I’m almost there! My race is this Saturday. I’m getting more and more excited every day- this race better come soon or I might explode. Meanwhile, I had a good week, although (as I predicted) it was not without drama. I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah as always for the Weekly Rundown. Read on for details!
Monday
Our beautiful weather continues, and I had a nice 4 mile run. followed by Knees Over Toes exercises and some planking.
In the evening I had an interesting conversation with my husband that went something like this:
Husband: I just found out Ron has Covid.
Me: Oh no! Who’s Ron?
Husband: The guy I sat next to last night.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
After I got over my initial panic, I calmed down a bit. The truth is, we’re probably both- or, including my daughter, all three- exposed to Covid all the time. I made my husband promise to tell me if he started to feel ANY SYMPTOMS (in which case I would immediately move out of the bedroom and wear a mask in the house) but otherwise went on living my life as usual- except that I went to bed at 9:30. Finally, motivation to get eight hours of sleep!
Tuesday
I went to the gym and did the “Cool Bloggers Workout” (CBW) which is 30 minutes on the treadmill, 12% incline at 3 mph. Then I did upper body weights, including (but not limited to) reverse flys. Still trying to strengthen my upper back to carry my hydration vest for 50 miles!
Wednesday
Okay, so bear with me. For the last couple days I was noticing a pain in my left shin. I know what you’re thinking: “Jenny. You can’t possibly have all these things actually wrong with you! This is all in your mind.” Maybe. OR, maybe I tweaked it last week on that sandy long run. I’m not taking any chances, so instead of running outside I went to the gym to run on the treadmill.
First I walked for 20 minutes at a 12% incline (CBW) and then ran 4 miles. I was prepared to stop immediately if my shin hurt, but it was fine. After the run I walked for 10 more minutes at 12% incline.
Then (knowing I wouldn’t be back at the gym this week) I did deadlifts. Someone was using my usually rack, so I didn’t get to use the big plates (the little ones don’t look as impressive, ha.)
Thursday
It was an easy day! I did a 2 mile walk and then the Knees Over Toes exercises. On this walk I experimented with putting my headlamp around my waist.
At night my daughter’s jazz band had MPA (Music Performance Assessment.) Her high school has two jazz bands, and since she plays guitar she plays in both of them. Anyway… both bands did great, got Superior ratings, and it was a late night. I didn’t get to bed until 11:00, wrecking my amazing sleep schedule. Oh well.
Friday
4 mile run! Followed by dead bugs.
I was dragging a little all day, thanks to the late night, but there was more! On this night my daughter had Solo and Ensemble, where she played a solo, a flute choir, and a woodwind choir. Once I got over the tiredness and crankiness at having to drive far away (again) I enjoyed it. And she got Superior ratings in all her events!
Saturday
After two late nights, this was a planned rest day. I was able to sleep in until 7:00 before going to work. While at work, I discovered something surprising, which is that I’m on the schedule for tomorrow. My manager claims that, when I asked for next Saturday off (to run my race) I said I would work tomorrow instead. I NEVER SAID THAT. One of us is crazy, but there’s no way of proving which one. I’m already booked with clients, and I don’t want to cancel everyone.
Sunday
On tap for today- 5 mile run, and then apparently I’m going to work! Grr. Then, home to get ready for the Super Bowl, hooray! I’ve been going through football withdrawal. We have a fun meal planned, and will be rooting for Patrick Mahomes. Er, I mean, the Chiefs. Heh heh.
So, I finished the week with two healthy shins, and no one has Covid (yet.) My husband is healthy and I’ve been masking at work (and will continue to do so until after my race.) ONE MORE WEEK, WOOHOO!!! I think I’ll make it in one piece.
How was your week?
Do you still wear a mask? – I forgot how much I hate it.
Any big Super Bowl plans?
51 Responses
I stopped worrying about covid because that will panic me all the time to be around others. Obviously we are exposed to all kind of virus, so let me focus on building my immune system, that’s more effective than trying to avoid viruses.
I know the feeling of getting pain/injury before the big race. it happened to me every time! It’s more related to anxiety than real injury. I guess it’s part of the game for us who trains for a big race.
Yes, I agree- at this point there’s no way to avoid Covid entirely, so there’s no point in worrying excessively. Building the immune system is the way to go (along with having a little luck.)
