My Tuesday track clinic met again this week, and it’s awesome. I love it.
I warm up longer when I’m chatting with other women. I actually do stretches and drills when I have a coach walking us through them as a group. I buckle down and run a little bit harder on those repeats because I don’t want to lose the group.
On Tuesday we divided into two groups based on our mile times, the fast group who anticipated doing 400 meter repeats in 1:40 or less, and, well, the rest of us.
I’m in the second group… which is awesome, because it’s actually a really well matched group. I was pushing hard during the first 400 meter repeat to stay with the leaders, and we rounded that final corner with one person up front and three of us all side by side. It felt a little epic. I over-romanticized the feeling of pack mentality and savored (for those 15 seconds) the feeling of being perfectly synced to two other women, going maximum speed, finishing strong.
The second 400 meter repeat, I accidentally started out in the front and managed to finish first. I’m not competitive against anyone but myself, and I don’t feel like I actually beat anyone since I started out 5 feet ahead of some of the other runners. But I did feel a sense of belonging that has been missing from all my other group running experiences. Having people sometimes in front of me, sometimes behind me, and sometimes next to me meant I was running a comparable pace. I’ve met my matches. I belong in that group. It’s just right for me.
I remember running with the mother’s forum group a few years ago, and I was always solidly last. I couldn’t even hear the conversation they’d be so far in front of me. Yes, it helped me get out the door, and push, and grow… and I think it’s an incredible experience to be the smallest fish in the big pond and just remain proud of yourself for being there in the first place. But it’s not quite the same feeling as being in the middle of the pack, knowing that if you buckle down, you can finish with the group, and if you really buckle down, you might pull ahead. (On this repeat… and pay for it next time.)
So I’m loving it. I’m happy I signed up.
In other news…
I find out Monday if I will get a number for the Tri For a Cure sprint triathlon in July! It’d be my first triathlon, and I will need a swim coach. When I first blogged about registering for the lottery, I was really touched to receive some e-mails recommending swim coaches and swim clinics. Friends whom I didn’t even realize read my blog were emailing me suggestions and wishing me luck. It felt great.
I’ve even had a few strong offers from this guy, who is currently enrolled in swim lessons and promises that he will teach me to swim, no problem.
How can I say no to that?
Looks like a good offer from a cute swim coach! Your track workouts sound like fun. I’ve been doing some sprints in my HIIT class weekly and it has helped my overall pace. I just signed up for a women’s spring marathon in my neighborhood and my training starts on Saturday with a group I’ve trained with in the past. I usually get off track on my running in the winter, but not this year!
That’s great that you’re training with the same group again; it’s so motivating when you add a social element. Even if you run once a week with people and do other runs solo, it adds a nice element of accountability, support, and fun. When’s your spring marathon? Hope training goes well!
Once in a blue moon do I do speed work in a group, but I often run my weekend long runs now with a fun group of runners. Usually I’m the odd ball that wants to run a 9:50-10:00 pace, while the guys are much faster and the other women are slower. So I slow down and run with the slower ladies for the conversation and feeling part of the group. It’s so encouraging to have them!