I am finding it hard to believe that we are already halfway through 2021. The year started flying once we got through January! While it’s shaping up to be better than 2020, it’s still been a bit of a struggle around here which I will share more about today. Since it’s the last Friday of the month, it’s time for some Runfessions!
Halfway Through 2021 Runfessions
The cicadas are gone and I’m not sad about it!
After what felt like forever, it seems like the cicadas are gone for the next 17 years. They were here for about 4-5 weeks, with the worst of it being for about 2 weeks. It’s nice to not hear them screeching and to not have them flying into me when I run outside.
I am sad about June ending
June is one of my favorite months for running. Usually we have pretty good weather, plus the sun is up SO early. I feel like I made the most of it this year, but the cicadas, heat, and non-running related stress made this a challenging month. Can we get a do-over without those things?
The germs continue
For those who don’t know my son started daycare the second week in April. He only goes 3 days a week, but has missed about 7 days already due to being sick. I knew this would be a part of starting him there, but what I didn’t realize is that I would get sick so much too. Last week he got another cold, which I caught as well. Luckily this one came and went really quickly (for me- not him). Between cold and allergies I feel like I’ve been sneezing/congested/coughing for over 2 months straight.
On Thursday he was sent home with a runny nose, and we were told that if he developed a cough that he couldn’t return without a negative COVID test. Of course he did, so on Monday I called the doctor. He was scheduled for his 2.5 year visit on Tuesday anyway, so they wanted me to see what the doctor said at this visit. Of course he said he needed to test him. We were supposed to have the results back by the next morning, but nope. Another 2 (at least) days of missed school and me struggling to work with him home.
Blog troubles
Last weekend my blog was down for almost 48 hours. My hosting service had a hardware failure so every site that was hosted on there (including the website for the hosting company) was down. It was annoying, but there was nothing I could do. It did mean I didn’t work on blog stuff over the weekend, which was kind of nice. I runfess that sometimes I wonder if the time I put into it is worth it. I can’t imagine just shutting it down, but it feels impossible to keep up with everything.
Training Begins
Finally, I runfess that I’m sort of training for a race! I am hoping to do a marathon in the beginning of October, but I am really not as committed as I would like to be. I keep thinking that life will settle down once we get into a good routine with day care and that I will eventually get caught up on work stuff, but that just isn’t happening. For now, I’m just getting in the runs and will see how it goes. I could always do the half if that turns out to be more realistic for me this year.
You may also like:
Runfessions of the Unofficial Start of Summer
Early Spring Runfessions
Are you (or your kids) getting sick all the time now that everything is opened back up?
How do you feel about June ending?
Do you ever start training for races without being fully committed?
I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday and Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions!
I had a big revelation, last year, about the Summer Solstice and June and all that. I love summer, and pretty much everything that comes with it, but it’s such a short season in Iowa. It’s just not right that the first day of summer also ushers in the daylight gradually diminishing on the next day. OF course, I do my best to just enjoy every minute of daylight I can (hence my early mornings and usually late evenings), but it’s still a buzzkill. I’m glad the cicadas have ended their 2021 party!
It’s so sad that now the days are going to start getting shorter! I feel like by August its so dark in the mornings again.
Knock wood, I think my kids are past the age where they get sick as much, but our Father’s Day plans at my BIL’s house were canceled because his three kids (ages 6, 8 and 11) are all SO sick with colds, ear infections, the whole 9 yards. Ugh.
I love June too and am sad to see it slip away!
I’ve heard so many kids have been sick lately! I guess because everyone is out doing more and more now?
That is so exciting about a marathon. Can’t wait to follow your training.
Ugh on the cicadas. I guess I’m lucky. Never seen one.
I know what you mean about blogging. I often think about the time and is it worth it. And what do I write about?
But I continue because of the connections and hope to meet you all in Redon some day.
Agreed about blogging! I feel like I have much more of a connection with the group that blogs all the time than most of the runners I follow on Instagram only.
My patients are getting sick and their parents are dealing with the same thing as you. Even with a negative covid test, they need a note to return to day care; that means an office visit. I will do video visits to facilitate this unless there are concerning symptoms. But WHAT A PAIN for the parents.
Congrats on committing to a marathon! What marathon did you pick?
Oh wow, for us its just a test OR a note (like if the doctors can verify that it’s something else…but I doubt that ever happens). After 3 days of waiting the lab results came back as inconclusive. And the doctor’s office didn’t even call me back. I’m so frustrated.
I’m planning to do the Potomac River Run Marathon! It’s a small race near DC.
Ugh on all the daycare illnesses. I get the desire for a covid test, but that can get expensive and time-consuming. I hope you both stay healthy for a while. I’ve been enjoying the morning light, but the evening light keeps me working later because I don’t realize how late it is!
It is really time consuming, and causes him to miss so much time. But I understand why they have the rules and I just hope other parents are being as diligent as we are.
I’d like a do-over on June as well. In spite of how much I struggle with summer running, summer is my favorite season. This year I’ve been dealing with a lot of work stress that’s just put a damper on everything. Two more weeks of this miserable job and then I can have my life back.
