Do you remember how I loved loved loved my running group last summer? I have been going faithfully this summer, but it hasn't been as much fun. In fact, I was feeling pretty gloomy about it when I went to our meeting two weeks ago.
The woman who had been leading our group wasn't in anybody's face about how much faster she was than the rest of us, but...the vibe was pretty clear. The Boston jersey, some stray comments here and there-- I was working hard to maintain the pace, and it was a little demoralizing to see how much of a yawn she found the whole thing.
Then she moved. (I feel bad celebrating someone's departure. It was a happy move for her, if that helps.)
Two weeks ago my favorite favorite leader ran with our group. It made a world of difference, having someone who was encouraging and engaged there to call the shots. At one point she said I should think about being a group leader next summer, and I felt as if I had been crowned. Which is kind of silly, but there you go.
Last week we had two different leaders, who set a painful pace in blistering heat. (Laura Vanderkam said that running four miles in 90-degree weather was as hard as running a marathon when it's 65 degrees. I thought, "Ooohhh, that's why it hurt so much last week!") I was still tired from that run the next morning. But tonight we did 400s at a pace that eased into might-throw-up territory without lingering there for terribly long, and I am still riding the endorphin buzz. I am happier doing speedwork than doing longer runs, and the last half-mile of our 4-mile runs leaves me longing for a couch to lie on and a faun to bring me iced sherbet. (Though you know, after Shasta's time on the couch with iced sherbet, he had a seriously unpleasant run to finish. Maybe I need a new wish.)
This is a really boring post, probably, but I am doing Jen's 7 Days/7 Posts thing and so it will have to stay. I am really pleased at having advanced a level since last summer. I still wish I were faster, and I still pine a little for the camaraderie of my group from last summer. But it's a good thing to do regardless, and it's almost over anyway. Summer is flying, isn't it?
Recent Comments