Happy Friday! Since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions.
I’m also linking up for Friday Five 2.0 with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness.
Well October didn’t exactly go the way I planned. I thought I would be spending most of the month basking in the glow of a marathon PR, but we all know that didn’t happen! But that’s okay and I’ve spent most of the month trying to think positive and move on. Other than the disappointing race, I actually did have a pretty good month, but as always, I’ve got a few things to get off my chest for October.
I runfess that I’m loving NOT training for a race right now
I started training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon back in February. As soon as that race was over, I went right into training for the Chicago Marathon two days later. Can you say burnt out? I am savoring the fact that I don’t have to train for anything right now. I can run when I want to run and I don’t have any miles or paces to hit. I’m hoping that this will bring back my love of running. I’m also looking forward to mixing up my workouts as well.
I runfess that I’m looking forward to spectating the New York City Marathon next weekend
I deferred my entry to NYCM so since I’m no longer running the race, I will be there to spectate! I wanted to volunteer for half the day but all those slots are full, so I’m going to spectate all day! I can’t wait to cheer on all the runners, especially my friends that are running the race. I’ll be positioned at mile 18 to give love, encouragement and hugs as the runners take on the last 8 miles of the race!
I runfess that I’m looking into running a Spring marathon
Chicago didn’t go as I had hoped, but I am confident that I can still get a marathon PR. While I didn’t plan on running a marathon next year, I really want to pursue this PR, especially since I was trained for it! I don’t particularly want to train during the summer for another Fall marathon, so I thought training in the winter for a Spring marathon might work out better for me (I don’t mind running outside when it’s cold). If you have any suggestions for Spring marathons that are flat, please let me know! 🙂
I runfess that I think geese are assholes
Over the past few weeks, geese have invaded a local park. I usually start all my runs there and it’s really funny to watch the geese in action. They travel in large packs and sometimes they block the running lanes. If I see an opening, I take it but they let me know they are not happy with me by making lots of noise, lol. Most recently, they were crossing an area in the park and basically blocked traffic. To make it worse, I swear they were walking slower than usual!
I runfess that I’m excited for the holidays
Now that Halloween is next week, I’m starting to look forward to the holiday season. I hate when stores celebrate the holidays too soon (like Hallmark putting out Christmas ornaments in August…) but I feel like now I can finally start celebrating since we’re in late October. I also love how giving people are around the holidays. Everywhere you look their are food drives and toy collections – it really warms my heart. Most importantly, the food and spending time with family is amazing during the holidays.
That’s it for this month – thanks for reading my runfessions!
Do you have anything you want to runfess for October?
Im glad you are enjoying your break from training! February to October is a long time to be training. I still haven’t wrapped my head around the holidays approaching, but I think once its November it will sink in a bit more.
Thanks Lisa. It was way too long to train this year so definitely a lesson learned!
Ha–the geese! They are everywhere right now! I just run right through them, as they hiss at me.
I’m sure you are enjoying your break from training. After the holidays, you will be ready to jump back in again!
I feel like the geese had a very “active” mating season this year, lol. There have invading the park!
After coming off from a Marathon it is nice to not have anything on my training schedule this fall. I am looking forward to the holidays as well. But with not have any race to train for I feel like I still have to keep up with my running and workouts due to all the holiday festivities coming up.
Same here. I still want to keep up my fitness level, especially with running.
I’m so with you that having multiple goal races (especially marathons) is mentally and physically exhausting. Glad you’re enjoying a break in the action! Enjoy your spectating gig in NYC! I remember mile 18 so vividly…
Can’t wait to see what you drum up for spring!
Thanks Marcia! I’m loving the rest right now.
i like being at Mile 18 for NYCM either volunteering or spectating because it’s such a crucial point for so many runners. I like to provide as much support as possible!
Lol on the geese! It’s the squirrels that annoy me as they run in front of cars everyday. I am glad you are taking a break. I think it’s important both mentally and physically. You still have time to decide about spring enjoy the down time.
The squirrels can be annoying too, but they are so cute that I can’t hate on them, lol 🙂
It’s always really nice to take a break after a lot of hard training — right there with you. OTOH, I hate training through the winter. I don’t mind the cold (although can’t say as I love it either), but the snow . . . trying to find somewhere to run can be very challenging.
I don’t really mind geese that much either. Everyone seems to hate them; I just give them their space (usually) and other than the poop, which is totally gross, I actually kind of like them.
You’re right – the snow can be very challenging in the winter. I don’t mind the cold temperatures, but snow and ice always makes me super nervous. Luckily I don’t mind the treadmill!
Your geese comment cracked me up – they’re everywhere here too…and yes, they’re assholes 🙂
It sounds like a training break is just what you need. You’ve totally got that PR in you – can’t wait to hear which spring race you pick!
It seems like there are so many more of them this year, right?! I feel like my local park is their new home for now, haha
I’m going to start researching a few spring marathons next month and see which one looks good!
I’m glad that you’re taking some recovery time. We all need it. Training is supposed to be in cycles, and that includes rest and recovery.
Haha! I love the geese! But I guess that’s because they’re not blocking my way. 🙂
Yes, I’m definitely enjoying this down time! The geese have been so annoying lately because they just won’t move out of the way, lol
Holy crap, that’s a LOT of geese!! I hate running by them too. Thankfully, there aren’t any where I normally run but there are quite a few over where my daughter lives and where I like to take my grandson for a walk. Some of them are kind of aggressive and I’m always prepared to kick goose booty if they get too close. LOL who am I kidding? I’m scared of them!!
