutely love all the summer fruits. Pretty soon I’ll be able to enjoy all my favorites – strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc. There’s nothing better than a good fruit salad on a hot summer day, and it’s helps to keep you hydrated too!
I runfess that I have no clue what all this GDPR stuff is all about
If for some reason my blog vanishes next week, this will be why. I legit have no clue what this is all about but I guess I’ll try to educate myself on it this weekend. I don’t have a newsletter so at least I don’t have to worry about that aspect of it. It’s just annoying because I blog because I like it, not because I’m making thousands of dollars from my blog. I just want to write and not worry about all this legal mumbo jumbo!
That’s it for this month – thanks for reading my runfessions! I hope that you have a great weekend!
I’m also linking up for Friday Five 2.0 with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness.
Do you have anything you want to runfess for May?
Marcia says
Ok we’ll go down together then as I have no idea what to do about GDPR either. I don’t collect anybody’s info or do anything with anything so whatever. Yes to fruit! The berries have been amazing lately but I’m waiting for peaches!
kookyrunner says
LOL to the GDPR thing. I’m glad that I’m not the only one struggling with this. I know a few people added a plug in so maybe that will work. I just wish things were way less complicated when it came to blogging!
I had watermelon for the first time in months last year and it was delicious!!
Kimberly Hatting says
Well, yet another “Kim thing” we have in common…I know nothing about the GDPR either. Like you, I blog because I love writing and connecting with others. I don’t do hardly any sponsored posts because I’m not into that side of blogging…so it’s hard to see how this all affects me and my little blog (?).
Anyways….(don’t shoot me), but have you considered doing some stair training? Stairs are similar to hills (actually they’re like steep hills LOL) and they work pretty much the same muscles. 😉
kookyrunner says
Haha, definitely another “Kim” thing! 🙂 Like you, I don’t do a lot of sponsored posts either so I write for the joy of it.
Thanks for the idea about stair training. I had not thought of that as an alternative to hill training and luckily I can do it in my house, lol.
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
The GDPR stuff is so intimidating! I don’t have a newsletter either so that made it a little easier. I added a plugin to help with it but I still don’t know if Im doing it right!
I am also not a strong hill runner. We do have alot of hills around here so they are hard to avoid.
kookyrunner says
I’m going to look to adding a plug in as well. Hopefully that solves the issue!
Wendy says
I don’t like hills either–imagine that I trained for Big Sur in the pancake flat midwest! I make up for that lack of hills when I go to work out at CrossFit. Since we focus so much on the posterior, that helps a ton!
Enjoy your weekend! Mine is jam-packed with graduation and prom…
kookyrunner says
Oh my! It must have been hard to train for Big Sur in flat Chicago, but that’s good that CrossFit helped with the hill training.
Sounds like you have some happy events happening this weekend – enjoy!
Patrick @looneyforfood.com says
I hope you get over your cold and relax this weekend! I have no plans either.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Patrick!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
The GDPR is driving me freakin’ insane. Not on my end, but on the many email lists I have.
I haven’t read June’s RWyet, but as a relatively slow runner, I don’t think I’d take offense. It’s her reality. I struggle with writing things like “I had a speedy run” when what I mean is it was below or maybe at 12mm. For me, that’s speedy!
For some of my runner friends that would be really fast, too. For many of them, it would be glacially slow.
And believe me, I’m running hard sometimes too! Just this week some guy asked me as I was walking after my run if I was ok . . . no idea why, actually. It was my speed work so it was a tough run (and 10 mm+ is race pace for me if I’m lucky!).
I hope you feel npbetter. Enjoy your long weekend!
kookyrunner says
I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling with the GDPR thing. I’ve also received so many emails from companies about their update privacy policy!
I don’t normally speak about my pace on my runs because it’s definitely not super fast, but I would never knock anyone that ran slower than me either. I just think she could have worded it a lot better so that’s why I was offended. I’ve heard form newbie runners that statements like that make then want to quit, and that makes me sad.
coco says
GDPR is a new European law that takes effect today. Since you might have readers from Europe, it could apply to you. Even if you don’t collect data, some plug-ins might (lke Jet Pack) so that GDPR plug-in should help.
I actually prefer a somewhat hilly race course to a flat one. My legs need the change!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Coco! I’ll have to check out the plug in info.
Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says
Summer fruits and fresh corn are what I crave! I wish we had no plans this weekend. Our weekend got too packed all of the sudden and that stresses me out too much. Ha one extreme or the other! Hope you have a relaxing weekend
kookyrunner says
Ohh yes, fresh corn is also SO good! Even though you have a busy weekend, I hope that everything goes well!
Debbie says
The GDPR is certainly confusing. I’ve done a few things, like update my Privacy Policy, alert my newsletter people, and add a widget that tells people about it all. WordPress is adding some helpful things, and Jetpack has that widget.
Have a great weekend.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Debbie! I’ll check out what WordPress has added.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
I’m glad your shoes found a good home and hopefully that bad juju has gone away!
Yeah, the GDPR thing…I guess you just have to let Europeans know that you’re not trying to steal their data? That’s the jist of it from what I understand. And I think you have to make sure you have a clear privacy policy on your blog (that no one reads anyway).
