There have not been many races on my calendar the last few years.

Life has just been busy. Last year I got married and although the wedding was small, the planning still consumed the majority of my free time. My mom’s illness kept me from registering for too many events, especially any outside the area. And frankly after completing an ultra marathon (40 miles at Mind the Ducks!) I was ready for some down time from training and embracing the joy of movement.

There’s never been a better time to embrace the pure joy of movement than now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has closed so much of our normal life, including the cancelation of races.

I already missed the first race on my calendar — the Lockport 10 Miler — as my mom’s illness took me away not only from training but from the actual race.

Next up on my schedule: the Vale of Three Falls at Letchworth State Park on May 17th. I registered for the 15K. The race company as canceled all events through the end of April, but hasn’t yet canceled anything in May.

So what do I do?

I keep training.

Last week, I interviewed a few coaches for the Buffalo News running column, including University at Buffalo coach Vicki Mitchell, who offered this perspective:

“The bottom line is I can still go out and run. I can still go out and enjoy the beauty of the motion of running. I can still feel the joy of running.”

Vicki Mitchell

Ain’t that the truth.

My training plan is extraordinarily NOT aggressive. It’s a beginning plan which includes running three days a week plus cross-training. I’m not looking for a personal best. I’m not training for performance. Frankly, at this point registering for a race is pretty much an excuse to (a) participate in an event that I love or see a new place, and (b) give my physical activity some structure. The key word in that phrase is some.

Because with spring in the air, it’s also a chance to simply embrace the joy of movement. That means going for walks around the neighborhood with my husband. That means going for bike rides with my step-daughter, a natural way to keep our social distance. All of that is done without a thought to time or pace or distance, other than for our own amusement

If I get to run this 15K on the trails of one of New York’s most beautiful parks, it will be a celebration of life, and nature, and running, and family, and friends.

If I don’t get to run this 15K, I will still have gained fitness, improved my health (physical, emotional, and mental), and re-learned the joy of being in this human body.