#CovidCoffeeTalk

Shall we do our monthly gathering over coffee?

Only, we have to do it virtually (you know, #covid19 and all).

Not a problem, we can pretend we're all huddled around a table. If nothing else, this current stay-at-home routine has taught us to use our imaginations.

Besides, it's fun to embrace all things virtual right now. I've been running, racing, walking, and  ZOOM'ing with lots of people, all by means of virtual connections. A #CovidCoffeeTalk will be just as fun.

Spring Transitioning Tips for the Runner

Okay, at the risk of totally jinxing the recent nice weather, I'm gonna say it...

Spring temps are (finally) here!

In Iowa, that does not mean a smooth (or quick) transition to Summer. Although the threat of snow is sequestered in the lower single-digit percentages, the temps are still gonna be roller coaster-like. There's also gonna be cold rain on occasion. And, rest assured, there will be plenty of wind.

Ugh. What's a runner to do?

Answer: Go with what Momma N serves up, but here's a few Spring transitioning tips you can consider...

I Got This (virtually)

Virtually, things are pretty decent on the home front.

I'm choosing to embrace these "virtual" times we're living in right now. That's not to say I would have chosen things to be the way they are, but it is what it is. Better to go with the flow and celebrate the good than dwell on the coulda/woulda/shoulda beens.

Case in point, this past week. There were all kinds of virtual goings-on, and all of them left me quite happy and grateful.

RUNFESSIONS? I got a few...

Runfessions?

Oh, yes. I have a few things to share.

After all, it's good for the soul (and both of my soles).

A Runner and a Friend: The Interview

Running friends. Aren't they the greatest?

We all have running friends, and we're quite grateful for all that we share with them as we journey our way to becoming better runners.

We keep each other motivated, encouraged and inspired. Some of these friends willingly get up early on Saturday mornings (year round) to keep us company on a long run. They travel with us to places near and far, all for the sake of pinning on a race bib and crossing another finish line. They celebrate our achievements and hug us through our struggles.

And, if we are truly lucky, they become more than just running friends...they become real friends as well.

Humor...It's a Good Thing

Give me some humor and no one gets hurt.

That's right. A sense of humor is a good thing. It's also a valuable weapon, in one's arsenal, when forging through the unexpected challenges that get thrown at you.

If there ever was a time for an endearing sense of humor, it would be this week. For starters, we're talking major instability in all things weather-related. There were some interesting workouts. And, the UN-Canceled Project treated me to three (count 'em, three!) virtual races, all with unique race day attributes.

HIIT'ing at Home

Being the runners that we are, we run.

Running is what we know. It makes us feel good, physically and mentally. And, especially in our current Safe-at-Home reality, it gets us out of the house.

That said, a runner cannot (usually) succeed on running alone. Eventually, the “running muscles” will burnout if not given some rest and/or enhancement from other sources.

Enter: the HIIT option

Up Close and Personal

Can we get up close and personal, for a minute?

Another week has come to a close, and we're all still soldiering on. That's something to be thankful for, right? This has been a tough time for everyone, much more difficult for some than others, but it has affected all of us.

Just as we all train differently, I can't help but notice we all are coping differently. I think that's the way it should be. We all have different life experiences, and different triggers. The best any of us can do is to keep moving forward. Whether you're anxious, calm, scared, pessimistic or hopeful...be rest assured, we are all in this together.

Anyways, it was another interesting week on the fitness front!

8 Mini Workday Fitness Fixes

Are you like me, and need a daily fitness fix?

But...do you have a tough time fitting it in? Or, are you currently working from home, and feeling a little out-of-sorts with your current situation? Need a few minutes away from your desk? Or, at the very least, want to be doing something other than sitting? 

Whether you're working onsite, or from the confines of your house, it's not good to spend the day sedentary. Not only can it get boring, but it's just not good for our bodies! Besides, taking a few (or several) mini breaks can make a long day seem not so ominous.

Virtually Quite Content

I have a feeling this will not be my last post on virtual racing, so bear with me.

I promise to vary the content and the details. After all, there will not be any race recaps in the foreseeable future. I guess highlighting some of the experiences from this temporary "normal" will have to do.

Anyways, we are barely one month into the COVID Cancellation Crisis, and I have already run five virtual races (and done one virtual stair climb event). YIKES. I think I have matched my previous "record" of virtual events, all in the matter of a few ((short?)) weeks. And, this has barely scratched the surface of what is yet to (virtually) come.

A Great Big Week of Hmmm...

Things that make you go "hmmm..."

Suffice it to say I was hmmm'ing all week long. Not necessarily in a bad way, but definitely in a state of "what's next?"

Questionable weather. Additional race statuses changing. And, some more virtual goings-on.

Coffee? Make Mine a Lemonade

When life (or COVID-19) gives you lemons...you know what to do, right?

If there ever was a time for a big batch of lemonade, it would be now.

Currently, this virus is front and center. It's on the news everyday and plastered all over social media. The world is in a state of panic. Many stores' inventories are running on empty. Schools are closed. Pretty much anything that had been scheduled for Spring 2020 (and some of Summer 2020 as well) has either been outright cancelled or postponed. And social distancing has become the latest buzzword.

No doubt, it's a crazy and scary time. None of us are exempt from it, but we ultimately have 100% control of how we react to the situation.

Shall we gather, and chat for a bit? You can have your coffee...but I'm going with lemonade. After all, there's been a surplus of lemons dumped on us lately. I've simply chosen to rally with #TeamLemonade and make the best of it..