FOMO drives races

By | May 2, 2021

or at least it does for this runner. Amid the 900 emails that NYRR sends, I saw and read the one for the Women’s Mini, which I have a love/hate relationship with:

  • 2017: one of my first 10Ks
  • 2018: thinking my way through why I love/hate 10Ks
  • 2019: trying to game plan a better race

If you asked me what the first NYRR race I’d sign up for, it wouldn’t have been the Mini. In part, because I didn’t think it would be fifteen months before I was ready to race and in part because I don’t love summer racing. Why was it my first? Major FOMO from Darlene, Deb and Kim’s race reports. I wanted to get out and play err race too.

We don’t know the course yet, but nearly sixteen months since my last race, I’ll be toeing a start line. I guess I should say hopefully since this is very much still COVID’s show and well, I was supposed to have raced already in February, but the Penguin was cancelled due to ice and snow. But I’m looking forward.

 

9/11 Memorial Virtual 5K

Before we get back to “real” racing, one last virtual race. Thanks all for being a part of this fun. Such a meaningful run.

April Running:

85.39 miles run. Nothing to compare it with really since it was last April that I decided running through pain was stupid and stopped. But I have 357.78 miles run on the year which is a nice cushion on the 300 I’d need to be at 900 on the year. That goal is still looking manageable given return to the office timing still TBD and I doubt many longer runs in summer heat.

In addition to a good running week, this was a solid reading week: Lisa Servon’s The Unbanking of America (dated, but good), Emmanuel Acho’s Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man (Phenomenal!) and now reading Annabelle Gurwitch’s You’re Leaving When? which I first heard about on Ali Wentworth’s podcast a few weeks ago. 30 books so far on the year which makes me happy. Looking forward to some library holds and Julianna Margulies’ Sunshine Girl, which comes out this week.

Kind of crazy that the year is one third over. It felt quick, but our New Years Day run feels like a lifetime ago.

Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim:

  • never miss a Monday: planned rest day due to my hammy squeaking. Had run back to back days twice in the last week and three days would be pushing it for no good reason. I got out for a nice long walk after work, so it wasn’t a total rest day. Finally got to listen to Shalane Flanagan on the Morning Shakeout and she’s always such a joy to listen to. Her excitement is contagious. Not a superhero muffin person, but she almost made me want to buy Rise and Run.
  • Tuesday: goal: pace and distance the hamstring was happy with. Check. Just shy of three miles and it didn’t hurt any more than the stationary tenderness. I call that a win. I’m totally babying it, because there’s no reason not to right now.

loved these tulips!

these too. Somehow we resisted any tip toeing!

  • Wednesday: a true off day, sort of. Kept mom company while Bob underwent knee surgery. Some walking around the park, but no formal exercise outside of a Peloton stretch.

reflections on a nice run

  • Thursday: office run group, shorts and a tee shirt edition after last Thursday’s jacket and hat one. Our usual 5ish mile route felt good with only some slight hamstring tenderness when I first started out. I did skip Cat Hill because there just was no reason.

the anti-earth day

the rain comes marching, drop by drop!

  • Friday: Bob wanted pastrami, so I met mom at Pastrami Queen before visiting hours with a plan of sitting and reading by the river while she visited, but a rain squall had other ideas. Lots of bonus steps walking back home and then back to the hospital.  I had a feeling my sandwich that I took home from Pastrami Queen was way too heavy for egg salad–and subsequently realized I had all the pickles and his mustard and russian dressing. Ooops. While there are still a ton of COVID protocols in place, obviously, the best change this year is that he can have two different visitors so Mom & I split Bob’s visiting hours and I could bring him his share of pickles. Good to not play wave from the riverside path and see him in person (healing well). And if you’re going to be in the hospital, what a view.

wow!

  • Saturday: um May? March? Friday’s rain squalls and overnight winds resulted in a wind chill in the 30s. The sun was perfect and the wind dropped making for a wonderful ~9 miles run/walk catching up with a friend. Hamstring was non issue although it was slightly sore later in the day. Perfect excuse for an epsom soak. It was the perfect day to be outside reading by the river as mom & I again switched off visiting hours.
  • Sunday: TBD, but more outside time for sure. It’s a beautiful day and while I don’t mind my apartment, I’m sick of it after it also being my office. It’s worth the hayfever to just be outside.

