Running...A team sport? Absolutely!
I have often thought of running as a sort of lonely sport. It was always something I pretty much did on my own and occasionally ran with someone else. However, this week I have done 3 of my week day runs with groups. Tuesday I went to Magees at 5:30 am to find about 15-20 runners. I ran with a group of 6 (I think, I may have left someone out), Ernie, Sarah, Kristin, Hayley, Tracy, and Lynn. All of which are frequent Todds runners. I was thinking that Gary and I were nuts to drive all the way out there at 5am to run 6 or 7 or 8 miles in the cold. However when I got there and saw all the people I couldn't decide if I was more normal than I had originally thought, or that everyone else is just as nuts. Either way I wasn't alone!
Wednesday at 6 in the morning I ran with Hayley, Ernie, Sarah, and Kelty (my dog). We had a good 6.25 mile run. The only bad thing was that Kelty is too competitive to let anyone run ahead of her so I had to keep up with Haley who is awesome on hills. I felt pretty strong throught the whole run, and was pretty energized all day.
This morning I ran with Ernie, Sarah, and Jill, and Kelty. We did 5 loops at Kirklevington, and did some stride work. I love the motivation that I see in everyone in the group. They help me to remember what it is about running that I love. Its not about time, and its not about winning, or competition. When I run by myself I often think about these things (well maybe not winning). As I mentioned in my last blog I am an avid worrier about my performance. It is completely different when I am running with the group. I am just enjoying the company, and the sport.
When I was training for the Tecumseh Trail Marathon Gary was my training partner. Well, Gary and Kelty of course. He was so great about being supportive and encouraging, and attentive. Even when I was crabby and hurting. I knew for this marathon he would be training to run a sub 3 hour marathon so I would lose my training partner. I was pretty sad because I knew I would be doing many of my runs alone, except for Todd's Road Saturdays. However, now I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I have the group to run with almost every day of the week, and I still even get Gary once a week if I am lucky. I enjoy hearing about Gary's running group, and I hope he enjoys hearing about mine because I talk about them all the time. Sometimes I do wish I could be as quick as the women Gary runs with, but I know that is just my own jealousy. Some day maybe our two groups will merge! As for now I am completely enjoying the company of some great runners and wonderful people.
I believe I have solved my "training of the mind" theory. I just need to run with people more than I run by myself. I am blessed that this has been so easy for me to do lately. These people are my motivation and my inspiration. They understand me and share in my excitement of running. What more could a lonely runner ask for?
Wednesday at 6 in the morning I ran with Hayley, Ernie, Sarah, and Kelty (my dog). We had a good 6.25 mile run. The only bad thing was that Kelty is too competitive to let anyone run ahead of her so I had to keep up with Haley who is awesome on hills. I felt pretty strong throught the whole run, and was pretty energized all day.
This morning I ran with Ernie, Sarah, and Jill, and Kelty. We did 5 loops at Kirklevington, and did some stride work. I love the motivation that I see in everyone in the group. They help me to remember what it is about running that I love. Its not about time, and its not about winning, or competition. When I run by myself I often think about these things (well maybe not winning). As I mentioned in my last blog I am an avid worrier about my performance. It is completely different when I am running with the group. I am just enjoying the company, and the sport.
When I was training for the Tecumseh Trail Marathon Gary was my training partner. Well, Gary and Kelty of course. He was so great about being supportive and encouraging, and attentive. Even when I was crabby and hurting. I knew for this marathon he would be training to run a sub 3 hour marathon so I would lose my training partner. I was pretty sad because I knew I would be doing many of my runs alone, except for Todd's Road Saturdays. However, now I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I have the group to run with almost every day of the week, and I still even get Gary once a week if I am lucky. I enjoy hearing about Gary's running group, and I hope he enjoys hearing about mine because I talk about them all the time. Sometimes I do wish I could be as quick as the women Gary runs with, but I know that is just my own jealousy. Some day maybe our two groups will merge! As for now I am completely enjoying the company of some great runners and wonderful people.
I believe I have solved my "training of the mind" theory. I just need to run with people more than I run by myself. I am blessed that this has been so easy for me to do lately. These people are my motivation and my inspiration. They understand me and share in my excitement of running. What more could a lonely runner ask for?
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