COVID-19 Quarantine

So I am lucky enough to have a job that allows me to work from home which I have been doing now for two weeks. But it is amazing how little I move around while working at home. My step count is 1/10 what it was, I never use the stairs etc.

With the Y closed, no more swimming, and all my running has to be outside. That has gone ok so far since it has warmed up some and the roads are at least clear of ice. Spring really hasn't arrived quite yet, and temps are still hovering around 40 degrees for a high.

It seemed warm enough the other day to actually bike outside. I didn't feel like getting my tri bike off the trainer though so I just pumped up the tires and checked the brakes on my road bike and set off for an hour+ ride. Now I haven't ridden my road bike outside in at least a year. I haven't ridden it all since October. It is just different. Different position, no electronic shifting etc. Plus my butt was not used to that saddle or position either. My road bike doesn't have a power meter on it, or even a cadence sensor so it was a "naked" ride with just HR.

But it was good to get outside even if the temp when I started was 40 degrees. My fingers got a little cold after a while, and about an hour in my feet also started to get cold. But it was fun to feel a breeze on my face that didn't come from a fan.

I am going to need to change up my routine some more. Add a walk or extra easy bike ride to my schedule just to get some extra exercise. The home "cafeteria" is too convenient to my office and everything is free there! Too many temptations.

Like everyone else, races are cancelled, my move to Phoenix which was supposed to happen next week is now on hold permanently. I give a less that 50% chance that the Amsterdam race will happen in September too.

But we are all in this together. Trying to stay healthy, flatten the curve, and survive this until we find a cure or vaccine and a sense of normalcy can return.

Longer Outdoor Run

I got out of the house and did this run. It was like 10 degrees colder than last week when I ran outside so I threw on one extra layer and added a hat and I was perfect. I am still battling this cold though, that coupled with the cold air meant my nose was running like crazy! Ugh.

I choose a different route to run today. Actually it is the start of my normal bike route. It was a good choice because the road had been swept and was free of gravel! So an out and back and it went well.

I kept the same HR goals as I have been all winter and that ended up with a slower pace than I do on the treadmill, but it is what it is.

So good run today.

First Outdoor Run at Home

It was beautiful outside today so I decided to do my first outdoor run here in Duluth this year. I took a guess as to layers required, and I hit it perfect. Lots of sand/gravel on the roads and sidewalks but otherwise it was good running conditions.

I had started a second loop around the school when I realized that my timing was off and I was going to go way past 40 minutes which was the amount I was supposed to run today. Oops. But in the end it went fine.

It was nice to be outside and get some Vitamin D!

Swim Meet #2

I swam 4 events, 100, 200, 500 free and the 100 back.

The 100 back was the first event for me and I was about a 1/2s short of a PR in that event. I was super happy with that considering I never swim it in practice except as a cool down, and I had two TERRIBLE turns in that race. Like barely touch the wall turns. So despite that, I did really well. My kid is still faster than me in that event though. I would have to dedicate some practice if I am going to beat her.

The 500 was the next event and really it was the one I was hoping to do well in. I went into it thinking about pushing the pace a bit and see how long I can last. I had two people in the lanes next to me that had seed times around my PR so I figured if I stayed with/ahead of them I would do ok. Well after the first 50, the person two lanes over was already 15 yards ahead of me. She would finish a full 50 ahead of me by the end and I was ahead of the rest. I got to the wall at 75 yards and I saw my lap counter had dropped the number board to the bottom of the pool. It made me laugh, and maybe kept me relaxed. It all worked out and I ended up finishing with a 7 second PR in the 500!

I felt really good and strong during that whole race. That is such a fun feeling.

The 200 free was up next and again I was about 1s short of a PR in that event. Such a difficult event to pace for me, but again I am happy with the effort.

The 100 free was the last event and it wasn't the greatest. Not really close to a PR.

So overall I am happy with my results. MUCH better than my results from about a month ago. So I seem to be getting back into swimming shape again.

I had a guy stop me after the last race. He was in the lane next to me in all the freestyle events, and we happen to be in the same age group. He said "I tried to keep up with you today, but you just went out so fast, I had no chance. In EVERY event you did that to me. You were my nemesis today."

Phoenix Run

I am out here for a whirlwind work week. I have been struggling with sleeping for a few weeks now. Waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep. I am sure it is from all the stress of this new job. Well my inability to sleep has continued on this work trip. After two days of travel, sitting around, drinking and eating, it was good to get outside and go for a run.

I had already been awake for a couple of hours before I did a preworkout routine and started my run. I am in the middle of a suburb here so I just ran on a sidewalk for 25 minutes and then turned around and went back to the hotel. It worked out great.

No issues with the run. It was 45 degrees when I left and the sun hadn't come up yet. I realized at that point that my all black outfit probably wasn't the best choice, and that I could have probably used another light layer underneath, but I am a hearty northerner so I sucked it up and did my run. It was fine.

No wind, sun rise about halfway through my run, clear skies, it was beautiful. It was a great change of pace from the treadmill, and it seems that my speed is about the same between the two.

So good run, now another day of flying home.

Moving to Phoenix

Well the big news I have been keeping from most people is that my job is transferring me to Phoenix. I am sad and excited at the same time. I have lived here in Duluth for 20 years now, and this will be a big change.

I will miss the easy access I have right now to roads with wide shoulders, and lakes to swim in. But I wont miss the cold winters and endless miles on the treadmill.

I had to change my race schedule for the year with spring and fall races now since it is too hot to race in the summer in Phoenix. My plan is to move at the end of March.

The family took a trip to Phoenix back in January when I was still so sick. So I didn’t get a chance to do any running, but we did go for a little hike at a local park. It was beautiful out.

Swim Shoulder

So over the last couple of weeks, my left shoulder has become sore while swimming. It hasn’t been limiting yet, but it is definitely there. Last Friday in swim class, our instructor took video of us swimming and she pointed out something with my recovery that might be the cause of my pain.

I took that advice into the pool this morning where I had an interesting broken mile swim. Starting with 11 lengths, then a 10s break, then 10 lengths, 10s break and so on down to 1 length give you a 1650. It was interesting to try and stay engaged in the swim, keep track of lengths, etc. Goal was a consistent effort all the way through.

Dare I say it was actually fun? I succeeded in the consistent effort when I look at my lap times. I focused my mental energy during the swim on my form/technique to try and help my shoulder. So it really was mindful swimming and not junk yardage. Super happy with this swim today even if it wasn’t fast.