r/running 4d ago

Weekly Thread Miscellaneous Monday Chit Chat

Happy Monday runners!!

How was the weekend? What’s on for the week? Tell us all about it!

19 Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

12

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

Weekend was good! Got my runs done! Got my Christmas shopping done! Got another 75 pages checked off the book that never ends, even got a little cleaning done and made whipped cream for my coffee this morning!

Looking forward to the short work week with Wednesday and Friday off!

3

u/fire_foot 4d ago

Dang you were so busy and productive!! What book are you reading?

8

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

The book is called the nine tailors, I wouldn’t recommend it , it was written in the 1930’s, the language is old fashioned which makes it hard to read and then they occasionally throw in some language that is dated in other ways as well and the first 100pages were a snooze fest and I would have tossed the book if I wasn’t stuck on a plane with it without other entertainment options but by the time I got off that plane I had managed to get just barely enough into it that I want to know what happens so i grinding through it but to be clear I’m almost certainly giving this book a 1 star do not recommend review.

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u/agreeingstorm9 4d ago

The author of the 1930s book will be hurt by your scathing review I'm sure. Is it at least in the so bad it's good category?

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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

No really, lots of excess droning on about unrelated stuff and one of the main characters is so hopelessly scattered brain that it’s driving me up the wall.

I’m sure it was fine for the time and if you have a fascination with the art of church bell ringing then this if the book for you but otherwise not really.

7

u/Apprehensive_Log8297 4d ago

This is so relatable. "I hate it but mama didn't raise no quitter."

3

u/runningtostandstill2 4d ago

Is this the Dorothy Sayers book? She’s great, as good as Agatha Christie, but Nine Tailors isn’t a good one to start with. Try Clouds of Witness—less boring, more conventional murder mystery in a English country home.

2

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

It is that book. I will say the actual mystery at the base of the book is intriguing just too much extra boring fluff around it, and the rector is a bit annoying and it took them way to long to remember that the rector lost his keys.

These days i pick my books by random little free library swaps, basically whenever I finish my book I toss it in the back of my running pack (in a ziplock bag to protect it from sweat) then swap it out next time or two I pass a little free library on a run with whatever seems interesting in that library, it’s a little bit of a fun surprise, most of the time i end up with something good.

3

u/runningtostandstill2 4d ago

Nine Tailors wasn’t one of her best, imho, and it is definitely the most geek-out off-topic of them. But if you see another one by her in the little library, try again.

1

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 3d ago

I will keep that in mind should I come across another one of her books.

4

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

Nice, I still have two more presents to buy for my sisters. Otherwise I’m done Christmas shopping too!

3

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

Actually you made me remember I’m not actually done I still need to get maple syrup, then I’m done.

2

u/runner7575 4d ago

Very productive. Did you climb on Sunday?

1

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

No, my partner got a blister on Saturday and decided to cancel his plans to go hiking Sunday and joined me on the Christmas shopping instead, and since the plan was to go after Christmas shopping Sunday, I didn’t want to make him sit around waiting for me to finish climbing since he couldn’t with the blister so I dropped it from the plan.

10

u/fire_foot 4d ago edited 4d ago

It is Monday, right? My days are already messed up from not working, but it’s a good problem to have! Weekend felt busy. Baking party on Friday with u/suchbrightlights and u/runner3264 inspired me to keep baking so on Saturday I made more molasses cookies (came out better this time!), lemon blueberry loaves (more lemony), cranberry orange ginger loaves, and coconut chocolate cookies. Today I’ll deliver these goods, make stuff for tomorrow’s holiday lunch/dinner, and clean up the kitchen. I’m tired of washing dishes. Sunday I visited my old boss and we finished her holiday shopping.

This week I’m going to try getting out for some runs because I am absolutely losing my mind not having done any exercise. I actually had a dream about the gym last night. I am almost three weeks post-op so I think it will be fine. It also looks like the weather may cooperate later in the week for me to get back on that scaffold to glaze and paint my big old window. It is scary up there.

4

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

Ooh, I'd love the recipe for those cranberry orange ginger loaves. They sound delicious. You really went on a spree!

