Last week I was wistfully remembering the amount of Faff I was previously doing and rejoicing in it's disappearance...
That was obviously an omen of what was to come.
I knew that I would be running today, and was trying a new route which would require a short drive, but other than that the run was going to be pretty straightforward. That is straightforward if I could actually get out of the front door.
I woke with a spring in my step, well maybe not literally as first thing in the morning my ankles and knees are quite sluggish at getting going. I find myself walking in a strange sideways manner to get down the stairs. But once I'd made my tea and plodded around. A bit they were starting to loosen. And little did I realise how much extra loosening they would get.
Back upstairs I started getting my running kit on: no running bra so downstairs I traipsed to the clean laundry and back upstairs to finish dressing. Came downstairs to finish my tea and realised there was a fine drizzle outside and my chosen vest was not strictly a running vest and would get sodden quite quickly. So back upstairs I lumbered to change tops, no tops upstairs as all in the clean laundry ... so back downstairs I trotted.
Next challenge to find my running shoes, which were no where to be found in their usual storage place (right next to the front door) but I soon remembered I'd washed them a couple of days ago, and it was a shorter walk just to kitchen to get them on. All I needed now was the car key, my running belt, phone and earphone.
Unfortunately I'd put my handbag away upstairs yesterday evening, fortunately my runners were clean so I could keep them on as I jogged back up the stairs and down again. Unfortunately I then discovered that after coming back from the gym yesterday I'd also put my gym bag away (not like me to be so tidy) upstairs with my belt and earphone inside, so that meant careering back up the stairs two at a time to get the offending articles, remembering fortuitously to pick up my phone from my bedside.
At last I was ready to go...
I stepped out the door, took one look at the rain and stepped back in again - running hat was retrieved, not from the wardrobe where I though it might be (upstairs of course), but from the cupboard by the front door. At last I grabbed my water bottle from the fridge and I was ready to go, ankles and knees fully warmed up and flexible.
It was a good run, and nice to do a different route, however the Faff for the hat didn't pay off as my glasses ended up covered in rain but at least my top wasn't sodden. On returning to the car I realised I had actually forgotten to bring a towel and after a long run not only was I wet from the rain, I seemed to be leaking from every pore, and dripping onto the steering wheel.
Heaven help me if I'm going to faffing like this all through the autumn and winter! At least I can retain my crown as the Princess of Faff.
Written by
Razouski
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Oh I can resonate with this post, in the early days I used to get everything out the night before and have it all ready to go, now it is a hunt around as the more crosstraining I do the more my stuff gets spread around the house. 😀.
I have even managed to get a pair of plastic overshoes from the swimming pool at the gym so that if I need to faff after putting my runners on, and don't have the rigmarole of unlacing and replacing them to avoid getting dirt on the carpet. I was lucky today as my running shoes were pristine after a spin in the washing machine.
Maybe I should try getting it all ready the night before.
My Italian friends were asking me last night what faffing was as the faff mouse roared yesterday for me. Involving a stepladder to get out winter running kit, and playing chicken with the electric gates as the wind kept on shutting them.
Oh stone in the shoe, rain jacket way too hot when sun came out, more faff. I think they hibernate and come out at certain times. But truthfully your crown is safe. Happy faffing...😀
Me too. I actually think I'm an organised person, but just a totally disorganised runner. I just haven't managed to establish one place for all my stuff, so it ends up spread around, and as some tings get used for the gym they end up in my gym bag instead of with my running stuff. It's been fine all summer as have needed less stuff, but I fear for my faffing as it gets cooler!
Brilliant! Surely you did about 5k before you even left the house?! I'm a terrible faffer normally. This is one of the reasons I'm running before work at the moment (aside from the fact that I can while the kids aren't here). If I'm not out on the road by 6.15 at the latest, there will be no run, so it gives me 15 minutes to get from bed to road, or nothing.
Hmmm... a word of warning about trying to get everything ready the night before. I have found that if I do this, I tend to spend almost as much time re-checking everything! Admittedly this is mainly for longer runs, so it involves my water backpack thingy, hanky safety-pinned to top, money for the bus fare out, charged headphones, something to eat - but also the usual hair bobble, Garmin etc. And then of course it depends on the weather on the day as to which kit to wear!
You lot are all so prepared! I think I am a bit spartan. I consider it a success if I get outside in trainers, with keys to get back in again, and sufficiently dressed not to get arrested
This thread has really made me laugh - so glad it's not just me. I, too, come down the stairs one at a time first thing in the morning. My ankles and knees just don't want to play ball in that first 2 minutes of my day.
We're not quite as faffy but once we've got ourselves dressed in the running stuff (with usually a preamble by me - should I wear a vest or short sleeves?), we're all ready to go, standing in the hall, key in hand. Mr NW will already be plugged in to his music so any question I ask will have to be repeated minus ear phones.
Shall I get the Garmin? (It's upstairs). Pause. Yeah, go on then. Upstairs I go.
Him to me: have you got a zip anywhere (for the key). Me, checking:. No, the zippy leggings are in the wash. (It's "summer", remember, lack of zips in running stuff). Will you put the key in your bra then? Me: no. We'll go out the back door and hide it in the garden (the key, not the bra). Exit back door. Hide key in secret place. Discover both of us have zip pockets somewhere after all. Retrieve key .... Lordy. It's amazing anything ever happens round here ..... 🙄
Jeez, Razouski, I needed a lie down just READING about your faffing. I thought when you saw the rain after all that organisational effort you would decide not to go. Although that would have been a 😂 moment, so pleased you actually went. Well done.
The endless searching for the headphones is what does me in EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't faff on clothes because they go in the washer on quick was as soon as I come home so they are always hanging dry when I want to go out again...
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Admittedly this is mainly for longer runs, so it involves my water backpack thingy, hanky safety-pinned to top, money for the bus fare out, charged headphones, something to eat - but also the usual hair bobble, Garmin etc. And then of course it depends on the weather on the day as to which kit to wear!
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