Fit Five Friday and we’re Marching on with Coffee

March 2023

Welcome to this week’s Fit Five Friday – it’s the first Friday of the month and you know what that means…

ULTIMATE COFFEE DATE! *cue celebrations*

WELOME to Fit Five Friday with with your FIVE amazing hosts – me, My First 5K and MoreRunning With Attitude, Runs with PugsZenaida ! Feel free to join in on the fun! And head over here to join the Ultimate Coffee Date with other amazing, supportive and friendly bloggers.

If we were having coffee

I would definitely share with you that I’m really proud of my stats for February. There were three less days in the month yet I still averaged 2.6KM walking per day, like I did in January. Also, while still not as consistent as I would like, I had four 5KM run/walk sessions, and one was even my own parkrun! So January I had only 1 session, but that’s also because I was still coughing a lung up, but in February I managed more, thanks to finally feeling better.

Always a pleasure to participate in my own parkrun!

I still haven’t made it to the gym again, seems like that one time in January was kind of a fluke. Ron and I are now discussing how we want to approach gym-going. He’s not too happy with our current gym so it could be we are going to quit and go to another. This weekend we will make a plan on which gyms to visit and when and hopefully make some sort of decision next week.

How was your February? Did you accomplish what you set out to do?

if we were having coffee

I would mention that I’m mentally struggling with getting older. It’s wild to feel 30 on the inside and have your body not reflect that. Recently I went to a clinic just to inform myself about different treatments there were for bags under the eyes (I just feel like I LOOK so tired) and was basically told that treatments wouldn’t help me… it was just elasticity loss and gravity and the only thing that would really help would be to have surgery. Oh, man. For real? I felt depressed when I walked home from the appointment. It’s not that I’m vain (well, maybe a tiny bit – aren’t we all?), it’s more like facing reality.

While I was there I also asked about my age spots on my face – those they were able to do something about! This week I had two spots removed; so first I’ll get two lovely scabs and then once they’ve healed there should be no evidence they were ever there.


Do you ever have little moments where you realise you are no longer young, vibrant and full of beautifully taut skin and no wrinkles?

if we were having coffee

I’d say “speaking of getting old…” We went to a concert a couple weeks ago and had SO MUCH FUN. There was so much energy and people of all ages and we all couldn’t help but dance like there was no tomorrow. The next day though… YIKES. I hardly even drank anything so I wasn’t hungover, but my HIPS LIED and my ears were ringing more than normal…

Funny thing as well – we ended up spending only money on parking while there. Two guys approached us while we were in line for beverages and asked us to get them their drinks and they would give cash, plus pay for our drinks. You see, it was card only transactions and they only had cash. Then later when we were waiting for Röyksopp (the band we went to see) Ron and I were speaking in English with each other (as we always do… I know, it’s weird) this other guy overheard and started talking to us – he’d just flown from Chicago to see this concert! Like arrived that day! Anyway, HE ended up buying us drinks the rest of the night! We didn’t even get a chance to reciprocate!

Do you still go dancing / go to concerts?

if we were having coffee

I would tell you that even though last month we planned on a parkrun in Maastricht, we didn’t make it because of being unwell and also because the friend we were going to visit was back home in the States because her mom died. We are *finally* going to another parkrun tomorrow, but this one will be in Almere. We will go to Maastricht in a month or two, will be really nice when the weather is nicer.

if you look carefully you can see Ron’s tiny head here – we supported them at their launch event

Are you getting sick of my parkrun chats yet? HA!

What would you tell me over coffee?

Join the Fit Five Friday Link-up!

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!

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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Comments

  1. Darlene S. Cardillo says:

    Congrats on great fitness February.

    As you know mine sucked. But it will improve eventually.

    That’s funny about aging. People have told me I look tired. But it’s because I always have bags under my eyes. I cringe when I see that wrinkled sagging skin.

    I try to think about it. I feel healthy and fit. That’s more important right?

    I am vain. Admittedly. But I know we are more critical of our looks than others.

    You look great!!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Darlene! It’s definitely the most important that we are and feel healthy and fit. But some of us just age better than others. Some don’t care. Some care a bit and some care a lot. I don’t know that I’m vain, but I do find it hard to accept sometimes that I really am starting to look ‘old’.

  2. I’ve seen some people who’ve had work done and it looks great (usually people with a lot of money), and other times . . . it looks like they had work done. Do I always like the way I look? Nope! But personally I have better things to spend my money on — that’s me though. You have to do what makes you happy.

    Drinking and dancing? Nope! Maybe if my husband would dance but there was only one dance with him our entire marriage. :)

    You are making a great comeback from being sick so long!

    1. Renée says:

      I don’t know anyone who has had face work done. Seems a bit scary to me to be honest. And it’s pricey. I mean whatever you do for your appearance is going to cost. I get my hair done, I go in for my nails again, I take care of my skin with certain products that don’t contain a lot of junk and somehow these things cost more than the stuff with junk :D And I do those things because I like it and it’s purely for me. Will I get my eyes done? No idea to be honest. That is EUR 3000 that could be spent on a really nice holiday somewhere…

      haha Ron doesn’t really dance either unless he’s had “one too many”. which is not really great news lol (there’s always a down side to a drunk friend or partner). So I just jiggy along without him.

