Spring semester officially ended for me yesterday (Sunday, May 24). I have submitted all my grades. All "paperwork" has been completed. It is finished. Which means of course, it's now once again time to get my act together. Not that I've fallen totally apart during this COVID19 shelter-in-place era of our lives. I got my plank up to two minutes (though it has been a week since I've done a plank). I began doing burpees out on the back lawn with my husband and sons (though it's been three days -- Doh! This is what I mean by get my act together! I'm not consistent.)
Now that Billy Goat 1/2 Marathon is for sure postponed (was planned for June), I've got a little more time on my hands. I have time to continue running with my graduating high school senior. He is trying to increase his speed on the same two mile route that we take through the neighborhood -- a one mile loop with Pacific Ocean views that we reverse at the house. My son is more consistent than I. He runs this two mile loop daily, resting only Sundays. This of course means that he easily "laps" me. I on the other hand, take a couple of days off here and there to work on the plantar fasciitis. But I do occasionally get in longer runs -- my longest this month, 5 miles, an out-and-back out my front door and down the coast.
Also, on the COVID19 front, being the multi-tasker that I am (chronic, my multi-tasking is sometimes so bad, it's debilitating), I decided to take along my dog Millie and registered for a DirtyFeet Race, Dirty Paws Virtual Race (the 5k). Millie's a squeamish girl and she'll bite you if you try to trim her nails. I thought running her on the sidewalk might file down her nails (no such luck!). Anyway, even if I didn't get those nails filed down, it was time to bond with Millie. I never did because I was so heartbroken over the loss of Daisy, the dog-love of my life. Millie has always been the kids' dog. I half expected that she wouldn't have me because of this.
What a delight it was to take Millie out on her first few runs. She seemed thrilled, wagging her tail the entire way. She didn't seem to tire, and I did very little coercing. I had trouble at one corner where she is used to turning after years of walks with the boys. Other than that, she was a good girl. I also dropped her off after the first mile and did the second lap solo. She's a little dog, and also not so young anymore (kind of like myself!).
About the third or 4th run, Millie seemed hesitant. After that she grew even more hesitant. She didn't whine, she didn't act like she was in any pain. All off a sudden she would just sit and refuse to go. I had to pick her up a few times and walk with her in my arms. The last run I ended up cutting her portion short by running her back after only about a 1/4 mile. I haven't been out since. But as I mentioned, school is out for summer (and I'm only teaching one online class), so I have more time to get my act together. First, I am going to stay in on this Memorial Day, the day thousands journey to my town for waves and barbecues. Then after the Memorial Day crowds go home I will get out and put some more lovely miles on my feet. Our beaches are now open in the OC, but face masks are required in public when you cannot keep 6 feet distance. Once those crowds are gone (or at least thinned) I'll get back out there. And once it starts to heat up, the crowds in the coastal hills and mountains will thin out too. YOU WILL SEE ME THERE.
Look for more news on Billy Goat 1/2 Marathon. If all goes well with the state's re-opening phases, we'll be able to have this race in October. Live sports events are Phase 4, which is the last category to re-open. I've heard estimates of August. That sounds good to me.
Pics from my 5 mile run down the coast:
