It is that time once again. Time to runfess and unburden your soul – running-wise.
My biggest runfession is that I didn’t run at all for nine days this month, and I am registered for the Marine Corps Marathon at the end of October. This should be prime training time, with mileage well over 40 miles per week. I had a good excuse, though – hubby and I visited Italy. The place we visited had no good place to run and it was an anniversary trip. We just wanted to focus on having a fun, relaxing time. I gave myself permission not to run by reasoning that the time off would give my hip injury time to heal.
The region we stayed in for most of the trip is called Cinque Terre (literally, five lands). Cinque Terre is composed of five small, picturesque seaside villages on the Ligurian Sea in the Tuscany region of Italy. Before I visited the region, I had never heard of the Ligurian Sea. It’s at the northern tip of the Mediterranean. Look for a future post about my trip, but here is a preview: we spent a lot of time doing this

and this.

My next runfession involves my doctor. I, um, sort of inadvertently lied to her. I asked my doctor if it would be alright for me to walk my upcoming marathon and she said yes. I don’t know where I got this idea from, but I thought the Marine Corps Marathon had a seven-and-a-half hour time limit. I did the math and I am pretty sure I could walk a marathon in seven-and-a-half hours.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. Marine Corps has a strict seven-hour time limit. I don’t actually think I can walk the whole thing and finish in under seven hours, so I am now planning to run at least some of the race.
I could go back and tell my doctor, but I honestly don’t know what she would say, and I don’t want to take the chance of her telling me “No!” This way, I technically haven’t been forbidden from running a little bit of the race. I have been practicing the walk-running part, and my hip feels fine. Mostly. Moving on to my next runfession.
Sadly, I have to runfess that I decided to give up Body Pump until after the marathon. Now, I love Body Pump. I look forward to the class I usually attend two or three times per week. The instructor is fun (actually, a former student of mine), I have made friends in the class, and it just feels good to strength train. I went from not being able to do even one push up from my toes to now being able to do 10. I like the kind of fitness activity where I can see progress.
I finally had to admit, however, that doing the squats and lunges in Body Pump made me sore at exactly the same place that my hip hurt. I tried doing these leg exercises with just body weight (no dumbbells), but the soreness remained. I have to put the marathon as my priority right now so I will go back to Body Pump class in November. Sigh! I will continue doing push ups and planks at home.
Thank you for allowing me to runfess. My soul is unburdened. See you next month for October’s Runfessions.
I am linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for their Friday 5, and Marcia’s Healthy Slice for our monthly Runfessions.
Nice post Laurie.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Thank you, Dawn!
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Your Welcome Laurie.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Visiting Italy is a good excuse! Lol
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Ooh, the food in Italy was just amazing. You would love it!
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I don’t think you have to worry about any kind of punishment from your doctor. People lie to me all the time and that’s about their kids! Do what you have to do to and cross that finish line!
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Thank you, Wendy. Spoken like a runner!
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So exciting that you visited Italy! That’s one country that is on my bucket list.
I’m also dealing with some hip issues, which is a bummer since I have many half marathons this Fall. I’ve also been taking some time off running in hope that it will heal. I didn’t know that MCM had such a strict time limit. I hope that you’re able to do some run/walk intervals to finish the race in time.
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I would now recommend Italy to anyone who is considering it! It was fabulous. And the food…
I hope I can finish before I get swept from the course too!
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The walk run intervals are really helping me get my mileage back up after my achilles strain. Hope they help you too. Not sure I could do it for 7 hours though!
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I have always loved walk/run intervals to increase my mileage. I have used them for several marathons, but none for 7 hours!
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Happy anniversary! You did have a good excuse not running. I have always wanted to visit Italy. Maybe that time off was good now you are back and feeling refreshed and ready for the race.
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After our experience, I would recommend Italy to anyone! I am hoping the time off to heal was good for me too.
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All of my fingers (and toes, for that matter) are crossed in your honor 😉 Body pump can wait until post-finish line…right now, you have your “taper” to focus on, right? You totally got this!!
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Thank you! Not quite taper time yet. My marathon is 2 weeks after yours.
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I like your tie-dye dress!
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Thank you! My hubby urged me to buy it!
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Sorry but my mothering instincts are kicking in – I can do that, I am old and in recovery myself. Just don’t push it too much. I get how much you love running but you want to be able to run for a long time, not just one marathon. OK, enough mothering. Loved your pictures. Its good to get away from everything and just relax. I do wish you the best in October, its right around the corner.
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Thank you for the mothering! I am old enough to know better! 🙂
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We all are but that doesn’t mean we will behave, LOL
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Life is all about priorities and I’d say relaxing and eating my way around Italy would trump running. Plus you were resting your hip so all good. I predict you’ll be able to run/walk MCM just fine.
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Right, I was setting priorities, not slacking off. Thanks for the improved perspective!
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I do think you can do it. I walked a half with an injured friend once; there was a 4 hour time limit & we just squeaked in. — but she was in a lot of pain & we walked very slowly.
I’ll just throw it out there, though, you can but should you? I know it’s a lot of $$ down the tube if you don’t but pushing through your last marathon already exacerbated the hip problem. Ok just sayin’. I’ll be on the lookout for the Italian miracle. 🙂
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I know what you’re saying, Judy, and I have given it a lot of thought. If I think I can’t do it, or if I feel that it will make the hip problem worse, this marathon is much easier to bail on than the last one. This one is in DC, the other was a point-to-point through the woods.
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Your runfessions are delightful, inspiring, and full of determination to be true to YOU! Congrats, and I hope that your hip heals in time for the marathon!
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Thank you, Shelley, I hope so too!
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Confession is good for the soul. But I feel your pain(so to speak). Lately, I’ve been having a knee issue, that in the back of my mind is keeping me or making me think that getting in long and difficult hiking excursions this fall might not be the best. On the other hand, the other side of my brain is saying, “just go for it.”
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One of those “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” situations! I know exactly what you mean. I hope you get to hike!
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“The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” pretty much sums it up!
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I am catching up with your posts, and not in order — but as always I admire your grit. You didn’t lie to your doctor; you merely told her what you thought you knew at the time: that’s not even a sin of omission. I am becoming a wee bit obsessed by the topic of aging and functional fitness. The admonition we always hear to “listen to our bodies” gets really complicated when the body starts creaking from several places at once.
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Yes, true. I have to tell my body to “shut up” sometimes. 😀
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I admire people who loves to run. I’m more into brisk walking. I love your runfessions.
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Thank you, Winnie. I love to do both. Much more walking now that I am injured.
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You’re welcome, Laurie! Praying you’ll be better soon.
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You sneaky.
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🙂
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