Virtual fitness and meetings may be our future! Races, workouts, and even social time have all turned online. Find out what I’ve been doing to keep up!
I thought I’d do something a little different today and share with you some of the things I’ve been up to. Because let’s face it, sometimes it’s nice to hear about someone else’s trials and triumphs so we don’t feel so alone in the world! Especially now. Amirite?
Let me start by prefacing that, truthfully, I’m not all that busy. I stay within the confines of my house most of the time and monitor my dogs while I manage my children. It’s all very glamorous (not). But I’m lucky to be able to stay home and do my part for the health and well being of others.
Zoom workouts
Having said that, I have been running and training, and trying to keep my own business afloat by staying in contact with my athletes and clients. I’m only one week in with virtual fitness classes but it was so nice to see some of my favorite people, and I apparently work out much harder with others present because I was sore for daaaayyyyyyzz! I’m looking forward to my next virtual fitness workout scheduled for Thursday! (And if you want to join in the fun, be sure to contact me for the deets!) Virtual fitness is the future…
Need some workout ideas? Check out these options!
Virtual race into the future
Speaking of virtual fitness, I recently started yet another virtual race. It’s a race for Orange Mud ambassadors. There are several teams of 25-26 individuals and the first team to log enough miles to collectively run from Cali to NY wins. It’s 2,810 miles total so it’ll take a while. But I’m feeling good — I’ve already logged almost 12 miles and it’s only been two days! Woohoo! Go OMRATS team #2!
I suspect this won’t be the end of my participation in virtual races to be honest. I decided on Monday that I was going to begin training for another marathon — or even an ultra. Which one and when? That’s yet to be determined. At this rate, with Berlin already cancelling for September, who knows if there will be a fall marathon to even train for. I’m signed up for the Wineglass Half Marathon in October but I’m frankly not holding my breath. So a virtual marathon, or ultra, may be in my future. Or not. Who knows!
The [official] end of in-person school and track season
In more running news, and on a sadder note, we officially got word that our track season won’t happen. On the one hand, I knew it wasn’t going to. There was really no getting around it. But knowing it and hearing it from the governor are two different things. Once he closed in-person schooling for the remainder of the year, track season followed. And there was really no way to safely have a track season anyway. But it still felt like a punch in the gut. Virtual fitness may be the future but there’s no replacement for in-person sports and athletics competitions.
So no school + no track = mayhem with my track kids on social media — particularly the seniors. Man, they posted the most heart-wrenching videos. I’m selfishly sad, too, because I won’t even get to give them a last handshake.
Happy birthday!
And finally, on a totally different note, this week my dad is having a big birthday! Since I’m not able to physically see him or make him dinner and a birthday cake, I spent the better part of Monday and Tuesday baking my little heart out. I made cake balls and two different recipes of chocolate chip cookies. I’ll be delivering treats to him and then we have the whole day set up for him to receive FaceTime’s and phone calls from the entire family. I hope it brightens his day a bit!
Cookies and cake balls!
Virtual fitness is for sure going to be our future. I’m trying to embrace it and accept it but admittedly, some days are tough. Luckily there are cake balls, birthdays, kids, and dogs to help with the mental rut!
xo
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31 Comments
I was surprised at how great it felt to see my coaches on the Orangetheory Zoom classes. It helps maintain that personal connection. I think virtual personal training could be a good business model — especially with Zoom when you can see/correct form, which I think is so important!
I do feel so badly for the seniors!
The hard part of virtual training is the equipment some people have/don’t have. My second one is tomorrow so we’ll see how that goes. I hope it’s another successful class.
Yes, the virtual bug has bitten my buttocks, quite severely I might add LOL Hey, it’s all we got right now. I’m motivated to continue training and working out, but it’s nice to have a few landmark events to check-off. Total bummer on the end of things school-related for the school year.
I’ve done a couple yoga workouts but they were pre-recorded. And my own zoom classes. But that’s really it. I’ve been trying to maintain some semblance of distance running!
I’m enjoying my virtual connections but it’s just not the same as face-to-face. Everytime I do a virtual visit with one of my families, when I end, I find myself all teary. It’s been tough on me–I am such a people person, I guess! I miss hugs and handshakes.
On the other hand, I am glad we have the ability to connect like this. It definitely helps to make the most of a really bad situation.
I definitely miss my people. I’m mostly introverted so staying home hasn’t been a huge, huge deal to me. But it has definitely been hard and I can’t imagine being an extrovert in this situation. I’d be going bonkers!
It will sure be interesting to see how the virtual fitness changes our everyday life going into the future. I am really happy to have so many options but I do miss my peeps and can’t wait to see them in person. Happy Birthday to your dad
Thank you! He’s having a good day so far. I’m going to call him again to check in later!
I think virtual fitness is here to stay. There were already SO MANY virtual options, and now that market is flooded, but I’m sure it’ll be here indefinitely. I’ll go to the gym when it reopens, but having the virtual option is definitely an added bonus.
