October 11, 2020

Be Kind. Be Calm. Be Safe.

We thought it would be good to check in with three of our previous story contributors to catch up and see how they’ve been fairing during this crazy year of COVID-19.

You might remember Dino @the905runner from his post last year “Why Do I Run?”
Here's what he has to say:

Oh boy... 2020! It’s a year no one will ever forget!

I believe how we remember it and what we take from it is up to us. For me, the global pandemic has been a huge reset. Spending more time with my wife and children and less time worrying about the things in life that all of a sudden don't seem essential at all.

Here are the things that have worked for me.

• I focus on my current day and what I can take from it. What can I do to make myself and others smile?

• I have never run happier in my life. I realise everyday I am able to run is a gift. I focus more about enjoying the beauty around me, often driving to new locations just so I can see more of the community around me

• Spend some time encouraging new runners and veteran runners. We all need some positive vibes right around now

• Turn off the news from time to time and try to live in the moment.
2020 might just be the year that saved me. After 4 months off, these little things have become habits and even though I am back to work, I remain focused and committed to them, which keeps the smile on my face!

Joyce, @joysofrunning and Lisa, @belovedrunner gave us a delightful Q&A piece called, “Running and Croissants” Here are some words of wisdom from Joyce:

It's been a challenging few months for me, to say the least. My work has been super busy since I started working from home in mid-March, we paused our group runs during the lockdown, most of my races have been cancelled, and have just heard that Chicago is a no go too. My kids are on their devices all day, and not having human contact has been harder than I thought it would be.
Thankfully, here are a few things that have kept me sane:

• Get outside. I have been getting out for a run 5-6 days a week, even if it had to be in the late evening after a long day of work.

• Have a routine. Since there are no races to train for, my coach has reduced my mileage and workout intensity but I still have a routine.

• Be grateful. I remind myself to be grateful that my family and I are safe and healthy, I have a job that I love, I can still run, and I belong to an amazing runcrew filled with runners who inspire me every day. Gratitude goes a long way.

• Connect with people. Our North York run-crew have stayed socially connected with virtual runs, a 5-minute plank challenge, a North York border relay challenge, and daily workout posts to keep everyone motivated. It's not the same as connecting with people in real life but it's still good.

• Being kind to yourself and others. This is more important now than ever. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health. You just don't know what others are going through during this time.

Lisa @belovedrunner, says:

Covid19 hasn't been too bad for me. I found that working from home has been better than I expected. Being someone who was always on the go, rushing here, there and everywhere I have enjoyed the slower pace of life that the lock down has given me, with more time to spend with my family. I also love that I have more time to run and prepare healthier meals.

Of course, more time to run did lead to some overuse injuries… which meant more time was needed for recovery walks… which meant more time wearing my Oofos sandals!

Thank you OOFOS!!

All round it seems that for each of our guest posters, this has been a time to take a step back and reflect on what’s important in life.

How has 2020 been for you?