After 6 weeks of staying home, working from home, no longer following a training plan, and just winging it week after week, this week there was a shift in my focus. I took a cut back week after my virtual half-marathon last weekend, but in general everything just felt different. Reality started to hit that things were not going back to normal any time soon. Work somehow got busier. The weather was dreary and we couldn’t get outside much. Running less + extra stress= an overall lousy mood. It was definitely the hardest week for me so far.
A Shift in Focus from Running
As someone who doesn’t mind being home all the time, the situation is not all that bad for me. I think what’s getting to me are the thoughts about what life will be like even when stay at home orders are lifted. Will we feel safe again for months, or even years? When will we be able to go back to work and school? Not to be a downer but I am not very optimistic that any big races will even happen in 2020. I hope I am wrong, but it just seems like until there is a vaccine/treatment (which will likely take another year) we won’t be able to do things like that.
Ok, so sorry for the rant. But that was the reality of my week. I think prior to this week my heavy focus on running and virtual races helped distract me. Plus it sort of felt more temporary those first few weeks. Lately I’ve had some really rough moments of trying to parent a toddler while also participating in webinars/calls. I’m grateful for the ability to turn off my video when things get really bad.
Here’s how the week of workouts looked:
Monday: Strength Training + Foam Rolling
Tuesday: Yoga
Wednesday: 3 Miles +Hip/Glute Exercises
Thursday: Strength Training + 3 Stroller Miles
Friday: 3 Miles + Core
Saturday: 5 Miles
Sunday: 20 Minute Spin Bike
As I said, this was a planned cutback week after my virtual half last weekend. I stuck to shorter runs and only ran 4 days this week. I did a lot of heavier strength training and was pretty sore throughout the week. I was on my treadmill a few times due to the weather and I also got out with the stroller once. We had been in the habit of going for walks every day, but lately the weather just hasn’t been great so it’s been harder to get out.
I am not sure what next week will bring. Part of me feels like I need to save my energy to deal with the stress of life. Another part of me feels like I need to run more to cope with everything. I am hoping that I can just get out of this funk and just find a happy medium with it all.
On a positive note, I am going to share a couple of good things from this week!
My new shoes came! These are the Brooks hyperion tempos (affiliate link). I have wanted to try them for awhile so I told myself if I ran sub 1:45 in my half last week that I could get them.
Earlier sunrises! The sun is starting to peak out as I am finishing up my morning runs. When I ran a little later on Saturday it was light out as I finished at 6:15. This is a great time of year for morning runners!
I hope you all had a good week and are trying to stay positive!
Have some weeks been harder than others for you throughout all of this?
What is something positive that happened this week?
Have you been running more or less than usual lately?
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I absolutely agree with you, Lisa, I don’t think any large-scale events are going to happen until we have a vaccine. And that could take up to 18 months. Which is fine, as we still have our running and other fitness routines!
You still had a great workout week even though you ran less than usual.
The kids here in Switzerland will go back to school in 2 weeks. Today, the hairdressers, beauty salons reopened. As long as everyone sticks to the rules, we’ll be fine!
I hope the return to school goes well there! Technically our schools are only closed for 2 more weeks right now, but I am fairly certain they will stay closed longer. Hopefully everything can reopen safely!
Agree, it seems unlikely that racing will return in 2020. Since we don’t have the outlet of racing it’s on each of us to look inward and find our own goals. Our state is talking about opening again at the end of this week, so we’re one step closer to “next normal”, not sure what that will look like.
It will be weird to start opening things up again. I just hope everyone can be safe so we don’t end up in a worse place and need to close everything up again!
I’ve definitely been thinking about what reopening will look like, and glad Va won’t be going first. I am cautious, but I think once we are able to open safely (whether that’s a few months or a year), I think we will mostly forget all this and go back to interacting as before. Our short attention span will be occupied with something else. I’m in awe of parents able to manage working at home with little ones. Hopefully the people you work with are understanding.
I agree we will eventually be focused on something else. I guess I just wonder how long it will take to get to that point.
