The continued debate about wearing masks during this COVID pandemic is getting extreme, from all directions. At the clinic, we wear a mask all day. I have patients complaining that they won’t come into the clinic if they see us all wearing a mask, and other patients who refuse to come into the clinic if we don’t mandate that everybody coming in wears one. We are in a no win situation. We continue to screen everybody at the door, with questions, and a temperature, if they have anything that my be suggestive of COVID, they are handed a mask, if they are not already wearing one, and triaged and taken to a room quicker.
I hear all of the time that masks really don’t work, so why wear them. You still have to continue to wash your hands, try to stay 6 feet apart, if possible, avoid crowded areas, and it is recommended to wear a mask. Many different researchers emphasize there are two main reasons for wearing a mask. There is some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask. How much protection a mask provides, both to the wearers, and to the people around them, depends on the mask, and whether you are wearing it properly. It needs to cover your nose and your mouth. N95 masks are designed to fit tightly around the nose and mouth so that the air you breathe has to go through the mask. They block at least 95% of small airborne particles, and are designed to protect both the wearer, and other people. They are in short supply and are reserved for those in healthcare. Surgical masks are designed to protect people from the wearer, and have been found to block up to 70% of respiratory droplet size particles. As for cloth masks, the protection depends on what they are made of, and how well they fit. But having the right combination can create a cloth mask that offers protection to the wearer in the 30-50% range, or more. That’s far from full protection, but combined with social distancing and hand washing, it’s certainly better than nothing.
And yet, everyday, people complain about it. This goes both ways, for those who refuse to wear them, and those that think everybody should have one on at all times, whether they are around somebody else or not. If you are outside, and maintaining social distancing, you do not have to wear one.
Last weekend, a bunch of us from our Watertown Area Running Club when to Brookings to either do the Marathon, or the Marathon Relay. Mask were required for the event. They were trying to make it as safe for everybody involved as possible, for not only the runners, but the people managing the event, and all of the volunteers.
When the race was started, everybody had to begin wearing a mask. Once you were spaced out more, you could remove them. We were far enough apart from each other, and we were outside. It was not difficult at all, and I heard nobody complaining about it!
The week before, we had all gone out to Caribou for coffee afterwards. Mask were required to be there. All of us had them on. If it meant we were going to be able to get coffee, and relax a little bit, so be it. And be as safe as we could at the same time!
I am sure somebody will have some negative comments if they read this far into today’s post. One thing I have found is that this virus had tended to show a lack of kindness in people as well. Kindness is not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but doing something for someone else because you can. Wearing a mask shows that you actually care about the people around you. In a world full of people right now who couldn’t care less, be someone who couldn’t care more. Kindness is contagious too. Why don’t we try passing this on to everybody for a change?
Instead of complaining about it, why don’t you have fun with it? Be creative on the designs. Be funny. We are all in this together whether we want to be or not. We may only know our own situations, but somebody else’s situation may be even worse. Think about it? What can you do to make it better? Or is it just easier to keep complaining and taking it out on someone else? Care about somebody else! Kindness–let’s make this become the next pandemic! Keep moving everybody, and be safe!
Jennifer West, a friend in our Watertown Area Running Club, ran her first marathon yesterday in Brookings. It was really pretty good weather for this, but humid. Many of us from the run club came to Brookings to both cheer her on, and run with her. Sarah, Megan, Leeann, and I ran the marathon relay so we could help push Jenn from start to finish. The joy on her face made everything all worthwhile afterwards. Until you have done one, you have no idea how much it takes to get ready for one of these, and then also the day of. It is a grueling test of both physical and mental stamina. Let me show you how the morning played out.
For those of us who went, even if we did not run, were there cheering for her, and helping her get ready. All of us helped with her preparation the months leading up to this day to help her keep up with her long runs. Many others of us who ran with her in preparation, could not all be there in Brookings. But, WARC–Watertown Area Running Club–sticks together, and offer help in anyway we can.
We are just yacking prior to getting ready for the start. Jenn and the rest of the McElroy’s came down and were cheering from start to finish! Jenn was driving everywhere along the course! Their two girls, Kate and Grace, were whooping it up good, shaking the cowbells, and screaming “good job Jenn!”
Jenn was all smiles before getting ready to enter the start area. Everybody had to wear a mask as they entered, and the runners all had to start with the mask until things spaced out with the runners. They had capped the field of entries significantly this year due to COVID.
Megan started out the first leg with her, 4 miles to the first exchange site. She picked up another section of the marathon later on as well. It was a little chilly to start with, but did not take long to warm up.
Then Sarah took over at mile 4, and ran with her until mile 12. She had the longest segment with her. I have to laugh at this one, as Megan kind of high fived her for the exchange, and Sarah turns around, and Jenn is going, and “sprints” to catch up to her. “Wait for me!”
