You guys, I did the most unexpectedly fun thing tonight. Elwood P. had asked me about joining this running group for women, and I was ~75% skeptical. I was pretty sure I'd be the slowest and most pathetic, and believe me, I have enough trouble withstanding the tide of self-loathing that swamps me when I exercise. But I decided to listen to the 25% of my brain that was saying it might be a good idea, and I wrote a check. Tonight was our first meeting. It surpassed my most optimistic expectations.
First, I was not the slowest, not at all. They divided the 30 of us into 4 groups. I decided, with a little interior nail-biting, that I did not need to be in the slowest group. I wound up with a perfect fit: a workout that pushed me without causing me to feel that I might throw up. The group had two leaders, one in the front and one behind. I don't know about the one who brought up the rear (because! I was not at all the slowest even in the not-slowest group! which merits these exclamation points of surprise even though it sounds kind of pitiful!), but the one who was up front did a great job: she was encouraging and peppy without a whisper of condescension. I finished with a grin on my face.
I have never run with a buddy except for the night I asked my husband to join me, which was pretty much the death knell for running for, oh, most of the rest of 2011. It was surprisingly fun to be in a group. At the point when I would have said, "Forget this -- I'm taking a walking break," I had five other women nearby who were hanging in there. This motivated me to hang in there too, despite scorching temperatures. (Actually, my thought process went something like this: "Look at us! We are not running -- we are shambling! You can keep shambling for a little longer, Jamie.") The woman who led the fastest group had two coolers in her trunk, loaded up with water and Gatorade. So delicious, sucking down icy water while riding an endorphin buzz. Just thinking about it makes me eager to go back next week.
I've decided to put some energy toward fitness this summer, after years of thinking that I shouldn't be vain or shouldn't take the time when I have so many other responsibilities (not to mention the occasional Akron U-turn). But the mood-elevating effect of vigorous exercise is really potent, and a happy mama makes for a happier family. I'll keep you posted.
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