Things are changing so quickly, I wonder if anything I write today will be relevant tomorrow. Earlier this week, I thought it might be interesting that my church was closed because a visiting organist from another church was diagnosed with COVID-19 a few days after she used our organ during a special service, but by mid-week the Bishop canceled all church services across the Diocese of Virginia for two weeks, and now all public schools in Virginia (and other states) are closed for three weeks or longer.
Image Credit: NAIAD-RML
As for the case of coronavirus at my church, for many reasons including that I don’t use the part of the church building where the organist played and my priest wasn’t involved in the special service, I was never at risk, but the whole situation hit close enough to home to make the fear of contagion real.
The Novel Coronavirus
These are transmission electron micrographs of the SARS-CoV-2 virus–two of many cool mages available from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on their Flickr page. The “spikes” on the surface are the spike proteins that play a role in how the virus binds to and infects host cells. Other coronaviruses have similar structures (and similar but different spike proteins), which is why research done around the SARS outbreak (for example) is helping scientists get a jump start on vaccine development against this “novel “coronavirus. (If you search too far back in Google Scholar you may find articles on SARS from when it was the “novel” coronavirus.)
Image Credit: NAIAD-RML
The scientist and biotech patent attorney in me is fascinated by all the news about efforts to develop new diagnostic tests and vaccines, but that same education and professional experience make me skeptical of promises of a vaccine in “a few months” or even a year. For example, one company planning to begin human testing “by the end of spring 2020” had a previous vaccine (against RSV) fail at a later stage. That’s just how it goes–developing a safe and effective vaccine is challenging–and takes time. I don’t doubt we’ll have a vaccine someday, I just worry the public will lose faith when it isn’t available as soon as promised.
Running Away From Coronavirus
As the week wore on and advice to practice “social distancing”–whatever that means–got more emphatic, I laced up my running shoes more often than usual. Not only does it help burn off the stress, it is something I can do while keeping a safe distance–whatever that means–from others. Running did expose my respiratory system to our spring allergens, but since I’ve learned that sneezing and a runny nose are not symptoms of COVID-19, I’m not as worried about that.
Monday: Strength workout at home
Proof my neighborhood trees are giving me reason to sneeze!
Tuesday: Cyclebar
I hesitated before going to Cyclebar, but Aimee’s 5:30 am class isn’t usually very crowded and I got there early so I had plenty of time to thoroughly wipe down my bike and the fitness bars I’d use during class. That may end up being my last class for a while ….
Wednesday: 5.5 mile run
I met my BRF for a run–and, no, we didn’t stay 6 feet apart from each other. Since we were out before sunrise I wasn’t going to take a picture, but then I caught the moon over the Lincoln Memorial and couldn’t resist!
Thursday: 4.5 Scooby Miles
After Trump’s press conference Wednesday night, my Thursday conference was changed to a “virtual” event, so I had more time in the morning before I had to tape my session. Even though I had run Wednesday, the warm weather made it to too hard to resist taking Scooby out for a run.
Friday: Strength + Treadmill Workout
After all the precautions taken for my conference, I couldn’t get my head around going to Orangetheory fitness and sharing a small studio with 33 others. I’m not going to lie, though. If I had realized it was Friday the 13th before I canceled my class, I might have gone anyway, because I knew it was going to be a “fun” one.
I did the next best thing and did an OTF-inspired workout at my office gym–which I had to myself at 5:30 am. I spent about 1/2 hour doing a strength workout (13 reps per set) and then did the OTF treadmill workout: 4 rounds of (1 min at all-out pace) + (1 min walking recovery) + (3 min at push pace) + (1 min walking recovery). I did not do the burpees I would have had to do in-studio, but I did get sweaty enough on the treadmill!
Saturday: 8 mile run
I joined an SRTT group run at 6 am for 8 miles. We did our best to keep appropriate distances, which became easier for me as they ran faster than planned and I had to work to keep up! It was dark for the first 6 miles, but light by the time we saw this big beautiful tree in full bloom.
Sunday: 5.5 mile run
With rain in the forecast and Cyclebar out of the question–how much my perspective changed from Tuesday!–I meet my friend for an easy run. Even though we spent 99% of the time talking about coronavirus, we both felt better by the end.
No one will now if I changed clothes before joining my church’s Facebook live worship service from home.
I wondered what our priest meant when she said she was consecrating special individually wrapped “host” we could use for Holy Communion at home! Members of our “care team” offered no-contact drop-off delivery with bulletins so we can follow along with the recorded service.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up
–join in for motivation and encouragement!
It’s been a stressful week–tell me something ^good^ that happened!
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Isn’t it great that we can still run?! I am so happy that it’s ok to be outdoors.
Interesting perspective on the vaccine – I am not an expert, but what you say makes sense.
Here in South Africa, the virus has just begun… only a handful of infected people. When we go home to Switzerland in 10 days it’s going to be a different story. Has your trip been cancelled?
Will you have any difficulty going to Switzerland? The travel policies are so confusing. My trip isn’t canceled yet although mentally I’m prepared for it to be And just waiting for the right time to call the airlines.
Travelling to Switzerland should be ok. I have a Swiss passport… but who knows what will happen in 10 days? 😬
Good luck with your travel plans!