I’m a huge blog fan, but it’s a small part of my life so it can only have a small part of my time. The perks are having a journal-in-disguise and getting to connect with so many great people.
Congrats on starting training! There’s nothing wrong with doing the work and seeing where the path takes you.
The work stress can really impact so many other things. I hope it settles down for you soon!
So glad the cicadas are gone. Summer is still not my favorite for running but I do like the longer days. Excited to watch you train for your marathon. I have a half in October that I need to figure out my plan for. Have you thought about jumping into the Cherry Blossom 10 m in Sept for a training run? The lottery is open for another few days. You can stay w me!
I hadn’t thought about it! Ill have to check the dates and see if that could work. September might be a little hectic though as I’ll be adjusting to being back in the office full time and we’ll be increasing Grayson’s days at school.
Yeah, we had a weird year where no one got sick! My son did school virtually but my daughter went in person and had a perfect attendance record. It will be interesting to see what happens not that we’re opening up again.
I can’t believe how fast June went. In Florida we see the seasons a bit differently (June does not have the best weather) but since my son will be leaving for college in August I’m trying to savor every day- but time is passing too quickly!
Hang in there- the day care/sickness thing sounds so hard, but you’re doing great. You might not feel like it every day, but you’ll look back and see how much you actually accomplished during this time.
I’ve heard alot of parents of older kids say their kids didn’t get sick this year- maybe because of the masks? My son doesn’t wear one at daycare (they’re optional for 2-4 year olds because they really can’t wear them properly all day long).
I remember well the cycle of kids being sick when they first started school – it can be exhausting. I hope it all settles down for you soon!
June is one of my favorite months and I feel like this one went by in a blink! It’s crazy to think that we are already halfway through this year.
I often feel as you do about maintaining the blog – it’s really the connections with people that keep me going, but some days it does feel like there are just not enough hours to do it all.
Good luck with your training! I say see how it goes and be flexible in your race plans.
Thanks! Everyone says its totally normal for kids to get sick all the time when they start daycare. COVID just adds an extra challenge to everything!
Hooray for the cicadas being gone! That meme with the cicadas is so funny, lol.
so sorry to hear about all of the sickness you’ve been dealing with since your son went back to daycare. My friends that are moms have similar complaints – they call the daycares germ factories which seems to be way too accurate!
Haha that’s so true! Its just hard because every little thing could be COVID. I’m glad they’re so cautious but its bee a rough few months.
This is the toughest period being a mum — when they start day care and catch every little cold. I hated that period. And I think with the pandemic, it just makes things worse. But on the bright side, in a couple of years, he will be a lot more resilient and you’ll have a lot less of that. It’s exhausting but hang in there.
As for blogging – I don’t think non-bloggers realise how much work it actually is. I always “joke” that it’s my second job, but really it is! I do enjoy it but some days, I also wonder whether its worth it and how much reading coverage I’m getting.
The pandemic has definitely made it worse! But I think you’re right- eventually he will stop getting sick all the time.
One thing I’m usually committed to is my races (when I was doing them). My body isn’t happy if it’s not prepared. But you’re absolutely right, you can always drop down.
I am much more likely to get sick in the Spring, and I swear I spent about the first four months of the year not feeling good. It wasn’t fun. Last week I was feeling really run down, but by the end of the week (knock on wood) I was fine. Fine enough to run 8 miles. 🙂
I totally understand how you feel about the blog, and I don’t have a job and a young child (although Bandit almost counts, right, LOL? Just joking! I know it’s not the same).
I wonder if some of us are getting sick more because of the time we spent isolating last year. I don’t even remember getting this sick before, and I’ve spent many many years working with little kids in schools!
Haha Bandit definitely counts! Well, he is definitely an additional responsibility!
OMG, I thought about you a couple of weeks ago after you posted about the cicadas invasion because I saw a cicadas-theme virtual run and then saw someone on IG who did a cicadas themed cakes. Like… why??? But suddenly cicada-themed posts were everywhere! LOL. And yes– let’s do a do-over of June. This really was not a good June at all.
Haha I hand idea there were cicada themed runs and cakes! That seems kind of extreme! But they really did take over for a few weeks there.
That is great about the cicadas! Hopefully now it will be a bit more normal while out for a walk, run, etc. A few of my students missed a few days of school these past two weeks because they were sick. I wonder if it will be like that as well when we all go back to school. I did see that your blog was down and wondered what had happened. I also know what you mean about it. There are times when it takes me days to catch up on reading and commenting posts. I do enjoy reading the posts and the connections I’ve made with all of you.
I think when schools require a covid test for students to return it means they will generally be out longer. Its good that they are strict but I feel bad that the kids are missing so much time and have to have all these tests done.
Ugh. I am so sorry that your little guy has been sick so much. That’s so hard, especially now when we have to be so careful with everything.
June has not been great for running. It’s so hot and humid and while our summer started late this year, I am looking forward to winter again.
It’s so tough that he’s been sick so much, but its to be expected since he hasn’t been around other kids before.
It’s been a rough month for running here so I can only imagine how its felt in Florida!