Change in the air?

Hello Dear Reader,

I'm sensing a change in my attitude in 2011, specifically about running partners. Gawk! I know...I'm the one who was adamant about not wanting Mad-dog trainer standing next to me on the treadmill while I ran...well, that's just annoying. I'm still the one who has refused to take on a running partner, other than my jazzy pink iPod, for fear that I might be distracted.

Now mind you, I definitely don't want a regular running partner, but lately, I've become more open to the idea of running with others for the sake of doing something different/added motivation/advice. This potential change of heart was brought on by an event that took place yesterday. So in a Sofia Petrillo-styled way (a la Golden Girls), I'll tell you about it.

Picture it: Maseru, 2011, at the only seafood restaurant in town. A lovely young lady (i.e. me) met up with two friends (Doc and gym girl) for lunch and ran into yet another friend- we'll call this friend...Lady T. The four friends began talking about signing up for the Two Oceans (Ultra) Marathon in Cape Town. All of this running talk sparked an interest in the lovely young lady to make an attempt at running the half (because she's not crazy enough to run 35 miles), so Lady T invited the lovely young lady for an after work planning meeting.

At 5:30 pm on the dot, the lovely young lady found Doc, Lady T, and two other running gals at a tiny "French" cafe discussing race trip logistics. As the lovely young lady began to introduce herself to the running gals, she was interrupted by running gal #1, "Hey, I know you! I see you out running in the morning! We pass each other all of the time! Yeah, you're one of those crazy runners- you're so focused! You must run all over the city! How do you do it?". The young lady, who has been stopped on several occasions by strangers to tell her she's a crazy runner, smiled and said, "don't believe the hype!"

The entire group stated talking about their running routines and how they were going to prepare for the Two Oceans. Almost simultaniously, the group (other than the young lady, of course), suggested that they start a running club. "We can help each other train." The first reaction from the lovely young lady was a big "hell no", but that was strictly an inside conversation. As they continued talking about their experiences running marathons (as in plural) and ultra marathons (as in plural), and working on hill drills, the lovely young lady began to warm up to the idea of training partners. The idea might not be so bad, particularly since, for her, discipline was hard to come by lately. This training club might not be such a bad idea after all.

They all laughed at the young lady's fear of running hills and purposely running routes with a lot of down hills. The young lady sat jaw-dropped as they shared running stories. They all agreed that their first meet up would be Monday morning and departed.

The moral of the story is that this young lady left with a more open mind to running with partners...and a commitment to never be crazy enough to run an ultra marathon....that story is a "to be continued"...

Well, until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (mind opening) training,

Dani