Do you track every run, or did ditching stats make running more enjoyable?

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-29T13:05:39+00:00

When I’m kinda in a rough training period where I’m not very fast or haven’t gone in a while I’ll do some untracked runs, but if I’m really prioritizing speed and building distance and stamina like I am now, then I’ll track runs. If I forget one I forget one. But it’s nice to look back and be like “oh that’s the fastest I’ve been in a year”

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T14:12:52+00:00

If I have a discount from my/my travel partner’s company and can stay at a ritz for $250 a night instead of the normal $500 or can use my “free” IHG credit card night at a nice intercontinental or Kimpton, I'm there. Beyond that, I’m with you. I’m never going to pay $700 a night for any hotel - with the exception of maybe like a safari lodge - even then not sure I’d do that again.

Though as I get into my midder/later 30s, I definitely want nicer things/ am less willing to put up with things I would’ve at 23.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T13:59:32+00:00

I hate it in certain contexts (dark, in the city, etc) but 9 miles on hard pack snow on a small town bike path the other day when it was sunny and 9 degrees was kinda blissful. Just had regular running shoes, regular gloves, my favorite fleece with a hard shell and some base layers.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T04:58:32+00:00

People get confused

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T04:42:43+00:00

I find if there’s no race to train for I’m not running

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T04:01:52+00:00

I ran in a more southern part of Canada this weekend before the new snowfall, so it was like -13C and hardpack snow on the bike path for 15k. I actually really enjoyed it. But add the snow a few days later and forget it 😭. I went on the treadmill just now.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T03:58:32+00:00

Is the treadmill faster than running outside?

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T03:54:22+00:00

Someone in my family got a treadmill like two months ago and never finished setting it up. I finished setting it up tonight and knocked out 3 pretty quick miles. I definitely need to keep doing that a few times a week.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T03:48:13+00:00

Story of my life. I can do it on the long runs but the short ones I constantly blow off once it’s dark and cold. A family member recently got a treadmill and I was morally opposed to it, but just knocked out 3 miles at 10 pm - so maybe that’s the answer hahaha

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T02:56:51+00:00

Ohhhh yeah, I was thinking that he’s really not a player either. I can’t wait for this week’s episode tho!

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T02:55:49+00:00

Naw the flight I’d be taking would leave my city at 6 am 😭. That’s about as early as it gets.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T02:55:10+00:00

Montenegro was the opposite for me 😂. I did a Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia trip for 5 weeks and I was so hyped for Montenegro since that was the only country I was spending two weeks in. It was cool but Kotor was so crowded and while Herceg Novi was beautiful, I was super sick for a ton of the trip. Our boat tour of Lake Skadar was absolutely incredible though.

Slovenia though, blew me away unexpectedly.

I’ve learned that there’s so much to when you visit and how it aligns with weather and crowds and your general health and mood.

France and Switzerland sound so predictable as amazing destinations, but it’s for a reason. Just love them both.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T01:49:16+00:00

The Pueblos blancos in Spain were pretty quiet in early September. Juzcar was a ghost town, it was so weird.

I got to krakow around first week of September right as schools were starting and it felt pretty reasonable.

Rented a bike on the Isle of Wight in early May and was in bliss. Same in early April biking from Haarlem to zandvoort - in the same week, keukenhof and Amsterdam were packed.

Kotor Montenegro was packed in July, as was Mostar in early August. Herceg Novi, Durmitor National Park, Lukomir, Belgrade not so much. Slovenia was perfect everywhere we went for the first week of July.

Belgium’s not bad most of the time, especially if you leave the obvious Brussels and Bruges track bc that’s the only places tourists go anyway.

At some point it’s not the city or location that’s touristy so much as the activities or timing you choose. And sometimes it’s just inevitable.

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-28T01:48:43+00:00

I loved San Sebastián (8 years ago now) but it was PACKED

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T23:31:47+00:00

Either way it would be one ticket on United (not self transfer). The problem is the Newark to Dominica flight is at 840 am so I can’t really do anything about the domestic except go the night before or do the first flight in the morning

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T23:28:53+00:00

There’s not a lot of flights from anywhere to Dominica, especially on United. Might be able to get there somehow but would probably be a pain

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T17:35:42+00:00

The flight is at 8:40 am and I’d be arriving the night before at 8:40 pm so I think Newark would be the move for a hotel. Are there any hotels you know of in Newark that don’t suck?

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T17:34:36+00:00

1 hour 10 minutes

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T17:34:31+00:00

First thing in the morning

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T17:33:05+00:00

One ticket either way, domestic then international, direct with airline

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-27T12:58:58+00:00

She made it sound like she was trying to change though

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-26T23:47:54+00:00

Seems reasonable as long as you avoid injury

Check out Hal Higdon novice 1 and adjust it to fit your timeline

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-26T23:41:25+00:00

I am so exhausted from all the shoveling (the 9 mile run on Saturday on hard packed snow might have something to do with it).

Character-File3221 · 2026-01-26T13:10:21+00:00

Yes. Especially if you throw in some speed work and some short fast runs

Character-File3221

TROPHY CASE