38 Comments
Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I ran the LA Marathon this weekend and can assure you there was no 6-foot rule actually being followed, though it sounds nice theoretically! I was very much telling myself just get thru marathon weekend and then they can cancel anything else afterwards. I hope I won't regret it (I did finish with a PR!).

There's a trail race in two weeks I'll probably still do if it's on; trail races seem much less worrisome since you're so much more spread out anyway and have fewer runners. But there's a Nike half in Downtown LA in the first week of April. If things continue to worsen, I would hope they cancel that one just for everyone's safety and if not I might just skip. Better to be cautious over nothing than vice versa.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I am a race director in SoCal and we have a race on Sunday (March 15). Myself, my team and the venue have been in contact with county officials and after MUCH deliberation (heated at times), we have decided to move forward with it. As of now, there are no known cases in the immediate region. It's a small trail run, only about 400 ppl, in four separate waves. We have sent out our pre-race communication encouraging folks to stay home if they are not feeling well (virtual, transfer, defer). We are also providing extra hand wash stations, hand sanitizer, and are ready to reschedule if the county deems it so. I'll tell you, it's been a stressful week; we want to be cautious and respectful, but also don't want to add to the hysteria that we've all been seeing. Stuck between a rock and a hard place is what it is to be an event planner right now. I also want to point out that getting outside, exercising, and eating well are key elements to a strong immune system, and I don't see that mentioned anywhere in the mass display of preventative measures!

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I too was running NYC on Sunday. I sit here still in disbelief as I cancel my flights and hotel. I have been trying to get into this race for four years and finally decided to run for a charity. The quote by William James really spoke to me “Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”

I am also reminded that I am stronger for all of the training I have done, I have grown as a person through my efforts to raise money for a well deserving charity, I have connected with many people through my NYC Adventure blog and rekindled my love for writing.

I run for my health both mental and physical, and while I am saddened to not being able to run in the NYC 1/2, I feel it is the right decision. We can't look into the future to later say that cancelling the race or any other race was totally unnecessary. We do know that race officials have our best interests at heart to do their part to keep us runners healthy by preventing the possible spread of COVID-19.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I think that it is unfortunate so many races, athletic events and large crowd events/gatherings are being cancelled, but I understand.. I had previously posted we were not changing our April vacation plans, but as of tonight we are not traveling in April and are rescheduling to August. We are all facing periods of quarantine if we are exposed or develop symptoms which is a scary and sobering thought. I think containment and prevention is the only way to stop the spread.. As for races.. I want to run a half the end of April but at this point will wait it out and register last minute of things look better. I will still train... running is the best medicine... stay healthy everyone!!

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

Just got an email that the Hapalua Half, Honolulu just canceled, so I’m two for two with NYC’s decision yesterday. Better safe than sorry, but what a sad state we’re in. Hang in there everyone. We shall run in our hoods and hand wash like mad.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I am so sad that races are being cancelled! The half I signed up for in St. George, Utah at the end of March has not been cancelled yet. (Fingers crossed it won’t be!) Hoping this flu will die out as the weather warms across the country. I’m going to keep running.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I'm training for the Oshkosh Half on April 26th and I do think that the show must go on, as they say. Most runners have great immune systems as some one else in this thread brought up. Here's to great training runs, lots less hype and more usable information about corona virus in our local areas and oh yeah, Happy Spring!

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Mar 14, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I was to run in SC in April. Race has been postponed to August. When cancelling my rental home through Home away I was told "absolutely no refund as the 30 day cancellation time frame was past" even though I shared my spouse is an at risk flyer and his medical provider has said it would be reckless for us to travel. We live in OR where we are basically shut down - activities, businesses, schools and work for the next 30 days. I may not get a paycheck in the neat future. I could use the $900 refund from my rental home. Its amazing the lack of humanity in the face of our global crisis that feels driven by corporate bottom line. Hoping y'all have a better experience with cancellation issues related to races not occurring. Keep on - keeping on! Kelli

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I have 4 races in the next 3 months. I'm assuming they will become virtual races. I've decided to be okay with that if that is the case. I'm still training as planned and will still run the distances on the planned day regardless - as long as I'm healthy and able. I will miss the race atmosphere, but it's not all about that for me. It's more about setting the goal and accomplishing it. Now that being said, I am planning my first marathon in October, and I really would like to do that in an organized race venue. Hopefully, this virus will be contained by then, but if not, alone I will run - well, not all alone. My husband is my SAG (on bike) during my long run days. It will just be a longer day with more support! :-)

