Happy Friday! I hope you’re having a great day so far. Can you believe that we’re just a few days from February?
As it is the last Friday in January, I’m joining Marcia for Runfessions! It’s been a while since I’ve joined in, but I think it’s a good time to get a few things off my chest, lol!
Runfessions for January
My motivation to run has been pretty low.
I thought I would have a bit more motivation to run in the new year but I haven’t been making running a priority in my schedule, despite my 2x a week goal. Thankfully, the running club at work is helping to force the issue, but it’s just been so hectic during the week. I often don’t get home until 6 pm and between the darkness and the crazy weather, I haven’t felt incented to get out there. I know I can do better, but I’m also trying to not be so hard on myself.
I haven’t signed up for a single race in 2019.
It feels very strange, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t have any races on my radar! The one race I know I will do is the 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Half Marathon in early June, as it’s a family favorite. It’s only $65 so I’m not in a rush to register just yet. I’m currently waiting to see if I get selected to run any Rock ‘n Roll races as a Bibrave Pro Ambassador. I applied for Nashville and Chicago and hopefully Denver if it works with Bret’s schedule. I’ve never run any of these races so I’d love some insights! I’m also thinking about the fall and I would LOVE to do something in New England. I’ve never raced up there but I bet it would be so beautiful! Please share your suggestions!
I feel completely out of the running blogger loop.
I thought I started the year strong and was ready to really get back to my blogging routines, then I realized that I had a full 2 weeks in January with no posts! It was completely unintentional. I had some really good posts planned but never got the opportunity to sit down and just write! In addition to that, I just feel so disconnected with my blogging pals these days. I haven’t been reading the blogs as much and I miss seeing what everyone is up to. The Weekly Wrap is one of my favorites, but I always feel awkward doing those posts when I’m not training for a race. I hope to get out of this funk soon!
The home treadmill is happening…soon…
We are currently in the process of creating a “home gym” and the big feature will be a treadmill! Even Bret is on board, so it’s exciting! The problem is, like so many things, there are way too many choices. Honestly, I just want to buy something on Amazon and be done with it. I know that putting it together is going to be hell, so I’d spring extra for the assembly services. I love cold weather running but when the weather is treacherous, I’d prefer to have a treadmill at home as an option. I don’t want to spend too much but I don’t want a cheap one either since it’ll be used by Bret and me. If you have a treadmill, what features are the most/least important? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m optimistic that my plantar fasciitis is history!
I had to end things on a high note. While I haven’t been pounding the pavement, and I have been taking it easy, I am very optimistic that I am on the other side of this very persistent and frustrating injury! My feet are feeling much better these days! I stretch my calves as often as I can remember and my custom insoles seem to be helping. I’m probably due for some new shoes. I have the Mizuno Wave Rider 21’s, so I should probably upgrade to the new model…maybe? Maybe I’ll try to get a crazy color this time!
How has your running been going? What runfessions would you share with me?
Neat post Janelle. I am on the same boat as you; for these first 3 weeks of the year I haven’t done tons of running and been averaging just a couple of runs per week even though I’m running the half here in Miami this weekend. I haven’t stressed about that at all partly because since the beginning I targeted this as a fun destination race with a couple of cousins of mine to enjoy and experience a course that I have never done before. It will be my first ever race in Florida. I have also taken it as a sign that both my mind and body needed a break in particular because I know I have a long and demanding training cycle that will be starting in just a couple of weeks and culminating at an early summer marathon with a PR/time goal (Grandma’s, in Minnesota). I’m also a Wave Rider 21 wearer, in fact have 2 pair, and might snag a pair of the 22s at the Miami Marathon Expo today. We’ll see if I can find them at a good discount. Again, nice post, have a great weekend!
Smuttynose is a really great race (NH). I highly recommend that! I’ve also heard great things about Arcadia (ME) — I wasn’t thrilled with the one I did in ME, Shipyard, but it’s really popular — it’s a pretty course, I will say that.
