Manatees Roar into the 20s! CLOSED (Page 109)

Originally posted by jmkizer

I'll try it and then we can review it. 

Originally posted by Hot Runner

Fires are not currently moving in our direction. Air quality....well, basically, no air and no quality. Currently some of the worst in the world, and it's actually better than a few days ago. (We are moving around between "unhealthy", "very unhealthy" and "hazardous". Not sure if others are familiar with AQI (300+ is "hazardous", as in even healthy people should try to stay completely indoors), and we have been in the 400's and 500's on some days, currently between about 260-350. One day last week Cottage Grove (where I do most of my open-water swimming and outdoor biking) was in the 800's. OMG. I'm pretty sensitive to smoke (asthma) so can really only handle quick errands like to the store and getting mail, with a mask. Was up at school for a few hours yesterday (moving stuff back from my classroom so I can teach from home) and felt like I'd smoked a couple of packs (not that I ever have, but guessing it feels like that--you can taste the smoke in your throat and lungs) for a few hours after.

All "training" is now indoors, for the indefinite future. No substantial change expected until we get a good rain, not sure when. Our climate is different than the rest of the US. Really just two seasons, dry (summer/fall) and wet (winter/spring). At this time of the year, it's hard to say. Sometimes we get regular rain starting in mid-September, other years not till late October or even November. Arrrrgh!

Originally posted by melbo55

Glad our manatees near the hurricane and the fires are safe so far, I hope that continues.

LP update:  My word how I love that place!  It took me longer than usual to settle into the 'zen' that I typically quickly fall into as soon as we get into the area, but eventually I got there.  I took two very nice bike rides (riding there is second to none), two great swims (swimming in Mirror Lake is second to none), and one lovely trail run in while we were there.  I even decided to take my wetsuit off to test how cold the water was in just a swimsuit.  The initial shock of going from toasty wettie to bare skin in water was a bit brisk, but I was able to swim about 300 yards sans wettie before I got out. Water temp 66*F.

My husband had been registered to do the 70.3 but of course it was cancelled, but he wanted to do the distance anyway.  Saturday was the better weather day, so he attempted the swim but punked out after less than 5 minutes (he is not the most confident swimmer especially alone in open water).  We went back to the house to change and head out on the bike.  My pal LT rode with him and I was the support crew, taking them food/water/change of clothes around halfway.  They got back to the house and EFP headed out on the run while LT went back out on the bike to ride the course backwards (she's training for a long, hilly ride in Oct).  I was summoned to bring anti-cramping supplies about halfway through his run, so I took tonic water, dill pickles, and more hydration.  Eventually he made it back to the house with 70.3 on his watch, so I presented him with the medal I had made for him.

The town is taking COVID very seriously.  Masking mandatory (and everyone complied in stores, most complied in the streets), distancing and occupancy limits taken seriously, sanitizing taken seriously.  I commended my little bookstore I love on their sanitization/safety policies and the lady said, "We cannot afford to be shut down again."  I get it.  The town relies heavily on tourism and needs to do all they can to stay open and operating in a mostly-normal way.

The dogs were very well behaved and enjoyed exploring the yard and neighborhood.  We didn't take them for their usual easy hikes because of weather and they are considerably older than the last time we were there, not sure if they'd have been able to go far without getting sore or tired.  As always, I was very sad to leave.

Originally posted by melbo55

Glad our manatees near the hurricane and the fires are safe so far, I hope that continues.

LP update:  My word how I love that place!  It took me longer than usual to settle into the 'zen' that I typically quickly fall into as soon as we get into the area, but eventually I got there.  I took two very nice bike rides (riding there is second to none), two great swims (swimming in Mirror Lake is second to none), and one lovely trail run in while we were there.  I even decided to take my wetsuit off to test how cold the water was in just a swimsuit.  The initial shock of going from toasty wettie to bare skin in water was a bit brisk, but I was able to swim about 300 yards sans wettie before I got out. Water temp 66*F.

My husband had been registered to do the 70.3 but of course it was cancelled, but he wanted to do the distance anyway.  Saturday was the better weather day, so he attempted the swim but punked out after less than 5 minutes (he is not the most confident swimmer especially alone in open water).  We went back to the house to change and head out on the bike.  My pal LT rode with him and I was the support crew, taking them food/water/change of clothes around halfway.  They got back to the house and EFP headed out on the run while LT went back out on the bike to ride the course backwards (she's training for a long, hilly ride in Oct).  I was summoned to bring anti-cramping supplies about halfway through his run, so I took tonic water, dill pickles, and more hydration.  Eventually he made it back to the house with 70.3 on his watch, so I presented him with the medal I had made for him.

The town is taking COVID very seriously.  Masking mandatory (and everyone complied in stores, most complied in the streets), distancing and occupancy limits taken seriously, sanitizing taken seriously.  I commended my little bookstore I love on their sanitization/safety policies and the lady said, "We cannot afford to be shut down again."  I get it.  The town relies heavily on tourism and needs to do all they can to stay open and operating in a mostly-normal way.

