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After many months of feeling really good, this week rheumatoid arthritis awoke from its hibernation and unleashed some hurt on me. I don't know if it was due to the Humira wean my rheumatologist had me doing or if it was the rainy, cold weather we had this week, but I was not feeling good. With my final half marathon of the year (virtual) scheduled for Saturday, I wasn't even sure if that was going to happen.
Fortunately, I finally had a good nights' sleep on Friday and woke up Saturday to sunshine and much less pain. Was it the Chil Wellness salve I slathered all over my joints the night before? I don't know but I was really grateful for feeling better. I was determined to run my race and I was rewarded with a strong run. I'm sharing the details below. This was my last virtual race of the year and hopefully forever. I'm so over virtual racing and ready to get back to live events. But who knows what 2021 will bring?
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: Run 5 miles
Wednesday: Trail run 6 miles
Thursday: Strength (at home)
Friday: run 5 miles
Saturday: Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon (virtual)
Sunday: rest/recovery
November miles: 110
2020 miles: 1094
Running
I woke up before my alarm went off at 4:30 on Tuesday-again! Since I was already awake and it was the first snow of the season, I decided to do one for the 'gram. I headed out into the dark and snow. The snow was heavy and wet. It was a slow, slushy run and I was glad to be finished when I got back to my warm house.
That snow changed to rain and I thought I was going to have to postpone my Wednesday trail run to Thursday. Fortunately, there was a break in the rain and I got myself to the preserve with the limestone path. I figured my wooded trail would be too wet. Ok, the radar didn't show the drizzle which was with me for most of my run. On the plus side, there was no wind. Seeing 3 of my deer friends was a treat too! As I finished up with the final mile of my run, the skies opened up and it began to rain for real. The rain didn't let up for the rest of the day. Talk about good timing!
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| playing peek-a-boo! |
Friday morning, I woke up in a world of hurt, a full-blown RA flare. I considered staying in bed and calling off work, but since I was the only provider scheduled, I knew I had to suck it up and go in. I got up to run on the bike path, but my legs were so stiff, I felt like the tin man. Contrary to what you might think, though, movement actually helps loosen things up! Not wanting to push too hard, I brought back the run/walk intervals. I also started to worry about my planned virtual half for the next day. While I finished my 5 miles and made it to work, I was really discouraged about the return of my RA symptoms.
As I mentioned above, before I went to bed on Friday, I slathered my joints with that Chil Wellness Aspen's' Maximum strength salve. I slept really well and when I woke up on Saturday, I felt much better than I had all week! I wore an old race shirt from a past version of the race for good luck. I decided to stick with my plan to do run/walk intervals. I didn't set a goal finish time but I had an idea of how I wanted to run this, hoping to average about 10 m/m. I also couldn't do the actual race route because it is point-to-point and I was running alone. On the fly, I made some detours on side paths so that I would only have to do the main loop once. But running math is hard and I got in my head a few times, trying to sort out the distance, lol. Those mental gymnastics kept my mind occupied and the miles passed by quickly. I felt great. I stuck to my plan of 4:1 intervals.
Full disclosure: I did pause my Garmin a few times when I stopped to snap photos and once to say hi to some running friends. I also didn't run the official USTAF-certified course, modifying as I mentioned above. My moving finish time was 2:08:15, which surpassed my expectations and I was really happy about that.
Later on, a friend pointed out to me that my elapsed time for my run on Strava was 2:22:43 and suggested that I should count that as my actual finish time. Because as you know, in a real race, the clock doesn't stop. While I understand all of this, this was not a real race, it was a virtual race. I am confident that if this were a 'real race', my results would have been the same as my moving time today. But now I'm feeling conflicted. Curious how many of you run a virtual race without stopping? On a course of your choice or do you run the actual course? Does what I did make my results less valid? Where do you draw the line?
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| Earned, never given No matter how you measure my finish time, I ran the distance. |
Strength/CrossFit
On Monday, I did the bootcamp version of the WOD at home. It was a 30 minute AMRAP of 250m row (I ran on the TM), 5 power cleans, 10 front squats, 5 jerks, 10 pull-ups (I subbed body rows on the TRX, and 20 single-leg V-ups. I completed 5 full rounds plus an additional 250m run and 5 power cleans as a start to round 6.
Sammy Jo was off on Thursday, but she left me homework: 4 rounds of perfect push-ups (10) alternating with 4 front rack lunges. Then I did 4 rounds of 2 cleans plus 3 front squats (I built to 60#) alternating with 8 push presses.
