How do you know if someone runs?

Don't worry, they'll tell you.

(Someone recently wrote an excellent article or blog post about this, how running, or track, is not well attended in high school because many schools don't offer it until high school, and most sports use running as a punishment, so kids associate running with negative thoughts.  I think it was a Runner's World article, but I can't find it now.)

Anyway, runners are a breed of their own.  Runners are always thinking about running, where, when, how, how far . . . these are all thoughts that a runner has during the day and sometimes even while they are running.  And honestly, it's worse when you start run streak.  I do not fit the mold of all runners, but I do have my own quirks that probably resonate with other runners.

I have become good (not great) at blowing snot rockets while I run.  Before I started running, I would never have done that, I didn't even spit well back then.

I hate running sometimes.

I run the same route almost on a daily basis.  Even different mileage has the same starting route usually.

If I run past a store window I always check myself out, especially my butt.

When I travel I bring more running clothes than regular clothes.

Again, when I travel, I'm always looking for a good spot to run.

Also, when I travel, I stress out how I'm going to get my run in.

I'm over race bling, I don't need another medal, unless it's for a distance I've never done before or I PR'd (which I haven't done in years).

I secretly love my race tshirts and can't bear to part with any of them.

I don't understand how someone with long hair can run without putting it up.

I always speed up when I'm passing another running.

I never warm up and rarely cool down, or stretch.

I actually dread when my son wants to run with me more than a mile.

I have never peed (or otherwise) outside while running.  Other runners talk about it, but I've never had to.

I'm sure there are many more, but that is all I can think of for now.  Do you have any quirks related to your exercise that are cliche (or not)?

Runstreak

Running is interesting.  It is the only exercise that I will consistently do.  For many, many years I've wanted to do yoga consistently, but I forget, or get lazy, and just don't do it.  I enjoy spin class, but don't do it.  I did weights for awhile but got bored (after close to 2 years).  Running seems to be the only thing that I will do regularly and always go back to.  (Actually, since starting 8 years ago, I've never stopped unless injured). 

But there are also times when I feel like running a lot and times when I don't feel like running at all.  When I went to Hawaii I wanted to run all the time, even after I got home.  I loved it.  It kinda felt like Hawaii gave me a little boost.  However, my Alaska cruise had the opposite affect.  I didn't want to run on the boat, and since I've been home, I haven't wanted to run hardly at all.  I am keeping my run streak, but barely.  

In Hawaii I ran 1 mile only a couple times in 10 days and when I came home I wanted to keep that up.  Since March I have run more than 1 mile 5 days a week, which I haven't done for several years (usually 3+ miles 3 or 4 times a week).  I even hit 100 miles in a month for 4 months, only one month in 5 was under 100 miles and it was 95 miles.  Then we went on a cruise in August and the treadmills were awful, and I quit running so much.  In August I only made it to 81 miles, and since getting off the boat, I've only run 4 times a week (more than a mile) and my longest run has been 5 miles (one time).  I will say, that for 3 of those 4 weeks I've been sick, but I really haven't felt like running. 

Anyway, I am still running, a lot of 1 miles and 3 miles, but it is still a streak.  I know I was going to go for a year, and my year is up on November 1, but I've been thinking about extending it to at least the end of this year.  Then I can say I ran every single day in 2019, which I think is kinda cool. 

And I think I'll end with a couple cute baby photos.  =)

Grandma . . . Granny . . . Nana . . . Nona . . . MawMaw . . . Me

So this happened . . .

Asher Rae was born on Sept 12 at 11:22pm.  He weighed 6.4 ounces and was 19 inches long.  Maddox is one happy uncle, and I am one reluctant Grandma.

Damian's birthday is today.  He is 21 . . . with a 4 day old baby.  I seriously don't think he really understands how much his life has changed.  They have stayed with us for the last 2 days (since Callie, his gf, got out of the hospital).  They told me last night that "they" are leaving today to go to Callie's apartment.  Remember, Damian still lives with us . . . but I have a feeling his stuff is living with us now, and he will not be there.

I don't know what to call myself to the baby.  I don't really want to be Grandma, and I refuse to be Granny.  I'm not sure if I like Nana or Nona, although the maternity nurse called me Nona and I liked it there.  Then on Friday morning I took Maddox to see the baby at the hospital and as we were leaving he looked at me with wonder and said "Mommy, you're MawMaw now."  (MawMaw is what my kids called my Mom).  I have been pretty adamant that I don't want to be MawMaw, because of my Mom, but when Maddox said that I thought it was cute, so now I don't know.