1

u/fire_foot 4d ago

I did go on a spree, some might call it a hyper fixation. It is nice to have stuff to give to folks this year, though. I used to do a ton of holiday baking but haven't done any in several years. I will send you the recipe!

3

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

Three weeks I think is where I had my first run post op, my doc basically said start small and slow, listen to your body and give it time to give you feedback, basically when you start back, start way below your normal limit and give yourself a day to make sure no pains show up overnight after.

3

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

Baking party sounds fun, I wish I could eat those coconut chocolate cookies. So awesome you can meet up with fellow runnitors!

2

u/agreeingstorm9 4d ago

Three weeks post op already? Where did the time go. The baking sounds amazing. I have some banana bread of my own I get to make next week. I'm super excited but not excited for the mess the kitchen will be.

3

u/fire_foot 4d ago

Yeah, it will be three weeks on Wednesday! Time flies whether you're having fun or not ;P Though I've mostly been having fun. Just ready to sweat a little!

9

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

Had a baking party on Friday with u/fire_foot and u/runner3264, which was lots of fun. They were valuable moral support in finishing the 15 and a half million cookies I needed to bake! I am delighted to report that u/runner3264 koala'd my house. I have so far found 4 koalas. There may be more (whether there are or not, I have chosen to believe that there are.) My husband has only found 2 so far.

We had a vicious wind all day on Saturday that thankfully died down on Sunday, but other than that the weekend weather ended up feeling much more pleasant than the reports suggested it would, and both my runs this weekend were really nice. Nice to start getting back in the groove.

Yesterday we celebrated Hanukkah at my mom's, and I received a hoodie that says "I wouldn't pass a vet check." I'm inordinately pleased about it.

4

u/runner3264 4d ago

I will neither confirm nor deny that there are more koalas in your house. I will merely say if you find a cat playing with one and don’t know where it came from, I will then illuminate the mystery.

2

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

If you left another one in reach of the cats, then I will never find it, because Bartholomew will have taken it inside of the couch and we will never see it again. He does that when he finds something particularly precious.

2

u/runner3264 4d ago

I do not think I left any in reach of the cats. Pretty sure anyway.

4

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

How to spot a dog person in 1 easy step

1

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

I love this! Also where do you get the mega packs of koalas and do they make other animals? I have some jokes about other animals with some friends and would love to hide little versions of said animals in their house next time i visit….

2

u/runner3264 4d ago

Amazon! Search for little clippy koalas and you’ll find them. I believe they also make pandas and other critters.

My next office shenanigan may be tiny glittery rubber ducks. I can make ponds for them out of construction paper. With lily pads.

4

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

We’re going to need pictures of all these cookies!

5

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

I don't have pictures because most of them have either been given as gifts, eaten, or frozen for later eating, but here is the list of what I made:
* gingerbread cookies (Smitten Kitchen recipe, 11/10, make every year)

* double chocolate chip peppermint cookies (take your chocolate chip recipe, add 2/3 cup cocoa powder and a teaspoon of mint extract, sprinkle peppermint on top)

* cardamom cookies (thanks again u/30000lbs_of_bananas!)

* orange-cranberry shortbreads (Sally's Baking Addiction recipe, underwhelming, love the idea but can't recommend)

3

u/fire_foot 4d ago

Really loved the peppermint topping on those gingerbread cookies 🤌

3

u/runner3264 4d ago

Yep. Utterly delicious. A+ no notes.

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u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

I don't want anyone thinking I actually put peppermint on my gingerbread, but I'll let someone else explain. Or not.

1

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

Do we get to know where the koalas were found? Promise we won’t tell your husband where the other two are!

3

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago
  1. Christmas tree
  2. A wire star decoration on the console table
  3. The shower curtain
  4. Handle of a basket containing dog treats

1

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

I’m guessing husband had found 3&4 ?

2

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

2 and 3! I’m surprised he didn’t find 4.

2

u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas 4d ago

Sounds like your hubby is neglecting giving the poor puppy some treats, (at least I’m sure that’s what your pup would say)

3

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

He feeds her pizza. She’s fine.

I mean, she’s rounder than she ought to be. But she’s not deprived.

