Runners Like Me

Today was a long slow distance day. I've been running with my new group for two weeks now, except for last Saturday when I was in Las Vegas. There's only one woman I've been running with, and realistically she's about 2 minutes per mile faster than me. So it's tough for me to keep up, although she's so sweet she never complains about going too slow.

Our coach suggested we start a half-hour earlier than the rest of the group, so that we'd be back in time to hear the guest speaker. But when I arrived this morning, my running buddy wasn't able to make it. Just as I was leaving to run by myself, a woman came chasing me and said she'd run with me. I panicked, thinking she'd be too fast. I warned her that I'm a slow runner, then realizing that people who run 10 minute miles say they're slow, I told her I run 13 minute miles. She was cool with that, and explained that she was getting back into running after an injury and she was only planning to run 4 miles.

It was nice to have company, and to meet somebody new. Runner's are a great group of people. After she turned around, I continued on and stopped to take this picture:

When I was ready to move on, I saw a bunch of runners coming up from behind me. I assumed they were with my club, but they were with Team Salubrious, another training club. I fell in with them and we started talking. I knew they were my kind of runners when I told them I finished the Twin Cities Marathon in 6:05 and they started cheering! I never had that kind of reaction before. I ran with a woman from their group until my turn-around point and before I left I took their picture with the CrapCam. They gave me permission to post it and I invited them to stop by this blog. They told me I could run with them any time I wanted. I'm sure I'll see them again.


I was running against the wind on the final four miles and the run was definitely harder. We had a water stop and I foolishly didn't top off my water bottle, thinking I had enough. As I was cursing my poor judgment, I found a community building. Eureka! Not only did they have a water fountain, but--joy of joy's--a bathroom.

Continuing on, the trail ended and the run got boring. I considered playing my iPod, but then I wouldn't be able to hear my watch tell me it was time for that all-important walking break. I'm not familiar with this part of town, and at one point I didn't know where to go. Fortunately, some women from my club were running back right around then and I followed them.

When I was at the half-way point for my 8 mile run, I felt strong and considered running further. By mile six I was so glad I didn't do that, because I was getting tired. I took a gel after an hour of running, but it didn't give me the usual jolt. By the end of the run I didn't feel as if I had anything left. So I guess I ran the right distance.

Afterwards I went to breakfast with my new running buddies and some of the people training for Boston joined us. These are hard-core runners, but very nice. The coach of that group ran Boston last year and qualified there for this year's race. We carbo-loaded, then said goodbye until Monday.