Running in the Mitten & Beyond!

[SheHulk]

I think you should go ahead and be mad, scroll the want ads, even if you're not planning on quitting but just to remind yourself that you could leave if you wanted to, and allow you to fantasize a bit. I am not a careerist and probably the last person who should be giving advice but in my line of work the best way to get a raise or promotion is to get a job offer somewhere else and let the current employer counter that. To me the core emotion here is that you wanted something that you didn't get for reasons out of your control, so taking some control even in just looking around can soothe that frustration. And next time there's a promotion available, definitely go after it again. It feels good to know so many of your colleagues were pulling for you though. Even if that didn't pay off in a tangible way.

tl;dr Be mad at home and secretly plot your next move at least in your fantasy world so that you can feel more in control at work.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I work for a very small business, so I've never been in your position. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be!

 

[Bree]

So I did not get the promotion at work and I am raging mad about it. I have the most experience, the most seniority, and I had been basically doing the job since the previous guy passed away. All of my coworkers are shocked, everyone agrees this should have been a no-brainer. My assistant director had recommended me and was pulling for me, but in the end the director chose a total brown-noser. And the worst part is that the director liked many of my ideas for the dept and he mentioned he would still like me to work on them - ummm, so you liked what I had to say, but you're not going to give me a raise??? And I'll still have to do my normal duties?? B.S.!!!!

I cried every night for three days and now I'm just bitter and angry. Anyone ever been in this situation? How do I move on and not let this consume me?

I have no advice. Just wanted to say I'm sorry you got shafted. I have seen this happen to my husband and his co-workers so many times and it sucks each and every time. Workplace politics & brown nosing coworkers suck.

 

[michigandergirl]

in my line of work the best way to get a raise or promotion is to get a job offer somewhere else and let the current employer counter that.

Unfortunately I work for a local government agency and that move just doesn't work around here, but I like what you said about plotting my next move and taking back some control.

I can't imagine how frustrated you must be!

Frustrated beyond belief!

Workplace politics & brown nosing coworkers suck.

Ugh, and there is so much of that going on it's nauseating.

In other news, in an effort to lift my mood, I bought these beauties.


I think I might call them the green monsters. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm hoping Asics has fixed the issues of the previous Cumulus's.

 

[KevM]

Unfortunately I work for a local government agency and that move just doesn't work around here, but I like what you said about plotting my next move and taking back some control.



Frustrated beyond belief!

I work for a government agency as well, and yeah the way promotions are done is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[michigandergirl]

I work for a government agency as well, and yeah the way promotions are done is absolutely ridiculous.

Yes, total ridiculousness. The plot thickens - today I was told that they may be grooming me for another position. I'll believe it when I see it.

In the meantime, I'm trying to keep my composure and not go all scorched earth.

 

[TheHamm]

So I did not get the promotion at work and I am raging mad about it. I have the most experience, the most seniority, and I had been basically doing the job since the previous guy passed away. All of my coworkers are shocked, everyone agrees this should have been a no-brainer. My assistant director had recommended me and was pulling for me, but in the end the director chose a total brown-noser. And the worst part is that the director liked many of my ideas for the dept and he mentioned he would still like me to work on them - ummm, so you liked what I had to say, but you're not going to give me a raise??? And I'll still have to do my normal duties?? B.S.!!!!

I cried every night for three days and now I'm just bitter and angry. Anyone ever been in this situation? How do I move on and not let this consume me?

I have been in a similar situation and am more qualified to tell you what not to do.

Do not go scorched earth. Do be mad at home, but not to the point of alienating the family. Do consider if you want to stay in your current situation or if this is an opportunity to make a change. Do be patient as the brown-noser will flounder if they lack the skills to have gotten the position anyhow. Do thank your coworkers for their faith in you and while you can express surprise or disappointment, do it once and shove the rest of those feelings into a box to be opened at a time and place that doesn’t alienate those coworkers.

I waited 3 years to see a coworker shipped off to Timbuktu and her fearful minions fall like dominos without her orders and protection. While this is gratifying to watch, I would probably have been better off professionally to move along, but there are other less tangible benefits to the job that are important to me now. More recently with new middle management my job is more of what it should have been before but I’m at a different point in life and it interests me less than it would have then.

 

[michigandergirl]

North Country Trail Run 13.1

My first trail half marathon complete! I managed to stay on my feet the whole way too. This race is awesome and the finisher medal is extraordinary. We liked it so much, we signed up for next year already.

