Chicago Marathon CANCELED

Another dreaded email on yet another race CANCELED....  so much for the roaring 20s.... right now 2020 SUCKS!

In 1977, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was founded on the hope of building an event for all Chicagoans. For the past 42 years, runners, volunteers, spectators and community members have shown up on the streets of Chicago to support one another and to turn an individual sport into a collective experience. While we'd hoped once again to fill 26.2 miles of our streets this October, the health and safety of everyone participating in and supporting the event is our highest priority. In response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers and the City of Chicago made the decision to cancel the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and all race weekend activities. In light of this decision, registered participants for the 2020 event will have the option to receive a refund for their race entry or defer their place and entry fee to a future edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2021, 2022 or 2023). The event will provide an update to participants in the coming days with additional information on the options available to them. Registered participants for the International Chicago 5K will also have the option to receive a refund or defer their entry to a future year (2021, 2022 or 2023). Our team is hard at work developing plans for a virtual experience to recognize the dedication and commitment of everyone who would have taken part in the 43rd running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Details on how participants, their network of supporters and fans of the sport can get involved will be shared in the coming weeks. On a personal note to the runners who have kept our race going for more than four decades, we want to thank you for your miles, for your loyalty and for your spirit. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has always been your race – the people's race – and with your continued commitment, we will celebrate our sport, our health and our achievement once again. For additional information on the event cancellation and a comprehensive FAQ, visit chicagomarathon.com. This makes the 6th big race for me canceled this year!  I've got one big one left on my calendar....... St. Jude in December.  Praying something BIG changes in this COVID situation so that race may happen because if nothing changes with COVID... there will be no races anytime soon!  That's just the sad truth!  The word "virtual" is becoming the new norm.  Which I'm thankful there has been virtuals, but honestly, I'm really ready to see an actual finish line and run along some actual participants. 🙏🙏🙏   I had recently changed my training to focus on running.  I may now have to rethink this move since their aren't any races happening and throw back in my biking & swimming and just try to keep a strong base for whatever happens in 2021! Oh please let it be a better year for racing. 🙏🙏🙏 It seems that me and several of my friends have gotten real good at canceling hotels and flight plans here lately.  I would have never dreamed this many races would be canceled.  God has a plan so I must leave it to him and not worry.  He's got us. 💖💖 For now I'll just keep on moving... keep that body ready...  at some point something has to change in this COVID.

Big Sur Marathon Canceled!

Big Sur that was originally scheduled for April, 2020 was postponed until November, 2020 after COVID-19 hit.   Well yesterday I got the dreaded email that I kind of figured I would get, but hoped I would not!

The 35th Annual Big Sur Marathon Has Been Cancelled We are deeply sorry to announce the cancellation of the rescheduled November 15, 2020 Big Sur International Marathon events. The Big Sur Marathon Foundation's governance board made this difficult decision as they continued to monitor updates from county, state, federal, and international public safety and health agencies regarding the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Since we last communicated with you on April 13, California adopted a comprehensive reopening plan. In this plan, it now appears that mass gathering events like our weekend of races will not be possible until the final reopening phase when a vaccine or other therapeutics are widely available. Our highest priority is always the safety of our participants, volunteers, friends and family, and residents. There are so many unknowns both with this virus and with the effects of it on large events. We were also very concerned about having access to needed public safety and medical officials, volunteers, and personal protection equipment and supplies during this ongoing crisis.

So depressing!  Now to cancel hotel room, flight, rental car, etc.  

I sure was hoping by November we would be allowed to race!  Now I'm pretty sure Chicago which is scheduled in October will announce soon that they are also cancelling.  😢😢😢😢😢😢

It doesn't appear that 2020 was meant to be a year for road running or any other sports for that matter!!  Guess it's a good thing I did run in Louisiana and Mercedes back in January & February because that will probably be my only 2 marathons this year to run.   Hey, maybe it's a blessing.  Giving my body time to recover and strengthen.....  I'm going to think positive and not negative with all this mess!  

Another month... and COVID-19 still exist.... more races canceled

June 2, 2020

We've been in this COVID-19 era now since like March 20th (going on 3 full months) and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  A few of the states are starting to open up in stages, but basically all big races are still on hold or canceled.  My Yellowstone trip this month has been canceled and the half marathon at Yellowstone was canceled.  😢  My husband and I were so looking forward to this trip!  The park was closed and hotel rooms canceled.  That seems to be the norm these days..... everything is CANCELED! They have even canceled the Boston Marathon now!!! At first they postponed it and now they've canceled it!  My heart hurts for my sweet friend that worked so hard to qualify.  But I told her to make sure she reapplies for next year.  Heck with no races for people to try to qualify this year, everyone that qualified for this year should get right back in automatically!! 

