I vowed I would not document anything Covid-related. I cannot imagine a time in the future during which I will want to remember or reflect on the pandemic. The lockdown was, well, shall we say, very unpleasant. But the one thing it couldn’t take away from me was the ability to get outside and RUN! Despite my aversion to writing anything that includes the words Covid or pandemic, there are some good things that happened in 2020 and beyond that brought me joy.
At the top of the list was having Dan join me on a regular basis for my afternoon runs. We easily logged more miles together during that period than the rest of our marriage combined. We’d sign off work late afternoon and hit the trails. Of course that’s what everyone else was doing, since it was the only thing you COULD do, but we made it our routine and the exercise was so rewarding.
Races were cancelled, of course. I had signed up for the Ely marathon in September 2020 hoping that race was small enough and remote enough to happen, but nope, it also fell victim to the government overreach. But I kept on running. Though we thought it was silly to sign up for and pay for virtual races, we eventually did just that. It still provided motivation and a sense of accomplishment, plus we needed to support the race organizations to keep them in business. So I did virtual races through the Boston Athletic Association and Twin Cities in Motion. Dan and I both did the TC 10 mile in October of 2020 and did our run in Elgin. The change of scenery and low traffic trail made it so enjoyable. My parents made a start/finish line for us and it was fun to share our accomplishment with them. In March of 2021, TCM brought back some in-person races. We signed up for a spring race that allowed 250 entrants, all of whom started in pairs and in staggered fashion. I was so excited! It wasn’t until the day before the event I realized they were not shutting down the course to participants only. Basically, we paid money to run our normal route with the normal levels of trail traffic. At the start of the race, they paired everyone up to start and then had about 20 seconds between pairs. For whatever reason, Dan and I weren’t paired together which was totally odd. Dan started and finished ahead of me, but was waiting for me at the finish line and despite my misgivings, it turned out to be quite fun. It was a promise of more good things to come.
I resumed marathon training, with the hopes that I’d be able to use my deferred registration for the Ely marathon in September of 2021. Summer training is always a bit challenging with the heat, plus we moved that summer adding another layer of stress. However, the race date rolled around and I felt ready, and thankfully it wasn’t cancelled! I had previously run the Ely half but this would be my first full. The course is quite tough. There are a LOT of hills and not rolling hills but BIG hills. It’s a small event, which is nice. I ended up running part of the race with a guy from the Twin Cities. It was okay for a little while and the conversation provided some distraction from the hills, but at one point I felt ready to break away but felt guilty leaving him behind. I did what I had to, reminding myself I didn’t owe him anything, but I still felt badly because he never really said “go on ahead” which is customary in those situations. I struggled through the remaining miles, vowing to never run that race again. Crossing the finish line, I burst into tears, upset with the level of discomfort I was in and for leaving someone behind. I remember my Dad handing me a hanky and Dan saying you always feel this way after a race and that it would be okay. Eventually, the guy I met on the course finished and came over to thank me for running with him. We congratulated each other and that made me feel better. Still, I am not running that marathon ever again ;).
The next weekend, Dan and I did the TC 10 mile. I wasn’t sure it was the best idea to race back-to-back weekends, but figured I could take it easy on the 10 mile. I ended up having a pretty good race and was glad I did it. Plus, we had already paid for the registration the year before, and it’s hard to not do races that start so close to home (like a block away!).
Now that races were back, I needed something else to look forward to and train for. I signed up for the Magnolia District marathon in Waco, TX in April 2022. This race is special, as Chip Gaines started it to raise money for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. The local connection was certainly an added draw. I was set to start training in December of 2021 but ended up injured. I took a couple of weeks off which didn’t help and finally decided to make a doctor appointment. Turns out, I had a herniated disc which was pushing on the nerves down my leg. I tried physical therapy and an injection, and when nothing seemed to help, had to downgrade to the half marathon. My doctor and I agreed I could pursue that distance, and then I’d take some time off afterwards with the hopes of it healing on its own.
The Magnolia event was quite honestly the best race experience. Everything was based at the Silo District. Packet pick up was outside. We got my packet and then wandered around the fun shops. Certainly beats a packed convention center! Before the race, we were allowed to hang out in the same space! No crowded corrals and long lines for porta potties. I used a bathroom with running water and then lounged on a bean bag chair before I casually made my way over to the start. Chip was there to see the runners off. He even made eye contact with me and waved to me as I crossed the starting line, and though I felt like a silly schoolgirl, it was certainly one of the highlights of the morning! The course took us through Baylor University, along the Brazos river, and across various parts of Waco. It was great for my spectators as they were able to see me at multiple points along the way. Jeff and Kathy Pruitt joined us for the trip, and despite the early hour, made it down to see me run. Kathy even insisted on running a bit with me, which makes me smile every time I think about it. And as always, Dan was there to provide support and snap some pictures. It was hot in Waco that spring day, and I hadn’t run in the heat for about 6 months due to MN’s extremely long and cold winter/spring. The heat was a good distraction from pain, though, and I managed to complete the half in just over 2 hours. I was pleased with that.
Taking time off wasn’t quite as challenging as I was imagining, though there were days I longed to go for a run. Dan and I would go for walks instead of runs, and joined Basecamp Fitness to get some strength work in. I started running again at the end of July with the hopes of toeing the line for the TC 10 mile in October. Things are certainly improved, so I am encouraged.
I can never overstate the important role running has played in my life. This was fully evident during the pandemic. When all else was forbidden, running was still there for us. It gave us something to look forward to, and provided great mental and physical health benefits as well. Even when we escaped the city and spent time at Izaty’s and Ely, we got outside and logged mile after mile. I look forward to many more miles this fall and beyond. It’s good to be back in more ways than you can imagine ;).
