Friday, August 26, 2016

August Runfessions (Friday Five and Runfessions Edition)

As a runner we try and follow some sort of code that everyone says you should (or shouldn't) do.  Well This is how I'm being a bad runner.


1. Sunscreen - I don't wear it.  I have red hair and am fair skinned.  I need to wear it walking to my car.  And I don't wear it at all on runs.  And (knock on wood) I haven't really ever been burned on a run.  I think this is because I run early as the sun is coming up and I am almost never in the direct sunlight for very long.  But I hate wearing it cause it gets sweaty and drips in my eyes or I've basically wiped it all away when wiping the sweat from my face.  I know I should and I can hear everyone now saying I need to, but honestly, I don't think it will happen any time soon.


2. Static Stretching Before a Run - Yes I do static stretches.  My hips and glutes are always so tight (especially right after I wake up) that while I'm getting my shoes and socks on, I do the butterfly and stretch my hips and gluts.  I have found this help a lot with my injury prone legs.  I also do dynamic hip stuff too, right before I start running, so I'm not being too bad.

3. Running Alone - With the news this summer of three women murdered out on their run, one of the things everyone has been saying is to run with others.  Well I run so slow, and I don't have anyone that will stick with me.  Besides, I actually, kinda like running by myself.  During the week I'd rather run in my neighborhood because before work because it's faster and I can sleep longer.  When I meet up with groups, I'm always the last one and no one wants to slow down for me.  I do have one guy that I run with sometimes, but between schedules, mileage differences, and injuries, we haven't ran together in about a year.

4. Running Alone in the Dark - Again, as above, with the high profile murders everyone says not to even run in the dark.  The coolest part of the day right now is early in the morning and now that the sun is coming up later and later in the morning, means more to almost all of my run is in the dark now.  All of the runs in the dark AM are in my neighborhood and while I can scare myself, it's safe.  I see the same people every morning and chit chat with them some times (and get cuddles from all the puppies out there).  I wear several lights even though I feel like a dork.  And on top of everything else, the women that were murdered were running in the middle of the day to early evening.  Not dark at all.  And if I can't feel safe in my neighborhood, I really need to think about moving.

5. Running with Traffic - So most of the time I'm really good to make sure I'm running against traffic.  I want to be able to see those drivers, especially the ones that don't like to give more then an inch when I'm running on the road.  Well there is one part of my neighborhood that I feel safer running with traffic.  I have an out and back out to the main road and I run against traffic heading out.  When I turn around, I stay on the same side of the street, now running with the traffic.  I do this because in the morning when I run, most people are leaving the neighborhood on that road to head to work or school.  At that same time very few cars are coming in.  So for every one car that comes in there are at least 10 cars leaving.  So I feel safer on the side of the road with very less traffic.  I eventually get back to the correct side of the road, but after a point where the traffic has thinned out some.

Do you do something you shouldn't?  

Link up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice!
 


Also Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

15 comments:

  1. The traffic one scares me. Can you please get one of those reflective vests for when you run when it's darker? Stay safe my friend!

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    1. I have a ton of light up stuff. Actually that will be part of a post next week. Stay tuned. :)

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  2. There is a stretch, about .4 long, that I run with traffic, only because I think it'd be more dangerous to cross that street at that time and there's a decent gravel area beyond the shoulder. I still don't get why some drivers just one budge one dang inch. Thanks for linking!

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    1. Exactly! All my roads are either a car in a half wide or there are two lanes. How hard is it to move over a few inches? Oh well.

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  3. There were 2 more attempted attacks on the trail we run on this week. That's one of the reasons I started my group. We have so many different paces out there so someone always has someone with in eye sight. I need to be better about sunscreen too!

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    1. I see the same neighbors every day, so I do feel comfortable that they are around even if they are not with me.

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  4. Be careful out there! Sun damage is not always visible at eye sight.

    do you have a phone that can share you location with somebody ? or does somebody know where and when you are running!

    Stay safe! I don't want to be overly cautious, but better safe than sorry!

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    1. Yeah, I carry my phone on all my runs. I also always wear my Road ID.

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  5. I run alone often but I am aware of my surroundings, don't wear headphones and am always on alert. Just be smart!

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    1. Yeah, I always pull one earphone out, especially when it's dark or I'm in an unfamiliar route. Thanks!

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  6. I hate that feeling of sunscreen dripping when I get sweaty :(. I still wear it on long runs though since I seem to tan just from being outside for like 10 minutes.

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  7. I hate to too and I have issues with burning. I just hate it more then a burn. :)

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  8. I skip the sunscreen too. It sweats off and I run early enough (dark) to not fool with it. I too am a neighborhood runner. And I feel safe. So many people are out walking their dogs, walking & running too. I'm lucky like you to have a nice area to run.

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    1. Yeah, I'm glad I can just step outside and run and not have to drive someplace to do so.

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  9. I always have my sunscreen on after 7am but I do run by myself, early, in the dark. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

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