As more thing reopen–including Orangetheory Fitness and Cyclebar–I find myself caught in an internal struggle of FOMO versus FOCO. The feeling of missing out is real when I see pictures of (small) classes being held at my Orangetheory studio. The fear of Covid-19 remains strong as I see our new case numbers stabilizing but not dropping. So far FOCO is winning out, but the struggle is real–and stressful.
Image Credit: NAIAD-RML
FOMO versus FOCO
Even though I’ve found bootcamp classes on the Peloton app to be a pretty good substitute for Orangetheory, I’ve had more FOMO over Orangetheory reopening than Cyclebar reopening. Maybe it’s because I have a monthly subscription to Cyclebar, so once I put that on hold for 3 more months, I haven’t really thought about it again. With Orangetheory I have a class pack, so every day brings an opportunity to sign up for class–or not.
I miss this view–even though I don’t like the rower!
When FOMO creeps up, I talk myself out of it by rationalizing that the logistics aren’t worth it. Classes have been cut to 45 minutes to leave more time for cleaning. The coach I like teaches in the afternoon, so I’d have to pay for parking. With driving there and back I’d be spending 90 minutes for at most 45 minutes of workout time….
Plus, Covid-19 is still out there. This page on the Washington Post website has interactive maps and graphs of various types of Covid-19 data, including new cases per day (on a nationwide or state-by-state basis), new cases per week (by county, total or per 100,000 people), etc. The nationwide new case data is frustrating. Sure, it looks like we flattened the curve, but now we are stuck on a pretty high plateau.
Digging into state-by-state data, it looks like states that opened while new case levels were still high are seeing big spikes, while new case numbers are declining in other states. I was getting optimistic when Virginia’s new case data dropped below 500/day, but it’s been inching up with 650 new cases reported for June 20.
My city reported about 12 new cases a day this week, and data for “northern Virginia” shows about 170 new cases a day this week. Those numbers tell me the virus is in my community.
As much as Cyclebar and Orangetheory are taking measures to minimize the risk of transmission, my personal feeling about indoor fitness classes is that staying 6 or 10 feet apart is not enough. My personal understanding is that being in the same room for an extended period of time (more than 10 minutes some say) poses a risk. So, my personal opinion is that the risk of getting sick boils down to the risk that someone else in the class is infected/contagious. Ironically, that risk could be smaller now than it will be a month from now, when class sizes will be larger but community case numbers may still be about the same.
Image Credit: NAIAD-RML
Tellingly, I have no doubts on where I stand about going back to church–Not yet, it’s too soon! (Recent reports of cases traced to church services cement this opinion.) So maybe that should be the test for my fitness classes–I shouldn’t go back to Orangetheory until I’m willing to go back to church. 🙂
Weekly Run Down
I logged my 75th Peloton workout this week, and gladly started paying $12.99/month to continue using the app. That means I’ve been working out at home for three months. Who would have guessed back in March how long this was going to last?
Monday: 6.36 Scooby Miles
I am getting bored with my usual weekday loop, and mixed things up with a shortened version of my weekend loop. Maybe eventually I’ll get bored enough to drive somewhere else to run, but that would mean leaving Scooby at home.
Tuesday: 1.8 Scooby Miles + Peloton Strength Workouts
When I took Scooby out for his walk, I couldn’t resist chasing this beautiful sunrise, so I ended up running a few miles before tackling my planned workout.
On Friday I learned this building at Virginia Theological Seminary
was used as a Union hospital during the Civil War.
Luckily Jess’s workout started with core exercises,
so my abs had forgotten by the time I did Emma’s core workout.
Wednesday: Peloton Treadmill Workout
I chose an easier treadmill workout–with a Women’s History Month theme–but then extended it to hit an even 5 miles. The 10 min core programs are intimidating, but this one has 5 minutes of plank/tabletop moves and 5 min of crunch variations, so it’s not that bad.
Thursday: 35 min Peloton Strength Workouts
This full body workout had a series of circuits with two or three exercises each. It’s amazing how you can hit all the major muscle groups in 30 minutes.