Hills are challenging but what goes up must come down, and it’s fun to come back down! Maybe adding a hill on your route once a week can help take the stigma away?
I stopped getting RW a long time ago…I’m always hit or miss with that magazine. You should write to the editor, I’m sure they’ll get a few comments back on that one!
kookyrunner says
Very true about hills, but I actually don’t like the downhill. It always wreaks havoc on my quads!
I agree with you about RW, it’s definitely hit or miss and the magazine gets smaller and smaller. I might take your advice and write to the editor on that article.
Megan @ Meg Go Run says
35 halves! That’s awesome!
I try to keep in mind paces are all relative and I’m sure the writer wasn’t trying to make anyone feel bad, just speaking her truth. I think elite runners get a pass with things like that! However, as a blogger, I try to be careful… I’m not a super speedy runner but I know I am faster than some so on my blog I like to say things like “2 minutes slower than my normal pace” rather than saying I was running “XXX pace and it was sooooo slow.” because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Megan! I think we’re very similar when it comes to speaking of pace on our blogs. I rarely give the actual number, but like you I’ll say “1 minute slower/faster than my normal pace”. I know I have readers that are faster and slower than me, but I never ever want to offend anyone or hurt their feelings like you said!
Lesley says
I realized this week we should be in peach season, and I need to get to Sprouts to see if that’s true. My local grocery store didn’t have any this week, but Sprouts was always good at having peaches when I lived in Dallas.
kookyrunner says
I haven’t seen any peaches yet, but you’re right, they should be coming soon!
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
I am sure from her perspective that was slow when they are usually doing 6 min miles or something crazy like that. Like you said, I don’t think she meant anything by that. I actually have off this Memorial Day which I was not expected. I recently got a new position and didn’t think I would have off. So I am excited to see family for a picnic.
kookyrunner says
That’s great that you have memorial day off – enjoy!
Becca | Rabbit Food Runner says
I cannot WAIT for fruits either – and farmers markets. While I see your point about Runner’s World, I don’t think she was trying to offend anyone. Her normal is 6-7 minute miles, so 10 minutes seems like a big difference. I think it would have been better is she said something like “It didn’t feel like running – I was walking more than I ran” or something like that would have been a bit better.
kookyrunner says
Yes I really miss farmers markets too!
Totally agree with what you said about the quote. Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it. Your version was much better!
Lucie Palka says
GDPR? I have no clue! I’m doing the best I can to follow what I think I’m supposed to do…. at best! I’m hoping it’s enough!
kookyrunner says
LOL same here!
Anna @ Piper's Run says
I feel the same way about the GDRP stuff. I have no clue what to do 🙁
Also, I’m looking forward to fruit salad like that as well! Yum! And…..urgh, I need to start doing more hill training as well!
kookyrunner says
I installed a widget so I hope that helps when it comes to the GDRP stuff. Hopefully our blogs won’t vanish!
I can’t wait until I can make my fruit salads for breakfast again, so good!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
I chuckled at your GDPR runfession cause I’m right there with you and actually said to my husband this morning that I’m waiting for my blog to just disappear.
I hear what you’re saying regarding the quote about paces. I think she, like many bloggers I read as well, don’t mean to offend when they declare XYZ pace slow. It really is all in the delivery.
Enjoy your weekend – hope you enjoy the down time and get over that cold!
kookyrunner says
LOL, well hopefully our blogs stay active. I installed a widget and hope that’s all I need to do.
Definitely agree with you about it all being in the delivery, especially when it comes to discussing paces, etc.
Zenaida Arroyo says
I’ve never heard of GDPR either. I just googled it and still did not understand it.
I runfess that I dislike Runner’s World Magazine. It was OK in the beginning and now I refuse to read it. That is how much I dislike it.
You and me both about the hills. Nothing here either.
kookyrunner says
I installed a widget. Hopefully that satisfies what I needed to do. If my website disappears, at least I know why, lol
I suavely like Runner’s World but I have noticed the the magazine has gotten smaller and smaller throughout the years.
Rachel says
Totes agree about GDPR. I installed a widget but that’s all I got. So if I disappear, that’s why as well! It was a good run while it lasted? Hahaha…
kookyrunner says
LOL I also installed a widget so hopefully I did the bare minimum to keep my website up…
The Accidental Marathoner says
I runfess, EACH of your runfessions could have been written by me! I didn’t read the article, but I find that excerpt annoying as well. No plans for the weekend either–just hanging out with family at home. Have a great rest of your weekend!
kookyrunner says
Looks like we were on the same page with a lot of stuff this month, lol.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says
Great post! I am with you on the GDPR stuff, I know I need to get a clue, but I’m just trying to get the laundry done on most days!! 🙂
kookyrunner says
LoL I can totally relate to what you said!
Jessica @ Fit Talker says
I actually think that spinning can help with hills as it works the same muscles (if done properly).
I’d recommend seated hills and really focusing on the upstroke and engaging those hammies.
I feel like around here it’s harder to find flat routes than to just embrace the hills.
kookyrunner says
Thanks for the tips Jessica!