Happy Wednesday! Things are going swimmingly here… ha ha… that’s a pun! Not funny though. After a day off Monday, I went for a run yesterday morning…
… and it didn’t go well. My foot is really sore- it seems like it regressed by five months overnight. Ironically, I just wrote an ENTIRE POST on how great my foot was doing… obviously, that was a mistake. But you know when this happened? THE DAY AFTER MY MODERNA SHOT. Yep- I now think it was the shot. I looked it up, and it can cause inflammation. According to this article, “The cells that cause inflammation in your arm after the vaccine also send signals to your body to create antibodies against the spike protein. This process can cause inflammation in other parts of the body, leading to headache, fatigue, and fever after the first vaccine shot for some people.” (emphasis mine.) Here’s my Covid arm:
And a possible answer to the question of why some people have a reaction and others don’t: “Research also suggests reactions are more intense in people who previously had Covid-19 since they likely have some level of preexisting immunity.” (from this article.) I didn’t have Covid, that I know of, but it’s entirely possible that I was exposed and had an asymptomatic case. I live in Florida, and most things here have been open since last May. I work as a massage therapist, and we were closed for eight weeks at the beginning of the pandemic, but once we opened again I had no choice but to go back to work- I couldn’t continue to collect unemployment. Obviously we wear masks, but I’ve been out and about in the world pretty much normally for almost a year now.
Anyway!
Time for more pool running. I’ve just discovered a blog called “Well, I’m TRYING to run…” which is the “one and only pool-running blog.” First of all, hilarious name- I wish I had thought of it first! This woman apparently complements her regular running with pool running, and has a list of big PRs- a 2:57:42 marathon, and perhaps almost as impressive, a 3:15 pool run, which I assume means she ran in the pool for three hours and fifteen minutes- oof. She’s tough. Inspired by her website, I got in the pool for a 30 minute “run” in the afternoon.
Pool running is… boring. Sorry to say it. But I tried a couple thing Ms. Pool Runner mentioned in her blog, like doing intervals with my hands tucked into the flotation belt- yep, that was hard! It helps a lot to mix things up, and music is essential. Podcasts don’t cut it (for me) in this situation. So…I’m pretty bummed about the whole thing, but grateful that I have a pool to run in.
My intention isn’t to scare anyone away from the vaccine- I’m glad I’m getting it. But I’ll be extra glad when it’s all over- my second shot is scheduled for April 27th.
What do you guys think? Anyone else have any weird reactions to the shot?
How about pool running- have you tried it?
25 Responses
Sorry your body is reacting poorly 🙁 Well, as luck would have it… I’m getting shot #2 of Pfizer today! eeeeeek! You’ve successfully scared me now 🙂 I was only tired from the first shot. Fingers crossed nothing weird will happen for #2! I have a pool, but I only tried pool running once. I agree, so boring! I’d rather just do laps – which I find equally boring, but hard. I get exhausted after 5 mins of laps LOL! Did you ever buy the Brooks Trace? I just got word that I’m getting another version to test out this week. I’m so excited!! I really like them a lot.
No, no, don’t worry Lisa! I’m sure you’ll be fine. Everyone’s different, and also (for whatever reason) people don’t seem to react as much to the Pfizer shot. I’m glad you’re getting it and will be fully vaccinated!
When I went to the running store last week I was hoping to try the Trace, but they didn’t have them. I’ll keep trying though- I think I would like them.
I checked my shoe store today and they didn’t have the Trace either. My shot went well, and didn’t even hurt this time. The first shot was painful when they “stabbed” me!
Glad it went well! I have a thing about needles, but surprisingly the first shot didn’t bother me (in that way, at least.)
Your body is making antibodies and that’s a good thing! Pool running is great in the hot weather and it’s always good to mix things up. Feel good!
Thanks Deborah! Weirdly, we’re having unusually cool weather for April so it’s making the pool a tiny bit less appealing- I agree that in the summer it can feel really great.
No pool running for me, but I’d love to try it. There are no places to do it here (small town USA). I’m still waiting for my opportunity for vax #1. I’m not in a panic nor am I particularly eager since I supposedly had Covid back in November (tested positive, but had ZERO symptoms). The shingles vax (both #1 and #2) had me feeling really achy and blah, so I can’t help but wonder if I’ll have a similar experience with the Covid vaccine. Stay tuned LOL
Yeah, pool running has one big problem and that is, you need a pool (ha ha.) In the winter when our pool is too cold, I just don’t do it. I used to belong to LA Fitness and they have a pool, but it wasn’t conducive to pool running (too crowded and not deep enough.) Luckily you’ve got other cross training options.