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

We are awaiting a decision on whether a very large race here in Portland, Oregon will be cancelled for this Sunday....with our state govt. shutting down any events in the state that are larger than 250 people (the Shamrock Run typically draws 30,000 to 40,000 people to downtown Portland), I'm sure we won't be running in it this year. I say, live to race another day.....it's frustrating when you've done the training and are ready to go, but I'd rather be safe and healthy for the rest of the races later this year.

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Mar 15, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

My half in St. George, Utah at the end of March was cancelled. I really struggled with this the past few days. I look forward to races & enjoy the training.

So I’ve had to decide do I maintain my training where I’m at now or do I stop? Can I maintain it for a month or longer? After my long run yesterday I decided to maintain where I’m at. The race should give me enough time to build up to my big miles. Sigh. It’s just frustrating.

Also—on my long run yesterday the only people I saw outside were 2 cyclists, 1 other runner, 1 walker, & a guy who lost his dog. 😳 I’m used to seeing a lot more people outside in Vegas at this time of year. This is weird. Sorry to vent.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I ran the LA Marathon last Sunday... If I wasn't infected with COVID-19 at the time, there's a good chance I was exposed by just waiting at the start line with 27,000 other runners shoulder to shoulder waiting for the gun to go off. 6ft apart! No way in hell that was going to ever happen. Maybe the organizers couldn't bare the (financial) thought about calling it off... On the other hand, my company Evolution Audio & Video sponsors a large community race - The Great Race of Agoura - that was going to take place at the end of this month. The race director just phoned to let me know that they are cancelling this year's race. Better to safe than sorry...

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

My race is probably not cancelled and I hope they keep it - it's in Snellville, Georgia, but my conference in SC is cancelled, so I won't be running half there this Sunday as well. As someone mentioned here, it sucks. It does indeed. It looks like there are some people here who have trained for this weekend races and due to corona outbreak cannot run as planned. Sean said about his decision to run his race in April even if the race itself is cancelled. It gave me the idea of all of us (well, who wants of course) still run our 1/2 or other distances. Yes, we all are going to have different conditions and it will be no medals (that's for sure sucks the most - we do run for medals, correct?), but personally for me that would be fun to do - I will be running my half thinking that somewhere let's say Terrell runs too and may be GiGi and I won't stop because I know they will be running. For sure I won't stop my time when I stop for water (that I need to plan the night before by myself). But really I don't care about time or PR on absolutely un-certified course LOL

I'd say Sunday the 15th 7:30 am ET - I am with Central time so I can start at 6:30 am. Everybody can join. Priceless:) No need for hotel or flight:) More than likely it will be absolutely easy to keep 6 feet distance because nobody will be running that close to you. But you'll know that someone is running with you at the same time from different state.

If you think you might be interested, let's do it - we have trained for it :) Walkers are welcome too - any distances as well. With dogs, donkeys or strollers.

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

Currently have been training also since the end of December to run in the Novo Nordisk NJ Marathon at the end of April. Hoping for the best, but at worst, I've decided that morning rain or shine I am running a marathon. Whether it's with a large group along the Jersey shore or solo through my normal training routes I will run (and hopefully complete) my 2nd marathon......will miss the finisher's medal though. I figure better to be safe then sorry. As a young lady named Annie once sang, the sun WILL come out tomorrow (come what may). keep healthy all :-)

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Mar 12, 2020Liked by Terrell Johnson

I am not as concerned about the race venue as I am the air travel to get there. The confined space of the aircraft is a breeding ground if someone is sick. Unfortunately, sick people don't always stay home so there's my concern. I don't like the incendiary reporting by the media, but the virus is serious and we must be vigilant.

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My wife is a surgeon and she believes the response to this is way overdone. This bug is a version of the common cold. The deaths from this are overwhelmingly older individuals, immunocompromised, or with preexisting serious underlying health problems. It's the same group that dies from the flu, and the flu has already killed 20,000 citizens this season but that is never mentioned. This is being overhyped. IMHO.

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