Running Ruminations

Ah, another week of a COVID-affected life is behind us, and the most notable change since last week’s writing is that California extended our shelter-in-place order through May 31. Realistically, that means nothing changed since last week, though it feels like talks are beginning to hypothesize what “normal” will look like, whenever that begins. Governor Newsom announced last week that hospitals could begin scheduling the important surgeries that had to be delayed initially, and in yesterday’s conference, he intimated about what the 2020-21 school-year might resemble, suggesting that school might begin as early as July (!!!!)  or August, with a ton of modifications to the standard school set-up. 

So really, since last week, there hasn’t been any remarkable, concrete differences that I can think of (or at least that are affecting my or my family’s life), just more garden variety hypothesizing and armchair quarterbacking (epidemiologisting?) about what cities, states, or the federal government should or shouldn’t do and what should or shouldn’t happen.

I realize I may sound pretty salty about everything right now; that’s my bad. Just like anyone else, I’m frustrated that I can’t do anything more but stay home and wash my hands prolifically. It feels like everything is moving glacially slowly. I wish I could do more.

Anyway, in the running world, more races have begun to openly talk about the likelihood of cancellations or postponements, too. A few come to mind: locally, races like Wharf to Wharf and its sister race, Little Wharf (both cancelled in-person and moved to virtual), the San Francisco Marathon (rescheduled to November), the Berkeley Half Marathon (rescheduled to December), and further afield, like the Chicago Marathon (giving participants the option to cancel for 2020 and get guaranteed entry for 2021, though participants would have to pay again), Grandma’s (cancelled in-person and moved to virtual), and there has been some chattering that the postponed London Marathon, set for October, may be run as an elite-only event, presumably like Tokyo did, before COVID really blew up. These aren’t easy calls to make (especially many months out from the original race dates), and my heart goes out to the RDs who are making some tough decisions with limited information. 

It was also within the past week that my eldest’s school district communicated to families about grading and expectations for the final trimester, too. Essentially, students in primary grades are expected to participate in the online class sessions each week and to submit their assignments on time (electronically). However, teachers won’t be doing any type of assessing or grading over the final trimester. In a nutshell, then: kids should be doing their work, but they won’t be getting any grades. Their final report card will have summative comments, but they won’t be getting the typical breakdown and assessments on the various core competencies they are supposed to be mastering at this stage in their education. It makes sense, given the constraints and issues of equity and access, but it is still no doubt a stressful situation for everyone involved — students, their families supporting their at-home schooling, teachers, everyone. I’m in it, and I feel for everyone. 

On occupying time and settling mental unrest:

Cooking. Nothing too out of the ordinary here, just more taco creations (mushrooms and Cuban black beans combination as well as a squash-onion-pepper-diced tomatoes with peppers variety) and more soup (what we call “sister soup” in my household, since both the girls really like it. It’s a pretty simple vegetable soup). Plus a ton of leftovers, still.  

Reading. I finished Chasing My Cure (and then I went down a NYT rabbithole about the author), restarted Kindness and Wonder again (since my library loan expired), and the kids and I began reading Ralph S. Mouse. If you’re in the market for some interesting emails sent to you each week, I’ve really enjoyed the NYT’s Running newsletter each week (Saturday mornings) as well as Alison Wade’s Fast Women newsletter (Monday mornings). You also can’t go wrong with The Morning Shakeout (Tuesday mornings) or The Growth Equation (Thursday mornings), either. 

Listening. I’ve really enjoyed listening to tons of running podcasts lately, focusing on the trials in Atlanta, and I especially enjoyed Keira D’Amato on I’ll Have Another, Des Linden on the same, Molly Seidel and her coach on the same, as well as Seidel solo on the newly-released podcast called More Than Running with Dana Giordano. I’ve only been listening to podcasts on some of my runs lately, so it can be an excellent motivator to get out the door (and to keep going!). 

Running. More of the same, lots of very chill mileage with a healthy amount of climbing in my neighborhood, and all solo, of course. In somewhat miraculous news, I’ve become a bit more regimented in my ancillary work within the past week — apparently it only took 7 weeks of thinking about it to finally begin — so hopefully that can be a habit that I make stick. I’m THRILLED that my eldest has decided that she wants to begin training for a 5k (especially since swimming is still on hiatus for the foreseeable future), and I can’t tell you the immense joy that I have felt on the run with her in the few times we’ve gone out already. We’re following a run/walk strategy from Girls on the Run, and she’s having a blast with it already. It makes my heart sing. 

And you? 

Stay safe, and be well, friends. xo