3

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

Update:

  1. On the shelving unit where I keep my gels, concealed by the fact that a flask fell on him at some point between her departure and my putting the clean bottles away this evening. Koalas are champions at fueling.

7

u/forty9er13 4d ago

Getting back into running! No running for 2024 until this last week, 4 miles total. Starting small after tearing a calf late 2023. ***QUESTION*** Does anyone hold anything while running? I am a fidgety person, so I hold a tennis ball in each hand to help keep my hands relaxed, and feeling something. I am not talking about holding a phone or anything, but does anyone else hold a handle, grip, ball, something?

6

u/agreeingstorm9 4d ago

When I ran I carried a small water bottle around no matter what the temp. I just liked carrying it for some reason.

2

u/dysfunctional20 4d ago

I have never heard of this! Holding one thing bothers me because of the imbalance. I’ll def try the tennis ball thing, I’m fidgety as hell.

6

u/Kuandtity 4d ago

Started using a zero drop shoe about a month ago. I absolutely hated it at first but 400 miles in I'm starting to like it more. Idk what to think now but there is definitely something to be said about zero drop

6

u/ViciousPenguinCookie 4d ago

What were you running in before? Did you gradually ease into it? Have you noticed any different feelings in your ankles, arches, and calves?

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u/Kuandtity 4d ago

I got a super good deal on them so no easing into it (probably a bad idea). Went from brooks ghost shoes to some Altra ones. The wide toe box is wonderful! I did experience a lot of sore calves at first but that's all but gone now

5

u/Thyme_Wasting 4d ago

Finding difficulty looking for time and conditions to run. I started running in the Midwest where I live currently but now I’m visiting the family in PR where it’s 80+ F. Hoping to get a Christmas Eve run done early tomorrow before pigging out later

5

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

Technically I’m working this week but it’s super quiet because everyone else in the office is out. Just catching up on some stuff from my backlog and training courses.

We got a bike seat so toddler Hooch can sit behind me while I ride my bike, we’ve been having a lot of fun exploring the neighborhood with it!

Gotta finish some Christmas shopping today and drop off some presents with a friend, otherwise have taken care of all the shopping/gift stuff!

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u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

Did he explode with joy to see you come home after your trip this weekend?

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u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

He was so happy, and I was so happy to see him! He wanted my wife to call me on FaceTime every day while I was in Vegas. I had a fun trip but I’m so glad to be back home with them!

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u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

That's so adorable my heart just grew three sizes.

4

u/agreeingstorm9 4d ago

That must be so incredibly cool to go riding around w/your kid. I still remember riding on the back of my dad's bike when I was a kid.

2

u/fire_foot 4d ago

For a minute I forgot where you lived and envisioned your child frozen over on that bike seat. But it's probably still really warm and nice where you are! Is everyone recovered from their various illnesses?

4

u/suchbrightlights 4d ago

I pictured a very bundled little child being raised like he was in Finland. Then I, too, remembered where Hooch lives.

2

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch 4d ago

Yup, it was a balmy 70 degrees yesterday afternoon so still bike riding weather!

Everyone is healthy for the holidays - thankfully!

2

u/fire_foot 4d ago

Yay for good health and that sounds like amazing biking weather -- jealous! Hope little Hooch enjoys the bike!

4

u/slenderman98 4d ago

Ran 3 straight 5Ks Friday/Saturday (my first race)/Sunday (slow recovery). Read a book. Celebrated a BDay and got together with family. Looking forward to this extra short work week ahead.

4

u/Apprehensive_Log8297 4d ago

I somehow scored Eve off in addition to Christmas Day, as well as taking the weekend off to go see Dad so I'm only working Sunday Monday Thursday this week! Christmas shopping and wrapping is done! Now I just have to practice patience as I just want to start gifting and opening!

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u/fire_foot 4d ago

Woohoo for a short week!

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u/BoldVenture 4d ago

I’m finally feeling like myself again after a bad respiratory sickness that knocked me down for a week. I went and ran Saturday and Sunday and could barely get through 3 miles each run. Before my sickness I’d been hitting 20-30mpw for marathon training. My legs still feel strong, but my lungs are weak. The lingering cough doesn’t help, nor does the massive amounts of snot that comes up during a run. I’m super bummed that it knocked me back so far. But I am thankful to be out running again and not slumbered on the couch roaring between chills and sweats.

