The Fresh Air Experience Run Clinic is going well!
We are a week in and I can tell you it's an amazing bunch of ladies! I am amazed at the different types of people who are looking for the same goal which is to get moving and get healthier! Everyone is at a different stage in this journey but the common thread is that we are all lacing up our runners and heading out the door.
The first night was last Monday.. I of course was sick, feverish and generally not feeling so good.. but I went to the intro chat and declined the run. You know what it's like when you can literally feel the colour leave your face. Yup that was me..
My next run time was Wednesday.. my schedule said run 6K. WOW. Run 6K already? In my 5K clinic? Well I had faith in my leaders and I headed out.. it wasn't pretty and I was disappointed because I only ran 5K cutting off a 1K loop I had planned (side note: It is exactly 5K from the pergola on Sunset just past Waterscapes to the bridge and back) I managed to stumble in the door, the only thing on my mind was a BIG glass of water and weather or not I would be able to stand in the shower.
*ring* *ring*
Amazing. I am in the door all of 30 seconds and all ready my cell phone ringth. It was a text message from one of the run leaders Melissa.. reminding me of the 6K walk we had to do today!
Wait.. let me read that again... WALK!
Well crap.
Another message followed inviting me to join her and another run clinic member to go on a 6K walk on the greenway with our dogs.
What the heck.
Off I went!
Wednesday I managed to do 11K. I hope that makes up for Monday..
Saturday morning I joined the group for our 35 minutes.. 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking. yes I was at the back of the pack.
I am SO slow.
But I had one of those lovely paradigm shifts! You see, as the person at the back I take it upon myself to make sure the backpackers are aware of when we should be running and walking and to shout encouragement when it looks like someone is about to throw in the towel..and at the end of the run one voice rang out "Susan, I want you to be my coach all the time you're great!"
No longer did I feel like the snail at the back.. the last in the line.. the slowest of the slow. I felt like I was making a difference and slow foot after slow foot I still managed to help someone else have a better day and do more than they thought they could.
What a truly wonderful feeling.
Once I could breathe again.
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5 comments:
I am in this amazing run clinic with Susan and I can tell you with 100% certainty that if Susan wasn't running with me and encouraging ever slow step I make, I would have quit this crazy adventure thinking that I couldn't do it. Tonight I was counting on Susan to tell me when to run and when to take a walking break. She was really pushing me to run just a little bit further and make it to the next traffic light. I did exactly what Coach Susan said and just kept on running! She was really pushing me hard tonight. So we get back to Fresh Air Experience after the run and I find out that Susan wasn't even wearing a watch!! She was supposed to be timing our 3 minute runs and 1 minute walks - how do you do that without a watch?!!? In the end I was so grateful for the extra push Susan gave me. In 9 weeks I will cross the finish line and it will be thanks to the encouragement and support from my new running friend!
Wow, Susan! You make me want to join your run! Sounds fab! I've been doing run dates and brick dates with one partner at a time. Tonight is with someone 15 years younger than me (!) who is world class in a differen sport. We're going to ride, then run and I hope I survive it!!
3 and 1 sounds harder than 2 and 2....but maybe we'll give it a try tonight.
Keep up with the posting. You're rockin' the world!
Hugs and butterflies,
~T~
That's it. You're moving to London to motivate me too. It's not fair that you can help everyone out there and not your sweet little sister. Booooooooooo!
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