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..


So, what's been happening in my little corner of the universe?

If we were having coffee (or lemonade)...
I'd tell you about a rather spontaneous virtual race, the Crushing COVID-19 5K...because virtual races have been the latest thing. I'd gotten word of this locally-sponsored event on Sunday evening, via my friend, Barb. Our parks and rec department had sent out information (but I had not seen anything about it), and we had until March 31st to complete the "race." YIKES. Let me remind you, Sunday was March 29th! With my legs still cranky from Sunday's Fight for Air Climb (also a virtual event), I met up with Barb after work, late Monday afternoon. We had a perfect 1-mile loop (with no cross traffic to worry about) on which to run this. We set our Garmins, and off we ran! We were able to stay socially-distanced apart from one another. We ran our three loops and called it good. We didn't run it with an "all-out" effort, but we definitely ran it hard. And, you know what? Even with my sore legs (which were even more sore when we finished), this felt great! It felt like we were showing COVID-19 who's boss. Boom!

If we were having coffee (or lemonade)...
I'd tell you briefly about my Fight for Air Climb experience. Originally scheduled for March 29th, this event had been entertaining "postponed status" until a few days prior to the 29th, when the organizers decided the best option would be to turn it into a virtual climb. Without knowing how long this virus will be rampant, as well as the (unknown) after-effects, determining a date on which to host  thousands of stair climbers (into hot, crowded stairwells) was nearly impossible. Disappointed doesn't come close to describing how this made me feel. I got up early on Sunday, though, and climbed (and descended LOL) my stairway 76 times, which would have been the number of flights I would have climbed in downtown Des Moines. Instead of stopping at 76 flights of stairs, though, I made the command decision to "up" the game a bit and climb 100 total flights instead. And, that's all she wrote (and climbed)...there has not been any intentional stair-climbing since, and I'm alright with that. Onward!

If we were having coffee (or lemonade)...
I'd also confess (yet) another event has been turned virtual. I'd been holding out hope that the Market to Market Relay (scheduled for May 9th) would still be on. As of Wednesday of this week, that has gone virtual as well. The organizers are suggesting all team members each run a 3-mile "leg" and a 5-mile "leg." Of course, this is all on the honor system. After our team completes the "relay," and submits our finish times, we'll be sent our group's race packet (with our shirts, bibs, and additional swag). Certainly not an ideal scenario, but it is what it is. Already, our team has been  brainstorming options on how to best execute this virtual relay. Stay tuned!

from 2018

If we were having coffee (or lemonade)...
I'd mention my March miles. To say I've been training hard for the Climb would be an understatement. When I tallied up just how many flights of stairs I'd climbed, just in March, even I was surprised. These 815 flights are up through the 29th, don't forget...I didn't do any more "intentional" climbing after that. As for the miles run, that also was a bit higher than expected. I guess that 19-mile virtual run (yes, another virtual LOL) had a significant impact. No regrets!

Finally, If we were having coffee (or lemonade)...
I'd show you the teddy bear in our window. I think this is such a neat idea (wherever it started), and is a great incentive for families to get outside and walk. After all, with kids at home, what better way to have quality family time with some fitness thrown in? Have you placed a teddy bear in your window?

 So, not exactly the most cheerful month on record, but definitely not the worst. Despite all the cancellations, frustrations, and fear...this has been a nice time, too. I have seen a lot more people out walking. I think more families are gathering for family meals. Although we can't get together face-to-face with our friends or extended family members, we do have a lot of technology at our finger tips, enabling virtual (there's that word, again) get-togethers. Lemonade, indeed!

So, what are some things you'd share if we were having coffee (or lemonade) together? Has this been a time for appreciating the simpler things...like family meals or game nights? Have you had a lot of races cancelled? Any virtual races happening, recently or in the near future? 

Since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm linking this with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date.

I'm also linking this with Meranda and Lacey for the Friday with Fairytales and Fitness link-up. 

 

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