North Country's claim to fame is the largest half and ultra medals in the country. Their marathon medal is the third largest in the country. They offer two half marathons (Sat & Sun), a full marathon, and two ultra distances (50K & 50 Miler). The races sell out fast, so you've got to be on the ball.

The race takes place in the Manistee National Forest, which is about a 2 hour drive from my house, so we were up and on the road bright & early. Shannon, Angie, & I are fairly new to trail running and we knew we would be taking it slow, so we chose to start in wave 3 (the last wave), which started at 9am. We arrived around 7:45 to pick up our bibs and swag - holy swag!!



We had plenty of time to use the potties and watch wave 2 start. The start/finish chute was decked out with flags from all of the states & countries the runners were from.



Before our start:


The weather was perfect with temps around 50 at the start and warming to around 70 at the finish, no humidity, and mostly sunny skies. As with most trail races there were many hills to contend with, but it was very pretty scenery in the deep, deep woods.




Absolute funniest moment on the course was when this guy passed us wearing nothing but a 'Merica Speedo.


The aid stations were fantastic with lots of yummy offerings. I gravitated towards watermelon in the earlier miles and pickle juice in the later miles. Mile 12 was a very long uphill, but the views from the top were wonderful.


Waiting for us at the finish was an amazing feast, Founders beer, and of course this beauty, which weighs in at 1.8 pounds:


It also makes a nice dinner plate.


Great day and I can't wait to do it again next year.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Great day and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Congrats! I am stupidly (and unrealistically) googling flights from Atlanta to Grand Rapids. Jealous of the medal, the weather, the bling, and the scenery (except for 'Merica'.)

 

[michigandergirl]

I am stupidly (and unrealistically) googling flights from Atlanta to Grand Rapids.

Do it!!!

 

[Bree]

North Country Trail Run 13.1

My first trail half marathon complete! I managed to stay on my feet the whole way too. This race is awesome and the finisher medal is extraordinary. We liked it so much, we signed up for next year already.

North Country's claim to fame is the largest half and ultra medals in the country. Their marathon medal is the third largest in the country. They offer two half marathons (Sat & Sun), a full marathon, and two ultra distances (50K & 50 Miler). The races sell out fast, so you've got to be on the ball.

The race takes place in the Manistee National Forest, which is about a 2 hour drive from my house, so we were up and on the road bright & early. Shannon, Angie, & I are fairly new to trail running and we knew we would be taking it slow, so we chose to start in wave 3 (the last wave), which started at 9am. We arrived around 7:45 to pick up our bibs and swag - holy swag!!

View attachment 429097

We had plenty of time to use the potties and watch wave 2 start. The start/finish chute was decked out with flags from all of the states & countries the runners were from.

View attachment 429092

Before our start:
View attachment 429081

The weather was perfect with temps around 50 at the start and warming to around 70 at the finish, no humidity, and mostly sunny skies. As with most trail races there were many hills to contend with, but it was very pretty scenery in the deep, deep woods.

View attachment 429086
View attachment 429090

Absolute funniest moment on the course was when this guy passed us wearing nothing but a 'Merica Speedo.
View attachment 429089

The aid stations were fantastic with lots of yummy offerings. I gravitated towards watermelon in the earlier miles and pickle juice in the later miles. Mile 12 was a very long uphill, but the views from the top were wonderful.
View attachment 429088

Waiting for us at the finish was an amazing feast, Founders beer, and of course this beauty, which weighs in at 1.8 pounds:
View attachment 429083

It also makes a nice dinner plate.
View attachment 429084

Great day and I can't wait to do it again next year.
View attachment 429085

OMG that speedo

Loved the trail and the view at the top! The medal is HUGE and that was smart thinking using it as a plate!

 

[michigandergirl]

OMG that speedo

I was so glad I decided to keep my phone in my pocket so I could capture that!

 

[avondale]

North Country Trail Run 13.1

My first trail half marathon complete! I managed to stay on my feet the whole way too. This race is awesome and the finisher medal is extraordinary. We liked it so much, we signed up for next year already.

North Country's claim to fame is the largest half and ultra medals in the country. Their marathon medal is the third largest in the country. They offer two half marathons (Sat & Sun), a full marathon, and two ultra distances (50K & 50 Miler). The races sell out fast, so you've got to be on the ball.

The race takes place in the Manistee National Forest, which is about a 2 hour drive from my house, so we were up and on the road bright & early. Shannon, Angie, & I are fairly new to trail running and we knew we would be taking it slow, so we chose to start in wave 3 (the last wave), which started at 9am. We arrived around 7:45 to pick up our bibs and swag - holy swag!!