  3. Michelle says:

    You had a great February!

    I know what you mean about how your hips feel after a night of dancing – I don’t go dancing as much as I used to, but boy do my hips talk to me afterward!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Michelle!
      we are no longer spring chickens!!!

  4. Jenn says:

    I am really trying to get to our “local” Parkrun. It’s like 40-50 minutes away, so it’s a big trip.

    I go to concerts sometimes. I don’t love them and they are so expensive. Very few clubs here for dancing. I do want to try silent disco one night, so we will see how that goes.

    1. Renée says:

      that would be awesome if you would go to parkrun! I totally understand about the distance which is why we don’t do other parkruns that often. but we have been known to drive 4 hours in total for a 5K LOL. Silly parkrun habit!

      I would love to do silent disco! Concerts really are expensive! I was so mad about the Madonna tickets being so freaking expensive for not even good seats. I’m kind of done. That said we do go to smaller gigs, lesser knowns or washed up artists (lol I say that and I’m only half serious. only artists / bands I still love regardless). I would never purposely go to a club to go dancing these days but have I been sucked into it? Yes, yes I have :D

  5. Marcia says:

    Congrats on some impressive February stats. I’m glad you’re feeling mostly better. I runfess it’s been awhile since I’ve been to a concert other than an outdoor one or a high school band one. Haha!

    1. Renée says:

      thanks Marcia! Outdoor shows are the best because you don’t HAVE to be in the crowd if you don’t want to and the vibe is still cool.

  6. Jenny says:

    28/28 days active in February- you can’t get much better than that!
    Yes, it’s very strange getting older. I’ll turn 57 this month and I do NOT feel that old! For me it’s not as much about looks (although there’s that, too) but rather that my body doesn’t seem to want to do the things it used to. I’m still trying though.
    I hope you enjoyed your Parkrun today!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Jenny! and definitely get you on the body not behaving the way the mind/looks are. So annoying!

      we had an amazing parkrun in Almere. happy with my progress!

  7. Wendy says:

    I definitely feel you on getting older. The skin thing is definitely an issue. I am not going to have surgery on my under eyes–one surgery was enough–but there are a lot of skincare products that can help you plump up your skin. I’ve been using CerVe hyaluronic acid cream and it helps a lot! Staying active does too, so definitely keep up the good work in that department.

    1. Renée says:

      I think we are all either starting to feel the age thing or have been there for a while. I have tried many products for my eyes but so far nothing helps since I now know it’s really loose skin. sucks. I’d rather try more products right now than have surgery. I’ll see if I can find what you’ve mentioned.

  8. My latest thing with aging has been my lower back stiffness/pain. UGH! To have my doctor and physical therapist both tell me (very gently, LOL) that there may be some arthritis forming and that I am of “that age” despite how young I feel. Honestly, I feel 20+ years younger than my age, so this has really been a tough reality. I realize it’s a first world problem, because there are so many other more serious (and degenerative) things many of my friends are facing, but still. I LOVE hearing about your park run success! That’s quite an accomplishment ;-)

    1. Renée says:

      Oh no Kim, that’s not fun! back pain/ stiffness sucks and if it’s arthritis you kind of just have to deal with it. Of course it could be worse but still sucks for you.

      thanks for the parkrun love x

  9. Coco says:

    LOL, no, I do not still go to concerts. They start way past my bedtime! Those were the days, though!

    Glad to hear you had a good February.

    I enjoy reading about all your Parkruns!

    1. Renée says:

      especially bands that have been around a while and are the same age/older than us… why do they start so late? don’t they want to hit the sack at a normal time as well???

      thanks Coco!

  10. Glad you had a good February! Now March will be just as great, right? I will only go to a concert if it is someone I really, really like. I am going next month to see Maná (Mexican group) and am excited about it.

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Zenaida! March will be great! My concert going is also getting more and more limited. a friend asked if we wanted to go to this big festival here in NL in June. EUR 135 per day for 3 days. Sure there are some good bands playing but um… not camping and not feeling like being surrounded by sweaty drunk people for 3 days LOL.

  11. I am glad to read that you had a much better month! Feels good doesn’t it? I definitely think I look older and I am just going to keep fighting it and doing everything I can to feel young and healthy. It’s inevitable!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Deborah! it really does feel good! and you are right, it’s inevitable, I just wish I could delay it a bit longer!

  12. Great job with your workouts in February! I keep saying I want to take more intentional walks but I never do!

    I love Royksopp! I would love to hear them live sometime. It’s funny how you mention feeling it the next day, I bet I would feel the same! I am definitely noticing as I get older that I can’t hang or bounce back quickly like I used to!

    1. Renée says:

      Thanks Janelle! I am telling you, if you just do 1 mile a day it’s enough time to get moving and get some fresh air! you can even do like me and do a kilometer!

      That’s so cool that you know Royksopp! I don’t know anyone in the US who knows them! The show was sooooooo good! Amazing energy! But yeah, any concert, don’t plan anything for the next day LOL!

Leave a Reply to Renée Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.