Hello! In addition to Day #4 of NaBloPoMo,, it’s time for Tuesday Topics!! Join Jenn and me for this fun link up- we provide a topic every week, but you don’t have to follow it. People link up with race recaps, book reviews, and more. It’s just a fun way to connect with the blogging community.
This week’s topic is “What makes you grateful for running/fitness?” I can never quite stay on topic, so I’m listing five things I was grateful for on my recent long run.
1. The trail
I like to call this trail “Florida-beautiful.” We don’t have colorful leaves, but it’s beautiful in its own way. This natural area has miles and miles of trails to run on, and I’m lucky to have it nearby.
2.Trail shoes
I’m wearing the Topo Ultraventures, and they’re a great trail shoe. I don’t like them on the pavement, so I only wear them for a real trail run.
3. Fuel
I tried Ucan- I gave it a fair shot, and didn’t like it. Now I’m back to Gu gels (although all gels- other than Ucan- seem to work for me). Here’s what I had for this long run.
4. Fun podcast
Lately I’ve been bingeing back episodes of the Currently Reading podcast. This episode kept me entertained for part of my run, and I got a new book for my TBR- I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.
5. Yet another lesson learned
Around mile 12 of this run, I didn’t feel good. I really wanted to stop… but I DNF’d a long run a few weeks ago, and didn’t want to do that again. So I kept trudging along, slowly, and a mile later I realized I felt good again, and ran the last two miles feeling strong. Just goes to show- things never always get worse. When you’re in a difficult time, keeping moving forward, and at some point, things will turn around.
Welcome to the new Tuesday Topics, hosted by Jenn at Runs With Pugs and Jenny at Runners Fly! Once a week, we come together to share random topics about running, fitness, and life! Use the weekly prompt or write on your own topic!
Next week’s topic: Black Friday preview: running edition.
Top photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
37 Responses
That was a good long run! A “Florida beautiful” trail is very beautiful.
I am familiar with getting TBR hits on the trail from podcasts. In extreme cases I’ve checked out books on LIbby while hiking.
Ha, I don’t go quite that far- but sometimes I’ll stop to take a screen shot or make a note so I don’t forget something.
Ah, this brings me back to my days of trail running – I miss it! Your trail looks beautiful, but it looks like a sandier surface making it all the tougher.
Yes, a lot of this trail is sandy. I try to avoid the parts with deeper sand, and then there are some dirt parts and some gravel too.
So true about keep running even when you don’t feel good. sometimes it gets better, sometimes it gets worse, we would never know without giving it a shot.
Yes, exactly! We might as well keep going and see if it can get better.
Florida definitely has a lush, tropical beauty. I love that you get to surround yourself with that scenery while you’re running!
Running is SUCH a mental game. I feel like I would struggle so hard to push through physical discomfort, even if I knew there would be a turning point.
It’s such a mental game, and that’s part of what I love about it!
Hmm, I’ve never listened to that podcast, but maybe I’ll give it a try today!
If you do, i’ll be interested to know if you like it. I don’t always want to read the books they talk about, but it’s still fun somehow.
I think your trail looks beautiful because it’s very different from the trails here! We don’t really have trees except up in the mountains but we do have a lot of cactus and other plants so it’s not as “dry and barren” as a lot of people picture the desert. But your trail looks nice and smooth which can be harder to find here!
I’m very picky about gels — the only ones I really like are Huma. I’ve tried a couple Gu flavors and the texture wasn’t for me.
Yes, a lot of this trail is smooth. There are some sections with roots where I have to be careful.
I do like the Huma gels! They just don’t sell them at any stores convenient to me, so I would have to order them. There’s a Dick’s sporting goods in the plaza where I work, so it’s easy for me to pop in there and grab gels- they only have Gu.
You didn’t quit, Jenny, that’s the win right there! 👏 Sometimes it’s not about flying through the miles but just keeping those feet moving. Trudging along takes grit. It pays off, literally and figuratively!
Yes, I mean I’ve had long runs where everything felt good the whole time, but that’s rare. You learn to just power through the bad parts.
That trail is pretty. Did I run on it with you?
Glad you didn’t give in and finished your run.
When I do bail, I’m usually mad at myself (unless I’m injured.)
We walked on that trail a couple years ago when you were here!
I would have been mad at myself if I had quit.
Florida beautiful IS beautiful. That’s why people move there, right?
Well… I think they move for the weather and the fact that there’s no state income tax. I don’t know if a lot of people are moving here for the natural beauty- other than the ocean of course.
That trail is pretty!! And I love trail shoes, too. I actually wore trail shoes when we went trick or treating on Friday as it was wet/sloppy outside and they have better traction. I end up wearing them a lot in the winter for walks, too, for the same reason. I have some Hoka ones.
Having a chronic illness has really reframed my view of being active/running. It’s rare for me to complain about a workout or a run because I realize how lucky I am to be out there doing it. I’ve been sidelined by my RA so much over the last couple of years which is very frustrating. I could run when I have a flare, but it doesn’t feel good to run when my body is pizzed. So I prioritize walks when I am flaring. But when all the stars align and I can do a challenging workout? That’s the best feeling!
I have a similar situation, in that I’ve been injured enough to know how lucky I am when I’m able to be out there running! It’s a good thing to remind myself if I start to complain.
I ran later in the day than normal over the weekend. It was fine but I really feel more energized and less sluggish if I run in the morning. Fun to stumble on a new to you book from an old podcast. I don’t think I could ingest anything while running. Even a gel. That sounds too much like multitasking’.
Ha, gels are made to go down easy! And- I usually have much more energy for a morning run than an afternoon run.
Your trail runs sound so fun… and I am glad you were able to enjoy the long run despite the mile of “discomfort”. You were very smart about it.
I need to do some trail running sometime… there is an “off-bike path” trail by the river that I could use for a first exposure 🙂
Oooh…. that sounds nice! Go for a run and show us photos!
It IS beautiful – trails are such a wonderful thing to have nearby. And good shoes are so important. I like hearing people talk about books even if I don’t want to read the books.
Yes! I only read a small fraction of the books I hear about on that podcast- but it’s still fun to hear them talk about them.
It it beautiful! I was born and raised over on your side of the state in the Fort Lauderdale area.
I used to live in Ft Lauderdale! It’s a cool area- I miss it sometimes. Now I’m up in West Boca (but this trail is east- I have to drive a little to get there).
oooooh I;ve never heard of this podcast, but it seems perfect– thanks!
It’s really fun- I hope you try it and like it!
I’m not a runner, but I would love to walk that trail, it’s lovely. Especially on a not humid day.
This would have been a perfect day for you! I would have liked it a little cooler, but it was nice for walking and not humid.
Florida trails are gorgeous until you hit that sugar sand. And I love those espresso gels. Just the right flavor for me.
Yes to the espresso gels- they’re my favorite flavor. A big huge NO to the sugar sand- there is a lot of sand on this trail, but I’ve learned how to avoid that parts where it’s really deep.
On your last point Jenny – it’s funny that even if we have been running for a long time, lessons keep cropping up! Sometimes as reminders of things we already knew, and other times as brand-new lessons or realisations. After your comment on my blog, I’m going to experiment with GU on my long runs. 🙂
Oh, i hope you like it! And yes- you’d think I’ve been doing this long enough that nothing would be new. Not true!
I like the sentiment in point five. Always move only if you stop you loose.
As for the podcast listening while running? How. How do you do it. Of all things book stuff. I would need to immediately lock it on a list other wise it would be all gone.