Covid-19 Archives - foultips.run

My First Race in Times of Pandemic

by Adolfo Salgueiro | Nov 3, 2020 | Article, Opinion

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

I was really looking forward to last Saturday (October 31st). For the first time since March, seven months ago, I was going to participate in a real race. None of the virtual stuff. A race where everybody was going to be in the same place, running the same distance, on the same course, at the same time. On one side, I was excited for this opportunity, on the other, I was not sure how comfortable I was going to feel given what is going on with the second surge of the Covid pandemic.

All masked up as we waited in line for our turn on the staggered starting line

But this 5K was on one of the runways of the Miami International Airport, a place where I may never, ever, have the opportunity to run, again, unless I am deplaning on an emergency landing. A tough race to pass, especially when I had been registered since January. The race was originally scheduled for April, but with everything going on, it was postponed.

A few weeks ago, participants got an email with the updated date, time and rules. Being in an active airport and in the middle of a pandemic, the instructions were strict and written in a straight, harsh tone. Somebody I know said he’d rather not participate because this felt like the “Gestapo 5K”.

The start was set in four waves, so participants could keep their distance. You were given a specific window of 30 minutes to come into the hangar, pick up your bib and get running. Organizers did not want too many people hanging out while waiting to start. The use of a mask covering your nose and mouth was mandatory except for when you were actually racing.

From there, you had to get in a loooong line to enter the runway. Once at the start, there were three lines of 10 cones separated by the appropriate socially distant space. Each runner had to stand by a cone. Once the front three were gone, you were asked to walk to the cone in front of you and about 5 seconds later, you could start the race. I totally understand the reason for this, but it was weird and uncomfortable.

Four planes took off abut 100 feet from where I was running, making the experience, worthwhile.

Running on the runway of an active airport (even though this was a taxi way not a landing one), was absolutely amazing. While I was running, I saw four passenger planes taking off maybe 100 feet from where I was, and two landing. We were on the other end of the passenger terminal. Surreal, worthwhile experience.

After crossing the finish line, you were given a medal, a bottle of water or Gatorade, picked up a race shirt and kicked out of there. There was no hanging out, checking for results or award ceremony. Once again, totally understandable but not what a post-race is supposed to feel like.

Because of the stacked start, all runners were timed individually, and the results compiled based on chip time. Fast, middle-of-the-pack, slow runners and walkers all mixed throughout the course. Good it was in an airport runway so there was plenty of space to pass without having to wave around people.

With the Miami International Airport 5K done, my conclusion is that I am happy I participated. I am not a big fan of the 5K distance, but this was a hard to pass course. But this did not feel like a race. For the third time, I understand the reasons why it had to be this way and there was no other way to pull this off safely, but still, it did not feel like a race. If I had been the Race Director, I would have done exactly the same. But the get-in-run-get-out approach was not conducive to a welcoming event. It did not have the right atmosphere; it was not encouraging to sharing the experience with your running buddies and it left my returning to racing expectations, unfulfilled. None of this is the fault of the organizers, it is just the way it is in 2020.

While most races round the world are cancelled for the 2020-21 season, there are still a handful in South Florida that got the necessary city permits and are moving forward. I sincerely hope they can pull it off and that no one gets sick, so these events can continue and runners, hopefully including me, will learn to adjust. But I am not sure when I will participate again, though. This new race style is not worth the risk, at least for me, at least at this time. My goal race is on February 14th, 2021. I will have to reassess by then if virtual or in-person is the way to go.

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My Virtual NYC Marathon of 2020

by Adolfo Salgueiro | Oct 27, 2020 | Article, Personal, Reflection

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

When the New York City Marathon decided to go virtual, I received an invitation to participate in it, not sure why since I did not register even for the lottery. I had no interest. Why would I do a virtual New York when I’ve done it in person twice and it is one of the most amazing running experiences, ever? But the more I thought about it, having a 26.2 on my schedule would give me a tangible goal that, otherwise, there is no chance I would even get close to.

A beautiful addition to the collection that I should be getting soon. This will commemorate my 10th Marathon

Sixty dollars was an affordable price, and a spectacular medal a welcomed incentive. Not sure what else is included, but it is irrelevant. You had between October 17 and November 1 to complete the 26.2. This was just between 8 and 10 weeks away depending on the date I ran it. I settled for October 24th so I could have an extra week of training and a spare one should anything go wrong.

Because of an injury some and health issues I went through last year, I hadn’t run more than 10 kilometers straight during the year. I had gone longer when including walking breaks. Run/walk intervals allowed me to get my fitness and aerobic capacity back. I also had to shed a few extra pounds. So I prepared a NYC plan focusing on steady increment of mileage, management of effort and heart rate control based on full recovery. Finishing time for this one was a secondary consideration. Finishing strong and without injury was more than enough reward.

My plan called for a few running miles at the start and from there on, run half mile and walk another half. Yes, a lot of walking, but I didn’t want to get my heart rate so high that that it would become unsustainable and force me to walk the last 10 miles. As I trained and was able to run more miles, I felt the recovery periods were way too long, so I adjusted. My longest training session was 17 miles, my longest non-stop run was 9 miles. My run/walk intervals got set to .6/.4. I was ready to go.

