Phoenix Week

Week-beginning:
So, I'm heading out to Phoenix for a week at the Sweet Adelines International Contest with my chorus, Song of Atlanta. Plans for the week: don't get sick.

Monday

Did: terrible sleep, packed for Phoenix

Tuesday

Did: flew to Phoenix, walked 6.2mi, 3hr chorus rehearsal
I landed in Phoenix around 7:30am local, so I had time to kill before my room was ready. Stored my bags in the hotel, changed, and went on a 10K walk. Part of me wanted to run, but the bulk of me was just far too anxious about what running in the heat, running that long, etc. could do to me for the rest of the week, so I kept it chill.

hello, desert wildlife

then we had rehearsal for a few hours

Wed

Did: 7mi hike/walk, 2x3hr chorus rehearsal

One of the few things I wanted to do while in Phoenix was get out for one hike. I found a few chorusmates who were also interested (and willing to mask while on the train), and planned out a route that would take us out for a 1/3mi hike to "Hole in the Rock", after about a 0.7mi walk from the light rail stop. 

We ended up missing our turn and walking for about 7mi instead. Oops. :/ 

 

It was a fun trip, though, and I really enjoyed spending time with other people. I'm definitely a bit of a extrovert, and COVID has really made life hard in that sense...

chorus rehearsal

Thurs

Did: 2hr chorus rehearsal + semifinals, 15min lift

We were #4 of 28 on stage for today's semifinals round. After a morning rehearsal and a kick-butt performance, I retreated to my room and kinda napped out for the rest of the day. Not sure if I was truly fatigued from my back-to-back 6+ mile walk days, or if it was more about anxiety about COVID, heat in Phoenix, or just not having anything I needed to do so I slept.

Friday

Did: 30min walk, 15min yoga, 2x3hr chorus rehearsal
Woke up, went on a walk with a friend (at 5am local), and hit the gym for a bit. We made finals so we had two rehearsals today prepping our finals package. I napped a bit in the afternoon, but might not have needed to if I didn't have the time to do so?

 

just plankin'

Saturday

Did: 30min MBF, 1hr rehearsal, chorus finals

I've slept like CRAP all week. I go to bed around 6:30pm local (9:30pm EST, my body clock), but then am up probably every 2-4 hours until I finally wake up for the day around 5am local (8am EST). This morning, I got up and decided to do a short MBF routine in the hotel gym. We were FIRST for finals, which sucked, but I still enjoyed the day. After our stage time, I joined the rest of the chorus in the convention center to watch the other competitors and await results. 

We finished THIRD in the WORLD. :D

and got "Most Entertaining"/"Audience Choice"

video

Sunday

Did: airport walking

Another looooooooooong travel day. I think I hit my 10K steps goal with all the airport walking. The day, however, was ruined a bit by learning upon arrival at my house that one of our chorus members had just tested positive for chorus. Of course, she'd been unmasked the entire time, including when talking to me before our shared flight. Cue the anxiety. 

Week-end Feelings:

Frustrated that being exposed to COVID means I'm probably going to take it easy this next week since I don't want to workout if I'm about to get sick, since I think that had a huge negative impact on me the first time around (since I didn't even know I was exposed and pushed through a 2x2mi tempo the MORNING before I came down with a 104 degree fever in the afternoon).