The dogs were very well behaved and enjoyed exploring the yard and neighborhood.  We didn't take them for their usual easy hikes because of weather and they are considerably older than the last time we were there, not sure if they'd have been able to go far without getting sore or tired.  As always, I was very sad to leave.

Originally posted by Hot Runner Update from Oregon: It FINALLY rained! Almost 2 inches in 24 hours. Woke up to air I could actually breathe and when I got a break at "work" (parent conferences over Zoom and phone) today I went for a run. It started raining again and I ended up doing the last 20 minutes in a downpour with periodic thunder but whatever--it was heavenly to get outside and breathe fresh air. Wet fir trees never smelled so good. I have not been outside for more than a few minutes' walk across parking lot or to check the mail since Labor Day. OMG. Most of the fires are still not contained, so our air will probably not get back to consistently normal for a while, but hoping things stay good enough to get in some more outside time.

Originally posted by Hot Runner

Update from Oregon: It FINALLY rained! Almost 2 inches in 24 hours. Woke up to air I could actually breathe and when I got a break at "work" (parent conferences over Zoom and phone) today I went for a run. It started raining again and I ended up doing the last 20 minutes in a downpour with periodic thunder but whatever--it was heavenly to get outside and breathe fresh air. Wet fir trees never smelled so good. I have not been outside for more than a few minutes' walk across parking lot or to check the mail since Labor Day. OMG.

Most of the fires are still not contained, so our air will probably not get back to consistently normal for a while, but hoping things stay good enough to get in some more outside time.

Originally posted by JBacarella I have something to look forward to. I've signed up for IM Tulsa on May 23rd 2021!

Originally posted by Hot Runner Update from Oregon: It FINALLY rained! Almost 2 inches in 24 hours. Woke up to air I could actually breathe and when I got a break at "work" (parent conferences over Zoom and phone) today I went for a run. It started raining again and I ended up doing the last 20 minutes in a downpour with periodic thunder but whatever--it was heavenly to get outside and breathe fresh air. Wet fir trees never smelled so good. I have not been outside for more than a few minutes' walk across parking lot or to check the mail since Labor Day. OMG. Most of the fires are still not contained, so our air will probably not get back to consistently normal for a while, but hoping things stay good enough to get in some more outside time.

Originally posted by JBacarella Glad to hear you got some relief. Stay safe.

Originally posted by JBacarella I have something to look forward to. I've signed up for IM Tulsa on May 23rd 2021!

Originally posted by JBacarella I have something to look forward to. I've signed up for IM Tulsa on May 23rd 2021!

Originally posted by melbo55

Wow!  It is so vital to have something to look forward to these days of limited activities.  "Livin' on Tulsa time, livin' on Tulsa time..."  Now I have the song stuck in my head and maybe you do, too. 

Originally posted by Hot Runner Fires are still not completely contained (or even close) but they are making progress. We're in better shape here than California due to our cooler, wetter climate, I think. Another few days of rain forecast for later in the week. I've been able to run outside twice since last Friday. Sometimes the air is a bit questionable in the morning--smoke joins the usual valley fog and hangs around for a while--but it's been clearing up later on. AQI was only 15 this afternoon. First day of online "school" this morning. Those poor kids! Most mentioned the fires and resulting indoor confinement (which robbed them of their last week of summer vacation) as the worst part of the summer. And one kid actually asked me at the end if I had the AQI app on my phone because she wanted to know if was safe to go play in her treehouse. I teach Grade 3.....Not sure about others but worrying about pandemics or AQI was never a part of my childhood!

Originally posted by Hot Runner Fires are still not completely contained (or even close) but they are making progress. We're in better shape here than California due to our cooler, wetter climate, I think. Another few days of rain forecast for later in the week. I've been able to run outside twice since last Friday. Sometimes the air is a bit questionable in the morning--smoke joins the usual valley fog and hangs around for a while--but it's been clearing up later on. AQI was only 15 this afternoon. First day of online "school" this morning. Those poor kids! Most mentioned the fires and resulting indoor confinement (which robbed them of their last week of summer vacation) as the worst part of the summer. And one kid actually asked me at the end if I had the AQI app on my phone because she wanted to know if was safe to go play in her treehouse. I teach Grade 3.....Not sure about others but worrying about pandemics or AQI was never a part of my childhood!

Originally posted by cdban66

Karen, I looks like things are on the upswing for you, but wow, how much further is necessary before you even get to normal?! I had enough trouble in third grade simply being a kid, I can't imagine worrying about the more adult topics. Heck, I'm not too sure many of us "adults" are coping with it well. Hang in there, and know that there are people that truly care about things getting better. Sometimes I think that is lost in all of this.  That we are all humans and as such, need to support one another for the best possible outcomes.

Originally posted by amd723

okie dokie!

Originally posted by jmkizer

Verdict: #lame #fail

Originally posted by amd723

Good to know!