Thanking God as I cross the finish line, surrounded by my running family.

Then, October 24th, 2020 arrived and at 2:26AM I hit the road. I ran the first 6 miles and met with Bill and Rita about 3:30 am for my first water and resupply stop. From there on, I started my run/walk protocol. At first it bothered me to walk when I still felt strong, but I knew it was an investment towards the last miles, and it paid off. At mile 10, I met up with Ted, who accompanied me the next 8 miles. Up to this point my wife followed me in the car, so slow that a cop found it suspicious enough to stop her.

Close to Mile 17, the most amazing thing happened. A caravan of my running buddies passed by with horns, cowbells, yelling and screaming. A shot of adrenaline invaded my body. They were going to our regular Saturday starting spot, where I met them to pick up my last supply cache from Patrick. Once there, I kept going for my last 8.2 miles with a few friends here and there. Ruben stuck with me and ran/walked with me the whole way, sacrificing his training for the day.

I may have missed then entrance to First Avenue from the Queensboro Bridge, but what my buddies from the No-Club Runners had at the finish line was equally impressive. I choked as I ran towards the line through a tunnel of screaming, yelling, cowbells, paparazzi and the support of those who were genuinely elated to share this moment with me. It was not Central Park, but I wouldn’t trade this finish line for it.

Final time accepted by NYRRC was 5:28:14. Almost two minutes below my wildest expectations.

Post-marathon celebration with my buddies from the No-Club Runners. What an amazing bunch of people.

I have been asked if I count this experience as a completed marathon. If I count it as my 3rd time completing NYC? The answer to both questions is yes. The answers are affirmative because this was an established and scheduled race. It did not happen this year because of Covid. This is not a race that popped up to sell you a medal taking advantage of the pandemic. There was a strict time frame on when to do complete the specific distance. This was not a “run what you want, when you want” scheme. On a personal level, it is not like I’ve ran 26.2 so often that I lost count. This is just my 10th time at the distance.

This experience taught me is that I am mentally stronger than I thought. That if I am smart about how to approach certain challenges, adjusting as I work towards them, I can achieve and complete them successfully and safely. That the marathon is still a great adversary, but no unconquerable. And, above all, that I have a running family for which superlative adjectives to qualify them would make no justice to what they mean to me.

Running with a Mask in Times of Pandemic

by Adolfo Salgueiro | Oct 6, 2020 | Article, Reflection, Science

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

Before we get started, I must remind everyone that I am not an infectious medicine specialist. If you want scientific advice, I recommend you listen and follow what Dr. Anthony Fauci has to say regarding Covid-19. With this disclaimer out of the way, the following are my thoughts on running with a mask during times of pandemic.

By trial-and-error we will find what works best of us individually (Photo by cottonbro from Pexels)

Eight months or so into the Covid-19 pandemic, and four after the economy was inevitably reopened, we’ve returned to our group activities such as work, extended family and exercising with as much caution as possible. Social distancing keeps being the new norm, hugs and kisses have been replaced to fist and elbow bumps, and masks have become a political issue. As runners, we’ve had to adjust to this new reality in order to keep moving forward and to keep the social aspect of our sport alive. The uncomfortableness of wearing a mask is a small price to pay.

According to Certified Personal Trainer Timothy Lyman in a recent article in Runner’s World Magazine, “Running with a mask, or any other type of face covering, is inherently more difficult because you have to work harder to get the same amount of air into your lungs”. Of course this will vary depending on the type of are wearing.

Getting used to running covering your nose and mouth requires time, commitment and training. Figuring out what mask works better for you, when is the best time to have it on or just available for immediate use, are part of such training. Knowing in what situations you should or should not wear it has also been a trial-and-error endeavor.

The same article in Runner’s World states that: As a general rule, a mask is necessary if you’re running in a populated area where you’re likely to encounter other people. If you’re running alone in an area where you won’t encounter others or come within 6 feet (at a minimum) of others, it’s likely not necessary. But keep in mind that wearing a face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing—make sure to still keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and others while running.

Through my personal experience running over 600 miles during the pandemic, what I’ve figure out is that even though I may not need a mask when I run alone, I rather have one because inevitably I will cross paths with strangers that either do not care to help you create the safe distance or, you meet them in places where it is just impossible to separate. Therefore, I always run with a cloth mask on my chin or neck, which I can immediately access to cover my face when required. It has worked so far for me and I recommend it.

It is important to keep your social distance even if you are running with your buddies (check how I have a mask on my neck ready to be used at a moment’s notice) – Photo by Ted Sassi.

In my two running groups, we all use face coverings until we start. As for running together, we try to stay close enough to keep the social aspect of running alive but separate enough to adhere to the protocols. The post-run café-con-leche or beers, are strictly held outdoors.

