A Virtual Race Experience – Sacramento Giant Race

I don’t have to tell anyone about how godawful 2020 has been so far. Here we are, almost five months into the year and life as we know it has come to a screeching halt! Quarantine is the new norm for people all over the world! More now than ever, I’m in need of things that help me feel normal – so I’m planning to participate in a virtual race experience…

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Sacramento Giant Race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out Bibrave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Balancing Life & Gratitude

First, let me start by saying that I am beyond grateful for the privilege to still be working from home with the flexibility to support Charm with her online learning. We are safe, healthy and fed; but we are also going a bit stir crazy dealing with each other in constant close quarters. I’ve personally been battling a lot of anxiety about being so far from home, alone with Charm during a global health crisis (check out our blog about our relocation). Nevertheless, we are managing and I am grateful.

Working from Home

Work keeps me incredibly busy, as usual, with 50 billion meetings. The university is trying to both navigate the transition to remote services and still keep on track with planning events for the distant-ish future when we’re (hopefully) able to open up shop again! I have a staff of 17 full-time employees + 6 student workers, all responsible for providing academic advising to the students in our college; we are staying quite busy!!!

I think there’s a common misconception that working remotely is easier, but that’s a lie. It’s not like you’re doing less work. I have the same number of regular meetings and check-ins, in addition to a new set of meetings and problems to balance because of the Covid chaos. Throw in homeschooling my 7th grader, it’s definitely interesting times.

How does staying active fit in?

With everything going on, it can be a task to get out of the house to do anything other than walking the dog. Charm and I try our best to go on walks or ride our bikes here and there. I honestly just want to aimlessly lie in bed staring at the ceiling both before and after work. Lately, whenever I think about being active, my brain shuts down on me. I know when I get that feeling, the best thing I can do is let my body rest. Yet, it’s a thin line between needing rest and letting anxiety get the best of you – it’s important for me to recognize the difference when this is happening. If I let anxiety get the best of me, it’s takes a lot of work to dig out of that place.

Race Cancellations & Virtual Races

I had a half-marathon on the schedule in March. It was the first of two races that were cancelled, for me. I am patiently waiting announcements for two marathons I have on the schedule for the summer. It is looking grim, but I rather be safe than sorry! So many races have been canceled, postponed, or moved to the fall. For those that have experienced cancellations, I know it sucks because you’ve paid your fees and trained your mind and body; it can feel like so much went straight down the drain. As unfortunate as that is, there will be more opportunities to race when the world heals.

On the other hand, some races, like the Sacramento Giant Race, opted to go to a virtual race experience. Instead of putting on a race for hundreds of people to crowd together, races are encouraging participants to create their own virtual race experience on their own route. I 100% get that this is not the same, but runners will still be able to collect their race shirt and medals! ‘Cause lets be honest, the swag is important! I’ll admit that the idea of a virtual race didn’t really excite me at first. I like running races for the excitement of being with fellow runners, drawing energy from the spectators, and enjoying the post-race festivities. But the longer I sit in this house with my 12-year-old sharing her soap opera gossip, the more stir crazy I get! I need something to look forward to, I need to hold onto running for the sense of normalcy it brings me!

• 

• 

• 

Solidarity in Running

The support you find in the running community continues to pull me in. Even though people all over the world are on lockdown and being hit by this pandemic to different extremes, my social media is still full of people pushing forward and sharing positivity through movement. It’s how so many people on my timelines are staying sane and its really encouraging. After a month of being cooped up in the house, I need those endorphins in my life right now.

Sacramento Giant Race Virtual Race

The Sacramento Giant Race was originally supposed to take place on Easter weekend. Given the circumstances, runners now have until May 2nd to complete a virtual race experience by creating a 5k or 10k race on their own personal route. Since we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, this is just the sort of motivation I need to keep active.

I’ve opted in to run the 10k distance. To prepare, I plan to spend the next couple of weeks waking up my legs after taking nearly a month off from running. Since the deadline is so close, I’m not doing any training push. More than anything, I need somewhere to direct my energy and focus! I’m planning to run my virtual race on April 30th to close out the month with 6.2 miles around the beautiful paths near our house. Maybe I’ll do it early in the morning to catch a pretty sunrise!

Charm’s Support

I am recruiting Charm to be my cheer squad and hydration station for my prep and virtual race day. She has to do 20-30 minutes of activity four days a week for her online gym class. So it should be easy to encourage her to get active with me. She’ll likely ride along on her bike, but maybe I’ll be able to talk her into a run or two.

You Can Join, too!

If you’d like to get in on the virtual race experience, I have a code for $10 the race registration! Remember, you’ll still get your race shirt and medal sent to you when you register! Use GIANTS2020 for $10 off. I would love to have folks join in on the fun, but no matter what, I challenge you to stay active during these crazy times!

Ways to Stay Active during the Covid Chaos

1. Go on a walk with the family (or solo) around your neighborhood.
2. Take your furry friends on a longer walk.
3. Not a runner? While now is a great time to start, even if it’s just around the block to start.
4. Find a workout on YouTube. I like finding yoga workouts on there.
5. Join your favorite trainers for their IG/FB live workouts, and send them a donation if you can!
6. No gym equipment? Find a good online body weight workout or get creative with things you have around the house (can goods, case of water, your babies)!
7. Join an online challenge.
8. Create your own fitness challenge – pushups between meetings, family plank challenges, max out your squats!
9. Meditate and exercise your mind.
10. Go on a bike ride!

Stay Safe Outdoors

Hopefully everyone knows to stay safe while being active outdoors – cover your face with something, avoid activities with people you do not live with, don’t put your hands in your face, cover your face if you’re coughing and sneezing, and wash your hands often. You know the drill! I’m not a doctor so I don’t have any helpful advice to give. I will share a couple of experiences. I was recently walking my dog when a man and a child rode by on their bikes. The man carelessly started coughing into the open air without ANY attempt to cover his mouth. Within a minute, two women rode through the very same area the man had just coughed, no one had their faces covered with any protective gear. On that same dog walk, another man rode by and sneezed twice. Like the first man, this guy didn’t attempt to cover his face either.

Moral of the story: you don’t know what’s floating around the air. Cover your face with some sort of protective gear like the professionals are recommending! It’s allergy season. The pollen outside is ridiculous. I went on a run this week that left me feeling like little bees were burrowing into my sinuses! People are going to sneeze and cough, and not everyone has the virus, but anyone can be a carrier and not know it. So at a time like this, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you for sticking around to hear about my next virtual race adventure. How are you staying active and sane during all of the craziness that’s going on in the world? I’d love to hear what kinds of things you’re using to entertain yourself – leave us a comment!