Oh my, I am glad the shin turned out to be alright (and better be safe than sorry with this K tape – no shame in using it!). I also really hope that your husband didn’t catch Covid and nobody else will.
I haven’t been wearing masks lately (although I am also not around people much) but I continue to wear it on flights. I do not want Covid again.
I am so excited for your race and can’t wait to hear how it goes next week.
I am sorry you have to work tomorrow. That sucks, but at least you’ll be home before the Super Bowl (I guess it’s good it’s in the evening for you guys).
Yes, well if my manager told me I agreed to work the evening of the Super Bowl, i would have known FOR SURE that he’s the crazy one- I would never have done that!
You are so close Jenny!!! Love the idea to wear your head lamp as a belt. I hope work goes smoothly today! So weird that you were scheduled. Congrats to your daughter!!! What an excellent set of performances!
Thanks Suzanne! Work went well although it was weird being there on a Sunday. I survived and am now gearing up for the big game.
It’s true that we probably are exposed to covid all the time, but it still is worrisome when someone we’ve been around gets it. I don’t wear a mask anymore, but I did grab one for the train to NYC today.
Huge congrats to your daughter!
Good luck with your final taper week!
Thank you Coco! I hope you have a great time in NYC!!!
Isn’t the taper fun? I do wear a mask at work when I see sick patients–I don’t want to catch anything! It sounds like you dodged the Covid bullet, so that’s good. Will you wear a mask at work next week?
Congrats to your daughter! And good luck next weekend!
Thanks Wendy! Yes, I’m wearing a mask all week. Unlike you, I don’t see sick patients- clients aren’t supposed to come in if they’re sick obviously. But you never know.
WE are all exposed to so many viruses everyday that is just life now. I try not to worry about it too much but glad everyone is healthy at your house. Some people do get shin pain from walking uphill -it is very different from your usual run terrain. Maybe back off until after the race? So excited for you enjoy your taper 🙂
HUH! I never even thought about that treadmill workout- i usually associate shin pain with walking DOWNHILL. But yes, I should skip that workout this week. Thanks for the tip!
No on the mask. I’ve been worrying about Covid because of my upcoming vacation. Now we have a big snowstorm arriving the morning of my flight. Ugh.
Hope you stay healthy.
See you soon.
Oh no! Yes, I hope I see you soon- I hope your flight takes off okay. It’s always something, right?
So glad your leg is a-okay! We had a warm week but then snow is expected this week – so we’ll see. We stopped wearing masks for the most part – I did wear a mask on a plane recently because the person next to me was coughing, but then on the way back I didn’t.
Before this week, I hadn’t worn a mask in a long time. And I also haven’t had Covid in a long time (since December 2022.) It seems so random, but I figured better safe than sorry.
In case it makes you feel better, when I had Covid in December no one else in my house got it! And we tested everyone multiple times since it was Christmas and we would be around a couple of people in their 80s. So I hope that your husband and you stay healthy!! Sending you all the good vibes!!
Since I just had Covid in December, I don’t mask as I figure I am still protected.
It was my birthday week so it was a fun and celebratory week! Our date night the previous week was our true celebration but I had some birthday lunches and lots of texts and emails and such! We are not doing anything for the superbowl. We will watch the game and I will make some chili for dinner although Phil will be out at his mom’s with taco so he will have it as leftovers this week. I don’t really care who wins? I am kind of over the dominance of the Chiefs. I like Mahomes but I am kind of tired of them winning (I felt the same way about the Patriots although their reign was much longer). So I guess I am kind of a socialist when it comes to sports and want to kind of spread the wins around? But I don’t have any sort of tie or allegiance to SF so I don’t really care about them winning either!
Ha, you’re a sports socialist. I know, I get it- I’m usually rooting for the underdog, but since all the underdogs got knocked out of it, I might as well root for KC.
Happy (belated) birthday!
Congrats to your daughter on all the great Superior ratings on her events! My son had his Solo and Ensemble yesterday too and got a superior rating too (well, his was just a class B solo, so not the highest difficulty, but he got a 1, which is the highest rating?). I was a little unsure as the judge seemed tough, but he was excited to get the good result a little later.