View attachment 429097

We had plenty of time to use the potties and watch wave 2 start. The start/finish chute was decked out with flags from all of the states & countries the runners were from.

View attachment 429092

Before our start:
View attachment 429081

The weather was perfect with temps around 50 at the start and warming to around 70 at the finish, no humidity, and mostly sunny skies. As with most trail races there were many hills to contend with, but it was very pretty scenery in the deep, deep woods.

View attachment 429086
View attachment 429090

Absolute funniest moment on the course was when this guy passed us wearing nothing but a 'Merica Speedo.
View attachment 429089

The aid stations were fantastic with lots of yummy offerings. I gravitated towards watermelon in the earlier miles and pickle juice in the later miles. Mile 12 was a very long uphill, but the views from the top were wonderful.
View attachment 429088

Waiting for us at the finish was an amazing feast, Founders beer, and of course this beauty, which weighs in at 1.8 pounds:
View attachment 429083

It also makes a nice dinner plate.
View attachment 429084

Great day and I can't wait to do it again next year.
View attachment 429085

Congratulations! It sounds like you and your companions had a great time. This definitely sounds like a well-organized race and not-too-crazy course. I do want to try some trail races at some point, so I'll have to keep this one on my mental list.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

This reminds me of a man in a July 4th 5K a few years ago with an Uncle Sam hat and an American flag speedo

That's a beautiful course!

 

[KevM]

Absolute funniest moment on the course was when this guy passed us wearing nothing but a 'Merica Speedo.
View attachment 429089

Don't forget the hydration vest. He's wearing that too. I also dare say, I doubt it's water in that vest. Haha.

 

[KSellers88]

There's a team that does Run Across Georgia every year that only wear those speedos (some have different patterns) and cowboy hats.

That medal is impressive!

 

[michigandergirl]

So I've been feeling very burnt out the last couple of weeks. I'm still running, but I've been cutting runs short and having to take walk breaks more than I've ever had to before. I have lost all speed. I'm not sure why, but the last 3 weeks I have not been able to run faster than EB pace. My left shin & outer calf continues to bother me intermittently, and even when the leg is feeling good, my body feels super heavy, my legs feel like cement - they just don't want to move.

I have thrown all goals out the window for Chicago, with the exception of just finishing. I'm looking at the next 3 training weeks and those back to back long runs look so daunting. I feel like maybe we need to tweak the plan Coach @DopeyBadger ? A longer taper maybe? I don't know how to proceed with these dead legs.

 

[DopeyBadger]

So I've been feeling very burnt out the last couple of weeks. I'm still running, but I've been cutting runs short and having to take walk breaks more than I've ever had to before. I have lost all speed. I'm not sure why, but the last 3 weeks I have not been able to run faster than EB pace. My left shin & outer calf continues to bother me intermittently, and even when the leg is feeling good, my body feels super heavy, my legs feel like cement - they just don't want to move.

I have thrown all goals out the window for Chicago, with the exception of just finishing. I'm looking at the next 3 training weeks and those back to back long runs look so daunting. I feel like maybe we need to tweak the plan Coach @DopeyBadger ? A longer taper maybe? I don't know how to proceed with these dead legs.

When did this start happening? Was it before the Trail HM? You were unable to get the pace under EB on the Interval run today? Have you been feeling dizzy at times not during running? Is your HR abnormally higher on runs than prior to this feeling?

 

[michigandergirl]

When did this start happening? Was it before the Trail HM? You were unable to get the pace under EB on the Interval run today? Have you been feeling dizzy at times not during running? Is your HR abnormally higher on runs than prior to this feeling?

Yes, before the trail half. I haven't been able to get pace under EB on any runs the last 3 weeks. I don't feel dizzy and HR seems normal. I just feel tired all of the time.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Yes, before the trail half. I haven't been able to get pace under EB on any runs the last 3 weeks. I don't feel dizzy and HR seems normal. I just feel tired all of the time.

Stress, quality sleep, calorie deficit or quality of recent nutrition? Just seeing if we can identify a root cause.

I think regardless of the cause though we need to make a pivot quick to see if we can force a reset before Chicago. You still have 5.5 weeks, so there's still time. From today through 9/14, only walking, no running. And walk for 1/2 the duration of what was originally scheduled. So this weekend will not be 90+107 min and instead 45+53 min of walking. Let's see if that drop in intensity and volume helps you feel better. I'd certainly expect some fatigue given we're in the peak of training, but not to the point that you can't get pace under EB. How does that sound?