I live in Mississippi and the county in which I live, Jones, is the county with the highest number of COVID cases and growing daily!!! They are now feeding us lunch at the office and encouraging us not to go out at lunch to grab food from any of the restaurants.  They are hoping this will slow down the number of cases.  Schools here in Jones county never went back after their spring break in March.  They are hoping they will start back in August.   I guess time will tell.  We just watch the news every day to see how many more cases and what the progress is on getting this virus under control!  

Just a few graphs from yesterday's report on Mississippi cases:

As for me, I'm still running and riding my peloton.  I'm hoping the pool will open this month so maybe I can get back to swimming 1-2 times a week!  I'm so thankful I can run and ride by peloton bike and work off some stress!  

My son is getting married in 52 days!!! So it's starting to get very busy with showers, etc.  I'm so extremely happy for him!  He's found a wonderful young girl to share his life with.... such an answer to Prayer!💖   Praying this virus doesn't put a damper on wedding plans!  💙

Big Sur - Virtual Marathon 5-2-20 (marathon #17)

Since the Big Sur marathon was postponed due to COVID-19 till November 15, 2020 (and I'm really hoping that happens).   I decided to go ahead and run my 26.2 miles as planned except 1 week later.  The original date of the race was April 26.  However, since I had been recovering from my spill at MS50, I ran my 26.2 miles the following weekend on May 2, 2020.   

AND guess what?  I didn't have to do it ALONE!! I have a group of running friends that call themselves the PPRF group, Peer Pressure Running Friends, in which one of them ran a "virtual" Boston marathon (her Boston has been postponed till September 15, 2020)  2 weekends prior to me running my "virtual" Big Sur.  We had all discussed going ahead and running a "virtual" in our group messages.  Two of the girls mentioned running part of my 26.2 miles with me.  I was excited to have someone want to run at least half the distance with me.  But boy did they surprise me!! They both ended up doing the full 26.2 miles with me!  We had a great morning!  We did my intervals .. jog 2 minutes, walk 1 minute.   We all felt great and the temperature was prefect.  I had decided to do two 13.1 mile loops just in case anyone wanted to stop after 13.1 miles.  Plus I had only went to 16 miles recently and wasn't sure how my leg would hold up for 26.2 miles so soon after my little injury.  

We finished the first loop and went to our vehicles and refueled, etc.  We even talked to a couple of bikers and other runners that were at the rest stop and I asked one of my biker friends, Drew, to take our picture.  Here we are right before starting our 2nd loop.  Notice we have on our pineapple shirts from our trip to Hawaii back in 2018 for the Kona Marathon! I should have grabbed my orange shirt and then we would of all been exactly alike.  

Michelle, Me & Candy 

And yes we did all start getting tired by that mile 20. 😀  Plus it was starting to get very HOT.  But we pressed on making our way slowing but surely.  😁  Michelle had mentioned there was a gas station that we could stop at like 2 miles before our cars coming back in.  We laughed and joked about getting a Corona beer to take a picture since we were running during the Corona Virus (COVID-19).  We got so pumped up talking about it that we were so excited to get to mile 24 to stop at the gas station.  We went be-bopping into the store only to find they did NOT sell beer!! We were shocked!  So instead we bought chips, cokes, and I got a snickers.  We walked the last 2 miles completely (no jog intervals) as we drank and ate our snacks.   My watch said a finish time of 5:39 ... which wasn't bad with all the walking  we did, but I will have to admit that much more time elapsed because we stopped our watches when we stopped for bathroom breaks and at the half way point where we chatted with friends and refueled.  We could not have done that in a "real" race. 😀  the time would have kept on rolling.  Which if we had been in a real race, we would not have stopped so much to fill our own water bottles, etc.  There would have been aid stations. 😃

Here's a few of our pictures from our 26.2 mile run on the Trace in Hattiesburg. 

I'm glad I went ahead and did a "virtual"  during this COVID-19 era, it's refreshing to be able to get outside and do something that makes you feel good.   Plus the outdoors is good for the soul. My friends even texted me the next day saying how they were not sore much at all and thought it was the intervals.  They said they may have to do them more often.  They couldn't believe that I have done intervals for several marathons.  Hal always says you can work your intervals and still have a good time on a marathon if you work at it.  The walk breaks gives this old body a little break and helps me recover faster. 😍

 AND let me just say again... I have GREAT friends!  They were not even registered for the Big Sur marathon and yet they came and gave up half their day to run with me!  They are AMAZING! I can't imagine doing life without my PPRF friends! 

