You see, at the end of May I joined a group with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) to train for what I thought was going to be a 5K. I had never run a full 5K before and I thought that would be a good goal. But, on the first day of the program as I sat amongst dozens of nervous would-be runners, I thought to myself that really a 5K was not going to be much of a challenge. Despite never having run that distance without stopping before, I knew I would be able to do it fairly easily. Or, at least, that I could already ALMOST do it. So when the group leader called out for participants for the 5K group I made a split-second decision to ditch the easy road and go for what was going to be a real challenge - the 10K training program.
A 10K seemed insurmountable in some ways just 10 weeks ago. It seemed like a distance that only crazy people ran. Like, if you had nothing better to do with your life than to run for enough time to cover 6 miles that there must be some manner of chemical imbalance present in your brain. But then, suddenly, I was the one with the potential chemical imbalance because I had just raised my hand when the group leader called out for those people intending to train for a 10K to do so. And there I was, my arm and hand somehow betraying my mind which screamed out "NO NO! 5K IS JUST FINE! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?" as they raised in the air and I stepped forward for my first 2 mile run. Ever.
That first night I was convinced that I was unable to run much longer than 1.5 miles without stopping. I was nervous as we set out down the street for this distance that was already longer than I'd ever remembered running before. And it was hard. That first run was really really hard. As was the one after it. And the one after that. I remember the night we got to 3.5 miles and I thought to myself that there was no way that my fat butt was ever gonna make it to 6.2 miles because I was clearly going to perish at mile 2.5 of this wretched run. But I didn't perish. I kept going. And going. And going and going. And this week I ran 6 miles. Twice. And both my body and mind feel amazing.
And so now, as our training group comes to a close, I was left with the dilemma of deciding whether or not to attempt to take on a running partner from the group. Frankly, I had my doubts. Many of the participants skipped the training runs frequently and/or complained through the entire run when they did show up. I don't need a nay-sayer with a poor attitude. I need someone who can energize me on days that I'm down and who I can energize at the times they need it. Someone who sees running as a powerful form of self-expression and actualization. Someone who is trying to run her life the way I'm trying to run my life.
I have only missed training runs on "rest" weeks and only to run a race, so I wanted someone with the same commitment. Tonight was the night that really separated the committed from everyone else, and only my new partner and I were left standing. Everyone else except one didn't show up to the training run tonight which was to complete the goal we set out to complete - 6.2 miles. And the girl other than myself and my partner failed to complete the course. Not that there's anything wrong with that - we all have bad days and we all have limitations. But I wanted a partner who could go the distance with me, stay the course and make me feel great about the run in the process.
I think I've found that in my new partner. And I'm so excited. We'll continue running on Thursday nights and she is planning to run the Surf City Half as well, so we have a common goal as well. I'm so excited to have found this woman who will help see me through some very very difficult runs and hopefully help keep me on track.