You were able to get in some great runs! I’m glad we still have the great outdoors…at least for now! Do you think if we are on lockdown, we won’t be able to run…??
I don’t think anyone will be under lockdown, and as long as you are well you can run!
Wait so the “special host” is a Special K bar?? 😛
This whole thing makes me so grateful we can still head out and RUN!
Looks like bars and restaurants are going to be closing here by government mandate.
Yes, indeed! My priest is trying to keep a sense of humor about all this too. Interesting on the restaurants. Haven’t seen that here yet.
Reading everyone’s posts make me wonder why these group exercise classes are still going on! My CrossFit is closed for 2 weeks. But yes, we can still run and running outside is just so good right now.
I’m confused–a special K bar is the host? I’d probably struggle with that, lol!
It is causing so much confusion with everything open as usual. It’s hard to accept you’re not supposed to go.
Yes, our church is very flexible on what can count as communion in emergency situations – they are individually wrapped and still on grocery store shelves.
It certainly was a crazy week! Good news, you’re asking? Our son closed on his condo Friday morning 😉 So, now he (and his older sis) both are home owners….gosh, do I feel old LOL Our attendance at church was maybe 40% this morning…but we did our best to keep a safe distance (whatever that means LOL). 😉 Those cherry blossoms…. ((sigh))
Congrats to your son! It is bittersweet marking those milestones, but mostly sweet! I think the real cherry blossoms will be blooming next weekend.
I am really hoping we can keep up our MRTT runs they certainly keep me sane. It sure was a crazy week, Thanks for linking up
I’m sure some will and some won’t. I’m counting on my friend from work and her family staying well!
It’s nice to see blossoms – signifies spring and new beginnings, even if it does trigger some allergies. You had some great runs this week – provides a nice reprieve!
I love that photo of the Lincoln Memorial.
I’ll be living on my treadmill since I am single momming it at home with my kids. I hope that you stay safe and healthy and enjoy those runs when you get out!
I know you do longer TM runs, but I am loving the TM workouts on the Peleton App — free for 90 days!
Well, I’m not sure anything great happened but also nothing bad really happened (for me). And my mom is still ok so there’s that.
That photo of the Lincoln Memorial is stunning!
I think “no news is good news” is fitting right now. Glad your mom is well.
I totally understand the hesitation with going to OTF. Honestly the only reason I kept going is because our classes had gotten so much smaller. I went this morning and we had 11 people but today was my last class as all gyms in the state are closing as of 8pm tonight.
Yep. I miss the classes so much! I haven’t tried the ones on the app yet, have you?
I’m always amazed at how talking about a stressful subject during a run somehow makes it more manageable or easier to deal with. We talked a lot about coronavirus on our long run, and although it didn’t change anything, we felt better for that chat.
Things changed so quickly! It seemed relatively normal at the beginning of last week and now everything is completely different. But I’m just taking it one day at a time and being flexible. And keeping an eye on silver linings, at least it’s easier to go for a run now and fit in at-home workouts 🙂 Good luck with the rest of the week!
Girl, I wish I could run. It’s so hard not to be able to pound the pavement and think about anything else going on in the world. Ugh.
I love how your church is handling things. People need that normalcy and connection, now more than ever. <3
It has been A Week. The big episcopalian cathedral here (St. John the Divine – if you haven’t been, I need to take you when you’re here nex. IT’s stunning) just closed. Wondered if they were going to follow the catholic archdiocese or not. My neighbor is so worried about the church commandment. Her nephew and I told her that TV Church is OK at her age.
My friend and I did not social distance when we ran. BUt we were in fresh air which we think maybe helped.
I did my virtual half this past weekend. I’m glad to be running. Not much else to do. Everything is closed.
Love that moon pic. And those cherry blossoms. Our trees still look like winter.
So much has changed since Sunday and is changing daily. I had thought canceling all personal training sessions and classes I teach at the gym would be enough, but I’ve also decided to cancel all training in my home gym. It was a difficult decision, but the right one.
I’m thankful to have workout equipment here at home and of course I’m enjoying the early spring weather for walking outdoors.
Take care and stay safe!
it’s been so stressful and the changes going on are happening a bit too quickly for me. I really need to take your example and do more to burn off the stress and the crazy. I’m not going to be totally negative and saying nothing good happened but honestly… it was not a good week. Everything is cancelled (including my parkrun launch) and closed (including my gym, restaurants and bars) and I’m now partially working from home. I’m not sick? That’s what’s good.
Hey, it’s ok to vent too, and look, once you did you found a positive. 😉
So as being a healthcare provider it’s great that they are working on a vaccine. In reality how many people will get it if it’s to be offered. Do you know how many people don’t get the FLU vaccine probably 80% of the people I triage. The excuses I hear are “ I don’t believe in vaccines or It makes me sick with the FLU.”
Right? Maybe this will help people understand why vaccines are so important!
I work at a bank, so for my job it’s “business as usual”, but we are sending home many people to distance everyone at the office. Being that I’m only there Mon-Weds, I appear to be lower on the chart of “important people who need to relocate” 🙂 All of our group runs have been canceled though, which is a bummer. I’m enjoying my kids being home for online school though!
It’s a mixed blessing to be an essential worker, but we do need people like you to help keep us going!