~ Runfessions ~
A collection of statements admitting
that one is guilty of a variety of running crimes…
It’s time again to join in on the fun and clear my conscience of recent running, biking, fitness, nutrition, and life in general faux pas. I know I’ll feel better when I’m done, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll give you a laugh or two in the process!
I runfess: It has been seven months since my last runfession.
I runfess: I’ve had a dilemma on days when I don’t run before the sun comes up. Do I run in the sun tempting fate with my propensity to grow skin cancer faster than the mushrooms have been popping up with our recent rain; or do I run on the canopy covered trail and risk oak mites dropping from above and chewing my body into bits? What are oak mites, you ask? Apparently, oak mites love eating cicada eggs and since we had an abundance of amorous cicadas in May and June, the trees are full of cicada eggs and now oak mites. Those oak mites drop from the trees on unsuspecting humans walking, or in my case running. Believe me, I know. The bites are huge, and red, and cause a large red circle around the entire bite. They are tender to touch, but luckily, mine didn’t itch all that badly.
The solution? Run before dawn and on non tree lined streets.
I runfess: I used to be pretty consistent with practicing yoga and then it fell by the wayside, and well, you know the rest. I have, at least, replaced yoga with some stretching and currently don’t allow myself to run without following it up with 10 minutes of stretching and 10 minutes of foam rolling. It’s a start…
I runfess: When cleaning out my desk drawers I came across this pace wheel. I haven’t used it in years because I use this online pace calculator instead. But guess, what? I can’t bring myself to throw it away. I was raised by depression era parents so what can I say?
I runfess: I used my Garmin running watch (affiliate link) as a backup when I rode in the Reston Century last month. Purchasing a new Garmin had been on my to-do list for several months and of course I never got around to ordering one. I was afraid that my battery wouldn’t last for 100 miles so I got the great idea of turning on and tucking my Garmin running watch in my bike bag as a backup. My bike Garmin didn’t die, but only had 2% battery remaining when I finished my ride. Two weeks after the century, Bill surprised me with this fancy new bike Garmin (affiliate link)!
There you have it, my most recent runfessions; and you can bet that it feels good to get another set off of my chest! See you next month in the runfessional.
- Questions:
- • Do you remember using an old fashioned pace calculator or are you too young?
- • What unusual insects do you have to watch out for when running?
- • What are your runfessions?
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Today I’m linking up with Marcia at Marcia’s Healthy Slice for her monthly Runfessions linkup. Be sure to check out her blog and those of the other great bloggers linking up.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
I runfess (bikefess?) the computer on Gustavas (installed sometime last summer) is still going strong, and it has not been charged once. It survived the entire winter (in storage). Now the new bike (Fritz) has his own computer as well. I better consult the owner’s manual on the lifespan of them LOL (they’re both CatEye bike computers). Ugh those oak mites sound dreadful!!!!!
Wow, that’s impressive on the battery life of your bike computer. I’ve found that the Varia radar sucks my battery down a lot faster as it tells my Garmin to flash to warn me whenever a car or another cyclist comes up behind me. I didn’t mention that I turned my Varia off for the last ten miles of the century and felt so naked without it.
I had one of those pace calculator wheels! And now we are showing our age…lol
I runfess that I don’t stretch much at all anymore… and my PT is probably getting ready to see me again, lol
Indeed, and the fact that my early running watches didn’t have GPS also ages me!
We’ve had what feels like non stop rain for months now. We are so waterlogged here it isn’t funny, especially because the mosquitoes — which usually aren’t a problem for me up here — are out of control. I actually hate going outside right now — my body is literally covered from my ankles to my shoulders with a wide variety of mosquito bites and yes they get just like you describe the oak mites. Yuck!
Unfortunately I think a new Garmin is in my future. Along with a treadmill (another test today) and new phone. That should be enough, right?
I was also raised by depression era parents, but after having to clean out their home — well, I won’t say getting rid of things is easy, but I have gotten rid of a lot of stuff over the last few years. It’s a work in progress!
Oh no! Mosquitos love me, too, but I’m lucky that my bites don’t get nearly that bad.
“They” say that things come in threes, so hopefully you won’t have any other big expenses!
I’m actually pretty good at clearing out and throwing things away, but for some reason I tucked that pace wheel in a running notebook and didn’t toss it. 😉
I never had a pace wheel, but if I did I think I’d be hanging on to it as well! Knock wood, we don’t have any insects right now that are especially annoying but we have lots of black walnut trees that litter the trail with tennis ball size pods that are total ankle breakers if one is not careful. Thanks for runfessing!
We have those same black walnut pods and they petrify me when I’m biking!
I remember those old school race timing wheels! Wish I still had mine. I am also quit sensitive to the sun but I just keep wearing my sunscreen year around. My Doc says most of the damage was done previously so I am going to go with that. I have my check in coming up and I know I have another AK to freeze off sigh
Yes, my doctor says the same thing and I keep hoping that eventually I’ll move beyond the damage I did years ago!
Wow, the cicadas really made this summer special! Oak mites? It sounds awful. I guess having the sun rise later is a real plus for you.
I do not have one of those pace wheels, and don’t know how I missed it! I want one! I love doing things the old fashioned way.
Cicadas, the gift that keeps on giving! LOL
Oh yikes on the oak mites. I had never heard of them. I am bad with stretching. I keep telling myself that I should do it and then I don’t. When will I learn?
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Fit Five Friday and September 2021 Runfessions
Yeah, I hadn’t heard of oak mites until after the cicadas died and suddenly everyone was getting bug bites that were different and itchier than normal. Five weeks later and mine still looks the same, but thankfully no longer itches.