March 2020 in review!

Total mileage for the month: 0...no running and no clear answers on what my hip issue is (injury update post here) - but after manual distractions at my very first PT appointment on April 1 I was able to walk without a limp for the first time since February 11, so I'm now feeling optimistic, although it's insane that a few minutes of movements helped the issue more than 8 weeks of not running did.

Races:

• Obviously none this month.  Although my reason for not racing was being injured, 3 of 3 races I had planned for this month cancelled due to COVID-19.  The 3 races I had planned for April also cancelled or postponed, and my May race postponed, so I effectively only missed one race this season (February 29).

 Workouts:

• Cross-training:  I biked most days (road, spin, or a Lifecycle), and did a little swimming, aquajogging, rollerblading, and elliptical (1-2 days of everything that wasn't biking).
• Biking:  I started tracking my cycling mileage the week of March 23-29, and got in 164 miles for that week.  Of course I'd rather be running, but I'm thankful I can get out on my road bike, which I got tuned up right before the COVID-19 craziness hit the Midwest.  My goal for March 30-April 5 is to ride over 200 miles and I did a cycling "double" on March 30, so I guess it is safe to say that my period of minimal cross-training has come to a close.
• Strength work:  Weekly totals of 2:08, 2:00, 1:00, 1:16, 1:11
• Yoga:  Weekly totals of 0:36, 0:45, 2:11, 2:03, 3:16

Long Runs:

• You guessed it - none this month.

Running Fitness Highlights:

• I was interviewed on the Strong Runner Chick Radio podcast, which was really fun!
• My running low-light was a hip injury - details here.  My last outdoor run was Feb. 12.  I began using crutches on March 11, and felt more improvement in about 4 days on crutches than I had in 4 weeks off running!  I also realized how much I walk in a normal day, which of course drastically dropped because crutching around is painful.  I had an MRI on March 26 and am anxiously awaiting the results.
• I improved my biking strength a lot. 
• I have plans for another series to follow 2:45:01 and Beyond, but I'm going to wait until I'm not working via telehealth, because outside of work I have no desire to see any screens!  It's kind of amazing this post is making it out.

 Life Notes:

• Without a doubt, the "hot" topics of March 2020 were COVID-19, social distancing, and an unprecedented number of major cancellations.  This pandemic is going to have profound effects on our economy and history.  What a crazy time.
• On March 17, my agency temporarily changed to providing ABA services by telehealth only.  The first 48 hours were quite a whirlwind with learning the virtual platform, developing telehealth consents, contacting what felt like a million people, etc.  The first two days I worked non-stop from about 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and ended my days completely exhausted despite not leaving my home.  I will be working this way through at least April 24.  It did make it easier to be on crutches, though, that is for sure.
• Albani was on scheduled spring break from March 16-20, and then her school added two more weeks off, scheduled to return on April 6.  We did not have home school activities like many states, but I kept her on a schedule and had her read a lot.  Following a 30 day stay at home order beginning on March 26, our school closure was extended, now with a scheduled return date of April 27 and alternative learning beginning April 6.  There is a reason my husband and I don't homeschool, so pray for us!
• We spent a lot of time planting and preparing our garden.  My husband expanded it again this year!
• My cat Nugget also has a hip malady.  He began limping around and didn't improve, so we took him to the vet to find out he has a genetic hip malformation (x-ray below).  The vet said this is very common in dogs but rare in cats.  We can get surgery for him but it is pretty extreme (the ball of the hip is cut off, and then the bones fuse together), so we are giving it some time since he is still growing.  He is currently doing better but isn't functioning quite normally, so we will see...   We are kind of two of a kind!

Books:

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Still Alice by Lisa Genova
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
• Racing the Rain by John Parker Jr.
• Finding Chika:  A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom
• Year of the Monkey by Patty Smith
• Stone Mattress:  Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 
• A Good Man by Ani Katz
• Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly 
• Anatomy, Stretching, and Training for Marathoners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Most From Your Running Workout by Jay Dicharry
• Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans
• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
• Seven Day of Us by Francesa Hornak 
• The Tenant by Katrine Engberg
• Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
• Life Will Be the Death of Me:...and You Too! by Chelsea Handler
• Inside the O'Briens by Liss Genova

Theme of the month:

Uncertainty, patience, and faith.