Well, it’s official! I’m back at work. I currently work with two clients three days a week, plus I’ll be starting up my stretch class this Friday. I’m excited to see my clients and coworkers again. I’m happy to be moving through the day again (time to work off that COVID-5 (in my case)). And while I love home workouts, I happy to have access to my gym again.
I'm back at work after 3 months! I'm sharing all the feelings. I think it's a good thing? Here's the Weekly Run-Down. #running #weeklyrundownClick To TweetBack at Work
And, I admit, I’m nervous about it. Over the last three months, Alan and I have gone nowhere except to the grocery store when necessary. We haven’t seen our own families, we’ve put off having some work done inside the house, and I’ve even postponed getting my car fixed from that time that lady hit it in the Costco parking lot (remember that? It seems like years ago.).
So being back at work and around so many people at one time is a little nerve-wracking. We are in the off-season so many people have left for the summer but, and maybe this is just my pandemic-skewed perspective, it just seems sometimes like a lot of people in one room.
We are, of course, following all the recommended guidelines for reopening. We all wear masks, even the members, and get our temperatures taken when we come in. We social distance, even with clients. We religiously sanitize everything before and after we use it. I wash my hands when I get there, between clients, before I leave, and sanitize them in between.
But still. While members must enter with a mask, they’ve been allowed to take it off when they’re exercising. I get that need for cardio, but they carry it to the extreme of even keeping it off when they’re strength training. And keeping it off when they’re chatting after their workout with their friends. Not socially distanced. We’ve even removed all of the seating areas but that doesn’t make a difference.
And one of my clients has asthma. When we’re doing a higher-intensity exercise he has problems breathing, so I let him take off his mask. I back off but still.
So I’ve started to feel a little like a hypochondriac. Yesterday’s long run was so tough. Could that be a symptom? My heart rate was high when I ran this morning. Could I be getting sick? And while I feel rationally that my current issues are due to dehydration, there’s that little tickle in the back of my brain, could it be?
The number of cases and hospitalizations in my area have jumped lately. Several restaurants in just La Quinta have had to close again after reopening because some of their staff tested positive. One of the local Walmarts closed because 17 employees have the virus!
So, it’s not without reason that I’m a bit nervous about being back at work. But for now, I’ll continue to be careful and maybe have a talk with my boss about the members that aren’t as careful as they should be.
The Weekly Run-Down
Though last week was my cutback week, my mileage was down a bit this week too from one thing or another, though I did get my long run in.
Monday
This was my first day back at work and a rest day, so no running. I did move along with my clients a bit, including demonstrating kettlebell swings as they were doing them. I find it helps them keep great form if they can see me doing the exercise. Which means I ended up doing five sets of kettlebell swings after months of doing none. Other than that it just felt good to be on my feet for a portion of the day. I do sit too much when I’m not working or working out!
Tuesday
We got a late start (again) and it was pretty warm, so Alan and I ran on the trails with the dogs. We ran 5.25 miles then headed home before it got too hot. It has now become a habit to take our dachshund Tito out after the longer run (he already knows this), so we ran/walked for about a half-mile.
Wednesday
I had a hard time getting out of the door! Just lazy I guess, but, after procrastinating for a half hour or so (not a good idea in the desert in the summer) I talked myself into the running by using the 5-minute rule. It worked and I ended up running three miles. My legs were feeling heavy too, but I finally attributed that to those kettlebell swings from Monday!
Thursday
Alan wanted to swim again so we headed back to Lake Perris. It was already almost 80 in the desert at 6:30 when we left so we were quite surprised to see clouds roll in about halfway there and to have some serious June Gloom at the lake. It was cold too! About 59 degrees when we arrived (yes, that is cold to desert rats). Alan almost wanted to turn around and go home but, after checking the water, which was warmer than the air, decided to stick it out. He swam short though, so I only ran 3.25 miles. It was nice to get out of the heat but it would have been better to get in my long run in that chilly weather.
Friday
This was a running rest day so I took my TRX outside. I did some stretching and mobility work, then one set of strength training. At that point, it was still fairly cool but the gnats were starting to get to me. So I figured one round was better than none and called it a day.
Saturday
This was supposed to be my long run day with 10 miles on the schedule. I woke up with a headache and felt very dehydrated (my calves and feet had been cramping randomly through the night, always a sign of dehydration for me). I really just wanted to go back to bed. Instead, I got up, fed and walked the dogs, procrastinated trying to talk myself into it, then finally, again using that 5 Minute Rule, headed out the door.
If ever I doubted the old saying that running is 90% mental,” I never will again. Every move I made during this run was mind over matter. Choosing the route that will take me farther from home. Make a left turn instead of turning around toward home. Make a right turn to add an extra mile. What finally got me to go home was that I ran out of water and the water from the drinking fountains, which are now open, was so hot I could hardly stand it. Especially since I was feeling pretty hot too.
I got home with nine miles done. Contemplated calling it a day. Said screw that! Instead, I filled up my bottle, grabbed Australia, and headed out for one more mile. Pretty slow by now but Australia kept me going. Finished. Ten miles for the win!
Every step of that 10 miles was tough. I did get a little inspiration at about mile two when a Facebook friend messaged me. I have to admit that helped keep me going too. Like I had a fan out there!
