Happy Friday! As October winds to a close, I definitely have some things to get off my chest, or “runfess”. It’s been a crazy busy month but luckily things are starting to settle down a bit.
As usual, 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 feel the need to blast a race organization
Okay, so I RARELY do this (if ever) but I’m going there today. Back in December of last year my mom and I signed up for the inaugural Wilmington Women’s Half Marathon in Wilmington, DE. I’m usually VERY skeptical of inaugural races, but they were offering very low prices for registration (I paid $25 and I believe my mom paid $15). Fast forward to this summer and we realized that we haven’t received ANY information from the race (zero emails), so I start trying to get answers from them on Facebook. Again, no answers at all. This went on until September and then they finally started posting some stuff on their Facebook page, but still no emails. Finally this past weekend runners started flooding their Facebook page with questions since there had literally been no formal communication at this point. On Monday I was pretty pissed and decided to call the city of Wilmington to see if there was even a permit for this race. They finally got back to me on Wednesday and said that yes there was a permit, but that the Wilmington Police Department would be cancelling the race due to the upcoming storm we’re expecting on Friday/Saturday (very high winds and temps in the 30s). Honestly I knew the weather would be bad but I was prepared to run since I’ve done races in worse weather. About 2 hours after I received that email, the race organization put out this post on Facebook saying that the race was cancelled. Luckily I was able to cancel my hotel so I’m just out the $25 bucks I paid for the race. It’s funny that the only emails we received from the race organization was the confirmation email back in December and the cancellation email on Wednesday. Apparently this organization has done races in other cities but I would definitely NOT recommend them at all (I just found out they cancelled an event in Philly too). I’ve never seen such a lack of communication and organization for a race – it was extremely frustrating!! Okay – rant over.
I runfess that my afternoon lunch walks have been hit or miss lately
Although I try to get out for a walk, I’m averaging 2-3 days a week. Between my travel and crazy weather on some days (either rain or super cold/windy), I’m not able to get in my afternoon walk breaks as much as I would like. I’m going to need to figure out the best way to handle this as the weather gets colder. I can deal with the cold but not the crazy wind! I think I’ll start keeping an extra pair of gloves and a sweatshirt at my desk so that I can safely, and warmly, get in my walks as the temperatures continue to decrease. I have to admit I really enjoy the 30 minutes that I have to myself in the afternoon as it’s a great way to recharge and then take on the rest of the day!
I runfess that I’m already in the holiday spirit
Is it too soon? I’m not a huge Halloween fan but I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s just my favorite time of the year because of the food and drinks, gatherings with friends and family, the decorations, and of course, holiday music!
I runfess that I’ve started looking at races for 2019
I’ve signed up for two 2019 races so far, but this past weekend I started looking at some of the bigger races for next year. Just a few that I’m considering include the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, RnR New Orleans Half Marathon, Miami Half Marathon and RnR Seattle Half Marathon just to name a few. Nothing is definite yet and I still have to figure out if I want to do a marathon next year. Ahh decisions, decisions!
I runfess that my hip is feeling a lot better
It was a bit of a struggle there for a while, but after weeks of doing consistent PT/hip strengthening exercises, my hip is feeling better! I still have some pain twinges and stiffness every now and then, especially during long runs, but it’s SO much better than it was before. I’m hoping this continues!
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 October?
Patrick @looneyforfood.com says
I havenโt even thought about the holidays yet but thanks for reminding me they are sneaking up
kookyrunner says
Right?! I feel like October just flew by and then it’s like oh snap, holidays are coming!
Wendy says
Glad to hear your hip is feeling better! Maybe it’s fate that the race was canceled? Altho very poor form on that race organizer.
I was shopping for Halloween stuff for my boys (yes, I know they’re grown) but all I could find was Christmas stuff. Grrrrrinch….
kookyrunner says
It may have been fate that the race was cancelled! It’s funny because I never had a great feeling about the race so I should learn to go with my gut!
Coco says
So glad you hip is feeling better! I am team #respectthebird and avoid Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving, but we did start planning our cookie bake-a-thon this week.
Any interest in entering the lottery for Cherry Blossom? (April)
Sorry about the bad non-race experience. I guess you really have to do your homework before signing up for a race these days.
kookyrunner says
While I will do Christmas shopping all year round (if I see good deals, I go for it!), I don’t decorate the house before the proper time lol
It’s funny because I never had a great feeling about the race so I need to learn to test my gut more, that’s for sure!
Megan @ Meg Go Run says
I’m so glad your hip is feeling better. It’s so rewarding when PT and hard work to rehab pays off. Thanks for the warning about the race. That just sounds so ridiculous and I would be mad too. I’d almost wonder if that’s their MO… get the $$ then cancel the race!? Maybe I am too skeptical! I LOVE CHRISTMAS and normally am one to get out the decorations super early, but this year I am going to try to contain myself and wait until after Thanksgiving. But I do NOT begrudge anyone who does it early. My heart gets very happy when I see Christmas decorations in stores, even if it’s before Halloween! My October has been very busy with appointments and events that are outside my normal routine. I think it has added some spice to my life though. Have a great weekend!
kookyrunner says
Yeah I definitely think that the race organization is still shady as hell and I would never do a race with them!
I also love Christmas but I always wait until after November to put up decorations.
Kimberly Hatting says
Glad your hip is feeling better! A couple of gals and I walk on our morning/afternoon breaks at work, so I keep an old pair of running shoes there (and socks) because most of my work shoes (did you see my Runfessions post?) are not walking appropriate, ha!
kookyrunner says
I keep sneakers and socks at my desk, but for the winter I’ll have to add a few more items to keep at work!
Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says
It always annoys me when I don’t get updates on races. I am always a little skeptical on new races too. The weather does look pretty crappy for tomorrow so maybe that’s a blessing. Glad to hear the hip is feeling better!
kookyrunner says
Me too! I will now always follow my gut about inaugural races.
Marcia says
Good to know somebody’s in the holiday spirit along with me! Haha! I’m really looking forward to the warmth and fun of the winter holidays for some reason. Maybe because it distracts me from the winter weather and darkness. Hooray for a happy hip!
Boo on that race organizer. Very poor indeed
kookyrunner says
I also feel like there is so much sadness and bitterness in the world right now, I am craving the love of the holiday season.
Laurie says
Thank you for the tip about the Wilmington Women’s Half. I considered signing up for that one, too, but then got in the lottery for MCM instead. I actually love running in Wilmington. It’s where I ran my first race. So sorry you are out $25. That’s terrible! Thanks for warning the rest of us about this shady running company.
kookyrunner says
I’m considering another race in Delaware in April so I’ll knock that state off my list eventually.
Good luck this weekend at MCM!
Farrah says
Good luck deciding between those races! I’m glad your hip is feeling better!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Farrah!
Lesley says
I love Halloween, and I’m looking at Thanksgiving TV episodes to watch next month. I’m done watching Halloween specials, and now that I have the entire Friends series, I know I have all of those Thanksgiving episodes.
kookyrunner says
Yes I love the Charlie Brown specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Fairytales and fitness says
Glad the hip is feeling better!
I’m sorry that race got cancelled and that is unfortunate but it sounds like the organization wasn’t very “gung ho” ( does anyone even use that word anymore..haha?) On it from the beginning since that lacked to communicate any info.
So last week I was wondering if it was too early to wrap Christmas gifts…haha!
Thanks for linking up!
So i
kookyrunner says
Totally agree with you, and I still use the word “guns ho”!
It’s never too early to wrap gifts. I always love to play Christmas music while I wrap ๐
Denise @ runheartfit says
Glad to hear that your hip is feeling better. Thanks for the reminder to get out and walk on my break. I haven’t done it in a while since my walking buddies left my work to go somewhere else ๐
I am so not ready to start thinking about Christmas.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Denise. I was very worried about my hip so I’m happy that it’s doing much better.
I hope that you are able to get in your afternoon walks – they are so refreshing!
Virjinia @ With Purpose and Kindness says
Oh man. What a bummer about that race! That’s seriously frustrating.
Yeah, I’m in a weird holiday limbo. I feel like the holidays are around the corner but then I feel like they’re not. It’s super weird. Also, we have temps back up in the 80s this week so I think that’s what is confusing me too lol.
kookyrunner says
This is definitely a weird “holding pattern” for the holidays. I feel like it’s the calm before the storm because once Halloween is over, it’s going to be all about gifts, food, cooking, etc.
Cari says
I hate it when they won’t refund it when it’s their own cancellation. Just so wrong.
I want to do the Miami half one year but the calendar never works.
Glad your hip is feeling better
I’m not doing the Dash next weekend but I’ll be in town if you’re staying beyond race’s end
kookyrunner says
Yes it does feel wrong because it’s like they have all the money from the entry fees, but there was no race!
I was thinking of doing the Miami Marathon but then that requires me to start training next week so I figured that wouldn’t be a good idea.
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
Ugh, your experience is exactly why I’m leery of inaugural races!
So good to hear that your hip’s feeling better!
I runfess that I’m not ready to think about the holidays yet – I need fall to stick around a little longer first ๐
kookyrunner says
Right?! Never again will I sign up for an inaugural race. I just have never had a great experience with one.
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
That is so frustrating about the race! It’s good you were only out $25 and not more than that. I wonder if other people signed up later and spent more on the race.
It’s so weird that the holidays are approaching already. Since I’m due 2 days before Christmas I always know how many weeks are left! Now it’s just about 8 which will fly by!
So glad your hip is feeling better!
kookyrunner says
Yes, I’m thankful that it was only $25 and not $100! I’m still miffed that they won’t just give refunds, but I can’t get bent outta shape over it.
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says
I’m so glad your hip is feeling better! I love Halloween and Fall Decor, so I go all out with a pumpkin theme at my house, then the day after Thanksgiving, start with the Christmas theme!!!
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much Angela! Love that you fo a pumpkin theme in your house for Halloween.
Salads for Lunch Blog says
Oh that is so frustrating about the race! I volunteered for a few years to do the marketing, communications and the website for a local triathlon and it’s amazing how much I had to push each little sub-committee to provide me with details so that I could relay that information through emails, social media and the website to our prospective participants. They honestly didn’t realize that things like the start time, race route, and contingency plans mattered to participants. Many of the organizers don’t participate in races themselves so they just didn’t get it.
kookyrunner says
Wow that amazing that they wouldn’t think those details would be important to runners! It probably makes a big difference is a race director is a runner or not.
Liz Dexter says
I’m not keen on Halloween, especially with the rise in crime rates we’ve had round here recently. We have Diwali going on at the moment though and that’s lovely. That race sounds so frustrating, how rubbish!
kookyrunner says
I can definitely see your point on that. I don’t go out on Halloween, I just hand out candy to the kids
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
Way back when you wrote about the race I thought that looks like fun & I haven’t done DE yet! Glad I didn’t sign up since I already had a commitment that weekend. Ugh, bad race companies are just the worst. I’m lucky that most of the ones I have run have been pretty good.
Glad to hear the hip is feeling better!
The weather this year, so far, has pretty much sucked all year long. The damn rain! I REALLY wanted to do some hiking this Fall but it’s always raining. ๐
kookyrunner says
Yes I’m so glad that you didn’t sign up for that race!