For group running, Dr. Jennifer Marin, from @Obesalud, recommends not running one behind the next but keeping a diagonal formation with 5-meter (15 feet) of separation. This is an interesting, overcautious suggestion, worth looking into.

An important consideration is that, regardless of the type of mask you wear, you need to go out of your way to keep it clean and disinfected. The constant breathing will dampen it and thus less effective. I you don’t wash it; it will attract microorganisms that you will be breathing in and may negate the benefits of wearing a mask in the first place. So make sure you keep several of them in your running bag so you can rotate them appropriately.

Yes, running with a mask is a pain in the ass. No questions about it. But a worse option is having Covid-19. So suck it up, get used to the discomfort, wear a mask like a good citizen and keep on running with your buddies.

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No Fall Races. Now What?

by Adolfo Salgueiro | Jul 29, 2020 | Article, Opinion, Personal

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

A couple of weeks ago we mentioned the Abbott World Marathon Majors, whose Series XIII was crippled by the pandemic that has swept the world. And we can pout all we want but the reality is that, most likely, we will not see any racing at least until the Fall of 2021. If your race hasn’t been called yet, be patient and it soon will. It is the new reality so, lets adjust and move forward with our lives, and on with our running.

Images like this one are a-dime-a-dozen these days. But we need to keep in mind why we started running.

As Dr. George Sheehan brilliantly said: “Racing is the lovemaking for the runner. It is difficult to pass up”. I couldn’t agree more. It is a test against ourselves, a friendly competition against our friends, an opportunity to bonk and learn a lesson, the thrill of seeing a finish line on the horizon and crossing it, the justification for a beer with friends at 9AM, and many, many more reasons.

One of the characteristics of races is that with something on the calendar we remain focused on our training, especially during the miserable days of summer. Why run 20 miles in mid-August, starting at 4AM if you are not running a marathon in the Fall? But there is a say that has been doing the rounds in social media: “Races have been cancelled, running has not”, and if we want to keep moving forward toward the main reason that got us lacing up our shoes for the first time, we better keep moving forward, now, so when races resume we are not starting from scratch.

These are a handful of guidelines/suggestions that will assist you in refocusing and repurposing your running during these uncertain months of no-races:

1 – Don’t forget your main running goal: There is a reason why you started running. It could be to have an active social life, or to lose weight, or to get off the couch or to enjoy alone-time away from your professional or domestic setting. Whatever it was, it still applies, today.

2 – Don’t forget your racing goals: You still want to break 30 in the 5K, or BQ or set a PR in your next half marathon. You won’t get ahead by sleeping in, missing runs, or lamenting cancelled races. You can still get prepared now so you can crush that goal when racing resumes.

3 – Follow a plan: It is good to take a couple of months off after a grueling racing season. Run less, have fun, take extra days off. But you shouldn’t remain in a perpetual off-season. Set plans, goals and benchmarks to move forward, even if those are not racing or PR related.

4 – Work on your weak areas: This is the perfect time to get in the habit of strength training, core workouts, balance drills, yoga (even if it is online), stretching, etc. Make the most of your raceless time.

5 – Challenge your running partner: If you have a running partner, set up a buddy challenge. Who can run the fastest 10K six weeks from now? who can go under a certain time a half marathon? or whatever makes you tick. Just be smart so no one gets injured.

6 – Virtual Racing: Yes, the suck. No, it is not the same. But if you need a challenge in your calendar, this is a better-than-nothing option. PRs will not officially count but, remember the “P” stands for personal. And, you may even add a nice medal or shirt to your collection.

7 – Remember that running slow, makes you faster: Multiple studies have shown that running at a slower heart rate effort will develop your aerobic system, thus, make you faster. Document yourself about this and enhance your running engine during the down time.

8 – Above all, don’t be stupid: Yes, sounds harsh, but it is imperative you don’t injure yourself. Imprudent runners will end up nursing their wounds while their buddies return to racing.

These are just eight suggestions to keep you motivated during the pandemic. I bet you can find 100 more. If you do, please share it in the comments section. And make sure these difficult times don’t get to you.

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“We Have a Decision to Make”. A Reflection From Jason Fitzgerald’s Podcast.

by Adolfo Salgueiro | May 13, 2020 | Article, Personal, Reflection

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

I just started listening to “Strength Running” a couple of weeks ago. This is a podcast hosted by Jason Fitzgerald that, so far, I feel I can openly recommend it to my readers and trainees.

I am writing this quick blog entry because I just heard episode 138 of the series and it blew my mind. It is a quick, 6-minute reflection from the host on his view of running through the Covid-19 pandemic. It is well thought, well-written and well delivered. I was listening to it during a brisk walk and it stopped me on my tracks. I looked for a transcript in the podcast’s website but was unable to find it, so I am sharing the audio with all of you.

I invite you invest six minutes of your life listening to Mr. Fitzgerald’s reflection. It is less than the time in which most of us can run a mile, and most likely you will get something out of it. The audio file is at the bottom of this post.

I hope Mr. Fitzgerald doesn’t mind my sharing his point of view. If you want more information on his podcast, you can click here to visit his website.

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