COVID, week 35 + running toward the White House
We could all easily say so much about the last seven days that I’m at a loss at where to begin. As usual, I’m short on time — after a day off from distance learning, I spent as little time as possible in front of my computer today — and my nighttime medicine is kicking in and making my eyes exceedingly heavy.
At any rate, I hope that regardless of how your past week was, that you are healthy and well and are staying so, which in and of itself would be a bit of a victory, considering how badly our country is reeling from/beginning to reel from a third COVID surge that we’ve known would likely transpire for months…and yet, strangely, are acting surprised by this turn of events. (There’s this great concept I teach my children, beginning at a very early age; it’s called cause and effect).
Anyway. Following Biden’s history-making win last week, runner friends and I — among so many millions of others, obviously — have been absolutely stoked to have runners in the White House again. I had several different text threads going Saturday morning, after my own workout, excitedly saying how badass it was that Madam VP learned the news when she was on her morning run. I mean, c’mon. She’s just like us!
You may remember that Dr. Jill Biden is also a runner and has been for years, including the eight years when her husband was VP. Runner’s World profiled her for their “I’m a Runner” series what seems like eons ago, in case you missed it.
It’s very cool that we all start somewhere with this sport, as kids or adults, and that as our life and circumstances change, we can grow (old) with this sport. Competing and PRs only matter until they don’t anymore, and for many people, lacing up most days of the week is as essential to their health and well-being as routine medical visits, eating healthfully, getting enough sleep, the whole nine yards. I find this trajectory beautiful and honestly love to hear people’s stories about their relationships with this sport. I just find it all so fascinating and inspiring.
I’m not someone who would vote for someone based on his or her athleticism toward running, but I will admit that the return to normalcy — adults regularly partaking in physical activity, out of concern for, and respect of, their bodies and health, and not worrying that it will drain their “battery” — is refreshing and much, much welcomed.
Of course, we can’t fully get to normal without more visits to the absurd, so if you’re in the market for another virtual race this year to support a worthy cause, look up the Fraud Street Run in Philadelphia; hat-tip to Stacey for this one. If you’re local, you can go on an unsanctioned, masked, socially-distanced, no-frills 11-mile run from the Four Seasons Total Landscaping to the Four Seasons Hotel, because why else would you find a reason to commemorate a local landscaping business, and an international hotel chain, than because … 2020. I’m seriously considering it (virtually).
Please take care of yourself and others, if you are able; wear a mask; socially distance; wash your hands; and keep listening and learning and doing the work because we are just getting started.
