How runners stay active through COVID-19 is challenging. Some runners have come up with creative and fun ways to keep occupied and fit!
As runners, we’re naturally inclined to run “just one more mile…” or see if “maybe I can run just a little faster.” It seems we’re always chasing a new distance or faster speed. And usually both.
Without the ability to congregate at races or group runs during the COVID-19 lockdown, you can probably guess that many of us runners are going a little stir crazy. Some of us can still run outdoors and have plenty of space. But others of us aren’t as lucky and are confined to small apartments or backyards. Regardless of location and space available, we’re all trying to do two things: stay fit and active while simultaneously challenging ourselves to keep ourselves sane.
I decided to take a look at the inner workings of the hive mind of runners and I’ve asked several individuals what they’ve been up to and why.
How Runners Stay Active Sane through COVID-19
Why the 4x4x48?
You won’t be surprised to know many ultrarunners are taking on (or have already completed) the David Goggins’s 4x4x48 Challenge. What is this challenge, you ask? Well, runners run four miles every four hours for 48 hours total.
I asked a few runners why they felt compelled to take on the Goggins challenge. Here’s what they said:
I’m 20 miles in to the 4x4x48 challenge. I’ll end tomorrow on my 44th bday. Here’s my daughter who joined me on my midnight run. She’s a high school senior and has had so much taken away from her due to the pandemic. I chose to do this because even though I don’t have much control of my life circumstances right now I do have control of my mindset and how I react to the challenges in my life. -Stephanie N.
Happy birthday, Stephanie! Get it, girl!!
We will be attempting the 4x4x48 in few weeks… Back story: I was trained up for Miwok & hubs was training for WSER but now we have 5-mile radius restriction in our area, so this is our creative way to challenge ourselves. Recently did a 40-miler but somehow we missed that “big event” feeling. Understand this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea… we just want something whacky and different. -Cameron K.
I decided to do the 4x4x48 challenge as a way to test myself not just physically but mentally. Because of the nature of running every 4 hours for 48 hours I knew that at some point it would be sheer mental toughness that would get me through especially the night runs. I got terrible blisters after the first run and had to run the next 11 runs with blisters… I didn’t get much sleep. The blisters throbbed every time I laid down! In the end, I really enjoyed the challenge and felt really proud when we were done. I would definitely do it again. [I]n fact, the friend I did it with and I are talking about doing it again but with a beer after each run! -Erin C.
Erin’s cards she made to cheer herself on through her 4x4x48 challenge!
When 48 just isn’t enough…
Then there was the Quarantine Backyard Ultra. Aka the last person standing… er, running… race. The grand prize? The Golden Toilet Paper Roll. The Quarantine Backyard Ultra began on April 4, 2020 and finished when there was only one runner left. In this case, Michael Wardian. He ran for 63 hours and completed 262 miles — on zero sleep! Huge congrats to Michael on his victory.
Check out these thoughts about running more than 48 miles… or hours… from some badass lady runners:
I did the Quarantine Backyard Ultra and reached a PR distance of 100K. It was both fun and awful!! Lol! -Lisa M.
Upon completing her 4x4x48:
I couldn’t sleep because I was so delighted with my 4x4x48 and I decided to run one more set… -Araceli U.
Because 48 miles wasn’t enough… 52 miles for Araceli!
Other creative ways to stay active — and sane!
But what’s a runner to do when they don’t want to — or aren’t trained up to — run for 48 hours, 48 miles, or longer? We get creative, of course!
Like measuring the distance around our dining room table. Just in case we wanted to squeeze in a marathon…
Here in Santa Barbara, CA a local athlete figured out a route that takes [runners] up a vertical kilometer in just over 10k to the top of a local peak — La Cumbre Peak. My friend and I did it on Sunday and it was awesome! I’m actually planning to do it again when the weather is better since it was foggy for us. -Christine R.
I did a little challenge on my own yesterday. It was 2x2x12. I might do it again but on my stationary bike with more miles. Should be interesting. -Melly M.
Good luck, Melly!!
How runners stay active (and sane)
Challenges and ultras aren’t for everyone. And for many of us, our mileage has dropped drastically (yours truly included). If you feel yourself struggling with goals, or just need a fresh set of eyes on your training or some general feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to a coach.
Running, for many of us, was a way to connect with others and lead a healthy lifestyle. We already knew the mental and physical benefits of running. And now we’re coming up with creative and fun ways to keep ourselves occupied and physically fit. Runners are good at adapting and problem solving — and really, it’s through adaptation and problem-solving that will help us runners stay active (and sane) through COVID-19.
xo
Let’s talk!
Thanks to all the badass women who contributed to this piece. You rock!
What’s one challenge you’ve taken on during this period of quarantine?
Share your story: Have you done the Goggins 4x4x48 challenge?
28 Comments
I am amazed at the ingenuity of runners to challenge themselves during this time! I’ve seen quite a few different relays and challenges like this. We should all be in such great shape after this is all over with!