4

u/runner7575 4d ago

I saw this post & was like wait, it’s still Monday?

Had a nice weekend but then spent 7 hrs in msk last night because my sister had burning nerve pain. She got some iv pain meds, & xray showed no cancer in hip.

Love all this cookie talk - we are making 3 tomorrow - ginger cookies (run fast cook fast eat slow; tiramisu (Justine cook book)& sprinkles (smitten kitchen) .

Think this is unintentionally going to be a cutback week… but that’s ok. I had a great week last week, 5 3 milers with some yoga, rowing & spinning mixed in.

I was one pick away from winning the football pool this week, ugh

3

u/WaluigiIsBonhart 4d ago

Hit 10 miles for the first time yesterday. Felt mostly great at a 9:52/mi pace, now thinking about adding some hydration and carbs around mile 5 to help push through that final 3 miles.

Signed up for my first half-marathon on Feb 9th a couple of weeks ago - was going into it thinking 2:10 would be a solid goal for myself, but yesterday's run has me thinking 2:00 might be in the cards with 7 weeks to go.

3

u/EcuadorianPerson 4d ago

Hurt my knee running my first times, considering walking instead of running. Heard of brisk walk, would yo recommend it ?

3

u/fire_foot 4d ago

I don't know if you're really asking if we've heard of brisk walking but regardless, I always enjoy a walk so I recommend it if you're able! Hope the knee feels better soon.

2

u/COTTNYXC 4d ago

Walking is good. Running takes some durability build-up, and if you haven't run before it's good to transition into it slowly to avoid just bull-in-a-china-shopping your entire body. That was me rolling my eyes at the ending of that Air movie.

5

u/goldentomato32 4d ago

I just did my first run in 7 days! I am recovering from walking pneumonia and I did a whole 3 miles! I am simultaneously convinced that I can do more and also that I will relapse but so far so good!! I had two rules: if I cough I walk and I got to keep my heart rate low.

I am going to finish reading "Kingdom of the Wicked", make tamales with my sisters, and enjoy taking deep breaths and singing the silly Xmas songs like "Dominic the Christmas donkey" and "must be Santa!"

3

u/vulgar_wheat 4d ago

Had a wonderful vacation; really crammed 14 days of stuff into 2 weeks!

Ran 40 miles while gone. The running routes we picked were, broadly, horrendous: constantly interrupted. I have a lot of sympathy and admiration for Tokyo-based runners, because I think I'd tear my hair out after two laps of Yoyogi park. I definitely appreciate my normal running routes a little more; I see more stopsigns & fewer traffic signals.

3

u/COTTNYXC 4d ago

After three months, our Balanced Body Wundachair finally arrived! We now have almost every toy that exists. It will help rehab my hip, and thus allow me to run more.

Hopefully.

3

u/fuckausername17 4d ago

Well my MRI came back not quite as clear as we expected. Booted up for two weeks minimum since Friday. Frustrated but hoping this is the answer and I’ll be all good to go in a few weeks

2

u/PreeKort 4d ago

Weekend was good but didn’t get too much running in.This cold is soooooooo bad haha. Would really like to get a few more runs in and total 30 miles this week before the new year. Since I won’t be going into the office fingers crossed I meet that goal!

2

u/KesselRunner42 4d ago edited 4d ago

Through the worst of this current cold snap and got what I wanted to do done anyway! Saw a play with my dad. Got grocery shopping done, I did not pick up more chocolate coins for Experimentation but I did pick up some hot cocoa mix :) And even with bad path conditions on Saturday and really cold conditions yesterday morning and still slippery spots, got my weekend runs in. Bundled up really well yesterday, thank you to my very warm Athleta fleece-lined leggings I rarely break out but am glad to have when I do XD Speed yesterday was pretty good too, despite a certain amount of lingering iciness, and I slightly increased my weekly mileage this week on three of my runs (not the speed work run, though).

2

u/An_Old_International 4d ago

7k Saturday and a repeat on Sunday. The former was easy with beautiful sunshine, the latter faster with wind and rain. Both lovely runs but I preferred the second as the weather was better.