Long Haul Covid Symptoms & Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon: My Sixth 13.1

I had to revive the blog I haven’t posted on in about 3 years to talk about this race and the prep. No, it wasn’t a bad race, but it was the most challenging half marathon I’ve ever completed, and here’s why…

So in December 2022, I was sick with what I thought was a normal cold (I know). I usually continue working out when I am sick, but this time was different. I could barely run half of a mile without stopping to walk. My chest would become tight, and I was breathing heavily. Sometimes I would vomit clear mucus after my workouts. Nope, that didn't make me stop. Well, not yet. So, fast forward to January, while I was still having these symptoms while working out, I found out from the doctor that I more than likely had COVID in December. I remember the exact child that I probably caught it from. He gave extra hugs before leaving for Winter Break.

I still continued to cross-train, but it took a while for me to accept the fact that I couldn't run at my normal pace and duration. I was sad. This was my outlet, my way to relieve stress, my way to press restart, my me-time, my self-care...and now I couldn't do it. I felt like this was something swiftly taken from me and it wasn't fair and I wasn't able to prepare. If you have something you like to do and it's the only thing that you thought no one could affect, then you'd understand why.

I continued to train as best as I could for this race because I still wanted to participate since I paid my money and I was planning to go with some run friends. They definitely made finishing bearable and they were so supportive of me.

Now onto the race recap. My first Rock 'n' Roll Race was in New Orleans. It was my first half marathon that I will never forget. I knew this experience this series provides everything from the expo to the race to the finish line was going to be great! That it was. It was so many photo opportunities and I even bought a new pair of running shoes. I've never done that before. :-)

After finally figuring out how we were going to get to the race and not have my car towed (lol), we got to the start line as soon as it was time for some corral to go off. I think we were all late for our corrals. 

My plan for this race was to just walk/run. During my "training", I opted to run and count to 60 and then walk and count to 60. I made that interval thing up, I know. In the beginning, I was doing good. I actually ran for .40 mi., but it was downhill. My next strategy was to keep up with the 3:15 pacer. I did that for a while until I got bored. Then I started my own intervals back up. Towards the end of the race, I walked a lot. I think like 3 miles of walking straight.

The scenery on the route in Nashville was beautiful! My favorite part of the course was running past the record companies and the part towards the end across the bridge overlooking the river. The HILLS on this race was CRAZY hard. This was the hardest route I've ever done. Worse than Atlanta hills. 

The people watching and the scenery GOT ME THROUGH. Those hills did NOT. If you think it was easy for me, maybe I made it look that way, but at one point I called my husband complaining and cursing, lol. After that, I prayed and prayed and prayed until I finished. I don't ever have to do that race again. I'd do the 5k.

Now, it is a couple of months later and I have dealt with the same long haul covid symptoms, unfortunately. I took a couple of weeks off here and there. Tried drinking green tea and other natural remedies that I remember trying when I was actually covid positive before. This week, the week of June 11th, I did a couple of run + walk Peloton workouts and I ran more than walked! I was sooo happy. When I wanted to stop, it was the "out of shape, out of breath" and not the "it feels like I'm going to have an asthma attack" feeling. I'm so happy, but I also heard the symptoms can return, so I am being careful and hopeful that things won't reverse. I have a heart doctor and allergist appointment coming up that may be able to give me some answers. I'm so thankful I've been able to do what I've been doing. Until then I am going to keep trying and keep moving. Movement is truly medicine for me.

Do you have an outlet that helps you escape and reset your mind, body, and soul?

I ran 100 miles!

For the first time in a very long time, I ran 100 miles. No, not at one time (although some folks do that), but for the month. I knew this would be the perfect motivator to get me back into half marathon training shape. After having my son, I would always barely get up to 10 miles before he would get sick or my husband would have to work and I'd have no sitter. So all of my hard work went away because I could never rebound. Now baby girl rides in the stroller and my son rides his scooter or his bike while I run.

Now, it is NOT my preference to bring either of them, but I've learned that you've gotta do what you've gotta do. Most times if I'm running with them, pace doesn't matter. Only distance. This in turn helps because I'm still getting an easy pace workout in. I'll do fartleks, run/walk intervals, and hill train with them. When I'm solo, I always want to run as fast as I can to get it over with and not really stick to a plan (I'm impatient). On one of my ten-milers, we had to stop so many times to give our son a break. So, yeah...I usually try not to bring them if I need to do over 4 1/2 miles. How do "they" have so much energy inside of the house, but when you take them outside to burn it, they're "soooo tired"?

