1 - I don't miss racing very much, but lately I've been missing how much I used to love races. Does that make sense? Without races, running becomes much more about fitness, routine, and maintenance than about fun, challenge, and achievement. Or maybe that's just me.
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| Collecting medals used to be such a great motivator! |
2 - I've been having trouble staying interested in some of the blogs I follow. This is going to sound hypocritical given today's post, but I think part of it is the link ups. The routine of the same types of blog topics all being posted on the same day is creating monotony in my reading. I'm completely part of the problem - I've gotten into a blogging rut and I feel like my posts are stale and formulaic lately.
I'm also kind of bored with my workout routine, so I think maybe the problem here is routine in general and not blogs specifically. I don't know. I can't be the only one who feels this way, right?
That said, I'm not trying to hurt feelings...I absolutely care about my blogger friends and what's going on in their lives and I want to keep reading their blogs! Maybe I just need to add some new and different styles of blogs to my feed to get some variety going!
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| There are lots to choose from but I don't know what interests me! |
4 - I'm testing a theory because of my calves and wearing super old running shoes on some of my runs lately. The theory is that maybe I retired my old shoes too soon and, seeing as Kayanos used to be perfect for me, maybe they still are. I'm so glad I'm a hoarder who never gets rid of old running shoes!
5 - Elizabeth and I have been trying out some new running routes. We've run from her house a couple times, run from mine, looped into unexplored neighborhoods, and generally just broken from our habitual routes. Our area can be tough to find new spots to run in because we gravitate toward well-lit roads with good sidewalks, but it's been nice to branch out.
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| If you're trying to map out new routes, I highly recommend routebuilder.org. Matt has used it for paddling, too. |
Am I the only one tired of repetitive link ups?
How many miles do you like to try to get out of a pair of shoes?
How often do you look for new running routes?
Have your feelings about racing changed since you first started running?
ABK
How many miles do you like to try to get out of a pair of shoes?
How often do you look for new running routes?
Have your feelings about racing changed since you first started running?
ABK
I am so bad at rotating shoes and retiring old ones that should be. I do not have many races scheduled this year as I did in years past as well, but that doesn't mean I do not enjoy running either. I like doing longer runs just because with no real schedule or plan. It takes the stress out of running, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI think running long without a race/purpose isn't an enjoyable but that may just be that I'm simply not into running long right now. It's just not as fun as it used to be! I do love running with more freedom and lack of stress, too.
DeleteI think the key to the linkups (for bloggers) is to take a unique approach to the prompt. The most creative bloggers are pretty darned good at that!
ReplyDeleteYou're right; some bloggers do know how to take the prompt and make it really interesting because they have something to really say about the topic! I guess I'm more bored with the weekly prompts that always repeat; the ones that are different every week are still fun to read!
DeleteYes to what Wendy said above. It's obvious when bloggers don't plan ahead and throw together a random post just to go with the theme...at least I can spot it when that happens. But, I also realize that not everyone writes a blog to exercise their love for writing and are, instead, in search of networking with other like-minded peeps. I struggle with the running vs. racing thing, too. I hate the "racing" aspect, but I do love the race day excitement.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I *hate* racing but it just doesn't excite me like it used to!
DeleteI think you're spot on - some bloggers seem to write on a prompt for the linkup aspect even if it doesn't speak to them, and then the post isn't as enjoyable to read, in my opinion.
It has taken me awhile to get "okay" with doing this, but I have stopped reading/commenting on certain posts that don't interest me. It doesn't mean I don't care about the blogger or that I want to stop reading their blogs all together, it just means that for that day, I'll skip. I felt guilty doing that but then I realized... not everyone comments on *my* blog every day, and I never worry about that, nor do I go back and think, oh so and so hasn't commented. So when I realized it's not something I stress over with my own blog, so others prob don't stress either!
ReplyDeleteSO I say add more blogs you will enjoy- political, teaching, whatever interests you, and then don't feel guilty about skipping topics you are not into when it comes to the regular ones you read. I am sure everyone understands. I certainly do!
Yes, I feel SO guilty if I skip posts, or if I read and don't comment. These days I'm so busy that I often read a post and mark it as "unread" so I can comment at a later time, and then my feed looks super overwhelming! Often I even WANT to comment; I just don't have the time or energy.
DeleteYou're right - most people don't read my blog daily or comment daily so I shouldn't feel guilty about this!
Thanks for being understanding...but of course yours is one I rarely feel the need to skip! Actually, that's part of my anxiety, because you post daily and I don't ever want to miss one! ;)
Actually I think the fact that I post every day gives you a GREAT excuse to not comment! I don't even understand how the eff I have time to post every day. Like what all could I be doing if I didn't have this blog that gets 75 views a day???? LOL!
DeleteThere are certain bloggers where I will read 99% of posts but I don't always comment. I don't think we should feel like it's mandatory. Sometimes there really isn't anything to add. Many times I read along nodding my head and then move on because my only comment would be "I agree!" If the blogger is someone I've been reading/commenting on for years that person probably already knows I agree.
DeleteIt's like getting a text from a friend. I don't reply to every single text. Comments are the text messages of the blog world! :D
OMG I answer all my texts all the time! I feel guilty if I don't! I have to be the last one to message! lol
DeleteInterested to hear about the shoes.
ReplyDeleteI get really tired of the same routes. I am limited because of the ice in the winter - UGH!!
