April 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

hamsterwheel6

Liking all the raccoon stories, I don't have any.

Welcome again to the newcomers.

6.9 miles today. Felt good even though it was a wind chill of 41F (the winds were strong today!)
This roller coaster weather is crazy. I was in shorts and tank the other day. Today tights and long sleeve warmish half zip.
Not as crowded in the morning as it gets here. I think people are coming after 10 or so and then it's packed all day.
I'm just glad I get my run in in the mornings. If people continue not following guidelines, it may be longer than 30 more days.

On the plus side, local restaurants are offering discounts, and we are doing our part to help them out.
Have a yummy dinner order placed for curbside pick up later!

Scott6255

8 miles during lunch Another rough 1st mile, but miles 2-8 were good. If I can just get that first mile under control, I'll be doing good.



C-word update below

My wife's aunt and uncle (82 and 90 respectively) live in an assisted living center across the street from us. He was in the hospital 2 weeks ago with pneumonia. This past Sunday he went back in with similar symptoms, but this time he tested positive for COVID-19. The aunt has stage 3 Alzheimer's. She could have been brought to the memory care side of the facility, but she cannot live or be left alone for more than 30 minutes at a time. So we made the tough decision to bring her home with us. She was tested this morning, but won't get results for a couple days. But even if results are negative, she could still be carrying it since it has up to a 2 week incubation period. So now we are at risk of being exposed. We have her quarantined in one side of the house, and taking all precautions, but still at high risk. So just have to wait it out. But not feeling any symptoms so far.

username301

So after a very good Jan and a very wobbly Feb. March was just a complete fail. I am really very annoyed with myself. But I just don't want to run.

April is another chance. But if I can't stick April, its probably curtains.

1 April...5k, morning routine and Weights.

quilteryoyo

Prayers for you @Scott6255 . I know that was a very hard decision to make. I hope you all remain healthy!

@username301 The best advice I can give you is "Don't let perfection get in the way of progress." It's only a failure if you don't try again. Learn from the things that sidelined you last month and make changes where you can. You can do this. You already have a great start.

Today's 4 mile treadmill run (plus 1 mile walk) is brought to you by NCIS. I have been using my running in April for the last few years to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I ask my friends to pledge an amount of money to donate per mile that I run. I am doing that this month again. For that, I am only counting my running miles, because I should be able to run 50 miles, if I follow my plan. I hope to make around $500 for the cause. BTW, I am not soliciting here. I am only putting it out there as a way you could possibly raise money for a cause that is dear to your heart.

PastorVincent

username301 wrote: »

So after a very good Jan and a very wobbly Feb. March was just a complete fail. I am really very annoyed with myself. But I just don't want to run.

April is another chance. But if I can't stick April, its probably curtains.

1 April...5k, morning routine and Weights.

Here will be some unpopular advice. If you do not want to run, then do not. Find another way to be active that you want to do. Running is a great choice for lots of reasons, but it is not for everyone. You need to find what is right for you and do that.

PastorVincent

quilteryoyo wrote: »

Prayers for you @Scott6255 . I know that was a very hard decision to make. I hope you all remain healthy!

This. Sorry man, you have a tough road to walk ahead of you even without COVID-19.

PastorVincent

Love the raccoon stories and pics! The closest thing I have is one that walks by my security cameras a couple-few times a month. The coon comes by around 1 or 2 am, so unlikely will ever see them.

kgirlhart

PastorVincent wrote: »

username301 wrote: »

So after a very good Jan and a very wobbly Feb. March was just a complete fail. I am really very annoyed with myself. But I just don't want to run.

April is another chance. But if I can't stick April, its probably curtains.

1 April...5k, morning routine and Weights.

Here will be some unpopular advice. If you do not want to run, then do not. Find another way to be active that you want to do. Running is a great choice for lots of reasons, but it is not for everyone. You need to find what is right for you and do that.

I totally agree with this. If you really don't enjoy running then there are plenty of other types of exercise. Life is too short to do things that make you miserable.

kgirlhart

PastorVincent wrote: »

quilteryoyo wrote: »

Prayers for you @Scott6255 . I know that was a very hard decision to make. I hope you all remain healthy!

This. Sorry man, you have a tough road to walk ahead of you even without COVID-19.

I agree with this too. You are in a really tough situation. I hope you all stay well.

LoveyChar

8.2 miles today

Elise4270

yall see the memes thread? ha! Its MY 600LB LIFE doc!

oh no run, 'cept to the bathroom a few times. no walk. days over and I still did nothing all day. I did look up the Peloton bike. Nah. I don't wanna spend that much PLUS a monthly subscription. Road bike on the trainer cost half that and no monthly fee.

bearly63

@scott6255 so sorry to hear that!! I hope you can keep everyone safe ❤️

@quilteryoyo I love NCIS. I could run a marathon staring at Gibbs.

@shanaber agree....I used to ride a beach cruiser from my house in Costa Mesa down to the beach in Newport- lots of hills and no gears! The good ol days!

katharmonic

@Scott6255 hoping you all remain healthy and you are able to safely care for your aunt. What a hard and scary situation. Thinking of you.


Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
04/01/20 :::: 5.0 :::: 5.0

First run of April was speedwork, done on my own at the track. The track I wanted to go to was closed, which it wasn't last week, so I was disappointed because it is usually pretty empty. I headed to another track and it was open. Signs around to adhere to social distancing and governor's orders, but open. There were only a handful of people there mid-afternoon so the distancing was pretty easy.

The workout coach gave us this week to do on our own was 1 minute intervals. 1 minute hard, 1 minute easy, repeat times 12. I did about 10 minutes warmup and then added on to my cooldown to get to 5 miles. This is the speedwork that I dread the least, the short intervals, so it was a decent one to do alone and I think my pace was pretty comparable or even slightly better than what did last time I did this workout with my coach and group.

Avidkeo

Hugs @Scott6255

nothing interesting for me to report today really. Slept in till 9 (first time I've done that in a while!) did some knitting, went for a 6.3k walk as its rest day. Did some cross stitch while watching random YouTube videos. Came to work.

Oh and ate EVERYTHING. I can't gety eating under control. I start off well but by 5pm I'm saying screw this, and just going for it. I think a combination of boredom, stress and just giving up caring.

Been 2 days of this. I don't think it will last long, I think i just need to get more into a routine, and perhaps accept the situation. I have not accepted it yet I think. It still hurts when hubby steps away to maintain distance, or tells the girls to not come into the bathroom, or I have to actually back away from them.

Yah, no wonder I'm eating!

Hmmm maybe to channel the eating into working out. 20 squats everytime I think of getting food...

At least I'm well fueled for my 8k tomorrow, and 16k on Saturday!

hanlonsk

So, nothing useful to contribute for April, yet. Because, friggin cold and snowy. And Friggin cold and snowy + running + pollen advisory = coughing/sneezy/wheezy = things that will lead to recreating last week’s office drama, and I do NOT need that. And not needing that is more imperative than myself or my fluffiness needing the run.

But- this is a pic that I saw in a completely unrelated application/group/context - I cropped the context that came with it, because it is unimportant.... but the instant I saw it, I thought of @pastorvincent and @AlphaHowls for some reason; and so please know y’all remotely made me smile today. Dew claws up!!!! Love you all!



@avidkeo and @scott6255 I cannot possibly comprehend what the two of you are going through.
You are both doing amazing things. And also putting my current gripes into perspective. I just wish I had ways to help either of you. I am always trying to fix things, and this situation not being fixable is very much what stresses me.

Very unimportant personal gripe/vent below. But I live alone, so- its coming out somewhere, and here is less destructive than other options- I think?

One of my gripes: I am getting a TON of pushback from superiors right now. We are on reduced staffing, no face to face customer contact, etc, like the rest of you- only my gals don’t have telework abilities.

My stand has been “My job as supervisor is to make decisions in the best interest of my employees.” And since both employees are 60+ and have caregiving responsibilities to folks like 85 year old mothers, etc. I feel that their best interest is to keep them home, keep them healthy, and allow them limited office time. ESPECIALLY, since some people don’t seem to understand “for the love of all that is holy do not come to work if you are sick!!!!”
So, yes, I know I’m supposed to have a “rotation” while we are on reduced staffing. But if you give me an OPTION of keeping my employees home, and healthy.... without costing them pay or leave.... I am going to do whatever I can to do so. If that was NOT supposed to be the conclusion I came to- then you should have told me upfront. (Or I am on this “protect my employees island by myself, which is entirely possible?) But, especially when cleaning supplies are limited and thus the “twice a day disinfecting” of common surfaces, is not sustainable and improbable at best.... fewer people in the equation, the better.

And if that is the stance you (you=work people) want to take- it will be clear to more than just my two gals that our “rotation” and “limited staffing” is not actually meant to be in the best interests of employees, or limit exposure, it is just something being done to make us think you are doing something.


My other gripe is more personal failings- I knew as a rural town/ranch kid, I had housekeeping deficiencies. But, about the time I think I know what I’m doing about this situation in terms of cleanliness.... I realize I haven’t even started. I’m not dealing with anything near the infection dilemmas some of you are.... and in fact I live alone- but trying to “leave no trace” so to speak... especially given the above work “rotations” and lack of supplies ... I am trying to limit what I carry from 1 day to the next and 1 space to the next. Like those instructions you see on “if you are an essential worker /going to work- do x-y-z when you get home before doing anything else” lists stress me out, as I never even thought of half of them. And when I think I have home OR work disinfecting procedure figured out, I hear/see/think of something that never crossed my mind..... I am just overwhelmed with the idea of going thru the world trying to “get all the glitter off.” (As one doctor explained the infection concept, as it pertained to groceries- all of this is covered in glitter - the goal is to get all the glitter off before it is all over your house- And since I seem to be struggling, I latched to the simplicity of the concept.) I’m just amazed by what never was on my radar before, and overwhelmed by the idea that my failings on this, could significantly and swiftly impact others.

End vent, for today, anyways.

Run for happy, stay healthy, and all that other stuffs.

shanaber

janejellyroll wrote: »

@shanaber Is there anything worse than having it be absolutely gorgeous on a planned rest day? (I mean, yes, there is stuff that is worse, but this is one of my pet peeves). I usually can't resist temptation and wind up moving the rest day so I can get a run in.