Yes I am very lucky that my coworkers are understanding! For the most part I try to schedule my calls during his nap time, so that helps alot.
I also wonder what it will be like when things open up and I have a lot of anxiety about it. We can’t just pop back to normal! I do think it’s good to mix things up w your workouts.Nice week you had. Have a good one and thanks for linking up
I agree it will take awhile for things to get back to being even close to how they used to be!
I’m totally with you on reality setting in this week. I’m crossing my fingers the fall races will happen but it sure doesn’t seem likely.
YAY for new shoes!! There’s really nothing better than new running shoes. 🙂
I’ve been running more lately and it’s been a welcomed challenge/distraction through everything.
Hope you have a better week this week!! A shift in focus is always a good way to put things and helps with perspective, especially during times like these.
I think what makes me nervous about fall races is that they say the virus could have another surge this fall. I really hope that doesn’t happen!
Running is such a good way to cope during this time.
I absolutely agree with you. I often say “when things get back to normal” but I don’t like that phrase because I don’t believe that things are going to be back to the normal that we remember. I anticipate that things will start to open back up in CT sometime in June, but I am nervous about going back to the office, going back to the gym, etc.
I’m signed up for a Fall half marathon in Philly but who knows if that will actually happen.
Yep, exactly what you said! I want life to go back to normal, but I dont know how long that will take. And it makes me nervous that we will reopen to quickly. I think this whole thing will be a mess for awhile.
Sorry for the rough week. Lisa. Hope things pan out better this week. I am totally loving my early morning runs, even more with the merging daylight.! it will be interesting how things go in the next few months….it definitely will take everyone’s efforts to make it go smoothly.
Thanks! Yep, everyone will need to do their part to make the transition back go smoothly. I expect there will be plenty of bumps along the way.
I can totally relate. I think it comes and goes, the gravity of this “new normal”. I’m one who LOVES going out to restaurants, but I don’t think it’ll ever be the same…at least not any time soon, and that does make me sad.
You had a nice mix of workouts! I wish I could run in the early mornings but with my little one it’s just not possible right now!
I was thinking about that too…when the next time we would go out to eat. And even if restaurants can open up I dont think we would eat at one for a long time. It just seems so risky when we know the virus is still out there.
Some weeks are definitely harder than others. I have a hard time with this and sometimes it gets me really down. You’re doing great and you’re keeping strong.
I hear ya. I’ve already felt like this is a better week for some reason (but its only Monday, so there is a long way to go!) It seems like alot of people struggled last week. Maybe we all hit our breaking point!
I think some people use exercise as an escape, and that can be ok up to a point. I don’t have to deal with a toddler for my videos, thankfully, the dogs are allowed to join in and they don’t typically have tantrums.
I think the weather this month has made things really challenging. I felt so good after Saturdays’s sunshine, but after 2 straight days of rain I’m super tired again. 🙁
I think there will be a new normal. There will have to be. I also think it could be a long time before any races go on. Or if they do go on, I don’t think I’d want to participate. Too many of my loved ones are at risk.
So good — that poke bowl. Man, I have no words for how good that was! And the sunshine & being able to relax & do Yoga in it!
The rain is making this really hard! (And the wind, and cooler weather…) I do think I have been using exercise as an escape, and that is probably part of the reason that last week hit me so hard.
And I agree about race participation even if the races are held. There are so many things I will probably avoid doing for a long time.
Glad you can focus on some of the good things going on!
I just got the Hyperion Tempos too!! So fun.
Awesome reward for a sub 1:45 🙂
I am so excited to run in them more! Hope you are liking them!
oooooh! Nice shoes!! You’ll have to give them a review after you get some miles on them. Or are they shoes that you save for a race?
I’m thinking I will use them for workouts, or any kind of faster running. I wore them in my virtual 5k yesterday and they felt great!
Every week has been different for me so I know what you mean. Right now I try to go with the flow and take it day by day. I also doubt any races will take place this year. I guess this year is the time to work on getting stronger to PR races next year. 🙂
You are right. And if the races do happen, then that will be a nice surprise!