Friday: 5.75 Juneteenth Miles
After learning that our city’s high school is named for a segregationist, I was afraid what I’d learn about Fort Ward, a park in my neighborhood I knew only as a “civil war” fort. I was relieved to learn it was one of a ring of forts erected to protect Washington D.C. from the Confederacy. While it was too early to check out the museum, Scooby was patient while I read the signs about the contributions of African Americans.
Saturday: 8.5 Scooby Miles
This long run almost didn’t happen, and really shouldn’t have. My legs were tired! 6 miles in I was tempted to quit, get coffee at Starbucks, and walk the remaining 2 miles home, but I persevered.
I should have double-checked my Garmin for this photo–
I did run 8.5 miles.
Sunday: 26.8 miles
My husband sported the Farm To Fork Fondo kit I gave him for Father’s Day for what ended up being what I’m calling a Cars-Covid-Contes ride. We rode from our house to the W&OD bike path, but after 5 miles we’d had enough of all the people, so we pieced together two of the Conte’s rides to get back to Arlington in a very round about way, and then pulled out Google maps to figure out how to get back to Shirlington–which turned out to be an easy downhill ride.
Isn’t it fun?
We rode by two more Washington defense Civil Wart fort sites–
Forth Ethan Allen and Fort Reynolds.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up. It’s always great for motivation and encouragement, but now it’s especially important for distance socializing. We may be physically apart, but we are in this together!
Have you gone back to any studio classes?
Has anyone heard anything from Corepower Yoga?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Our gym is not yet open, so it’s not an option, but I came to the same conclusion as you this week. COVID is still very much out there. Love your hubby’s fun kit!
Thanks! It’s so cheerful and pretty good for visibility!
Just think how special your son’s wedding is always going to be to you now! And maybe to him & his bride, too. I hope so anyway.
I hear you on FOCO. Not so much on my behalf, but on others in my life. We are actually doing pretty good up here, and it’s so tempting to join my running friends, and that’s probably fine, but still, nope, it’s just not the right choice for me. FOMO indeed, though.
As much as I feel for the Yoga studios, I agree with your assessment of indoor classes, too. Some of them are taking it outside! Let’s just hope 2021 is a much, much MUCH better year!
I’d feel ok with class outside, as long as mats weren’t too close. Group runs I’m less comfortable with, because I think if you’re close enough to run and chat you’re probably too close!
I agree on the group runs, although then again I haven’t participated so don’t really know. I’m usually running by myself even in the group — the before & after are a different story.
It’s great that so many things are open and that we *can* do them, but 100% agree that doesn’t mean that we *should*. Spending time with extended family = worth the risk, spending most of the rest of the time at home and wearing a mask to the grocery store = also worth it.
Definitely agree with you on both of those calculations!
Jess’ classes are really tough! I am also not ready to go back to any gym or yoga studio anytime soon. Thanks for linking up!
I love her personality though! She’ll talk me into trying anything.
I know so many people who are not going back to the gym! On the one hand for safety reasons and on the other for practical reasons: it’s more efficient to train at home and cheaper 😊. But there is more motivation in the gym and better equipment!
Honestly, if I didn’t have classes already paid for, I probably wouldn’t be tempted at all. I need to think of it as sunk costs and move on.
I’m reluctantly going back to the gym tomorrow–I have classes that I have to use. But I’m still going to do most of my training at home. Scary times.
It looks like your gym has a lot of space, and isn’t crowded like an OTF or spinning class. My OTF classes don’t expire for a while. Hopefully our cases will drop off for real before that happens.
I 100% understand how you feel, especially about OTF. The numbers in CT are down dramatically so we’re in pretty good shape here – for now. If numbers start rising or if we get a second wave in the Fall, I will have no problem dropping my account. One thing I am considering is dropping my membership down from unlimited to 8 classes a month. I feel that I can supplement those “missed” classes with Peloton workouts. I’m going to make my decision after going to a few classes over the next few weeks.
I’ll be watching for your reports!
Love that kit for the hubby! Our church opened back up two weeks ago, but they’re still live-streaming so the hubs and I are still “churching via the couch.” I’m just choosing to not go out (much) unless it’s necessary, even though things are very stable in my area.
Sounds like a wise approach. Our church is currently sharing space with another church, so that adds another layer of complexity.
