I am so over you.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to officially declare October your month. It just isn’t practical.

But don’t worry, Runtober, it’s not you, it’s me. October is a very busy month for me. I travel a lot, and when I’m traveling, I’m just not on a schedule conducive for running 30 miles a week. I don’t have a regular work schedule, I don’t have a regular sleep schedule, and most importantly, I don’t have a normal eating pattern. It’s not that I eat poorly, I just don’t eat well enough to sustain high intensity activity at random times.

And with the irregularity, the busyness and the changing seasons I almost always get sick this time of year. Thankfully, I have yet to get sick, but I can just tell by sluggishness, temperamental sinuses and scratchy throat, that the annual cold is standing on my doorstep like an uninvited guest getting ready to knock.

Runtober, it’s breaking my heart writing this. You are so beautiful. The scenery for my runs is like right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Children playing, dads barbequing, mothers chatting with neighbors about their Halloween decorations. However, with my crazy schedule, I don’t always get to experience the beauty that is October. No, sometimes I’m running at 5:30 in the morning, sometimes it’s 8:30 at night—and there are never children out playing that those times in the fall.

And sometimes, dear Runtober, you do get a little bipolar on me. I thought I was enjoying a nighttime run in a light drizzle…were you mad at me? Was it something I did? Was it because I skipped my long run just 2 days before? I’m sorry but I was spending some QT with my parents. The torrential downpour one mile into my run was NOT the way to communicate your disappointment. But I forgive you.

But I still haven’t changed my mind. It’s just not working between us. But you know, there’s still hope…

I’ll revisit our relationship in, say, December (?). Because as much as I love running in the fall, I think I prefer snow flurries. Will you wait for me?

Sincerely pooped,

Abby Normally