Leeann took over at mile 12 to mile 17, and then Megan came back in until mile 20. They were on a steady pace, but mile 20 is when the marathon really starts getting tough…not only physically, but mentally.
I then ran with her from mile 20 to the finish, another 6.2 miles, to complete 26.2 miles. Here we are coming down the final 100 meters and she is picking it up to the finish line! They called out her name over the loud speaker, and announced this was her first marathon! Nothing can describe that feeling when you cross the finish line. Joy…exhaustion…relief! Her time was 4 hours and 25 minutes!
Here is Greg, and his girlfriend Laura. He also ran the marathon, not his first, but his best one, beating his last time by over 15 minutes. He came in at 3 hours 17 minutes. And also in this picture is Owen McElroy, and his girls, Kate and Grace, who win the award for loudest cheerleaders!!!
Post race picture with Jenn and her husband Randy, who followed her in the vehicle throughout the race. The person running the marathon puts in a lot of work, and time, but the spouse does a lot of extra things as well to help keep everything else going at home while you are training. It is very time consuming. You cannot train for a marathon without a very supportive spouse. So we have all happily told Randy we will do the same for him when he runs a marathon! (We don’t have to worry too much on this one, but…never say never!)
Jill made some signs for the day. This one says it all. We are WARC strong. Jenn accomplished her goal of completing a marathon, but the group/team was there through the training, and the race. That is what we do! It may not always work out that many of us can be there for the actual day, but we sure try our best to help out along the way. Most of us have all done one, and we know the commitment it takes to do this, and we are more than willing to help. Come join us sometime. You don’t have to run a marathon to be a part of it. You just need to like to run. The rest is up to you! Keep moving everybody!
Sarah and I went on a short vacation a week ago out in the Hills, staying in a secluded cabin in Hill City. The entrance to this cabin was the Mickelson Trail. We were on it every day, multiple times a day. Hardly anybody else around. We went biking, hiking, walking, and running each day. We saw all kinds of wildlife out there, like this one with a deer greeting us on the trail! We saw turkeys, and some coyotes too. The view is breathtaking, and if you have never been on the Mickelson Trail, you have to try it, as there is well over 100 miles of converted railroad line made into the Trail.
We went hiking while we were out there. The plan was to go up Harney Peak, now Black Elk Peak, but just our luck, it was under maintenance beginning the day we got out there, until the day we left! So we did some other hiking trails around Sylvan Lake since we were already out there.
The scenery around Sylvan Lake is incredible! It was a great substitute for what we originally were planning on doing.
We hauled our bikes out there and rode 30 miles at a time several days while we were out there. The one day we went past Crazy Horse as well. The hills are quite the challenge out there. Either direction we took off from, we were starting off uphill. 7 miles one way, over 9 miles the other way. Coming back was great going down them, but boy did you work going up!
We had to take a minute for a breather working uphill!
Going down you just hung on!
Lots of different scenery to look at, and experience with this converted railroad line. We stopped many times, mostly to take pictures!
The view of our cabin from the Mickelson Trail. The social distancing, and overall quiet break was absolutely perfect to forget about everything else going back on in the world. The sunrises/sunsets out in the Hills are totally amazing as well.
Remember, we all need a break at times. But, by staying active, there is so much more to do and see, and create adventures with…and make memories! Social distancing is not such a bad thing when you have things like this to do, and see. Make time to take time! Enjoy life! Take it all in, and be safe! Keep moving everybody!
What a weekend! WARC–Watertown Area Running Club–got together Saturday morning to run the Fargo Half Marathon and Marathon virtually, since the in person event was cancelled due to COVID. We had several in our group who were running their first marathon. Here I am congratulating Jason for finishing his first 26.2 mile run! It was a great day for the weather to help out with this as well. The weather was only the tip of the iceberg. Our run club helped in so many ways to make it a day to remember for these first time marathoners. Let me show you how.
Here Owen, Jason, and Mark are getting ready to start at 5AM. Sally was starting on her own. Owen was running with Jason from start to finish to help get him through! Jill had dropped them off at Hobby Lobby to start, and then met up with the rest of us at City Park, and then headed to Jackson Park where a bunch of us were waiting to start the Half Marathon. After all was said and done, the plan was for everybody to get to City Park to finish.
It goes without saying for those who have done a marathon before, you know what it takes to finish. You also know how much work you have to put into to get ready. If everything goes as planned, you hopefully have a great marathon day. Many things can change that. Weather. Fatigue. Injury. Mark was dealing with this, but made the attempt anyway. This, to me, takes even more guts. It may not always go as planned, but it truly is those challenges in life that makes life meaningful.
Multiple people helped along the course around the lake setting up water/aid stations. Jill’s brother Dan, Tom, Missy, Jill, and here is the station set up by Cassandra and her kids, and they helped set up at several spots. It is because of this that the rest of us could keep going, and not have to haul water/energy drinks etc, to get through. Words cannot express how much this helps out, and was greatly appreciated by all of us!