Don’t forget that Weekly Wrap is not just about runners, so feel free to share what you’re doing.
My treadmill is ancient, but thankfully it gets the job done.
And that’s great news about your foot!
Hooray about the PF.
I am sure you will be signing up for races. When you do, I bet you will be more motivated to run. And then it’s more fun to blog. Often I wonder what to write about and if anyone cares. And blogging is so time consuming.
I wonder if I bought a treadmill, would I enjoy it more???
I’m so glad to hear that your PF has calmed down. Sometimes you just have to take a little time off the road for that.
I totally get your feeling about not missing running. I’m definitely cutting back for about 6 weeks. It feels good to not be training for anything. But come back to the WW anyways! We miss you!
Come back to the weekly wrap it will help you feel connected again. Also the coffee date is next weekend. I loved the RnR Chicago despite the torrential rain all weekend. I have always wanted to do Nashville as well. New England I am sure would be fab as well. Nice to see you back!
Thanks a lot, Deborah! I will be back…I just need something fun to talk about!
You picked a great time of year to take a runbattical! With the thermometer at minus 15 this morning before wind chill, I WISH I didn’t have to bang out a long run.
We appointed our home gym all in one fell swoop, and it was all delivered and installed. The most important thing about a treadmill is motor size. Don’t skimp on that. Truly the only feature i really use on my mill (it’s 18 years old and still going very strong, knock wood) is the incline. I don’t use the programmed workouts.
I’ve run RnRCHI at least 7 times. It’s a fun race at a hot time of year.
RnRDEN is very nice too, but there’s altitude. Still fun though!Thanks for linking!
I hope that you get selected for those Rock n Roll races! I didn’t opt in to any of the RnR races this year because all of the ones I would like to do don’t work with my schedule this year. I wanted to do Seattle but it just got too expensive between the flights and hotel!
I’m sure that your running mojo will come back and having a treadmill at home will help! Between the freezing temps and getting home when it’s already dark, I can see why motivation would be a little low right now.
Happy to hear that the PF might now be a thing of the past. I know it’s been a struggle these past few months!
Glad your feet are feeling better – hope the PF is gone for good!
I don’t really have race plans for 2019 yet either. I have signed up for one race – all the way in September – because it sells out within a few days of registration opening. I feel like I need to wait and see how my running progresses the next couple months as I build my mileage back up after injury – I’m sure you can relate!
So I’m not the only one with low running motivation!! and you and I are both technically injured or coming off of injury … so it’s understandable I think especially when you throw the weather factor in the mix!
when we were looking for a bike for home we had the same situation – I actually told Ron that he could research it and I trusted his judgement. luckily there is a shop around the corner from us that had the brand and model he found on the internet so we were even able to test it out. But it’s not easy and it’s not cheap! you want to buy the right thing that will be with you for a while and that’s just hard to know 100%!
Coming back from injury definitely has its struggles. The cold weather is so rough, but at least we’re not as cold as Chicago right now!!
I want to be patient in the shopping process but I definitely need to set a deadline so that we don’t agonize over the decision for months!
I’ve had my Lifefitness treadmill for over 10 years, so its features are just the essentials. I’d be tempted to get something with all the bells and whistles, but also would keep in mind that if anything stopped working I’d be pretty frustrated! Like, I don’t need a video display, but if I had one and it broke I’d be frustrated.
I definitely worry about all the fancy features that could clog up a new treadmill. I may have narrowed down the choices…but it really is hard when I’m just looking at a picture!
Yay on the PF optimism.
Check HappyFitMama for some NE races, she’s posted/run some great New Hampshire ones. Good luck with the BRPro selection – I want to do a RnR one day
And I feel you on the ideas, but no time thing.
Thanks, Cari! I will have to check her site for some race ideas!
Do you have a Costco nearby? This month they have treadmills on sale. We got one from them years ago and it’s been great.
I wish I had a Costco membership! I think the closest one is a little bit out of the city!