Running During a Pandemic

After the Black Mountain Marathon, ran on February 29, I had a few days of an achy body and two weeks of coughing. Cindy also came down with what turned out to be bronchitis, we think. Of course, I am generally sore after a marathon and sometimes have a bit of cold as the immune system is compromised. At that point, we were only hearing bits and pieces about COVID-19 since our own republican government was calling it a hoax. To this point, the hoax has killed 140,000 Americans and 100's of thousands of humans across the world. In mid-March, states were shutting down with stay-at-home orders. I felt like myself again and started running. Cindy was still struggling and finally was able to get a doctor's visit who provided some relief from bronchitis.

As every running event was being canceled, my running picked up as a way to stay healthy, to proactively recognize breathing issues, and generally just get outside. In the Spring I had two marathons scheduled; Blue Ridge and Flying Pig, my second Blue Ridge, and my 6th Flying Pig. The Blue Ridge Marathon canceled but deferred runners' registration to 2021. The Flying Pig postponed until October but provided multiple options for participating: virtually, defer to October or defer until 2021, 2022, or 2023. When I reviewed my registration, I noticed that I had registered twice. This is what happens when you run multiple marathons a year and you can't remember what you registered for. So, for one registration I deferred until October and the other one I deferred until 2021. However, since the October date is one week before the 20th Baltimore Marathon, of which I have participated all 20 years, I may drop to the half-marathon if I run at all. The other event planned was the Black Mountain Monster 24-hour event on June 6. It was eventually canceled for 2020 with our registrations be deferred to 2021.

So what's a runner to do in a pandemic where the order of the day was to stay-at-home? Well. run! I am not keen on virtual events. Except to support an organization and the people/companies involved in producing them, from a running perspective, it makes no sense. However, to go run a marathon anyway on the day you were supposed to run a marathon, sure, might as well keep up the training and give it a go. Make it interesting in some way.

The All Streets Parkwood Marathon

The Blue Ridge Marathon was supposed to be on April 18. On March 16 it was canceled. I had just started running more seriously after the two weeks bout of coughing and aches. At that point, I thought about running a marathon on that date anyway but wasn't sure where to run it. I would need some way to have aid stations. Last July I ran 17 loops (1.5 miles each) around the lake I live on having my truck set-up at the end of the driveway as an aid station. But, I didn't feel like running that many loops. A couple weeks before the marathon date, I decided to run every street in Parkwood, more precisely, a portion of them. That day I ran 14 miles. The next weekend I ran the rest of the streets so that I could figure out 26.2 miles. I would need to add a couple of extra miles to get to 26.2 but it would encompass all the streets in Parkwood. Plus, I could use my house again as an aid station and have my wife meet me at another place for aid, thus 3 aid stations every 7 miles and then at the finish.

The Loopin' Lake Marathon

On the weekend of what would have been my sixth Flying Pig Marathon, which was canceled, I decided to do the 2nd Loopin' Lake Marathon around my home on Parkwood Lake. The loop is 1.5 miles so 17+ loops. I would pass my house each loop and could easily set-up an aid station in the back of my pickup truck just like I did in the summer of 2019. It was a perfect day to run. The temperature was 56 degrees and dew point 51 degrees. I added two smaller loops so that I could finish at my house. My time was 4:14:17 although had an elapsed time of 4:22:33. This was my third unofficial marathon but hey, 26.2 miles is still 26.2 miles!

Since March 9

Since March 9 it has been 144 days of pretty much staying at home. I don't mean this literally as we have taken the dogs on rides and walks, have run and walked, did grocery shopping, and visited three restaurants. Although some have struggled with motivation to run the very act has kept me sane and engaged. Frankly, its the most miles I have run in many years and likely at the end of the year will be the most I have ever run. Two races are still scheduled: Hinson Lake 24-hour and the Baltimore Marathon. Of course, with the crazy surges in cases due to irresponsibility of people and the pure lack of leadership and care nationally, likely, these will be canceled as well. So here is what I have been able to do since March 9.

• Ran 128 out of 144 days 683.88 miles
• Ran 2 unofficial marathons
• Ran 8 unofficial half marathons+
• Ran a high of 52.08 miles in one week
• Currently on a streak of 28 consecutive days of running and 29 runs

I miss the race experience no matter the distance. I was also hoping for some age group awards having turned 60 on February 28 and being the youngest in the age group. For now, I will just do what is safe. My new distance goal for the year is 2,020 miles. It is a stretch to keep it going through the rest of the year but I think we all need stretch goals right now we will never know when our health is snatched from us, particularly these days when people care less about others.

Run strong, Run Healthy.