I can’t believe Memorial Day is this weekend! It definitely snuck up on me this year. With everything that’s been going on this month I could use a long weekend. Before spending some extra time (hopefully) relaxing, its probably a good idea to share some runfessions of the unofficial start of summer.
Running has still felt really hard
I don’t have a new Garmin that says if my runs were productive, but I’m pretty sure if I did it wouldn’t be happy with my running lately. All my runs still feel harder than they should! I’m pretty sure it’s because I was sick for so long and now it got hot so quickly, but it’s still really frustrating.
I really don’t like cicadas
How much longer until they’re gone for 17 more years? They’re so big and loud and EVERYWHERE. One thing I really don’t understand is how they can have a purpose if they come out so infrequently.
I still haven’t signed up for any races
Since getting vaccinated in February I still really haven’t done anything different than before, other than go into work a couple days a week.. Now that our numbers are going down, there are some things I would do, it’s just weird to get back to real life after so much time away. Also, now that the mask mandate has been lifted I don’t want to take Grayson anywhere that people may not be wearing masks. He still won’t wear one for more than 30 seconds.
As for racing, there are finally small in-person races that I could potentially do. However, since getting sick I haven’t had the desire to sign up for anything. I keep saying I will wait until I get in a couple of good workouts. Now I’m just wondering when that will actually happen.
The humidity has arrived
This week brought the first few really warm and humid days. Of course, it was hard running in those conditions when I’m not used to it. But it’s supposed to cool off quite a bit this week. I actually think I’m at the point where I’d prefer for it to stay warm. The back and forth temps make it so hard to acclimate!
USPS is still so slow
I runfess that I am really frustrated with our mail. It’s still be horrible since the holidays. We were getting cards from Christmas and Grayson’s December birthday in March. A few weeks ago a Brooks Run Happy Teammate and I decided to swap shorts because we wanted different sizes. She mailed them on 5/17 and tracking said they were supposed to be delivered on 5/21. I’ve been following the tracking online and they have now been to 5 different states, none of them being Maryland yet (as of 5/27). Meanwhile, the package I sent her (same shipping service) arrived in the expected 3 days.
What are your runfessions of the unofficial start of summer?
Does anyone actually LIKE cicadas?
Do you ever notice it takes a long time for running to feel back to normal after being sick?
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 spent most of the Winter sick. Never really sick, but everytime I felt better something else happened (hello, vaccines!). Trust me, at some point, you’ll feel better — and if you don’t, you’ll need to check in with a dr!
Thankfully we don’t have those nasty cicadas.
We had the one trip in May, and another short one planned in July, and I walked with my friend with no masks this week. Life is inching back towards normal and that’s a good thing!
Don’t even get me started on the weather this week. It was 90 on Wednesday. Today the high is supposed to be 50. There’s no way to acclimate with those swings!
This weather is so frustrating! And I am feeling mostly better overall, I think its just taking my running some time to catch up. Now let’s just hope we are all done with being sick for awhile!
It’s interesting to hear you and others talk about the cicadas because we have had none of that! We have them every year in late summer, but the 17 year cicadas haven’t come here. I wonder if they will? I hope not. Our weather has been all over the place too! Today it is 44 degrees and rain. UGH
Have a great weekend!
I saw a map of were the 17 year cicadas would be and the Maryland area is right in the middle. I don’t think the were really out near you are much. Maybe you will get a few eventually. This weather is not ideal at all for MDW!
We had the summer humidity last week, but the temps weren’t too bad. Today, it’s cold (mid-40F’s) and I’m just shaking my head. I want my summer back, and I’d prefer it to stay in place for awhile LOL Those cicadas sound so creepy!
I am really just ready for it to stay warm at this point. Or at least above 60 during the day!
Crazy about the cicadas! We have those years here but they don’t typically start until maybe August or September. Maybe because your climate is a bit milder??
Sorry the side effects from being sick are lingering so long. I’ve been there and it is not fun running-wise. Don’t even get me started on the USPS. They’re AWFUL.
I think the cicadas we have ever year come later, but the 17 year cicadas come out when the ground reaches a certain temperature around May. They should only be here about 4 weeks or so I think.
Lots of talk about cicadas. Never seen one.
I always think running is hard. I just accept it and go in.
Racing has helped. I just run better in a race.
Really, you’ve never seen them ever? I grew up in NY and remember seeing them in the summer. I think for me I hesitate to sign up for a race until I’m in a good place with running, and that just hasn’t been happening lately.
I’m trying to focus on the fascinating science of cicadas. I think their primary purpose is to propagate themselves. I heard some universities are doing studies on their impact on the food chain — are other critters living longer/procreating more while birds snack on cicadas instead?
Sorry your running is a struggle. I’m the pot calling the kettle black asking if you need some time off?
Oh that is kind of interesting about the cicadas! As for running, while time off wouldn’t hurt, I feel like I need to just be patient as I acclimate to the heat and get back to feeling “normal” after being sick.