I do not think all of this stuff is in your head- I am sure these super long miles could legitimately take a toll on your body! So I don’t think you’re crazy for worrying about it/ feeling “phantom” pains. I’m just so glad that in this case it turned out to be nothing! And bummer about unexpectedly having to work… sounds like it must have been a misunderstanding. Well, good for you for still going and not bailing on your clients, even though I am sure you’re not super enthusiastic! But it’s Superbowl Sunday, so that is fun to look forward to! We are just doing a low key thing at home with my parents. I am not particularly invested in either team at all and am sort of bored with these options, but oh well. Wish we were watching the other teams who lost last time!
Yes, I know- I would be more excited if we were seeing the Lions, Packers… Dolphins… oh well. I just hope it’s an exciting game.
Congrats to your son! I think if the judge can tell they worked hard on the solo, they’ll usually get a superior. So he must have worked hard and played it well!
Woo hoo RACE WEEK!!!!!!
If it feels like everything is going wrong – shin niggles and COVID exposure – then everything is on track!
Grrr to your boss for adding on the extra day. I think that the last time that I wore a mask was when I had COVID in August 2022? It’s been a long time.
Ha ha- maybe it’s like the saying “bad dress rehearsal, great opening night.” If everything were going well now, I should probably worry.
You had a good week! I think it is normal to feel all of the aches and pains before a race. It is nerve racking for sure. Hope you get some good sleep in this week and prepare for your big race day!
Sleep is my #1 priority this week!!! I figure it will cure anything and everything (right???)
Good news on the shin not bothering you the last few days and I hope it stays that way. Good luck on your race; I can’t wait to read all about it next Sunday!
Fingers crossed that you all stay healthy. Luckily, I haven’t had to wear a mask since late December 2022 when I went to my doctor’s early morning sick clinic when I was sick with not-Covid, not-flu…
Thank you Debbie! I’m looking forward to racing and also looking forward to sharing the experience on the blog!
I still have my mask collection, but I can’t remember the last time I wore one! Maybe I’ll bust one out when I travel to Germany in the fall. I feel like airports are a huge crockpot of sickness, so I could use the extra protection. Congrats to your daughter on the wonderful ratings! She is so talented.
I hope your workday felt short today and you enjoy football today. I will tune in for the commercials 🙂
Looking forward to hearing all about your race. Best of luck!!! You are going to do awesome!
Thank you so much Lisa. And, if ever there was a time to wear a mask it would probably be while traveling. SO many people go on trips and come back sick.
Yay, the Taper continues…home stretch! I don’t think I’ve worn a mask since all the Covid stuff (like since these past almost three years?), except for when we visited my 100-yr old aunt in her facility last summer…and that was only because there had been a Covid breakout there. Hopefully, all will go well this week, and the race day will arrive drama-free 😉
Ha, I’m not sure “drama-free” describes my life right now, but maybe I’m getting all the drama out, and race day will be nice and calm.
CONGRATS TO YOUR DAUGHTER!!! That’s so exciting. Also exciting – you’re almost there! Yay! We will be all cheering you on!
Ugh on working today, that sucks. Well, let’s see – I think you are four hours ahead of me, so maybe your day is nearly done! I hope so.
Fingers crossed on no Covid or anything else weird – keep going to bed early! Get that sleep immunity! Good luck this week.
Thank you Nicole! Yes, I’m getting in bed early EVERY SINGLE NIGHT this week!
Yay for good results at S&E! It is unfortunate that it screwed with your sleep, but you only live once, right?
I rarely wear masks anymore, but when I went to see my mom in the hospital I wore one. We had a tornado warning while I was at an event on campus last week and they hustled us all close together in a shelter and I *wished* I’d had a mask then. I don’t hate it as much as you do – it’s just sort of annoying with my eyeglasses. (Big nerd thing to say.)
No, that’s not nerdy- I wear contacts but sometimes wear glasses at night, and back in the mask-wearing days I HATED wearing it with my glasses. My flasses were constantly getting all fogged up. I don’t know how people who wear glasses all the time managed.
I am getting soooooo excited for you!!! Avoiding germs is a lost cause for me w my kids and jobs so I just hope my immune system holds up!!
How is the weather looking? A1A looks a bit steamy … again …
Yep! The temperatures are climbing in central Florida as well, just in time for the race. SIGH.
Maybe your immune system is super strong, because of being exposed to all those germs. You don’t seem to get sick very often!
I’m glad your shin turned out to be nothing – the stress of taper, right lol
Just a week to go – I’m so excited for you! And, big congrats to your daughter!
Thank you Michelle!!! I’m excited too. Now I just have to get through one last week of taper.