27 thoughts on “FOMO drives races

  1. Marcia

    Congrats on a solid running AND reading week! I hope Bob has a smooth and speedy recovery and I’m glad you found a way to get his pickles t him! 😛

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yeah I’m not sure which was more important: the pickles or the latte that went via mom today.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Lisa @ Mile by Mile

    I have been feeling some FOMO about races too! I haven’t decided to sign up for one yet though. Being around alot of people still makes me nervous! Great job this week and I hope Bob has a smooth recovery!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I was just talking with an out of town friend about the crowd factor. I think for those of us in urban areas it’s easier as it’s always been busy. I won’t do any large races yet though – this is small, staggered smart. Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Liz Dexter

    I get you on the apartment/office thing and I live in a big tall house. I’ve finally got the spare room wrestled under control again so I can sit there and not see my computer and notebooks. And I mean I’ve always worked from home!

    Great pics and glad the hospital allows visits now, too.

    Reply
  4. Kim G

    I actually unsubscribed to the NYRR mailing list a while ago so that I wouldn’t be tempted to sign up for any races this year. They really do believe in sending tons of emails constantly lol. I don’t currently have FOMO for races but I think that will change once we get to Fall since that’s my favorite time to race.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      their email volume is completely ridiculous. I go through that email, which is basically just “spam” from companies I do business with, about once a week, Happened to catch the Mini email on the right day before I deleted it all. I’m with you on fall. That will likely be my next race after this. Upside of one that isn’t a favorite is I won’t have all the expectations and good memories

      Reply
  5. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Good luck with a RL race! Today started nice, and luckily I got my run in then, because then the cold front came through, it’s chilly and rainy. And so it goes in the Upstate world.

    Pastrami Queen is great! At least it was a few years ago when we went there with my nephew. Glad you were able to bring Bob his fixins!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I hadn’t been in a few years since a visiting friend asked. Their egg salad was good, and I liked the relish and celery swaps, which I would not have thought of. Me too! No one heals on hospital food.
      We had almost 80 today. Bonkers!

      Reply
  6. Jessie

    Good luck with the in-person race! Sounds like a good choice. Pastrami Queen sounds delicious!

    Reply
  7. Coco

    LOL on signing up for that race. Sounds like it’s your turn to conquer it. I hope your hamstring continues to be happy. Today I’m noticing that my Achilles isn’t nagging when I expect to. I’ve been such a slow reader these days. I just started the Rose Code which I think will be good, if I can just start reading before my eyes are too tired to stay open.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      My hamstring is behaving, knock on wood. I didn’t feel it at all today on a relatively long walk home -would have been longer but felt a blister coming on. I think it was just telling me to remember that there’s no reason to run back to back, or three days in a row.
      The number of evenings I’ve woken up with the light on and kindle on my face is almost comical

      Reply
  8. Darlene

    So happy to contribute to your FOMO.

    Some day I will run that race.

    Glad to have an real phone call. Need to do it kore often.

    Reply
  9. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    I’m super excited you signed up for a real live race, even if it’s one you have a love/hate relationship with! Race FOMO is real and if I had to be injured for so long, I’m happy it was while races were basically shut down most of last year. At least I wasn’t having a pity party each time I read a friend’s race recaps. 😉

    I’m glad Bob is recovering well from his knee surgery and hope he’ll be out of the hospital soon. And yep, that’s quite the view.

    Reply
  10. Wendy

    I feel pretty lucky to have run 2 live races this spring…but they were definitely down to the wire of being approved! Grateful for the opportunities. Excited for your turn!!!

    Reply
  11. Jenny

    Yes, i know what you mean about the FOMO! I keep thinking I’m not ready to race and then I’ll see all these race recaps and start getting that itch! Exciting that you signed up for one- maybe reading your recap will be the one that puts me over the edge- right now I’m thinking I’ll do a July 4th race. We’ll see!
    Have a great week Cari!

    Reply
  12. Michelle D.

    Sounds like a great week of running! I hope your hamstring continues to behave.

    I’m definitely starting to feel some race FOMO. I’ve got my first scheduled for July and it looks like the governor has finally given us the green light. Now I need to get into race shape LOL 😉

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Woohoo on the governor approval. NYS is in a state of confused reopening, so I think the Mini will be on the small side. That’s AOK with me. Oh race shape. LOL.
      Thanks on the hammy. Laying off some of the strength for runners for a few more days, but it definitely feels like it’s on the mend

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I need to find a race with a book as a medal and I’d be super happy

      Reply
  13. Renée @runlaugheatpie

    I have some FOMO for sure, but I just have to keep gritting my teeth and getting through life first, until we get vaccinated…

    good week for you! I unpacked loads of boxes of books last week and decided I’m going to read a few things in my collection that I haven’ actually read before. I miss reading!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I get you – I missed reading a lot last year when I wasn’t in the head space for it. Glad to be back to my usual this year, although I still wish I was an audio book person.
      HUGS that you can get vaccine access soon

      Reply

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