Sunday
Alan and I usually do a recovery trail run with the dogs on Sunday. I’m generally coming off my long run, he has usually done a long bike ride the day before. I was still feeling dehydrated (those damn cramps!) in spite of my efforts at rehydration after Saturday’s run. After about a half mile I noticed that my heart rate had popped up way higher than it should have been and my breathing felt a little constricted. That’s not all that unusual for this asthmatic runner, but we decided to walk for a while. My HR continued to stay higher than normal so we gave up the run and walked the rest of the way.
I’m feeling fine now and I really think it’s the hydration. I am really working on that. Living in the hot, dry desert it’s really something I have to be aware of.
It also goes to show that not everything is a matter of mind over matter. Sometimes you really do need to stop, slow down, take a break, and listen to your body.
Total mileage for the week: 24:5 (counting Sunday’s walk)
Father’s Day
I hope that all the fathers had a great day on Sunday. Happy Father’s Day. It’s a little weird that, as with Mother’s Day, we didn’t actually get to see our kids. Aw well, there’s always next year (and we did Zoom!).
This is my Dad. He came to the US after World War II, where he was in the Danish Underground. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 60 (which is two years younger than I am now). I still think about him every day. Happy Father’s Day, daddy!
How did you celebrate Father’s Day? How is your training going?
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Inspire Me Monday with Janet
Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
The Runners’ Roundup with Rachel , Deborah, Lisa, Smitha, Jenn, and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
Wow, I would be nervous too about going back to work under these conditions! Strange that people think they’re invulnerable and refuse to play by the rules.
I love the photos from the family album! I didn’t know your dad was Danish. Shame that he died so early, I am sure he was an amazing dad.
He was an amazing dad! I miss him very much.
I’m glad you can work again, but I’m sure its stressful! But it sounds like you are being careful so hopefully you can get all the members to follow the rules. Hope your running feels better this week!
I hope we can get them to follow rules. It’s a little harder because it’s a country club and there are currently only two staff working at the front desk (actually not just the front desk, one is the manager and the other is the tennis pro) so they do the whole thing.
Oh man, those KB swings must have burned! I’m glad that you’re back at work and I’m sure that with all of the precautions in place that the gym will be fine. Ugh though on people not wearing masks. For cardio, fine. For everything else, c’mon!
That’s what drives me crazy! It’s like they totally forget about it after their workout.
I would be stressed and nervous too about all those people so close. It is hard to exercise with a mask on but…All you can do is stay safe as best you can. A great week of workouts for you. Thanks so much for linking up!
What really bothers me is when they’re done exercising they stand around chatting with no social distancing and without putting their masks back on. Ugh!
I totally get the anxiety about going back to work. I have that a bit because there are still people who just somehow can’t follow very simple rules. We even had a questionnaire sent around that asked how we felt about the measures taken and I gave my honest opinion! I hope in any case that you are not made to feel unsafe or uncomfortable going back!
Sorry to hear about your rough run! I know all runs have lessons and reasons but man when they are so hard every step it’s tough! I was zapped after just 5KM in the heat and humidity. I need to relearn summer running again and get my hydration on target too.
Dehydration is a big deal! I’ve known people taken to the hospital with what turned out to be dehydration. I felt bad all weekend then dedicated Sunday and continued into today to rehydrating. I feel so much better! Just gotta keep it up!
It’s nice that you and your father shared birthdays 😉 So sorry he’s been gone so long, and not around to celebrate each new year with you. That 5-minute rule is pretty golden. For me, it’s very apparent in that same time frame if it’s going to be a yeah run or a meh run. I live halfway up a hill, so that first stretch outta my driveway is usually upwards (unless it’s the rare occasion when I go the other way), and after I reach the “summit,” I’ll know within a couple blocks if the run is going to require any extra mental mojo or not.
It always felt special to share birthdays with my dad. It’s hard to believe that he was younger than I am now when he died.
I would also be stressed about going to work; my husband and I have barely done anything either, and the idea of being indoors with people really stresses me out! I’m sorry to hear about the increased cases in your area. I am hoping you stay safe! It sounds like your employer is doing everything right.
Dehydration can definitely be tough! Glad you’re feeling better now
Thank you. It’s tough and part of it is just that “pandemic” feeling after being apart from other people for so long. It just feels weird to have others so close!
I have to say I wouldn’t feel comfortable working in a gym, no matter how well it was managed. But it’s a personal decision (just like my sister’s decision to go back to work at Old Navy, and she’s a few years older than you).
Hopefully you will be just fine!
This was my first father’s day with my Dad. Which was fine. My dad may have lived a long life, but the man we knew had checked out many years ago.
So interesting that your Dad was in the underground! Did he ever talk about it? I know my Dad rarely talked about WWII (he served in the army).
He didn’t talk much about the Danish Underground. By counting the dates, I’m pretty sure he was very young. I read a book about it once which was very interesting but I learned more there than I learned from my dad.
It’s got to be so disconcerting to be back at work. Even I get edgy when I’m around people these days, especially if it’s inside.
Best of luck. I hope things continue to improve.
I am imagine how stressful it is being back at work. I am sure that is how I will be in the Fall since we are supposed to be back in the classroom.
My dad passed away in 1991. He was in his late 40s? That is the age I am now.