I wonder if the J&J vaccine would be better for you? Might be worth looking into. It’s probably good you’re waiting a while, you can see what people’s reactions to all the different vaccines are.
For some reason I am just obsessed with hearing about everyone’s experience with the vaccine, so thanks for sharing yours! I’m sorry that you had side effects. I had a 48 hours of fatigue and brain fog after shot #1 of Pfizer and I’ll keep you posted on shot #2 next week;-) My SIL had no reaction at first but a few days later she had to take a “couch day”.
I’ve never tried pool running but it sounds really boring/hard.
Isn’t it crazy how everyone reacts so differently? My husband got the Pfizer and had nothing after the first shot, then the day after the second he alternated between saying he felt completely normal, and wondering why he was so tired. You’re tired BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE! Ha ha. Looking forward to hearing your reaction to the second shot- hopefully you’ll feel perfectly fine.
No swollen arms here but we both had a day of feeling pretty awful after our AstraZeneca vaccinations. Interestingly, I am convinced my husband had Covid the autumn of 2019 and I can’t possibly have avoided getting it (asymptomatically). We’re OK now but some people we know had no reaction … Glad you have a pool to train in at least and hope you feel better soon.
Well, that would make sense with the theory that people who already had Covid have a more intense reaction to the vaccine. I know some people who had Covid for sure, and they had a lot of side affects from the vaccine. But like everything else with this crazy disease, I’m sure you could find plenty of people with the opposite experience!
Liz, I just tried to leave a comment on your latest post (the review of the ultrarunning book) and it wouldn’t let me- I don’t know why! Just wanted to let you know. I’ll try again later.
Oh, that’s a shame, does it think you’ve got a WordPress login which is the usual problem (get around that by entering a made-up email address!). I have had comments on it so I haven’t inadvertently turned them off. If you want to message me via the contact form on my blog and let me know what’s happening I can see if I can help …
Well, at least the good news is: your foot will soon be fine again! YAY!
I hope that you will be back to normal soon.
I couldn’t even imagine the boredom of pool running – but I think it is a great workout. Hey, if Mrs Pool Runner could run a sub-3 hour marathon, it must be a great training regime!
Yes, Ms. Pool Runner is certainly setting a good example for pool runners everywhere!
And yes, I did feel better when I came to that realization about my foot- and I can already feel it subsiding.
Ugh. I’m so sorry about your foot pain. It does make sense though that inflammation caused by the vaccine would be at the root of it. I’ve done more than my share of pool running. In fact I was solely in the pool for 6 weeks leading up to my second Boston Marathon. It is a WONDERFUL tool. I used to do it at the YMCA and the lifeguards would jam a boom box on the pool deck so that was my music. I can’t remember what my pool “long run” was but it was at least a couple of hours. It can get boring but think of it as mental training.
I’ve heard of people training solely in the pool while getting ready for a big race. Joan Benoit did it while getting ready for the 1984 Olympic marathon trials after having knee surgery- it definitely worked for her!
I would be interested to hear about your Boston experience, with that kind of training leading up to it!
Sorry to hear that you had a reaction to the vaccine. Hope you are feeling better.
I did not. I guess I was lucky.
I would think pool running would be boring too
i just read your post today! Your ideas are good- i’m going to get the shot in my other (dominant) arm next time. Other than that… I may have to suffer through some discomfort for a few days but it’s worth it.
I had zero reactions to the first Moderna shot, but I’m getting my second one tomorrow. I’m super nervous and have cleared my schedule for about 36 hours LOL.
I think I’d lose my mind running in a pool…
I know- I’m really nervous about my second shot (at the end of the month) and have also cleared my schedule! Good luck with yours!
I got the first shot a few days ago and had no reactions other than some tiredness and a sore arm for a couple of days. I hope you’re feeling better!
I’ve never tried pool running but I could see myself finding it boring since you’re not really traveling lol!
Yes, you’re not going anywhere and there’s not much to look at! The only thing that makes it bearable is music (and wireless headphones!)