I’m so glad we don’t have those cicadas!
I’m so ready for life to be normal even though my life hasn’t changed a whole lot. Both my husband and I have been going to work since day one, and have been outdoor dining on and off for a while. I don’t wear a mask outside unless I need to walk by a large group of people.
I feel like things are getting back to normal but won’t really be “normal” for awhile, if that makes sense. I think having a toddler who doesn’t understand makes or social distancing has made it hard for us to get back to any sort of normal.
You know I am with you on the cicadas! This week has been so bad! We were dodging them everywhere yesterday. Hopefully we are almost done. Don’t get me started on USPS its the worst. I will pay more to upgrade to fedex anytime. Have a good one
I hope we are almost done with them but I think we have a few more weeks!
I wouldn’t like the cicadas either…I have a huge bug phobia!
I am sure your running will return to normal soon! I only signed up for one race in the fall, but I will probably do a trail half marathon in October. I am definitely not ready for large road races yet -they are are still too close for comfort!
Yes, I feel the same way about large race! I know most of them will be held safely but everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with.
I so agree about the weather – I would prefer if it just stayed warm at this point so I have a fighting chance at getting acclimated.
I’m so glad we just don’t have the cicada issue here in New England – that would just freak me out!
I’ve given up on USPS! Can’t begin to tell you the number of packages that have just gone missing.
That’s frustrating that you have had packages go missing! We had several Christmas cards we sent out that came back to use in Feb. as return to sender with no real reason. So annoying!
I have been trying to find cicadas. I saw them 17 years ago when they were here, and thought they were so cool! Now, I can’t find them. Sorry you are still not back to 100%. I got the 2nd vaccine a month ago and I am still having periods of chills, body aches, and just generally feeling bad. I am ready to feel normal too. Maybe by next month’s runfessions both of us will feel better!
Oh that’s terrible that you are still feeling the effects so much later! Hopefully you feel better soon! I remember seeing cicadas 17 years ago but didn’t think much of it at the time.
I also haven’t signed up for any races this year, and I’m okay with that. I have one race scheduled for Spring 2022 in Philly. If I do anything this Fall, it would be a shorter race distance – probably 5K or 10K.
USPS here hasn’t been “as” awful as it was during the holidays, but we are still experiencing delayed mail/packages. It’s frustrating.
Spring 2022 sounds like a good time to start racing! I want to start with a smaller and shorter race this year but I just haven’t seen anything that I really want to do. At this point went so long without racing, what’s another few months?
DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED on the USPS!!! There was the package I mailed to my sister that took six weeks to get there, the next package I sent two day priority that took two weeks, the Christmas card that arrived in March… I don’t trust them one bit anymore.
It sounds like your running is just going through a rough patch. Being sick and then the arrival of the heat and humidity are a double whammy. Hopefully you’ll start to feel more normal soon.
I really wonder what they are doing at USPS! I mean how can it really be that disorganized? I had to mail some forms to my son’s pediatrician before he started school in April. I mailed them at the beginning of March (the office is like 3 miles away) and 2 weeks later they still hadn’t arrived so I had to scan them instead. I got a call 2 weeks ago in May that they had JUST gotten the forms I mailed!
You know, I hardly get sick so it’s hard to say, but gosh if your running is still rough I would say it’s because you really are still recovering. Can you sign up for a race that’s maybe a month or so in the future? that way you don’t have to wait until you have a good workout. I’m really sorry you are still struggling a bit though. I guess heat and humidity also don’t help.
You know it’s weird because the sound of the cicada is one of those familiar-from-my-youth sounds so now if I do experience them, I like them. It’s weird I know! I don’t think I would if I had them around me in droves every year. Besides that, indeed WHAT exactly is their purpose??
I think the struggle with running is a combo of allergies, recovering from being sick, and the heat. I’ve felt better over the past few days, so hopefully things are improving!
I know what you mean about the sound of cicadas. Its crazy how loud they are this year though compared to a regular year!
I agree with you about the weather! Very frustrating for it to be hot and then days later for it to be cold. I haven’t signed up for any races either and I am OK with it. However, I know soon I will need it since I want to continue with my 50 states goal.
I think some of us will take some time getting back to racing, and thats ok! Hopefully the weather gets consistent soon.
I don’t dislike cicadas but yeah…I don’t LIKE them either lol.
For the start of the summer, I runfess that I am just now slowly going back to some form of jogging and running. I’ve taken a long break. It’s pretty cool to read the May Runfessions everybody is posting and get some motivation.
Great job with getting back to running! Its a great time of year to get outside more!
Well, you know it’s been summer here forever lol!
We have all the humidity, no cicadas (thank God), and our USPS has been fine, from what I can tell.
It doesn’t feel like a holiday weekend, though.
You are lucky to not have the cicadas! They are gross and everywhere! I hope you can at least relax this weekend even though it doesn’t feel like a holiday weekend.