Running the Tely

The Tely 10 is an annual ten mile road race sponsored by the Telegram, the daily newspaper in St. John’s, Newfoundland Labrador. This race, one of the oldest road races in North America, has been run every year since 1922 , with the exception of the years of WW II, 1940-45. Had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic forcing its cancelation, 2020 would have been the 93rd running.

For years I have been saying that I am going to run the Tely 10. The year I turned 50, which is six years ago now, I finally got serious about it. I registered for the race, laid out a training schedule, and actually began to prepare. Then things went sideways. It was just one of those years. Circumstances intervened and unexpected events overrode all other plans.

Fast forward five years to November 2019, and my 55th birthday. I decided that very day that 2020 would be my year. I would celebrate turning 55 by finally running in the Tely 10, which was scheduled for July 26. I began exercising, eating better, and again created a training schedule.

By the end of March most of the world was shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and just about all events and public gatherings were cancelled, including the Tely 10.

For April, May, and June, my wife, Kim, and I, and our youngest, MacKenzie, the only one of the kids still living home, were, like most everybody else in the world, in self isolation. With the exception of urgent errands, such as going to the grocery store or the liquor store, we never left the house. We were lucky as both Kim and I were able to work from home. Though this didn’t work out all that well for me as I work in advertising sales and most of the clients I would normally do business with were either shutdown or had drastically reduced budgets that did not allow for advertising spending. The company I work for was forced to shut down for four months, cancel two issues of one of its magazines, and stop publishing the other completely.

I tried to stay busy and productive. I did what work I could for the magazine, I edited a backload of photos I had taken during the fall and winter that were to be added to my stock photography portfolios, I caught up on my reading, got some writing done, and started this blog. I tried to keep up with exercising but after a few weeks of quarantine a certain amount of lethargy began to set in.

Then, when the weather got warm (we were lucky to have had a beautiful summer), I started spending most of my days in our backyard. Reading in the sun, or playing washers with Kim, and later, when we could increase our bubbles to include people outside of our immediate household, spending time with our older kids, their significant others, and our grandson. Most of my days in the sun included music, cold beer, good cigars, and a lot of Barbeque. Given the circumstances the world was in I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to enjoy the summer this way.

Come August, however, I was really feeling the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions. That’s when the Tely 10 popped up on my radar again. The organizers had decided to make the 2020 version a virtual run. Not only that but they added a five mile, a kids run, and a 92 mile endurance run. Participants could sign up for whichever run or runs they wished, and they could complete them wherever and whenever they chose, as long as it was between September 15 and November 15.

I thought about doing the 10 mile but seeing as how this had to be completed in a single run, and I didn’t believe I had time to train for it, I opted to go with the 92 mile endurance run. With this option I had two months to complete it, and could do it on my own time at my own pace.

I started out with walking, completing a few three to three and half mile brisk walks. After a week I was up to walk a few tenths of a mile, run a few tenths of a mile, until I had three miles or so completed. As I progressed, the distance I would run became longer, and the distance I would walk, shorter. After a few weeks it was all run. I went from three miles to three and a half, to four miles, and beyond. I was running every second day, and sometimes two days in a row. I was easily on track to complete this event.

Then, in late October, three weeks from the required completion date, I injured my right Achilles Tendon. It was not a bad injury, just a slight strain, but enough to keep me from running for ten days. I found myself with less then two weeks to go and twenty eight miles remaining. So, with only eleven days left I would have to run just over two and a half miles a day, everyday. I couldn’t see this happening. I figured my best bet was a schedule of two days running, one day rest. At three and a half miles per run I would just make it.

As it turned out I found that I was able to do at least Four miles each day I ran, and most days more than that. In the end I finished with two days to spare and an extra one and a third miles completed. It was an amazing feeling to have accomplished this, which I could admit to myself after it was finished, I had my doubts I could do.

Beyond the thrill of finishing and the sense of accomplishment (and the medal) that I got from this were the benefits of improved health, increased stamina, and the best physical shape I have been in in years.

Since this event I have discovered that there is a whole world of virtual fitness events out there. I have already signed up for the 185 Mile Cabot Trail Virtual Challenge, and plan to sign up for others when this one is complete. I have found these virtual challenges to be the best motivator for getting in shape and meeting, and exceeding my fitness goals that I have ever come across. Plus, there is an entire virtual event community on social media where virtual fitness participants can encourage, support, and motivate each other.

By the time the Tely 10 becomes a real race again I will be ready for it. I may even try my hand at a half marathon or marathon. Until then I will continue to run virtually, all over the world.

Cheers!

Stephen