Here We Go Again

Yes, this is a running blog, but I need to comment on what's happening with COVID. Because not only has it affected our sport, cancelling most races this year, but the rising numbers threaten to put many of us back on lockdown.

After keeping the spread of COVID under control all summer long, our numbers here in Illinois along with much of the country, are skyrocketing out of control. While we are at about a 14% positivity rate, Wisconsin is beyond ridiculous, with a positivity rate around 37%. I'm not sure if its complacency or the cold weather or what, but as the case count continues to climb, we're starting to shut down again. It's getting scary and it's getting old. 

Last week, I had a mom bring her child in for COVID antibody testing. The parents had had the illness previously and mom wanted to know if the child had it too. When I called mom with the positive results, she told me that she had taken a COVID test prior to seeing me and was still testing positive. What the what? We are a non-COVID clinic. How did she get past the screeners at the front door? We were masked but still! We don't really know about people who stay positive long after their symptoms have resolved. Are they asymptomatic spreaders?

This is the reality of what's happening on the front lines. One of my partners had a patient come in this week with full blown COVID symptoms, but lied about the reason for the visit so he could be seen. Come on! Don't be selfish. Wear the damn mask and wear it correctly, over your nose. If you have symptoms, stay home. If you think it's no big deal, well, I don't know what to say to you. 

Saturday's trail run

Weekly Rundown

Monday: CrossFit

Tuesday: Run 5 miles

Wednesday: Trail run 6 miles

Thursday: CrossFit at home

Friday: run 6 miless

Saturday: trail run 10 miles

Sunday: rest

Running:

We continued our warm weather into Tuesday, so I had no problem waking up at 4:30 to get a run in before work. The humidity was higher than it had been, making it feel downright tropical! The air even had that 'smell' to it, that tropical Florida smell! It all felt so nice and I got to run in a tank and shorts--who else can say that in mid-November?

Our warm stretch came to an abrupt end Tuesday night when were blasted with storms and wind. When I got to the trails on Wednesday, the trees were bare! It's as if Mother Nature flipped the switch and put us into proper fall. It was 35 degrees on this run, but I wasn't bothered at all by the cooler temps. After all, these are normal November conditions here! I split my time between the main trail and the single track through the woods. There were a lot of downed trees and I worked on agility while I moved along, hopping over roots and fallen trees. There's a woman I often see there with her vizla and we finally introduced ourselves. Its nice to know I'm not the only one who loves being out in the woods!

I headed out early Friday morning, completely underdressed for the 35 degree temperatures. I guess better underdressed than overdressed, right? At the turnaround, I stopped to take a selfie and was busted by some running friends who posed with me and ran me part of the way home. This solo runner enjoyed the company; it was really a testament to how strong I've been running that I was able to keep up with them!! Having the wind at our back was also helpful.

Busted in the best way!

I've got one more half (virtual) coming up in a couple of weeks, so a long run was on tap for Saturday. Where to run? After considering all my options, I drove to the branch of the DesPlaines River Trail that I ran a few weeks ago; it's limestone and flat which meant I could wear my road shoes. I didn't sleep well the night before but that didn't affect this run. My legs felt light and I thoroughly enjoyed this run. I inserted a few walk intervals but still finished with 9:40m/m. That's faster than I wanted for this run but I felt so good! And honestly, does any of that matter right now?

CrossFit/Strength

I was surprised to see Coach Jeff at class on Monday. He told us that Sammy Jo had been exposed to COVID by another coach in the gym and was quarantining while waiting for a test. And here we go again...anyways, the WOD was a good one. The strength portion consisted of 5x4 strict presses (55#), 5x100m suitcase carry (25#), and 5x15# dumbbell weighted situps. The MetCon was a 10 min AMRAP of a 100m run, 10 single arm dumbbell overhead squats (12#), and 10 renegade rows (25#). I did 6 full rounds of this workout. Running in the WOD keeps me competitive with the others but I felt this one all week long!

You have to read the small print on my shirt!

Sammy Jo contacted me on Wednesday to tell me she was still waiting for results and wouldn't be able to train me on Thursday, so I signed up for the WOD. Thursday morning, I woke up to an email that someone in the previous day's afternoon class had COVID and the gym would be closed for a couple of days for cleaning. Here we go again. I looked up the WOD from Wednesday and and fired up my home equipment. The strength portion was 6x6 deadlifts at 60%-I only can go up to 95# with my equipment so that is what I did. This alternated with a 40 second plank hold. The MetCon was 4 rounds for time of 12 front rack lunges (55#), 12 barhop burpees, and a 250 row, for which I subbed 250m on the TM. Those front rack lunges set my posterior chain on fire but I finished the WOD in 15:28. Yes I can!

Getting a little encouragement for the deadlifts

I have a big decision to make about going to the gym in light of our rising numbers. Most likely, I'll continue my weekly strength sessions with Sammy Jo, because no one else is in the gym with us when we meet. But I will probably skip the classes and do my Monday WOD at home for now. 

Tell me something good!

This week was Nurse Practitioner Week. I don't normally make a big deal about it because as a nurse, I like to piggyback on nurses' week instead. But much to my surprise, every morning this week when I arrived at work, I had gifts on my desk! I do work with the best team and I am grateful for it every day. This just made my heart happy.

Yes, they gave me beer. They know me well!

I got fun mail! Cindy from Smitty Lettering sent me some items from her Etsy shop to share with you all. I'm working on a holiday gift post, so you'll see these again, but I couldn't wait to share them! I plan on framing the print and hanging it up by my medal rack. Cindy also does custom items, so if you want something special to commemorate a race for you or a friend, reach out to her. She made the Chicago mug for me and I just love it! 

How was your week? Is COVID on the rise by you? Are you seeing things shutting down? Will you resume your home workouts or keep going to live classes? Tell me something good from your week!

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.