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RUN Week 10, Wednesday 1/11 - Run January 12, 2006

Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Running, Blacksburg VA, Training Stats , add a comment

"Doh! I have to run to meet my (new) running group!"

Context

City, State: Blacksburg, VA.
Location: City.
Course: 4-mile Runabout Sports Club Run [map]
Terrain: Hilly; paved.
Distance and/or Time: 4.0 miles, 00:38:00.
Speed and/or RPE: 9:30/mi; 6.3 mph; 8.5 (very hard)
HRR: 165-197 (Anaerobic)
HR(avg.): 177 bpm

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The Run

Synopsis

Overall

Doh! I have to run to meet my (new) running group! Got all immersed in my work that I nearly lost track of time! Thank goodness I just wear my running gear all day so I'm ready to go at a moment's notice. I kissed hubby bye and ran/sprinted out the door to be sure I wouldn't miss out on my first club run!

I was excited, and full of jitters. It's not a race, silly! I told myself. You're just there to chill, get some jogging in and maybe meet some people. No pressure. But the pressure inside me was already making things boil. It wasn't the sprinting, either. I'm still new here. I don't know anyone except my husband and a guy who lives downstairs whose name I've already forgotten (but his dog's name is Dallas).

Making friends is weird when you're not in school sharing classes or in a workplace with others. I've been a bit isolated, so I was nervous. What if everyone is really fast? What if they already have their own friends and no one talks to me? What if I get so far behind I get lost? Ahhhhhhh! [an inner silence] What if I shut-up and just show up and stop worrying about it!
"Deal. I can do that," I answered myself.

Then, I was there and no one else was and I was sure I missed them. I asked a lady there if I was too late and she said that I was actually eary, but I could go ahead and sign-in towards my 100-mile fame. Cool. So I did and then wandered around the store while others began to filter in. Someone with a dog came in. Sweet, friendly dog! Reminded me of Calen a little bit. He licked my hand a lot and somehow I felt we were both comforting each other. Finally, we were all there and we were off!

I expressed concern over not knowing the way, being new and all. A nice girl named Jess ran with me and gave me a breakdown of distance and where we were heading. It was a there-and-back thing, so I couldn't get too lost if I dropped back. Phew! I breathed. But by now, I was already breathing heavily. Damn, these people are fast. I'm already dying! I turned off my heart rate monitor's beeping which was to tell me I was over my aerobic range. (Oh, yeah, like I needed it to tell me that!) So, I ran along Jess for awhile and then came to realize that she wasn't even winded in the least bit. She talked and chattered and I listened and panted, because that's all I could literally do. After about 1 mile I gasped out, "Why don't you go on ahead … I'm going to pull back the pace a bit." We exchanged polite courtesies and she zoomed off.

I was alone for about 3 minutes when another lady came up beside me. She asked if I would like to pace with her. "I'll try, but no promises," I puffed. It was definitely more manageable. I could talk, although I sounded like someone was thumping on my chest. (That would be your heart! my head screamed at me.) But I wasn't a lost cause. I settled in at about a 9:45 min/mi pace and kept a conversation going with considerable amount of effort. Soon, my breathing was labored, but steady; I wasn't feeling like a fish out of water anymore.

By now, I was sure I'd gone a million miles. As though reading my mind, Kashia informed me that we'd gone about 1.75, with 2.25 miles to go. I cried inside for a split second and then re-focused my efforts. I decided an on-going conversation would do me wonders, so I asked lots of questions and we continued chatting. I've already decided that she's a really nice lady. I think she's about 10 years older than me, and she has kids and a husband in medical school at VT. She runs marathons; no wonder she was a dynamo!

Anyway, by the end of the run, she invited me to join her and a different group of female runners who run in the mornings at 5:30 AM.
Ugh. I actually cringed, but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to meet more people interested in activity. Plus, these are likely to be seasoned runners as they've all done half and full marathons. I'd be good to have a mentor or five, I reasoned silently.
"Great! I'd love to! When's the next run?" I asked.
"Tomorrow–think you could make that?"
"Uhhhh … I guess I could." I was hesitant. I haven't been to bed before 3 AM since I've been in Virginia. I'm still running on West Coast time.
Then Kashia corrected herself, "Actually, I forgot. I won't be there tomorrow. How about Friday? Would that work?"
"Oh, yeah. That would be great. Friday is much better." I sighed relief. This way I have two nights to readjust my sleep schedule.

We continued chatting, the time passed more quickly, and only once did I feel like vomiting (Thank goodness I didn't.) Back at the store, we exchanged emails and phone numbers and now I think I have a running buddy, maybe even a new friend. We'll see, but I'm definitely happier today and feeling better about joining the tri world in general. Without all this activity, how would I ever meet new people or challenge myself to new PR's and PB's outside of the normal church/school/work thing? I have to say, I think some of the nicest and most supportive people out there are runners, cyclists, swimmers, and/or triathletes. Kudos to you, you know who you are!