Running While the World is in a Pandemic (AKA Virtual Races and 100-Day Challenge)

After my last post (in February!) I said I was going to try to post more often, especially after races. We had no idea what was about to transpire in the world and how it would affect races! The Great Scott 25K was my last in-person race until the Olander 24-hour race in September (more on that will be coming in another post).

This was going to be my running year. I had decided to participate in as many relatively local races as I could in 2020 (meaning no overnight stays), and then for 2021 I was going to do only a few. Late last year (2019) I planned it all out. I signed up for more races than usual. For the first time ever, I signed up for the Toledo Run the 419 - Grand Prix Series, which involves running specific races in different parts of the 419 area code. I signed up for several races that were new to me.  What a year it was going to be!  

…

And then the pandemic arrived.

At first races were postponed, and then postponed again. Race directors tried to figure out the best options while everyone was waiting to see how this pandemic would pan out. It is important to note that when we sign up for a race, most of the time there is a very clear notification that there are no refunds. This means that not only are there no refunds if we cannot run the race, but if there are circumstances that the race is cancelled (most often it is weather related) there are also no refunds. This means race directors could have just cancelled the races and been done with it.

But, racers and race directors are a determined group. Race directors knew that runners want to run no matter what the circumstances. After all, we run in rain, snow, sleet, and unbearably hot weather. So, in the beginning, they started offering virtual options. This meant we could run the race on our own, in our own area, and still get the shirts and bling. After a while, there were so many virtual races that they began offering deferments to next year. For some races, it was either take the deferment or run the virtual option. It can be difficult to decide, because none of us know what the next year will be like (even without the pandemic). Some, like the Glass City Marathon, offered the virtual option AND did the deferment. Some organizations increased awareness of their already virtual options. I ran a Disney 5K series that I didn't even know existed before this year. Other organizations started offering special virtual races for this year only.  Two I particularly liked were the  the FaceMask 10K and the Social Distance Run. 

Running Safely

Without in-person races, it can be hard to stay motivated. I signed up for some interesting virtual races like the ones previously mentioned, but that alone wasn't enough. On so many days, I found myself on choosing not to run  because I was too busy, too tired, just didn't feel like it, etc. I noticed I was running less and less. So, I decided to officially challenge myself with a running streak.  It started with a Runners World challenge to run at least a mile a day, every day, from Memorial Day to July 4th. Once July 4th hit, I decided to continue as I could.  It kept me motivated and was a fun challenge. I sometimes ran a quick mile during lunch, late in the evening, even early in the morning at the local school under the lights. I ran in the rain and extreme heat, and a few times in between thunderstorms, barely making it home before the storm hit.

Very Hot Run

Social Distancing

  

Along the way I ran over 15 virtual races, ranging from 5K's to marathons. I picked up some cool bling and ran races I would not normally run. I always wanted to run Gasparilla (in Florida), but the timing has not aligned with vacation time. They offered a "flashback 1/2" so I finally got to get  my pirate medal!  One of the more unique race medals was the Social Distancing Run - it is a coronavirus. Let's hope that race was one-year only!

Gasparilla Pirate Medal

Social Distancing Run Medal

Once fall hit and I started teaching evenings again (I work full time during the day), running every day became more of a chore than a fun challenge. So I decided I would end the streak at 100 days, which was just a few days before the Olander 24-hour race over Labor Day weekend. The timing was perfect. I was able to keep motivated and prepare myself for the September race. It helped with all the stress and anxiety from the uncertainty in the world right now.  And it was something I did just for myself.

I'm still out there running, just not every day. Now that the weather is getting cooler and I'm working both jobs, there isn't time to fit in a run every day. My goal is three days a week.  But, I'm not done with challenges.  I have an exercise/spin bike and just started a 100 day challenge for that!  More on that in a later blog.

Gotta run/ride  No Excuses!

Great Scott 25K

I am going to try to post more often. I might not post most training runs, but I'll try to post after races!

I will admit I'm a little behind in my training for the Glass City Marathon (coming up in April!).  My training plans usually involve on my own training, plus a a few races. Races are a good way to tune up and figure out what to wear, nutrition, how early to get there, etc.

Yesterday, I went for a shortish run with a friend. Both of us are signed up for Glass City, and neither of us has been running like we should. I managed 5.5 miles. Unfortunately, she had to work and was unable to attend the Great Scott 25K run/race today.

The Great Scott 25K is put on by Toledo Roadrunners It's not so much a race as an organized run. The course is at Oak Openings. You can choose one time around, which is 7.7 miles, or two loops, which is 25K. Even though you sign up for either distance, you are free to either run the second loop if you feeling really good, or stop after one time around, even if you signed up for two. That can be good or bad!

I made a few mistakes before and during this race (remember, the purpose of these races is to learn!).

First of all, I should not have run 5.5 miles yesterday (and I also went on the elliptical last night . . .).

Secondly, I found a great runner to talk to during the first time around. That's good - it made that first loop go quickly!  But, she was doing only one time around (her longest distance to date) and was younger and faster. She was doing intervals, too, but she was doing 90 second run/30 second walk, while I do 90 second run/45 second walk. But we were having such an interesting conversation that I wanted to stay with her. So, even though I KNOW the 90 second run/45 second walk works best for me, I ran with her the entire first loop.

We got to the end of the first time around, and I was feeling sore and tired. I debated ending there and being satisfied with 7.7 miles. This is where running has made me stronger mentally I believe (and running is at least 90% mental). The debate with myself lasted about 30 seconds, and then I decided I would at least START the second loop. I knew there was a turn about a mile after the start, and I could always turn back. I got to that point, and told myself I would try a little further. There is another point where the course crosses on itself - if you go to the right, it's  about 3 miles back to that crossing point. I got to that point and the decision was to either turn right and go the distance, or turn left and end up with about 12 miles (still a decent run). I turned right!  I have learned to persevere through running.

At this point, I thought I was the last person in the race - I didn't see anyone ahead of me nor behind me.  Finally I came upon another runner. I don't mind being last (a few years ago at this very same race, I tried to be last. Another runner and Ikept slowing down because we each wanted to be last!).  It turns out there were actually 3 people behind me - the others were so far back I couldn't see them.

I was struggling a bit and walked through a few of my running intervals.  Finally, I could see the finish line!  It seems like it took a long time to get there, though, once I saw it.

I ended up finishing the 25K!  I was (and still am) very sore and tired, but I made it. And, for signing up (it was only  $10), I got a nice, new, soft sweatshirt.

My running motto has always been "no excuses".  Maybe it should be "perseverance"!

Gotta run/No Excuses

Also, I have an instagram account - it's mostly my animals, but I post running/race pictures there sometimes:  https://www.instagram.com/catdrich/

Long Time, No Post (Again!)

It's been a long time since I posted. This is just a brief post to say I will be back!  Even though I accomplished some running goals last year, life got busy and I didn't write much.  I have a busy, fun, race schedule planned this year, and I hope to write about my training and my race experiences.

Gotta Run!