30 Weeks to Half Marathon

My goal is to run the Valley Harvest Half Marathon, on Sunday, October 11th in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 21.1km.

Sunday – Tuesday

This week – March 15th – 22nd I traveled to Campbell River, British Columbia from our hometown province of Nova Scotia to visit my husband who is preparing the house here to be sold this spring.

The plantar fasciitis in my left foot has not yet healed, therefore running was completely off the table and walking for exercise still wasn’t an option (even though I tried). Michael and I looked into renting a bike, but the cost was $60.00 a day. Too expensive. We looked at buying a cheap second hand bike, but this would take a few days to research and find.

I was out of sorts because I wasn’t following my usual routine of exercise, healthy eating and my OYNB – One Year No Beer – schedule to help keep me alcohol free; and with the sudden upsurge of fear across the world with the COVID-19 outbreak, everything seemed surreal because I was in British Columbia, not in my comfort zone of Nova Scotia.

I was however, reunited with my husband and bunkered down in our home here. This was the silver lining!

Wednesday – Saturday – Lady Fit Gym and My Dilemma of Being There

Beside myself because I was without a method of cardio exercise, I decided to join a gym and work out there. Social distancing had become the norm. The day I joined the gym was the last day employees would be servicing the front desk and all classes were cancelled. I was given a swipe card for the after hours door, making the gym employee free yet available 24 hours a day.

Perfect. As of Wednesday, the etiquette was only 10 people allowed in the gym at a time, while practicing social distancing. Hand washing and spraying down machines before and after use was expected.

Wednesday, I was the only one at the gym. Thursday I was one of three women, each of us at opposite ends go the gym, Friday I was one of two women, Saturday I was the only one!

I have to tell you I was nervous going to the gym, for fear of backlash from others that I was going to a public place. But I basically had the gym to myself. As well, I have no symptoms of COVID-19 and do not have history of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus due to travel outside of Canada or close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

From the Government of Canada’a web page:

Know the difference : Self-monitoring, self-isolation, and isolation for COVID-19

I passed more people in the grocery store than in the gym. I needed the gym, a hard cardio workout for my mental and emotional health to keep me on track staying alcohol free and to maintain the fitness level I am working so hard to gain while training for my half marathon in October.

I stayed home from the gym Sunday, feeling overwhelmed with fear as my home province of Nova Scotia entered into a state of emergency. BC was already in a state of emergency, but that didn’t seem to stop regular life here in Campbell River. There were restrictions on the number of people allowed in some stores, social distancing of course, grocery stores allowed only one person to put their groceries on the conveyor at a time. Shoppers, Subway, Tim Hortons – all open – but adapted with social distancing. I even saw a doctor on Friday and had bloodwork done! No, I’m not sick – checking my hormone levels for menopause.

A work email from the Executive Director of the Halifax Regional Centre of Education gave me confidence to return to the gym (this week anyway) as I am following all health regulations. The email indicated from March 23rd-March 27th, principals and designates will be in their buildings, along with custodians to maintain clean and clean high traffic areas, that schools will be open by appointment only and only to teachers, other school based-staff, and Grade 12 students who can pick up technologies needed for exams. This restricted entry can only be practiced while maintaining social distancing of two meters or approx. six feet. After this week, all schools will be closed to staff and students for the balance of the school closure period – currently April 6th.

As of right now in Nova Scotia, no more than 5 people can be in one place at one time. If I am the only one in the gym here in BC, and clean the spin cycle before and after I use it and wash my hands when I enter and when I leave…then I am practicing social distancing and following all public health protocols. As well, when I get home I strip out of my clothing and wash them in hot water.

BC Centre for Disease says this about the spread of the virus:

The spread of novel coronavirus occurs with sustained close contact with an affected individual, for example, sitting in a car on a long trip, or living in the same household. Grocery stores – which are open and where people tend to walk around – are unlikely places to allow for virus spread.

http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/common-questions

*** Update *** As of Sunday, March 22nd – the gym closed completely, turning off it’s swipe card access! I’m happy about this, because now I can stay at home, work out and feel much better about this! ***

My First Time Spinning

Funny note – Wednesday, my first time using a spin bike, I set my Fitbit to “Run” and started spinning. I’m not sure how the GPS tracked me moving like the below pattern as I was stationary on the bike!! That night, I added Spin to my FitBit to be ready for Thursday!

Saturday’s Spin

Saturday’s spin was a TOUGH workout when I followed a free YouTube intense spin class. I really needed it, as I needed the intense push to release emotions as I started to cry while gearing up for a hill-climb! I was the only one in the gym, therefore, I could scream out loud and release my frustrations over my inability to run because of my foot with plantar fasciitis and fears with COVID-19!!!

Last Week’s Goals

• Yoga practiced each day, at home. No
• Start a daily treatment routine of my foot with plantar fasciitis. No
• Try to find an alternative method of cardio!! You bet!!!
• Take it day-by-day – absolutely!!!!

Next Week’s Goal

I have no idea!!

After a reality check discussion with the doctor on Friday about my foot, he says time is what heals plantar fasciitis. How long depends on the person.

The gym?

Is now closed. I have no choice but to transition to some sort of at home, free, online, low impact, high cardio aerobic exercise! Sort of sounds like an oxymoron – low impact high cardio aerobic exercise!

At home workouts! Just like the good old days, ‘eh!!

Remember 20 Minute Workout!!!

S, 🚴🏼‍♀️

Half Marathon Training – 2020

Half Marathon Training – Week 1 – In Total, 30km Goal Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 2 – Goal – 6km Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 3 – Goal – Each Run Holding at 6km Achieved – Goal of Speed Increase Not Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 4 – Goal – Long Run – 7km, Holding at 6km & Speed Increase – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 5 – Goal – Long Run – 8km, Finding My Pace – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 6 – Goals – 9km & Yoga Achieved – Week of Mishaps – Yup!

Half Marathon Training – Week 7 – Plantar Fasciitis Halts Running – So I Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 8 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, The COVID-19 Pandemic & My First Time Spinning!

Half Marathon Training – Week 9 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, Adapting Exercise Habits During These COVID-19 Days With Indoor, Low Impact, High Cardio Exercise & We Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 10 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running & Finding My Exercise Groove During These COVID-19 Days

Half Marathon Training – Week 11 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running: Indoor Cardio & Outdoor Fun

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running; Stress & Anxiety & The Body

Half Marathon Training – Week 13 – No Running. Week 14 – RUNNING!!

Half Marathon Training – Week 15 & 16 – Getting My Groove Back

Half Marathon Training – Week 17 – My First 10Km!

Half Marathon Training – Week 18 – My First Race!

Half Marathon Training – Week 19 – ‘Till I Collapse Kinda Week!

Half Marathon Training – Week 20 – The Significance of Music

Half Marathon Training – Week 21 – The Importance of Stretching and Laughter

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 22-24 – Badass and Heart Centered

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 25-27 – New Sneakers, Warrior Walk & Gluteus Medius

Half Marathon Goal – Postponed to 2021