@janejellyroll - yah - I ended up doing a short Peloton strength workout and then going for a short run/walk with the pup. It was just too pretty out to not get out there. Oh and it is supposed to start raining in the next few days again so I am going to take advantage of the nice weather as much as I can!

@Scott6255 - Definitely sending you lots of hugs! That is such a tough situation.

@username301 - I agree with @pastorvincent but with a caveat. Is it that you really don't want or like to run? Or is it that it is hard, you get sweaty, you hate the treadmill, you don't like running alone or just that the first mile is terrible? If you really don't want or like to run then I agree find something else you like to do that will get your HR up.
If it is any of the 2nd set of possibilities then try changing things up, where you run (get outside, in a park, somewhere with fun things to look at or watch some interesting program if you are stuck running on a treadmill); or who you run with (find a group or just a running buddy to run with); or find an interesting podcast to get into or some music you love to get you moving.

@elise4270 - you might check out the Peloton app and try some of the workouts on your bike. It is free for 90 days. I don't know what just the app costs, guess I will check that out at the end of June. In the meantime I did a couple of the workouts today (a strength one and a running one that I mostly listened too and walked). They are fun have good music and I found it pretty motivating. The strength one was only 30 mins, moved pretty fast and would have been better if I had watched first and knew what to expect but it was good and I will definitely do it again.

rheddmobile

@Scott6255 That’s really rough. Caring for someone with dementia is super stressful to begin with, and then add the worries of keeping isolation... thinking of you.

My husband and I did 7 something miles in the neighborhood, at least 5 were running. We went to the little patch of woods we are looking at for trails and explored some. Heard owls, saw a bunny, saw a deer. Found a little lake with two nesting geese who were very angry at being disturbed. It’s very rough back there, not sure what is people trail, what is deer track, and what is creek bed. Runnable though. I don’t know how many people go there at the best of times, but today we were all alone with no footprints anywhere, only a single bike had been there since the last time it rained.

There was a ton of traffic on the way to and from. I think people are mentally sick of isolation.

Melanie’s horses were up at the fence on the way back. Sorry, guys, no treats here!

We found a chimney!



Saw this chalked on the road on the way back.


Does anyone know what this plant is? I’m terrible at identifying plants. It was all over near the chimney.

Faebert

@Scott6255 - what an awful situation and what a wonderful family you are to step in. Wishing you all well.

@hanlonsk - you sound like you are making all the right calls for your employees and I wish you had the support from management you deserve. I hear you on the infection control front. I’m back in school next week to teach 5-11 year olds (children of essential workers can still go to school here) and to be honest it feels pretty futile trying to stay infection free when you are frequently sneezed on or touched by grubby little hands (and I mean that affectionately). Then home to my own two who will have been at their school. I’ll do my best but I’m guessing there will be glitter a plenty, to use that analogy.

@avidkeo I’m eating everything too 😬 and @Elise4270 yup, no excuses! Love that meme!!

Around 6k again today. I’m aiming to do 40 minutes every day which lands me at about that distance so actually well in line for the marathon a week challenge @katharmonic (I think it was yours) I will try and keep up!

April goal: 75 miles
April total: 7.3 miles

1/4: 3.6 miles
2/4: 3.7 miles

March: 76.4 m
February: 17.8 m
January: 0

eleanorhawkins

@Scott6255 nothing I can say that would help, but want to send hugs!

This morning was what Hal calls a 'base run' which I assumes means easy run but still doesn't feel exactly easy on the rather-be-deadmill. Still, got it done and he gave me a 100% score, which makes me pathetically happy!
I'm also doing a bit of yoga every evening after we have our daily 8pm round of balcony/window applause, and I'm doing Fitness Blender's 3 day flexibility challenge with my daughter, cause I've discovered she can't even touch her toes :-o We just finished the three days and will start over tomorrow, plus I hope to do an upper body strength workout as it'll be a rest day for the legs.

01/04: 4.81km tempo run
02/04: 6.57km base run

April goal: 144km. Run so far: 11.38km

Tramboman

rheddmobile wrote: »

@Scott6255 That’s really rough. Caring for someone with dementia is super stressful to begin with, and then add the worries of keeping isolation... thinking of you.

My husband and I did 7 something miles in the neighborhood, at least 5 were running. We went to the little patch of woods we are looking at for trails and explored some. Heard owls, saw a bunny, saw a deer. Found a little lake with two nesting geese who were very angry at being disturbed. It’s very rough back there, not sure what is people trail, what is deer track, and what is creek bed. Runnable though. I don’t know how many people go there at the best of times, but today we were all alone with no footprints anywhere, only a single bike had been there since the last time it rained.

There was a ton of traffic on the way to and from. I think people are mentally sick of isolation.

Melanie’s horses were up at the fence on the way back. Sorry, guys, no treats here!

We found a chimney!



Saw this chalked on the road on the way back.


Does anyone know what this plant is? I’m terrible at identifying plants. It was all over near the chimney.

Those are May apples.