It’s so soon!!! You can’t/won’t get COVID. I won’t allow it!
I love that the workout is now the CBW. Too funny.
Enjoy the Super Bowl!
Thank you Elisabeth! I’m pretty sure you scared Covid away. Yes, Birchie started calling it the Cool Bloggers Workout, and she also started the CBBC name. She’s good at that sort of thing!
I’m glad your shin is ok, and fingers crossed you and your family don’t get covid! I don’t blame you for masking, just to be safe when you’ve got your big race coming up!
My week was pretty good. I was excited because I was supposed to pace a friend in his 100K on Saturday, but sadly he had to DNF at mile 20 with a medical issue. Luckily he’s fine now but I’m sad for him not getting the finish, and sad for me for not getting the fun crewing & pacing experience I was hoping for! Ultras are just so unpredictable so you never know what’s gonna happen, even if you’re just crewing!
Oh, that’s a bummer- for you and for him. Yes, you never know what’s going to happen. I’m glad your friend is okay now.
I hope you stay healthy over the next week, so you can really do your best for the race. So exciting that it is almost here! I seem to always have something feeling a bit off. I also had a sore shin last week but it has gone away. I need to keep on top of my archilles exercises, they are always my weakest link. We wore masks when we travelled before the New York marathon. I visited my dad in hospital last week and had to wear a mask. It’s a pain with my glasses.
I always wear my mask at the grocery store. I don’t know why, it feels like the most cootyish place. Not just COVID, though definitely I don’t want COVID again, but I don’t really want a cold or flu either. I don’t wear it at restaurants or places that aren’t too crowded.
I’m excited for you, will be thinking of you next Saturday! We’re watching the Super Bowl now. I dislike football, but the snacks are fun, and some of the commercials have been good. I liked the one with Christopher Walken, I hope they show it again. Right now it’s 3rd quarter, score is 10-6 Niners. I’m in the Bay Area, definitely rooting for the Niners.
Oh, and BLAH to having to wear a mask all day at work, and working on your day off. I’m lucky, I work from home, have never had to wear it all day. That sounds miserable, I feel for you.
I had to work yesterday too and that was very new for me. Glad, knock wood, you were able to skip a bout with Covid. That would’ve sucked. Congrats to your daughter! I miss all the music stuff as my daughter basically phones it in these days but she does have one BIG performance at the end of this month. Cheers to race week! I’m excited for you!
Ohmygosh I am so excited for you; you are going to do great! I am glad your shin is not hurting any more! It could just be a case of the taper crazies which is a real thing! It is always amazing what aches and pains seem to come out of the woodwork! I will wear a mask if the BART train is busy; usually in the morning, since I go in early, it is not that crowded, but sometimes in the afternoon we are all squished in and I would just prefer to be safe rather than sorry. I would say that maybe 25% of the people on the train still wear one. The other place is the OBGYN, who is still requiring them. I don’t mind wearing a mask, as long as I am not doing anything super active; I guess I just kind of got used to it.
Eeeew about that Covid thing. Why does it always have to be just before some important event??!! So stressful. I don’t worry a lot about Covid anymore as long as I keep my vaccines updated but I certainly try to stay off viruses. I still want to live my life so I go out and do things but I really try to stay on top of things with nutrition, sleep, and in periods I take Echinaforce to boost the immune system before a trip and similar. Oh and I rinse my nose with a special sinus rinse in risky periods because I heard it reduces the viral load if you catch something. Who knows. I don’t wear a mask anymore though but I totally understand that people do.
I hope your shin behaves, and I’m so excited for your race!! I can’t wait to read about it!
Have you considered wearing a hat or visor and then putting your headlamp around that? If you have a soft band one you could wear it backwards while you need the lamp.
I find a cap more comfortable then a headlamp. Also headlamps are usually too big lol
Good luck and whats the name of the 50 miler again?
Eek!
I have masks, but I’m not always great about wearing them. I really wanted to in the airports and on the plane last week, but I didn’t get super close to anyone, and I still think I have immunity from my last bout. Fingers crossed.
I hope work wasn’t too awful. That stinks.
We had a little Super Bowl get together and themed everything after Taylor Swift. It was fun.
Best of luck this weekend! It’s going to be amazing for you!
Hooray to two healthy shins and no covid 🙂 I think you’ll do so well on this race, you’ve done all the training. Now just stay healthy and have fun!