I ran short runs 4-5 days during the week and scheduled long runs on Saturdays & Sundays depending on my husband's work schedule. I ran them with one of my running groups, which also really helped. Being a mom of a 9-month-old and a 6-year-old, you MUST find a way to become disciplined if you have any personal fitness goals. This is why I choose to post my runs/workouts online, run with friends, and enter challenges. That's just what helps me stay accountable myself. Be careful not to compare your journey with others, but most definitely use others to help you achieve what you're trying to achieve.

Before I had kids I was all over Atlanta running with Black Girls Run and then became a group run leader for them. Then came children. That's why it's been 7 1/2 years since I've run my fourth and last half marathon. So... this challenge came right on time.

I registered for the runningnerds Summer Heat Virtual Half Marathon. I ran the runningnerds Winter Virtual Half Marathon years ago. I think that was my 3rd half marathon? It was virtual, but I ran it with a group starting from West Midtown. I remember it was extremely cold that morning. Like I said in my previous post, I am up to 10 miles, so next week I am going to run 11-12 miles. My old running coach always told me to run a mile or two over the actual race distance, so that the actual race distance will be easy. It's nothing like running any race and that last .5 mile becomes a s-t-r-u-g-g-l-e. The thing is, I don't know if I'll have time for that. So I'll probably attempt 12 this Sunday, 9-10 the next and go into taper mode? I'll have to look at an official training plan before I make my mind up since I'm already at 10.

Wish me luck on my journey! The school year is soon to start aka busy season (and that's a whole 'notha case of foolery with what's going on), so this would be a great finale. I'll take a mini-break and then back at it for two fall races in October and November.

What do you do to help you stick to your goals? What are you choosing to focus on to help your mental state right now?

2020, June Challenge, Long Runs

Unless you've been living under a big boulder these days, you should be aware of the current political, and social climate of our country. Yes, Black people are still fighting for the end of blatant and systematic racism as we have been for hundreds of years through voting, protesting, rioting, speeches, and marches. In 2020, unfortunately, we're still at it. That being said, that is the reason for this mural that was painted on both the wall and the trail grounds of the Eastside Beltline here in Atlanta.

I and a few folks in one of my run clubs set out for a 45-minute out and back route through Midtown this morning. My goal was to run 10 miles. I am apart of a Nike 100-mile June Challenge and I am also trying to build my base to run a virtual half marathon at the end of next month. It would be great to do this while I have so much "free" time and before busy seasons starts back up.

3 out of 4 weekend long runs this month, I ran 10 miles. Father's Day I cut it short to 8 so I could get back home quickly to begin the festivities. I am definitely ready to ramp my training miles up to 11 next week (fingers crossed that the home schedule will allow).

During this month I experienced the routine knee pain that I always experience whenever I start running further. I iced and really stretched like you're supposed to. I'm known to skip proper stretching which is such a no, no. That pain went away. Thank God. It was time for some new shoes as well. 

On today's run around mile 7, a little hamstring pain seemed to come out of nowhere. Maybe I stretched a cold muscle this morning? To remedy this, I stretched and took an old fashion ice bath when I got home. We'll see if that did the trick during tomorrow's recovery run.

Today's run was also very HUMID as I don't know what, but my pace ended up being the same as my last 10-mile run. Listening to my body and running in this Atlanta heat, I'll definitely be bringing my fuel belt along next week. When I used to distance run in the past, some things that helped me were Gatorade and Jelly Belly Sports Beans around the 8-10 mile mark. I have some Energy Gels in the pantry right now I'll be experimenting with. If someone told me I needed to run 3 more miles this morning, I wouldn't have made it, which is how I know I was becoming dehydrated and my carb-loaded dinner from last night had burned away. 

I bet you can tell where the hills were on my route. The Beltline is a steady incline, but it's not that bad (plus I've been stroller running it a few times). But, if you guessed mile 8, you are correct! If you've ever run UP 10th strength starting from the bottom of Piedmont Park, you KNOW that LOOOONG incline is a beast! I made it up without stopping though. The last hill I had to conquer was at mile 10 going up the 17th street bridge.

Anyway, I was so happy to be done, back in my car, and to my water. I guzzled all 32 oz of it on spot. After this 100-mile challenge is over, I think I am going to run longer on fewer days (depending on my children) and continue strength workouts during the week.

What have been some of your summer fitness goals?