Happy birthday to your dad!! I’m so excited that the running community has really stepped it up through this whole quarantine thing and really felt connected through all the virtual races, challenges and running groups (from a distance!). It’s been such a refreshing and helpful way to feel some sense of normalcy through everything! I’ve done several virtual races throughout the years and they’re always fun! Of course, in person races are always better but they definitely still have their own unique way of feeling productive when it comes to running! 🙂
Have a great day!!
Thank you so much! 🙂
This is my first year of virtual races! I’d much rather be with people but it is what it is, right? And I’m just happy to stay challenged and active during this time.
I’m happy we have virtual fitness and racing as an option but hope that we are not stuck here forever. I want to get back to in person!
I agree. I need to interact with people, even if it’s just a little here and there.
Going virtual has really helped me keep up with my fitness – Zoom has been amazing. I never thought I’d do barre and HIIT in my living room – I’m too chicken to have my video on!
I’m sorry about the end of the track season…so sad for the kids, I can’t imagine. And now I’m starting to wonder if we will even have races this fall – who knows??
Hope your dad enjoys his birthday treats!
Thank you! He loved them!!
I’m SO sad for the high school kids. I can’t imagine being a senior and not having prom, any of the end of year stuff, graduation, sports… such a huge bummer for them.
Girl, TURN YOUR VIDEO ON!!!! Don’t be chicken!!
I do like having more options for streamed workouts at home, but virtual racing will never quite replace regular racing for me. I’m viewing the fall with balanced optimism because we really do not know. And if not, I have back up plans for spring 2021!
If I’m being honest, I don’t have any plan to plan until fall of 2021! Who knows where we’ll be in a couple weeks or months, let alone next year.
I hope you get to do the Wineglass Marathon. The real one , not virtually! It was one of my favorite marathons and the town of Corning is so charming. I made the mistake of hiking around Watkins Glen the day before, but it was totally worth it. Such a cool place!
I like but don’t love virtual races. I have done some free 5Ks and a half that I had originally registered for as a real-life race. The shorter races I liked. The half just seemed like a training run to me. I couldn’t get that race mindset going without an actual race.
Oh yeah, I definitely wouldn’t race a virtual race. Haha! There’s no way I could motivate myself to do that. Unless maybe it was an angry run? But those are few and far between. I mostly like to chill and relax on long runs. 🙂
I hope Wineglass is still a go but I’m not holding my breath.
I’ve been enjoying virtual races more than I expected. I am also worried about fall races. I feel like its been SO long since I got to really train for and run a goal race (I was injured for sooo long then pregnant and returning to running…so like almost 5 years?!) I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens!
Five years??!! Has it been that long? No way.
I mean, it is what it is, right? We just gotta roll with it!
So many hugs. I know this is just so hard.
Wineglass is on my bucket list, and while it’s not in the cards for me, either way, this year, I do hope there is a time when everything is back the way it used to be. Or close to it.
Hang in there!
Who knows what’s going to happen! I’m not holding my breath for any sort of normalcy for at least another full year. Would be nice but unlikely.
I really need to get going on some virtual training. While I expect I’ll be going back to my regular job once this is over, my clients are all mostly seasonal and virtual training would be a great way to boost my income and keep them in shape during the off season.
I much prefer training in person for so many reasons, but there is some merit to virtual training. It’s easier on some people’s schedules but then you run into the lack of equipment. But it is what it is and I’m rolling with it as best I can.
Your virtual race sounds fun! I hope your team wins!
I am not expecting any races at all this year. If any do happen, then it’s a pleasant surprise!
I try to stay fit with training videos. I am so happy there are so many virtual training options to choose from.
For me I see this time as an opportunity to concentrate on things other than running, so just maintaining my base. Although I have a race on the calendar in June, and it is not yet canceled, in my mind it is. I Just can’t see how it could go forward. OTOH, I caught some live video from their coach, who said that he’s actually still training for it. Running around my neighborhood is SO tough. It might be time to drive to a different neighborhood — one that’s pretty flat. Except the race is a downhill race . . .
Anyhoo, happy birthday to your dad! I do wish I could facetime with my mom (no smart phone, tried it, didn’t take). Mmmm, cake pops & cookies. 🙂
Such great options right now! I’ve worked out at home for years so now it’s nice to have so many options.
I am not involved with any fitness group at the moment but i am amazed at how everyones gotten creative and continuing their passion with this challenging situation. Hope this ends soon friend.
I’m seriously so thankful for technology right now! What a gift it is to be able to leverage it in a time like this!
Happy Birthday to your dad. Mine had his birthday at the start of the month so we baked cakes here, and my sister who stays with him, baked a birthday cake on their end. We then zoomed and ate our cakes together via zoom.
I’m going to sound like an old lady here (GET OFF MY LAWN! lol) but I don’t want virtual racing to be our future! I love in person races. I love the vibe of being at a starting line with complete strangers, and by the end, having made new friends on the trail. That said, I’m starting a virtual adventure race this morning, so we’ll see how that goes. If you can’t beat em, join em?
(Also, Happy Birthday to your Dad!)