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| 8 x 60# Heavy AF |
Off the Road
Thanksgiving was just the 4 of us. I really enjoyed our scaled-down Thanksgiving. My husband outdid himself with the meal and my oldest made an apple cranberry crisp. After dinner, we played Fibbage and Quiplash--my boys are so funny and I was crying because they made me laugh so hard! We also Zoom chatted with the rest of my family. My parents went to my sister's house--they were all wearing masks. I'm glad my sister was feeling well enough to host my parents! My younger sister was at home with her family in New York. We also talked about Christmas--it looks as if it will be a socially distant celebration. I look forward to next year when hopefully we can all celebrate in person!
Kim made this collage of all of us run bloggers doing our turkey trotting thing. I've been part of this runblog group for a long time. Every time I think about shutting down the blog, besides my readers, it's these ladies who keep me coming back every week. I am very thankful for such a supportive community of women. It's been a tough year and their support, as well as all my readers, has sustained me.
How was your week? Did you Turkey Trot? How do you virtually race--do you run continuously or do you stop for photos or fuel? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved ones in person or virtually? Have you ever played any Jackbox games? PS on Monday, Chil Wellness is offering 50% off everything! Use the code CYBERMONDAY. I know I'll be stocking up on my favorite salve!
I say that the 2:08 time stands. In a virtual race you make the rules, and stopping so that you can be the course photographer and say hi to friends is 100% legit. With that said, I haven't stopped the Garmin for any of my virtuals, but that's because I've run fewer races and my goal is to get a true PR. If I stopped the clock, I'd get recovery time so that would skew my results faster. We love Jackbox in our family! Quiplash and Trivia Murder party are our favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I agree with you 100%, which is why I was so shocked by the comment. I never ever considered that stopping my Garmin was an issue in a virtual run.
DeleteYou are total BADASS!! When you said the RA was flaring, I was thinking there was no way you'd run the virtual half, since you were feeling lukewarm about it anyway. But you totally kicked its ass and earned that medal. Treat yourself to something... a cookie, an extra glass of wine, something - you deserve it!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd be conflicted about the time quandary too, but you know what? It doesn't really matter... it's not a "real" race, and all these virtual runs are a compromise anyway. It's all different this year. You know what your real racing/moving time was, and that's all that matters.
Yeah, I was pretty shocked at how well I ran yesterday but I had been training for it! So it shouldn't have been a total surprise--just that RA put a kink in my plans. I was thrilled with the outcome!
DeleteGreat job in your half! I think you should do whatever you are comfortable with for the results. I don't stop my watch when I do virtual races but really- they are just for fun anyway. I did place in a virtual race a few months ago and had to send me Garmin results, so that kind of situation is a little different. I don't think most virtual races even do awards.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been in one where I had to submit Garmin results. If that was the case, then I'd run without stopping. Sigh. 2020 has really changed things, hasn't it?
DeleteYeah your race, your rules. You ran the entire distance. That race is done and dusted.
ReplyDeleteOh and I agree w/ Lisa above--I've had one virtual race where I needed to submit my actual Garmin results. The rest of them haven't required that, and that wasn't what you were dealing with either.
DeleteThank you! This is how I've always felt about virtual races. It's always good though, to hear what other people do.
DeleteHuh...is this a true friend whose intentions were pure? Why does anyone else care what time you claim for a virtual race? You got out there and did the miles. This person might need to find a new hobby other than creeping into your Strava details. To be honest, I haven't done any virtuals other than a 1 mile race series, which I didn't stop during since it was just a mile, but I stop plenty for bathrooms stops, pictures, etc on my normal runs and don't stress about it. Go with your moving time.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you still had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!
Thank you for weighing in! It is a good friend, which is why I wasn't able to just ignore the comment. 2020 seems to be the year of learning a lot about people, doesn't it?
DeleteWell, seeing as yours truly has had to default to biking a few of my virtuals this fall...I say the virtual race is at the runner's (ahem, participant's LOL) discretion. Unless all participants are running the virtual on the exact same route (ie- hills, traffic control, turns, tangents, etc.) everyone's results are going to be skewed anyways. Sorry the RA staged a nasty comeback...
ReplyDeleteYeah, me too! I'm glad I was able to get a good run in yesterday in spite of what was a tough week, RA-wise!
