Fit Five Friday and the February Runfessional

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It’s a brand new link up with FIVE amazing hosts – me, My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude,Runs with Pugs, Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Ready for some fun?

I missed last weeks Fit Five Friday but back again, this week with an additional link up, Marcia’s Runfessional!

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Every month Marcia opens the runfessional – a place to let it all out and cleanse your soles; if you are needing to release some sweaty secrets or just want to get things off your chest, here’s the place to do it!

This week I have FIVE Runfessions I need to get off my chest…

I runfess

First things first, I am not running that much and once again feel a little bit of imposter syndrome. On the one hand, I do know that it’s not requirement that I run 5 times a week. It’s not necessary to run every virtual race under the sun. I can still have a blog that centers around running and fitness.

I’m enjoying running one or two times a week for now, I’m enjoying my walks, my spin sessions and the strength training. I feel like this year will also be a wash for any major running events, so I’m just making sure that my knee holds out and that I have no injuries that will set me back once I really start training again.

Yes, Usain, I do.

I runfess

On that note, I haven’t actually updated my Criss-Cross Virtual Illinois challenge since the end of January, so I have no idea where I stand on that! I have until May, but still.. I think I will actually update all my numbers this weekend!

Maybe I’m avoiding it because I haven’t run or walked a lot of kilometers this month?

Where am I exactly in this challenge?

I runfess

I honestly think I need a break from some social media. Once again I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with nothing but ads, marketing and videos (reels, TikTok) on Instagram. But the very worst – the WORST – is all the so-called experts in groups on Facebook. People constantly giving what I would consider to be bad advise and others just following blindly. Are we such sheep that we don’t research things properly ourselves anymore?

Don’t feel like it’s a personal attack on you if you are an ambassador for products or you post reels, etc., on Instagram. I own that feeling. Nothing to do with you, and all to do with me.

How I imagine I’m perceived after claiming my dislike of tiktok and reels on IG

I runfess

The lockdown and curfew in The Netherlands is really bringing me down. And not that *I* am suffering from it, I’m not, personally. I haven’t lost my job or my income. I’m not a small business owner who is suffering from the shut down. However, I am following the rules while missing friends, going out for coffee, seeing a movie, going to the gym, etc. I’m following the rules. Many people are. However, there are others who claim they are tired of it, so they go and basically wreck it for the rest of us. Specifically, now that the weather is better, Everyone is flocking to the park, gathering in groups, having parties and then leaving all their sh*t behind.

You don’t need to speak Dutch to get the gist of this:

For context this was WEDNESDAY, so not fake news or a video taken from the past.

And this is just a tiny example of what my park looks like this week (photos from De Gelderlander) Thursday:

Have I mentioned that I’m tired of it too? But you don’t see me going out and selfishly being a number one A-hole.

Hard to run in the park when there are 3, 000 people around you, gathering without distance and no masks and there’s crap everywhere.

I runfess

I am becoming less and less confident that I will be vaccinated before I mentally planned on going to see my parents in October. It’s kind of a sh*tshow here. However, my dad and stepmom finally got their first vax yesterday, so I’m really happy about that! Now to have my mom and stepdad vaccinated.

hope to add covid-19 to this list sometime this year

I would even have to runfess that seeing many people get the vaccine, has me feeling envious. And I don’t like that because I want to be happy for people, not selfishly annoyed because I have no idea when it will happen for me.

In conclusion

I think I have a lot to work on in the coming weeks to feel less negative about what is going on at the moment. I get too upset, too involved and spend too much energy on things which I cannot control. So maybe a new goal for March? Unplug a bit, take deep breaths, let things go and find an alternative place to walk/run/spend time where there are less people?

I feel like I’m not alone in this though. I go through phases of being ok, being angry, being exhausted, being anxious. I’m trying to make the best of it. We are coming up on a year working from home (with the few weeks exception last year). Sure, I’m here with my husband and cats and have the house to distract me, but y’all I’m tired of it too.

‘Fess up! What runfession do you feel you need to get off your chest?

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  • Your link should center around some kind of fitness (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!)
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Here are the guidelines:

  • Your link should center around some kind of fitness (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!)
  • Please link back to your hosts! It’s the right thing to do! 
  • Share the link-up love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!
  • Feel free to share about Fit Five Friday on your social media! Tag #FitFiveFriday to get the word out!

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Comments

  1. It’s so frustrating to be following the rules when others aren’t, and they’re just making it worse for the rest of us. I hope that as more vaccines are produced and others are approved that they will become more readily available. I definitely felt weird about getting mine when I feel like others need it more than me.

  2. This is such a tough time. I agree with the vaccine and the frustration of not getting it when so many others are (thankfully, my parents got their first rounds a week ago). I think some have been rather boisterous and insensitive about receiving their shots, while the rest of us common folk are left waiting. I just want to say, “Please, no more needle prick pics” LOL Anyways, I know our time will come in due time, so I’m focusing on the big picture (again) and doing my part to follow the rules…THAT I can control. I’m just over halfway on the N-S route for the Illinois Challenge…it’s been a fun accountability gig!