Flat Spring races….hmmm……Salt Lake City is in the spring and it’s not as hilly as you would think. Other than that, idk. I much prefer to train in the summer. I don’t mind running when it’s cold but snow and ice can really put a damper on things, especially since I don’t own a treadmill. Ugh.
Right?! That photo doesn’t even do it justice – there were so many more! They are very aggressive too, especially toward little children!
I’ve received a few recommendations for Spring marathons so I’m going to do some research soon and pick one!
Man, I hate geese. They always seem to be jerks! Spectating at the NYC marathon sounds like it will be an amazing experience 🙂
They just take their sweet time walking and never want to move out of the way, lol. Spectating at NYCM is so much fun, volunteering is fun too!
OMG, the geese! They can be so mean too!
The weather can be dicey, but Shamrock at Va Beach is flat …. People do NOT suggest the RNR DC full b/c all the fun is in the Half.
They can be super aggressive! I ran the RnR DC half in 2015 and I really didn’t enjoy it, so I would never do the full, LOL. Shamrock has been suggested to me by a few people so I’m going to look into it 🙂
Geese are total assholes and I runfess that I love that you brought this up in your post.
You know there’s a spring marathon in Cleveland… 😉 Haha. Why won’t I let that go?! I dunno. i’m a glutton for pain?
I’m loving not training, too. It’s amazing.
LOL I’m so glad to know that I’m not the only person that feels this way about geese 🙂
I think I’m gonna stick with the half marathon for Cleveland – primarily because I would like to enjoy my weekend there and not be too stressed 🙂
Geese are assholes! They’re protected up in Fort Collins, and they know it. They take their sweet ol’ time crossing the roads, and they have attitude. A couple summers ago, I was visiting my parents in the mountains, and my mom and I were out walking. Of there were geese, and one hissed at us.
LOL – it’s good to know that geese are annoying everywhere, not just Connecticut.
Geese scare me!!!
As for spring marathons, try Cincinatti Flying Pig or the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington. I enjoyed both of those!
They can be kind of mean sometimes! I try not to piss them off when I run, LoL
Thanks for the Spring marathon recommendations!
I runfess that Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite time of year. Food, family, and the weather here is pretty good. Woohoo!
Same! I really love the holidays. People always seem to be in much better spirits in November and December
I’m glad you are enjoying your break from marathon training– after all, this is something we are doing because we enjoy it, so if a change of pace is needed (yeah, I did that) it’s all good! And taking a break now has you eyeing a spring marathon, so I guess you are not TOO burned out.
Exactly! A break is needed for me to fall in love with running again 🙂
I’ve never had to run anywhere geese are present. I think I’d run the other way! I think not training for a little while and just enjoying the holidays will give you some clarity. I’m also looking into a Winter or early Spring marathon (before it gets too warm around here). I runfess I’m so indecisive right now.
LOL. The geese can be quite aggressive but luckily they have only chased me once.
I’m doing some research on Spring marathons, so far Shamrock in Virginia Beach is looking pretty good (recommended by a few people)
I hear you, the physical and mental break from training could not have come at a more perfect time. My stress at work is at a very high point right now, and I have no idea how I’d be able to balance it with marathon training.
Same here. Some nights I get home and I’m just like “there’s no way I could do a run right now”. I’m thankful for this break!
I’m glad that you are enjoying your break from training! Not everyone is able to function without a plan dictating their every run or workout 😉 When we lived in Michigan, we had a small pond in our neighborhood, and the geese were so territorial! I swear, they pooped every 5-6 inches of available walking space so NO ONE could walk through their ‘hood.
Hahaha, yes! They poop SO much!
While not necessarily flat, I loved both the Flying Pig and Kentucky Derby marathons. The crowd support is great and the race is well run
Thanks so much for suggestions Becca!
Bahaha! Geese ARE assholes. And there are so many! That’s just crazy.
I feel like there are a ton of them lately!
I hate geese haha! I try to avoid them if I see them while running.
Enjoy your break from training. Sometimes it is really needed!
Thanks so much Stephanie!
I’m glad you are back to wanting to run another marathon. Chicago was a bad race for a lot of people. I also think it’s awesome you will spectate at the NYCM. I bet that will be very freeing and healing for you! And don’t get me started on the geese. There are so many near my home. They hiss when we get near and scare me to death. I saw a few attack–literally attack–runners this past summer when there were babies around!
I think so too – I’m really looking forward to spectating NYCM and offering any support I can to those runners.
I also love the feeling of not training for anything. How fun that you will spectate the marathon. I find spectating to be so much fun!!!
I don’t get to spectate a lot at all for races so I’m really looking forward to it!
Worse than geese is the POOP they leave behind! Ugh, so gross! I’m with ya – hate them!
Yup, totally agree. It’s kind of like cross training trying to run and avoid all the poop haha
OOOH. Geese! They can be really aggressive too and actually will bite. Be careful!
I know! They are definitely not friendly birds!
I hear you on chasing a marathon PR. Am in the same boat, but still wondering if I should do a quick one, or a spring one or a fall one.
I hear you on chasing a marathon PR. Am in the same boat, but still wondering if I should do a quick one, or a spring one or a fall one. Good luck!
At first I was looking to do another one in December, but decided to give my body a small break so that I could rest and recover. I’ll get back to really training next year and am planning to do a spring marathon, hopefully March/April
Enjoy your down time and spectating in NYC!
You are right… Geese are a-holes! My sister-in-law had a goose and we had to RUN for the door everytime we went to visit her because that dang goose would chase us…
Thanks so much Vicki!
I’ve now heard so many stories about gees and I’m happy to know that I’m not the only one that dislikes them lol. They are mean animals!