I’ll add to your FOMO, FOCO… FOGO, Going Out, which was oddly a campaign of ours way pre covid to get folks out in winter.
I don’t know where I stand get on gyms, or that I’ll have an answer by the time they open. Realistically I own’t “need” one until / if I decide to run commute, so we’ll see when that is.
Those forts. So close! #Nerd
I’m embarrassed at how little I know about local history, and there is so much of it. I think I got too much of George Washington as a kid and didn’t want to hear more. And, a lot of our history is ugly. BUT, I learned thre’s another fort plaque on a house in my neighborhood, so I’ll have to find it. 🙂
I have much more FOCO that FOMO! Our numbers have somehow gotten and stayed pretty low over the past few weeks, most days we have less than 500 new cases a day. But when you think about it, thats still alot of people testing positive every day! And then I think about all the people who aren’t getting tested. More indoor stuff like gyms and restaurants just opened recently here so we will se what happens in a week or two…
I’m watching our numbers every day. They are saying the number to focus on as testing increases is the positivity rate, so let’s hope that stays low. But, people with mild or no symptoms probably won’t get tested …. It’s so hard to know what the risk is.
Our numbers are good up here. Will be in stage 4 soon. But I still haven’t been inside except for stores and with a mask. I am working from home and will be for a long time.
I have been running and hanging out with friends. We are outside and 6 ft apart. I feel safe.
Do miss that physical contact.
I do feel pretty OK outside, with friends, not too close. 😉 I thought stage 4 was supposed to be when a vaccine or treatment is available, or case levels are virtually zero? Maybe we have different stages.
I’m with you, I don’t feel comfortable with indoor workouts at the gym yet. I’m sticking with at home. And we’re getting our peloton bike in a couple weeks so that should help out with that too. Of course, we were getting frustrated with our gym before all this started anyway so that helped in deciding to cancel our membership.
I remember that! I bet you will love the bike!
FOCO wins for me right now. I quit my gym completely but our gyms are only open if outdoor limited participant classes can be held. I see people doing things that I also want to do but then I think about the fact that I don’t want to get sick, I don’t want to infect others, I want to go on our little beach weekend in Zeeland in a couple of weeks and I want to go to Sicily for my birthday (if safe). So I’ll stick it out. But I do understand the FOMO.
loving the husband’s bike outfit. glad you were able to have a good ride even if you had a “too many people” situation at one point.
I was playing it safe until the wedding, but now those plans have changed I’ve got nothing to set my sights on.
Our bike ride turned into a good adventure Bonus that the part I wasn’t sure of was all downhill!
I think I’m in the FOCO camp though gyms aren’t open yet here so I have time. Thank goodness for the Peloton app, right?!
Your husband’s cycling shirt is so fun 🙂
THe Peloton app is a lifesaver! I think I need a better fan for my basement “gym” though — opening the door doesn’t cool things off anymore. 😉
This was really interesting to read and I completely agree with your rationale! Fortunately you have great options to stay fit at home (including those Scooby miles 🙂 !)
I figure I’m not back in the office, I’m not going to restaurants or fitness classes or pretending things are 100% okay. No thanks!
Well, I might not be back in the office until September — I guess we might not go out to eat until then? Ugh.
We start Phase 4 on Friday. One of the things that will be open is gyms. I mainly go to use the treadmill so I have no need to go there. The only time I will go is if it is too hot to run outside.
So odd that we have gyms open in our stage 2! Another reason this situation is so confusing.
Every state is different with its own set of rules and procedures. Kind of makes sense or else there would be more people complaining. 😜
I love your husband’s Farm to Fondo kit!
I totally get your feelings. Things were going really well here, but then the numbers started spiking again. I am comfortable with outdoor things (culdesac get togethers, farmer’s market, beach, etc), but gyms, salons, movies, and indoor dining is a hard pass (especially since so many restaurants stopped mandating PPE for their staff!). Most of the new cases are coming out of South Florida but they are creeping closer and I don’t like it one bit.
Isn’t the jersey so fun?!
I’m waiting to see what happens locally with reopenings. I’d be comfortable with outdoor things and indoor shopping (like the grocery store) where you’re not near the same person for long. It sounds like you’ve figured out good things to do.