If you read my runfession (tomorrow), you'll see that I feel like I'm in a blog rut. Sometimes I do like the link-ups because everyone has a different take on the same topic. But it can be repetitive such as winter running gear...
Oh boy, I didn't even consider how winter could affect running routes!
DeleteI do love reading the Runfession linkups usually. But you're right, it's when the topic is fairly narrow that it really feels repetitive. And ANY topic on winter is irrelevant to me, being in Florida and all...lol
No hurt feelings here... I get the blog exhaustion. A while ago, I went and deleted blogs I didn't like. It was liberating! and like Megan said, if you don't' want to read it, skip it! Life is too busy to read blogs you don't enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings for racing have only changed, in that now I want to do ALL THE races! like all of them!! I don't know what is wrong with me.
I went ahead and deleted blogs a few months ago and then I thought, hey, I want to add some blogs! And then I added them but feel overwhelmed as I try to "get to know" the bloggers haha! But yes, cleaning up my feed would be liberating.
DeleteI think you stole my race-loving mojo!
I know what you mean about missing the days when you loved racing. I have felt that way too. I wish I could get as excited about races as my running friends get. But, things change, people change, priorities change. That's just how it goes. Somewhere along the line I just stopped enjoying races. Maybe one day that will change, maybe not. But instead of being wistful for the past I just take it as a sign that I'm growing as a runner.
ReplyDeleteAs for the blogging point, I do appreciate your honesty. I used to feel guilty that I would sometimes skip posts I wasn't interested or feel bored with the blogs I read, and eventually I realized I was just projecting my own feelings. I used to take it personally and have a "was it something I said?" reaction whenever one of my readers would drop off or someone I follow wouldn't follow me back. But in 99% of those cases it really isn't personal. People aren't going to like or care about everything I write, and that's okay. Now I don't even think about this because I feel like it's just a normal thing we all do - skip posts we're not interested in, read the ones we are, comment when we feel so compelled. I will say that one thing that helps me with "blog exhaustion" is to take a break for a while. Weekends are usually a largely social-media-free time for me and it's a good chance to reset. Maybe a short break from reading would help you refresh?
It's not even that I don't enjoy races...I just don't feel as motivated by them. I used to want to run them all the time, and now there are a few I'll happily race, or some I could take or leave...but mostly I just don't care to 1) pay and 2) wake up early haha.
DeleteYou're so right - I can't control if people like or care about what I write. I have to write for me first, and my audience second. And if I'm okay with people skipping my own blog, then I have to assume they're okay with me skipping theirs!
My feelings about racing have stayed similar- if I don't have a race on my schedule running becomes boring to me. I don't like to workout for the sake of working out- I like to train. So if I'm not training I probably won't run. That being said, I did change how I was racing this year- while the past two years have been all about mud and obstacles, this year I'm focusing more on road races. Sometimes mixing it up can be good. I'm sure at some point I'll miss mud runs but at the moment I'm having fun with all the road races.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of shoes- I have about sixteen different pair of 'running shoes.' I don't run in all of them because half of them are from reps through work and aren't really my style for running but I tend to run in shoes that match my outfits. I currently have about five pair that are in my active rotation right now- and I usually get more before those are done. I'll start wearing the ones that aren't as 'cool' to me to work and stuff. So I guess I still get a good amount of use out of them!
Wow, you have outdone me on the shoes! I have like 7 pairs and I'm donating 4 of them because they're so gently used.
DeleteI'm intrigued that as a TM Ambassador this year, you'll be doing more road races! Funny how things go!
I hear you about the link-ups... I feel the same way when there is nothing else but link-ups... I also (to be honest) don't enjoy too many of the weekly workout-recaps. I mean, it's interesting to see what other people are doing to an extent, but it's not what I want to read all the time.... I think it's ok to skip these posts and also maybe not participate in them as much, if there are other things to write about :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree - I really don't like weekly recaps...I write mine for myself and I always anticipate having very few reads/comments on them. But I want to read what people are up to throughout the week!I hate when people save EVERYTHING interesting for one super long weekly post.
DeleteI'm not really a big fan of link ups-after reading the same posts over and over, I start skimming and/or just skipping over them after awhile. I took off a year from blogging and when I came back, I did a complete overhaul of the blogs I'm following and reading.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for Spring to arrive and to start going on new running paths. Have a great weekend!
Jen
jpabstfitness.com
Same; I tend to mark a lot of posts as "already read" if the linkup is really narrow and the posts seem repetitive.
DeleteWelcome back to blogging! I bet have a fresh start feels good after a break.
No hurt feelings here! I know what you mean about linkups, there are a few I enjoyed but over time I realized that they didn't really fit into what I'm trying to do. And when there is a theme, I always try to be creative and make it a little bit more useful/interesting for my readers. I always enjoy reading your blog even though I don't get to comment on every post!
ReplyDeleteI like to get around 300-400 miles on my shoes. It's tough sometimes when certain models change. I'm pretty low mileage in the shoes I've been wearing but I have to make sure I stretch my calves post-run now that I'm running more frequently. Hopefully your issues get sorted out soon!
I feel you on the linkups. If I start getting bored with linkups I come back to read posts another day when there isn't one. The one thing I like about linkups, though, is that everyone usually posts such different stuff even if it is the same theme. It makes me think harder about my next posts. :)
ReplyDelete