Right?? I would LOVE to do one of these challenges, but my mileage has dropped so much that I need to work to get myself back in shape. 🙂
Maybe you’ve seen the 19 Minutes for 19 Days Challenge that Deborah and I are hosting/promoting? We’re in our “bonus round” already…the first 19 days went well, with a lot of awesome support and encouragement from many, and now we’re at day 3 of this second round. I”ve been doing a lot of virtual “races” to test my endurance and speed. That 4x4x48 sounds like something I should consider!
I haven’t! How did I miss that??
I’ve still only done one virtual race. I’m trying to save some money while business is halted. But I might have to start holding myself accountable.
That Goggins challenge sounds fun! And over 5’500 times around the dining room table?! Haha, some runners are really inventive!
It’s strange because my mileage has gone up instead of down. I seem to have more time to run without anything social on my agenda.
I guess it is different for everyone, especially for parents with kids.
I know lots of runners who have seen an increase in mileage. I just haven’t had the same motivation if I’m being honest. Plus I really miss my running friends. Whomp whomp.
I have seen a few crazy ideas like this! No night running for me unless I am in a Ragnar relay. 🙂 I am trying to hit different milestones with my Peloton cycle. I could come up with some sort of challenge combining the 2. We were trying to figure out a way to do a relay race virtually and somehow tag each other. Not sure if we can figure that out!
I tried talking my husband into running night legs with me for the 4x4x48 challenge and he was a firm no. So that’s not happening anytime soon. 🙂
I would be in for a virtual relay if you do a running one!
Wow, that is a serious challenge, kudos to them! I have never run an ultra but I’d love to one day. I don’t think I’d be able to handle that much distance solo/virtually…just getting out for a couple of miles seems to be taking me a bit of effort right now!
I 100% agree with that. It’s really taking a lot for me to motivate myself even for just three miles. My last double digit run was in February and I wasn’t even training for anything. I’d give anything to go back to that. Sigh…
I think you know me well enough to know that’s a challenge I’m not interested in — but kudos to those who take it up!
My challenge has been getting a Yoga Challenge together. I’ve been working on it literally for months. Hopefully it’s debuting friday! Still in a testing phase. I am definitely team maintenance.
Oh fun! I’d be in for a yoga challenge. Is it a daily pose thing, or a flow type of challenge? I just recently started doing yoga again. And by doing yoga again, I mean I’ve done it twice. Lol!
I listened to a runner on the Rambling Runner podcast talk about running a 5k and 10k on her balcony! There was another runner on Instagram who ran a marathon around his couch. Its crazy what this has driven some people to do!
Haha I totally agree. I’m frankly just not motivated enough to do that! But that’s now… we’ll see how I feel in a month, right?
I have been looking at that 4x4x48 challenge. I think that is a little too ambitious for me, but I would like to organize a 4x4x24 challenge. 24 hours seems so much more doable than 48. I did a 24-hour relay last year and loved it! I think it would be similar. Kudos to you for completing your challenge and to all who completed the 4x4x48!
The 4x4x48 is too ambitious for me as well. My son (he’s only 10) seems intrigued, though, so I’m thinking maybe we will do a shorter one as well! The farthest he has ever run is a 5k so this might take some training. 🙂
I really like the idea of getting out for these ultra runs, but then my body and my brain take a pause and bring me back to reality. I commend them, because it’s totally badass, but it takes so much and so long that I don’t know that I have it in me.
I think having young kids is a huge part of it, too. Because let’s face it, if we didn’t have small children and could sleep when we needed to, it wouldn’t be nearly as challenging to fit all the runs in! 🙂
That challenge is crazy! I am absolutely not trained up for something like that, andplusalso we have a bobcat that wanders around here at night, so that’s a hard pass for me LOL!
Good luck! I’m a firm believer that we need to do what we need to do in order to these days easier.
Ohhhhh that would be a hard pass for me, too! Yikes!!
I’m intrigued by the 4x4x48 but I’m not trained up for that distance either!
I admire all of those (crazy) people! I’m just happy getting out most days of the week for 4-10 miles.
I would LOVE to do one of those challenges but I’m with you — give me a 5K and all good! I haven’t run more than 9 miles in over a month.
These challenges are insane! I am so impressed by all of the ultra runners out there attempting these crazy challenges. Are you going to do one?
Heck no!!! I wish haha. But my mileage isn’t high enough, nor do I have enough time to do one of these. Maybe I’ll do a pared down version later in the year.
Wow, these challenges are amazing! I am so unmotivated these days, I may need to give one a try!!
I’m training myself for a marathon because why not… other than that, I don’t think I could handle one of the ultra challenges!
I’ve got about 3 or 4 challenges going at once! But I’ve been amazed at what people have achieved – your 4x4x48 challenge is a clear example of that and I saw a guy in South Africa complete Iron Man in his backyard using his pool, standing bike and running around is yard for hours on end! Runners… we are a special breed indeed!
Oh dear lord, that’s incredible. Good for him!!