DeleteI try to not pause my Garmin during a virtual race -- but it's happened. Like in my last 5k. It's not like we're cheating anyone out of a AG award, so seriously, why does someone else even care? You're happy with your race -- that's really all that matters.
ReplyDeleteI do like to do a virtual and train a little harder once in a while. Luckily I didn't sign up for #allthevirtuals from the get-go, so I'm still ok with that.
Sorry RA gave you so much trouble this week but sounds like you finished strong! That's wonderful that your sister hosted your parents. She is obviously one tough lady, and I'm not surprised.
I guess my sister and I are 2 peas in a pod, aren't we? :p
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your RA flare but so proud of you fr kicking butt for your half marathon this weekend - congratulations! I'm also over the virtual races but I have no clue when live races will be available again where I live. As for your race time, I think your first instinct was correct and you should keep the moving time as your time entry.
ReplyDeleteI figured most everyone felt the same as me about virtual races--as Deborah said, my race my way, right? Now can we just have live races please?
DeleteGlad you had a nice Thanksgiving with your kids. It was less stressful to have a smaller event for sure although I did miss my parents. Sorry to hear that your RA was acting up again this week. You know this girl always stops for photos ha ha. I think it's pretty fantastic that you were able to do the distance while not feeling great. Who cares about the moving vs actual time! You completed and that's all that matters. 2020 rules are different than normal time rules :)
ReplyDeleteI was so happy to have a perfect day to do my half! It's been quite a year, hasn't it?
DeleteI was sad to miss out on your turkey trotting adventures but loved seeing everyone's pics! Sorry about the flare, wonder if it's the damp, too. Hope you continue to feel better.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the dampness didn't help!
DeleteI think you get to make your own rules for virtual races — especially if you aren’t submitting your time for an award, who cares? If it was a real race you wouldn’t have made those stops. Sorry your RA flared up, but glad it calmed down. That apple cranberry crisp sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI was really excited that my son made it!
DeleteWe had a great Thanksgiving, even though it was just the two of us. We loved our rental in Flagstaff. We spent as much time outside as possible, but wimped out on Friday when it was 24 with a feels like 15 because of the wind. I'm a Californian, I don't have a enough layers for that!
ReplyDeleteYour race, your time. Why does someone need to question that?
Heck, I'm a Chicagoan and I would have wimped out with those temperatures too!
DeleteIf I were reporting my time for awards of some kind, like my Balega team did for the BOMF virtual, I'd keep the Garmin going. If not who cares? Either way great job! I'd already forgotten about the snow we had at the beginning of the week.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for you to weigh in. When Marcia speaks, I listen!
DeleteSo Dig That Blurry Shirt Photo - And What A Lovely Family - Good On You Folks - All The Best In December
ReplyDeleteCheers
It's a lonely time--I'm happy to have my boys close!
DeleteCongrats on your half marathon. You are so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteYes I stop and take pics during my runs and even virtual races. I tie my shoes, etc. I don't pause my watch (when I use one).
But as we know in a real race, we would be running a lot faster ...so it all equals out.
I ran in the rain today...we are crazy runners.
It's so brutal and cold today. I'm glad it was a CrossFit day!
DeleteI'm so sorry you had an RA flare. Does the weather have any impact on that?
ReplyDeleteEither way, congratulations on a job well done. I would have probably used my Garmin time and not my lapsed time, because it is a virtual and really, who's being that particular at that point?
Love seeing those sweet deer. And your Thanksgiving looked lovely. I'm glad you had a great time.
I enjoyed our small intimate Thanksgiving. Is that wrong? :p
DeleteGreat job on your race! I don't have the energy to run 13.1 miles. :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't do any virtual races this year but did focus on the challenges. Those were what going me moving and out the door in the morning. Sigh, I hope next year we can have live races. I will probably sign up for all of them.
You're certainly running enough miles to do a half!
DeleteI was just checking out those games. My husband and I used to love playing You Don't Know Jack. I'm going to have to check out the ones you mentioned. I'm looking for something to play with 15 and 17 yr olds. Don't want any surprise inappropriate questions :) Any recommendations? Great job on your race! I'm glad you were able to get out there and do it.
ReplyDeleteWe played Fibbage with our whole family last year at Christmas--even my 11 year old nephew. The players just have to keep in mind everyone's age when they enter their lies!
DeleteI'm so sorry you were dealing with a flare but so happy to read how well your half went! It's your race so I say you do it your way - I see no reason to not use your moving time. Congrats on a strong run!
ReplyDelete