Okay, I’ve got some ridiculous and embarrassing running revelations to share. Just promise, you won’t judge me too much. Thanks to Marcia for giving me a place to Runfess all of them.
Ridiculous and Embarrassing Running Revelations
I confess I am completely and utterly freaked out about the locusts that are about to descend upon us. What am I referring to? If the last year was not crazy enough, the Brood X Cicadas are about to hatch and swarm into our area. These little buggers come out every 17 years for about 4 weeks. I still have PTSD from the last time they were here!
Yes, these ugly and very nosy Cicadas are about to emerge and blanket our area. In fact. the Northern Virginia area appears to be the epicenter. Fantastic. We can expect about 1 million per acre at the peak.
So what does this have to do with running?
I am in an almost panic attack about how I am going to keep up my running schedule while there are literally millions of these locusts flying around. How can I run with these guys flying into my face and landing in my hair? In all seriousness, they fly right into you. I know they do not sting or bite but they are like 3 inches long.
I am thinking about running in a bee suit. Would that even work? Will I finally have to dust off my treadmill?
I need a plan. Any suggestions? Is anyone else freaked about the cicadas arriving? Serious anxiety emerging with the cicadas. What’s a runner to do? Thanks for letting me get this off my chest today!
Oh gosh I didn’t even think about how this would affect running! But now you have me nervous! I guess I will be spending a few weeks on the treadmill. Are there certain times of day that they are less likely to bother you?
Apparently they are out more during 10-5 maybe that will give me a reason to get up earlier 🙂 PS did not mean to freak you out
Haha! Your fear of locusts reminds me of my traumatic trail run last year when I was attacked by those biting flies. It was just like a horror film and I am nervous to run there again now that it’s warming up. I will be better prepared this time, tho.
On the other hand, my dog loves to eat dead cicadas. Occasionally she picks one up that isn’t quite dead. It’s pretty entertaining to watch her reaction when it starts buzzing in her mouth!
Ooh that sounds interesting! I really am kind of freaked out.Do you have a lot by you as well?
I don’t think we get them up here. Thank God. I hate the gnats, and they’re tiny!
I wonder if there’s some sort of scent that puts them off?
nope! Nothing to do to keep them away they are everywhere!
I did read lately that this was a cicada year. It seems like we have a fair amount of them every year though. It didn’t occur to be to be freaked out about them while running, but now you give me pause. I run on trails with lots of older trees so we’ll have to see what happens. They are gross!
Did not mean to freak you out! We are the epicenter of them here so they will be impossible to miss
Oh yes, I remember the Cicada year when I was a kid. I don’t remember them flying into me, but I do remember them being all over the sidewalks and it was gross. How long does it last? I have no idea what i’m talking about here, but I would try to find an area that’s clear of them somehow (if that’s possible) and drive to do all my runs there. Ugh. Good luck!
well there really won’t be anywhere I can drive to that won’t have them! It’s for a few weeks! Eek
I remember two broods ago, but not the last one. I’ll be busy keeping Scooby from eating them. ;-(
I am sure Scooby will love them!
Please don’t judge me, but I kind of like cicadas – I think they’re cute, but don’t like how loud they are… I am a little nervous about how hard they’ll hit when they smack into us when we’re on our bikes. Ouch!
This has been one busy week so I didn’t get a chance to write my coffee update post… Next month for sure!
I bet it will be weird to have them hit you on the bikes! The coffee date is next week first Friday of the month free to join in
Ewwwww, I’m creeped out just thinking about those little buggers. We were in Florida, several years ago, and we were swarmed by “love bugs.” I don’t know if that was a seasonal thing (mating season?), or just one of those “years,” but they were everywhere!
I am definitely not looking forward to their arrival
OMG this just creeped me out! I hate bugs and these sound terrifying. Do they tend to come out more in the morning or night? If so, maybe rearranging your running schedule might help so you don’t come across them too often.
I am so freaked out! Do you get them up there? They are out all the time I have no idea what I am going to do. I am in denial of sorts Stay tuned 🙂
Awesome, see you then! I always seem to get the date confused. Did it used to be the first Saturday?
It is the first Friday but we try not to make it the same day as Runfessions
Flying insects freak me out! When I lived in Arkansas we had locust. I had to leave the outside light off otherwise when I came home at night the door would be covered in them. It was creepy.
Good luck!
OH it is stress inducing for sure!
Ha! Love your take on the cicadas. I wrote a post about them too, but I am looking forward to seeing them. Of course, the last time there were here, they were not right at my house or where I run. They were in the woods about 5 miles away. You are right – they are EVERYWHERE!!!
yes they sure are!
I ran through them here in 2004 (I’m in MoCo Maryland). I think there will be kind of an “exposure therapy” effect for you, where it’s horrible at first but then you just kind of get used to it. I don’t remember them flying in my face a ton… I ran through the whole invasion and survived. They smell bad when they start to die, but, ehh. I did keep an old pair of running shoes out on my front porch, and just stepped into and out of them each day until the invasion was over and then I threw them away. The bottoms are completely encrusted with carcasses so you don’t want to use any good shoes during this whole thing. Good luck to both of us!! We’ll get through it.
Oh gosh I did not even thing about how they would smoosh under my shoes! Yes we will get through it but I won’t like it one bit. Thanks for the encouragement