When a bunch of us got done running the Half Marathon, we took off on our bikes to go ride and encourage Jason and Owen to the finish line for the last 3 miles. We cheered, hauled water, and helped push them in. That is what WARC does. That is what friends do…
Sally finished, with Jill riding along side her for about the last mile. She was determined to run this on her own. It was a time for her to think, and focus on her goal. She did great. Her husband Mark had to stop at mile 19, and had to quit running at 15, walking those last 4. His knee was bugging him too much to keep going. This was his second marathon, so he at least knew what it was like to do one. The frustrating part was doing all this work, to come to the final moment and be hurt. Like I said earlier, it takes a lot of guts to run a marathon, and even more to keep attempting when you are hurt. Kudos to you Mark for trying! You still ran more than the rest of us running the Half Marathon. There will be other days to do again, I have no doubt!
Here is a picture of those of us who did the Half Marathon:
And one of all of us who ran, with the finish line ribbon provided by Jill! (And a special shout out to Jill for helping with the organization of this day/event!)
A Half Marathon, and especially a Full Marathon, can humble you very quickly. How much determination do you have? Will your body tolerate it all? More so yet, will your mind allow you to tolerate it? Many factors are involved with completing one of these, but believe me, it is always easier when you have your friends there to support you!
The day may have been significant in that several in our run group finished their first marathon, but that is not what made the day. Working together, supporting each other, running with each other, listening to each other…just being there for each other, is what it is all about. That is what makes memories. We all have good days, and bad days when it comes to running, and you don’t know how everything is going to line up for that particular day. But the support from that day, and all of the training runs together leading up to this, are what make it special. Erika and Paula could not make it this day, but there were there in spirit, and following along, and cheering from afar. Next up, Jenn will be doing the Brookings marathon, her first, and several of the rest of us are on a team, running along side here the whole way to help get her in. Time for the finish is not what is important. It is the time spent together that is important!
WARC—Watertown Area Running Club—this is what we are about. Join us sometime. If you like to run, you will fit in. Your time for how fast you can run is not important. Be WARC Strong! Keep moving everybody!
Here is a picture of our run group that was taken a few weeks ago. In here are 4 people who are getting ready to complete a marathon in the next several weeks. 3 of them will be doing their first one. For those of you who have done a marathon before, you know what it takes to get ready. If you have never done one, it can be one of the most challenging things you could do in your life. You spend anywhere from 4-6 months getting ready, and this is if you run on a regular basis. Jennifer West is in the back ground, and she rode here bike that Sunday because she had a long run the day before. Many of us have been helping her get ready. Yesterday was a great example of how things can get done, with a little help from your friends. Several ran/rode bike with her to complete her 19 mile run. Many of us had different segments, so that by the time all was said and done, somebody was with her from start to finish. On the last 3 mile loop, Jenn, Erika, and I were talking about the mental stamina is takes to complete a marathon. We have to be prepared just as much mentally as we do physically. In many respects, the mental aspect of it is much more difficult, in my opinion. All this self doubt comes in, and you start thinking you can’t do this anymore, that you are not ready. Maybe I should have put in more long runs? Maybe I should have worked harder? Maybe…maybe…maybe…You need to overcome this self doubt, and start believing in yourself!
Believe in yourself…Be You! You put the work in. Stay positive. Stay focused. As our previous high school cross country coach here in Watertown said many times: Distance running is 90% mental, and the other 10% is in your head! How true! So that is where our Watertown Area Running Club (WARC) comes into play. We help each other reach our own individual goals. We work as a team, so that each of us can do our best individually! Here are some pictures from both yesterday, and the previous week, working with Jenn on Saturday mornings!
The biggest thing we have to do is believe in ourselves, and to not be afraid!
Our minds our in control, and if we can do this, our bodies can do amazing things! That does not mean our bodies don’t have to work hard, and that we may have to endure some aches and pains at times. But, that too is where your friends come in handy!
Erika was using a hand massager on Jenn’s back during the time meeting back at the Wellness center for water, and where I joined up, as others were completing their portion of running help. If we want to achieve something important to us, we have to be willing to work at it. If we don’t have to work for it, then it does not have as much significance to us. We have to believe in ourselves!
This does not mean we can’t, or shouldn’t, have help along the way. That goes for anything. Everybody needs help at one time or another, with anything. If help is offered, take it. If help is needed, give it! Overcome our self doubt, and keep going. Here is one mantra that is worth reading over and over again. This is for anybody, working at something, regardless of what it is.
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! This not only works for marathon training, but life training! Never give up! Learn from our mistakes. Overcome our self doubts. Trust yourself, and your abilities. Then you will…
