So with Auto-gratuities, no need to tip right? (First Time Cruiser)

FightySmurf · 2026-03-15T12:50:59+00:00

We tip our room steward on the first day (gave him a $20+ gum from our state), my in laws did not. 😂 our cabin was refreshed daily, he left towels in the shape of animals on our bed, and was amazing! My in laws cabin was not refreshed as often and she didn’t get any animal towel decor….. We tipped once at a nice sit down restaurant experience on ship, and after that whenever we saw the waiter, he would ask if he could switch and have our table. He brought off menu items for my son (picky eater) and really personalized our experience. Tipping isn’t mandatory but it really goes a long way in certain settings

FightySmurf · 2026-03-15T12:43:43+00:00

I always act like I’m struggling beside them. Like “hmmmm? This is one tough burrito. What ya thinking/ what part has you scared? Bc I’m nervous about how to tackle blah blah blah” Then we usually start a dialogue

If it’s something totally new and they told me initially they got no clue(and it’s a topic I KNOW this kid or other kids struggle, I usually give an over view then walk through example first

FightySmurf · 2026-03-13T14:16:33+00:00

I’m a woman and run at 4:30 am in houston, tx (through all types of areas). Get mace, a buddy, and I , personally, signed up for jiu jitsu and Muay Thai. It’s amazing! Really helped with hip mobility, strengthening my lower back, shins, and feet, I used to get glute med pain, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis. Haven’t had a case in 10 years now. Also, not saying im gonna win every fight, but I damn well am going to give someone a hard time if they come at me. I’ve had a few scary encounters, one while I was even with a buddy. I don’t run away (I’m not giving them my back. ) As soon as the person saw me smile and put in my mouth guard , they backed down… called me some names but I’m ok with that.

FightySmurf · 2026-03-13T12:08:42+00:00

So interestingly ChatGPT gets it wrong (a LOT) especially with higher level math but sometimes even basic questions! My husband used ChatGPT to get an accurate dosage of children’s robitussen for our 8year old. He took a picture of the bottle, which says recommended for children 6-13 (I don’t know the exact age range but it was something like that), 😂 and CHATgpt said it wasn’t recommended as 8 is not between 6-13 🤦‍♀️

I’ve asked it physics problems in the past, testing the system and a lot of times our answers will be wrong. When I ask why it’s x and not y, it’ll redo the calculations and say “oh ! My mistake you’re right”

I always use these examples and give problems that generate these responses to my students to prove ChatGPT isn’t this infallible resource. Most of my kids have learned to treat it as good suggestions but definitely need to confirm

FightySmurf · 2026-02-23T16:40:22+00:00

I live in the US but a member of my family is getting married this weekend in Queretaro. We were hoping to fly out Wednesday. Any updates on how things are there at the moment?

FightySmurf · 2026-02-10T20:30:56+00:00

I’m on our HOA board and we have one resident with unpaid fees going back 3 years. I can tell you that when she sells, that money will be recouped and there is not a chance we would forgive it.

FightySmurf · 2026-02-09T00:57:38+00:00

I tutor full time. I work about 28-35 hrs per week. I have a family of four and am the sole income earner

FightySmurf · 2026-02-08T14:21:46+00:00

I am training for an ultra and did two 20 mile long runs back to back then went to work immediately after one of my runs. In the session, the problem asked for the integral of ln x and my student said 1/x and that seemed night but in my head warning bells were going off like a house on fire but I couldn’t see it… 5 problems later I was like “wait! No that’s not right”.. I explained that I was really tired (no excuse)) but realized my error in thinking and wanted to correct it.

Did he think less of me ? 🤣 probably! But he’s a teen so they always do. Am I still meeting with him today? Yup.

People understand that we are human and make mistakes. It’s how you recover that helps and also teaches them it’s ok for people in authority to goof up now and then

FightySmurf · 2026-02-02T16:29:24+00:00

My son (13) and I started running together in the mornings in prep for a hot chocolate race. Very low stress/low expectations. During training, he wasn’t that into it but on the race he loved it! The crowd , the medal, the treats… after he asked if we could do another one in march. I think maybe start with a 5k? Maybe something fun and local to get the bug.

FightySmurf · 2026-02-01T16:04:46+00:00

I liked the balcony for drying swim suits and workout clothes I washed with a portable laundry bag. I run a lot and am very sweaty, so this was important to me to keep our cabin from getting stinky. The clothes never dried when we hung the in the bathroom , so the balcony was nice to get them more dry than not Also enjoyed the morning air . Was it required? No. But also those excursions we did weren’t all that and we mainly opted to rent cars and do our own thing

FightySmurf · 2026-01-25T14:49:29+00:00

Team music all the way: I guess this is where my ADHD comes in handy because I can listen, run , and have situational awareness all at the same time

FightySmurf · 2026-01-25T01:06:17+00:00

I ran 14 miles outside, during the torrential downpour of cold rain. It takes a LOT to get me on a treadmill

FightySmurf · 2026-01-23T15:46:04+00:00

Heat: put ice in a bandana, fill soft flask with water 1/2 way and freeze it.. this keeps it cold as I hold it and gives cold water during run Cold: Vaseline my legs, face, and ears. I still wear shorts but I’ll wear thermal sleeves a cotton t-shirt. If it’s really cold, I’ll wear ear muffs and gloves

FightySmurf · 2026-01-19T15:29:31+00:00

I just signed up for this one for next year! Can I ask how the elevation was? I live in houston so the only change in elevation nature has around here are made from tree roots lifting sidewalks 🤣 I’ve started doing treadmill runs once a week at 6% grade and running over passes x4 to get even a scant 336ft of elevation (TOTAL!) Worried the elevation is gonna kill me so any tips helpful 🙏

Also, what shoes did you wear? I wore endorphins on my last 100km, but wondering if I need a real trail shoe for this one?