  3. Coco says:

    I’m with you on all of this. I hate the videos on IG and, sorry, even the stories — I don’t want to spend that much time! I feel like it will be forever before it’s my turn for the vaccine and, yes, I’m waiting my turn. I do hope my husband gets his soon (he’s in a higher category) because then maybe we can start doing more, since right now he doesn’t want to do anything in public, no matter how spread out people are.

    That park scene is insane!

  4. Laurie says:

    I hear what you’re saying about social media. I see people posting medical questions in runners groups. I always think – why not ask a real medical professional? What do a bunch of strangers on social media know?

    I also agree about following COVID rules. People who break them are ruining it for the rest of us by prolonging the pandemic. Ugh!!! The vaccine cannot come fast enough.

    I think unplugging will definitely lift your mood. It worked for me!

  5. I don’t think you’re negative. It’s a natural reaction to being locked down for a year, trying to do your best, then seeing other people blowing it all. The US is the worst, I think. Everyone is so all up about “their rights,” then don’t care about anyone elses right to health as it relates to them spreading a deadly virus around. I thank god that the park my husband and I go to bring our lunch lately has about 20 people and everyone is pretty good about wearing a mask even though it’s really easy to stay socially distant. And we have ducks!

    I don’t like Reels either. In particular I don’t like that they start up with loud music. I keep my phone on silent for a reason.

  6. Many of my friends (not all) are vaccinated, or at least got their first vaccine already. My mom — which I’m very happy about — will get her second tomorrow. I did say to one friend that when we get together we’ll still need to mask & social distance, since I am unvaccinated, and thankfully she’s down with that.

    Ugh on the trash in the park! That’s terrible.

    I stopped using IG last year. I haven’t gone back. There’s only so many hours in the day. Never even tried TikTok! There are great things about social media, but it takes time, too. I actually prefer blogs because I feel like you get to know people better, but of course that takes time, too.

    I hope you can get vaccinated before you see your parents for your own peace of mind — believe me, I understand that. My mom’s birthday is coming up, and my sister wants us all to get together — I am not so sure about it, quite frankly. My sister has been fine, but she does still work in retail If I’m lucky the weather would be too bad for me to go, but of course I want to bethere for my mom, too.

  7. It’s super annoying to see people who are “over it” and keep the virus going. We see the same here.

    Also agree on social media “experts!” Super frustrating!

    Chicago is doing pretty well with vaccines. I’m in the last group but hope to have a vaccine in May/June so I can do more in fall. Fingers crossed. My mom and in-laws/step-in laws have all gotten vaccinated which is a big relief.

  8. Darlene says:

    Ugh on that park pic. WHY!!!!!!

    I actually prefer IG, it’s just a photo and they are usually uplifting. FB on the other hand is overwhelming and too much stupidity and negativity.

    I do enjoy seeing your home progress. Yu have a lot on your plate. Running will always be there for you. Esp when the pandemic is over and the temps warmer.

  9. Oh my gosh those pics of the park are unbelievable! What is wrong with people, really!?! I feel like we’re trapped in this never-ending cycle thanks to people who are “over it” and refuse to do what’s needs to be done.

    I’m not a fan of the reels and videos on IG either. I hit a streak where I wasn’t seeing them that often but just this past week I feel like they’re back with a vengeance and they’re dominating my feed again. Nothing wrong with unplugging for a bit – you have to protect your energy.

    I agree with Darlene – running will always be there for you when you feel inspired to run more. I’m not logging many miles these days either and I’m good with it!

  10. Marcia says:

    Yikes on the park shenanigans. So stupid. My in laws thankfully got their second dose this week but they had to really jump through hoops to get it. I have no clue when it’ll be my turn. I runfess I skip right over the reels too and I’ve never even seen Tik Tok.

  11. Wendy says:

    You and I are on the same wavelength! I’m trying not to send my energy into things I can’t control. But I still get upset. Just do what you can. And yeah, I hate REELS. Although TikTok has gotten my interest…

  12. runswithpugs says:

    Lots of hugs to you. February has been kind of a poop show for me. We don’t even have strict lockdown orders here, but I’m still down – I feel very left out when all my friends are out and about acting like things are normal. It’s a weird state of being.

    Social media hasn’t been much of a problem for me. I joke that because I don’t watch much TV, social media is where I get my drama. That being said if you need to take a break, take a break. Take care of you.

  13. I understand everyone is frustrated but it isn’t over. People still need to follow the rules. Ugh, I also hate Reels and the long Instagram stories. I get it here and there but there are some people that talk, talk and talk. I do not listen to the whole thing.

  14. […] I decided I would do intervals. I wanted to go to the park and run, but as I mentioned Friday in my February Runfessions, the park was P A C K E D. Luckily mid-week there aren’t a lot of people down at the edge of […]

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