She Runs

I’m trying to get running again. My running club and friends have been so good to me to share clothes and gear.  Back in October, I almost signed up for the Vegas Marathon with Kasey, Jocelyn, Chris, Lacey, Mary S, and about half the Rush Running Gang, but couldn’t pull the trigger. Now I know why I felt the stupor of thought. I would be running 18 miles with them this Saturday. No way can I invest that kind of time. These girls are amazingly dedicated. I would have been heartbroken to have trained so hard this far to now be short on time, energy, and resources to pull off the 3-4 hour runs in Saturdays. It would devastate me to walk away at this point, so I’m truly grateful I already turned this one down and decided it’s not my season yet to train for a full marathon. 

I AM signed up for the Bentonville Half and am in the training club for it so it gets me out the door and and back home as my people are just waking up on Saturday mornings.  I really like this group and have made a lot of new friends through running together and encouraging one another. Mike is a great coach, and the community of volunteers that coach you along on the long runs just can’t be beat. I can’t make it to Monday night Speed or the Tuesday morning group runs...or really anything other than the Saturdays, but every Saturday from now until April, you’ll find me at the Downtown Activity Center getting a long run in with 200 friends before the sun is up. 

Last week, it started to snow an hour before the group run. That’s where you lose me. I don’t drive in it and I don’t run on ice.  I talked myself out of it, and turned off my alarm and went back to bed.  And then got peer pressure from Naomi and her sister, Amber, and my neighbor friend Hailey, to get up and get out there. Hailey picked me up on her way and we gutted out 6.2  FREEZING miles in the frozen slushy slush.  The group got a late start but we got out there! It was so slick we just sort of shuffled along. Coming up J street was brutal though and my face felt like it would freeze off. Everything hurt. This is ridiculous. Why was I putting myself though this?!  I had just decided to run home when we turned the corner onto Tiger Blvd, and had immediate relief. No more north wind and snowflakes pelting our faces.  I even got too warm and tooo off my vest.  As I ran over toward the entrance to our rental subdivision, I could hear Naomi shouting, “Weak! Don’t you dare be a quitter!” Hahaha Naomi thought I’d given in and was going home. O was just putting down my vest in the bushes to pick up later.  We were already about 2 miles in and I was already cold and wet and sweaty. May as well go for the full 6 miles! 

I ran with Hailey and we talked the whole run. It was slower due to icy patches, but I’m still dang proud of us for finishing a 10K in 25 degrees and snow in an hour and 5 minutes. Not bad at all! A year ago I was STOKED to run a 10:30 pace longer than 2 or 3 miles. By the end of training I was running a 9:45 pace for long distances.  Not sure I’ll get back there, but I’m happy to just be back our running a couple times a week again.  I always dread going. I stress and feel guilt about leaving the kids with Aaron, even though they’re usually asleep and he is so supportive. By the end of the run I feel so great and energized. I guess that’s motivation to just keep getting out there. Even when it’s freezing. I’ve got about 8 weeks to try try try to get my 6 miles up to 13.1 miles. Feels so good to do something by myself that isn’t related to the fire. 

Also, hey we made the news! 

Ok Bentonville Half, I’m coming for ya big!