We didn't have any medals for pictures so we took a picture of our shoes and fuel belts. LOL 

Thanks to Run the Edge for their challenges during this COVID time.  This week theme was Courage! 

Oh and I had to stop for gas on the way home so I couldn't resist grabbing a Corona for a pic. 😊

We sure are praying the fall races will happen!  If not there is going to be many more "virtual" marathons! We won't be stopped even during this..... 😎

COVID-19 --- CONTINUES.... 4-23-20

It's been about a month since my last post and guess what.... we are still in the COVID-19 era!   It just keeps spreading! 

As of today:

As for me... I'm still going to the office every day and working.  They are still not allowing us to travel, which where would we go?  All races right now are either cancelled or postponed!  Today I would have been on a red eye flight to California with my mom for the Big Sur this weekend.  They've postponed the race till November 15.  We'll see if that happens...... 

I think all runners are praying that the fall races happen, but each day it grows more grim of that actually happening.  They still don't have a vaccine for the virus.  It does appear that we have slowed down the rate of it spreading by all the "stay at home" orders.   However, many people are still not abiding by the rules and having big backyard BBQs and such which does nothing but spread the virus.

I'm not sure when we will ever get back to a "normal".  So many have lost their jobs.  The market is dropping.  I can't even look at my 401K right now because it makes me want to cry.  I was so hoping to retire fairly early and not work till I'm 70, but now it's looking grim on that also. 😢😢😢

But on the bright side I am still running & biking!  There is no swimming right now due to the pools being closed.  I refuse to just sit and wait until races are going full force again.  I don't want to sit and be so out of shape that I have to start totally over.  So each week I continue with running, mostly around my neighborhood, biking on my Peloton and doing some strength exercises for the arms to keep them in shape since no swimming at the moment.  Exercise does make me feel free and alive and not so worried about the virus.  I'm very thankful I am still able to do that.   I am getting tired of not being able to run to town to grab something to eat or shop for something.  Gary and I haven't killed each other at home yet.... but I'm so ready for his happy hour to open back up.  😂😂  Oh and what I miss the most is my BIG old family getting together and running with my group of friends!  When we do get to run together again, I may hug them so much and I'm not typically a hugger. 😛

Well that's the update for now...  Until then we must keep the faith!

COVID-19 Coronavirus update in Mississippi

COVID-19 as of 3/23/20

I'm writing this for my benefit.  This is something I have never experienced in my lifetime.  This is an update from my post just barely 10 days ago.  Much as changed!  

Mississippi as of today has 249 confirmed cases and 1 death.  All the schools are shut down until April 17.  Everyone is urged to STAY AT HOME so that we can flatten the curve.  All large events canceled.  Churches doing online services only.  Restaurants are only open for take out service.  No dine in.  And yet, when I wake up the grass is nice and green, the birds are chirping, and life looks normal on my own little piece of land.  But it's far from normal! The news is 24/7 updates on COVID-19.   There are daily work meetings held by our virus task force.  It almost seems like a dream until you turn on the TV or turn on the computer.  

I believe that more so in a crisis we tend to turn to God and ask WHY.  Which we rarely get the answer immediately so I don't know why we beg for the answer.  I guess it's just human nature.  As for me, I believe God is saying, "come to me".  He's waiting for us all to turn to him.  Quit trying to form answers to all the questions and just come to him and be still.  I felt so blessed yesterday for technology.  I was able to listen not only to my home church service, but I also listened to another church service and bits and pieces of others as I had time to catch them.  It was amazing.  I had tears flowing as I listened to each one share the message of how if you remember this is a time of lent leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.   He died that we may live.  We are never alone and God is always with us during good and bad times when we follow him.  I think during this time of quarantine we should reflect on how we have been living our lives lately.  I for one need improvements.  I fail every day.  So I'm discussing those items with God in prayer daily because I know only with him can I change those bad habits.  Maybe if everyone took this time to Be Still with God .... there would not be all this panic and we would see things turn around. 

In a matter of days everything can change....... COVID-19 .... PANDEMIC

This time last month I would have never dreamed that the whole country would be shutting down due to a virus...Coronavirus...  COVID-19! Normally I would not be writing about this, but it's so rare!!  I mean the Flu is all over and many people die from it, but the country has never went into such a panic over the flu.  