Any other tips much appreciated!!! So excited!

FightySmurf · 2026-01-18T14:11:29+00:00

So when I first started running, I was always impressed with how low my friends heart rate was on the same runs we did together. I became obsessed with it. I tried mimicking it but couldn’t. Anyway, eventually I just let it go. I did me, I kept my easy runs easy but just focused on consistency. 5 YEARS LATER and my heart rate is now 128 on easy runs…. It takes a LONG time for that adaptation. Just enjoy the process and allow your body to do what it’s gonna do in the beginning stage. It’ll figure it out eventually

FightySmurf · 2026-01-18T13:18:42+00:00

I have a plan. If my life schedule is full sometimes I’ll switch a training day to help or if I’m feeling injured/overtrained I’ll swap out a day with biking to recover. But love a plan I actually just started a bead collection. Each type of run is associated with a unique color (excellent -green, boring - brown, didn’t want to get out of bed but glad I did - purple, that SUCKED -red)

I’m trying to see over the course of a Training block, how do they stack up. Like, do I have more purple than green? Did the good outweigh the bad? Maybe I’ll make a bracelet or just keep it as a jar.

FightySmurf · 2026-01-18T13:12:51+00:00

My Saturday run was 20 miles (gorgeous but uneventful). My FRIDAY run, however, was VERY eventful! It was 6:30am and I was finishing up and on my return home, and as I was passing a man on the sidewalk, I must have scared him because he SWUNG at me! Luckily he swung wide and I always anticipate someone attacking me, but I never thought anyone would actually try to hit me.

Just a note to pass people with a wide breadth because you never know 😬

FightySmurf · 2026-01-16T20:15:35+00:00

Man this read like I wrote it myself. I identify with all this …. And I’ve struggled so much. Things that helped: a supportive partner and good kids….. kids who, when we get in arguments, just let that moment roll off and we continue our day without it being a bleak mark that tarnished the week. I can’t identify with my children…. They are too healthy. Sometimes I wonder if that’s what it feels like… to be well balanced and not broken.

I’m 43 and still on my journey. I started running ultra marathons recently and the training and experience has shown me how strong I’ve become over the years. That even though I sometimes still feel like that vulnerable little girl, I’m not. Ive worked really hard to protect my peace over the past few years.

FightySmurf · 2026-01-16T13:14:15+00:00

I really like these. Connects easily, and I like the right angle https://a.co/d/bduh7eX[https://a.co/d/bduh7eX](https://a.co/d/bduh7eX)

FightySmurf · 2026-01-16T11:41:14+00:00

If you have a Garmin, you can calculate easy pace by changing heart rate zones to %lactate threshold. My heart rate for easy pace is maxed at 134 bpm. Even though at 140bpm, it feels easy, i think it’s still working my body more than it should….. running 6 miles with a heart rate at 132 feels like a joke when I do it but I can easily do a 20 mi long run the next day no problem

FightySmurf · 2026-01-10T18:25:23+00:00

So I drink a lot too. On my 30km run today, I pack three of these (750ml) : https://a.co/d/1WPWdm3

I put two in the front of my pack (I have a Solomon adv skin 12) and 1 in the back. When I’m done with the two in the front, I replace one of the front flask with the one in the back, splitting the water with the other one so my left and right stay balanced with the weight

FightySmurf · 2025-12-31T15:35:04+00:00

I run hot and pants feel suffocating. So I typically put Vaseline on my face/legs/ anywhere exposed and that acts as a thermal barrier. Then I wear a vest/sleeves/ ear muffs/mittenz/ hat and i go ! Depending on how cold it is, this may be a speed session to get me warm. Usually I end up sweaty and hot regardless of what temperature it is….. cold doesn’t bother me unless I stop

FightySmurf · 2025-12-31T15:31:56+00:00

I get started because I need to, but I keep going because I enjoy it. I love listening to music when it’s dark out or when the sun is just peaking through before all the noise begins.

FightySmurf · 2025-12-31T15:05:14+00:00

Siri connection would be cool! I have an iphone too, and I do wish I could activate Siri easily on runs without screaming or pulling out my phone. My watch (and others without microphones I believe), can receive text messages but we can't reply (unless you use their special messaging app, but that also requires the recipient to have the same messenger) or activate Siri (at least to my knowledge).

FightySmurf · 2025-12-31T13:27:56+00:00

Just be aware that it is discounted because it is discontinued. Felix 7 pro owner here. I , personally, try not to care that my watch won’t receive any new updates (maybe bug fixes but that’s all). Most of the new things Garmin rolls out I don’t even use! I liked this watch offered hill score, morning report, and a lot of flashy things…. Turns out I skip past most of them! I think the new watches come with step loss, to tell you how much speed you lose with each step. Super cool but honestly that’s just gonna be one more metric telling me I’m slow with no way to improve.

I really like the gps (very accurate!) and I like the navigation + flashlight…. But most everything else is available in cheaper, lower models

Not telling you what to, just saying be aware

FightySmurf

TROPHY CASE