We went from all is good to the CDC recommending not going to any large events... Started at 250 then nothing over 50 people.. and now today they saying 10 people! All sports at the schools are canceled.  Major sporting events canceled!  Spring break for the schools being extended.  Restaurants only doing takeout or drive thru business. Travel is shut down or limited.  Italy is on lock down!  It's now classified as a Pandemic!  I'm 53 years old and I have never seen such.  It's almost surreal.  I still come to work as usual and everything looks OK, but the higher ups are having daily meetings to discuss the situation and make decisions as what to do for our company.  When will it end?  Will it end???  As my preacher said yesterday we can't let the fear direct our lives.  We can't live in panic mode.  We must remember "who" is really in control and have faith.  Sometimes that can be hard with all the news media that is freaking so many people out.  Yesterday I ran in the store to grab a few things and I had been hearing and reading how shelves were empty, but I didn't get it really until I saw it in person!  No bread!  Even the frozen meat section was EMPTY!!  It was like people were preparing for a hurricane or something.  I feel bad for the people that are on a limited budget and only get paid at certain times because looked like so many were stocking up and taking everything!!!

Races all over the globe are also being canceled or postponed.  The Boston marathon was postponed till September 14!  I'm very thankful it's postponed because one of my dear sweet friends is running it this year.  She's worked so hard.  

 I knew when Boston was postponed that Big Sur would be next.  It's also a pretty big race and they have the back to back option linked with Boston.  I knew several were registered for that so I figured since it's also in April it would be next and Friday, March 13, we got the confirmation.  For now they are saying it's postponed till late summer or fall.  They are looking for a date.  That race is a tad different in that they have to shut down a main highway for 6-8 hours to have the race.  That all has to be approved, etc. 

So it may take the Big Sur a little longer to set a date than Boston did for their race.  I'm just hoping it will happen and they won't cancel it completely!  It's hard to get into the big races.  I was beyond thrilled to be going and taking my mom.  Seeing California for the first time.  So I'm praying it happens and also that this conronavirus mess goes away with warmer temps coming and all this madness doesn't extend into the fall because I have Chicago coming up in October (having a little pity party at the moment..).  I could end up having Big Sur and Chicago pretty close together if Big Sur finds a date close to Boston like they usually do for the Back to Back.  Hoping if that happens it all works out at work for me to be off to do both races since you don't get in on the lottery every year!

  Which I guess it's a good thing that my races in March & April are being canceled or postponed because I finally went to the doctor today to have my ankle/leg looked at from my spill I took at the MS50 last weekend.  It started as just a small bruise with a ton of pain in my lower calf after I rolled my ankle when I slipped in the mud.  Then the ankle really started to swell and turn colors.  Here are a few pictures:

Day 1...  mostly just bruising on lower side of leg

By Monday... (day 2)

 By Saturday .. 1 week out.. swelling going down .. foot doesn't hurt.. by can't stand to touch calf! or side of leg down to top of ankle bone.

Monday.. 9 days later .. blue both sides of foot now......   Still lots of pain .. so off to doctor

 Bad sprain/strain around ankle on tendons & ligaments and a calf tear. 

She doesn't think it's a complete tear because I have good range of motion so that's good.  Maybe it's just a bad strain.  Only a MRI will tell and we are going to wait on that and see if it gets better in 3 weeks.  So basically no running for me for the next 3-4 weeks.  I hope to get in some swims, but all the gyms are also closing so who knows if that will happen.  Guess it will be lots of ABS.. ha  Lordy... I need to run because I almost fell out when I had to weigh at the doc today.  I haven't weighed myself in a month or so and let's just say.... I may of gained some weight!!! which I have no idea how with all the miles I've been getting in.  Guess it's all the food and my dang slow metabolism at my age. 😏

And now the CDC is recommended all these precautions to go on the next 8 weeks!!! That will lead to the weekend of the 5K that my team Run4TheKids host to raise money for St. Jude!! So now I've got to watch that and possibly end up changing our date depending on how this all plays out.  

Now's the time to really turn to prayer.  Ask for God's guidance and direction around the world in all these decisions and pray this virus goes away soon.  So many are being effected by all of this.  People need to work.  Some kids need to go to school because that's where they get their meal for the day.  Businesses need to be open.  Travel needs to be open.  So Let's all join together in Prayer instead of Panic.