Run!

Today I took three fledgling runners with me for a 28 minute walk/run fiasco after work. They were all three at different levels of fitness. I hope I didn't turn the least fit girl off because - though she put on her game face - she was having a hard time of it.

I give her mad props for coming out. It wasn't easy for her, but she wanted to push it and do better but she needs to give it more time. I hope she sticks with the clinic.

I've been at it a few years now and sometimes I can't figure out why I'm not faster or stronger than I am. I think "if I can just run a 7.15 minute mile thirteen times I can have a 1 hour and 35 minute half marathon". And then I remember how hard it was to run a 1:39 half and I think, really? Could I have just "shaved off" four minutes? Hell no.

It's a long and beautiful progression.
For example: my first 10k (with Big D, no less) took me about an hour and a half.

Now? In an extra nine minutes over my first 10k time? I can run an extra 11 kilometres.

And for the woman that came out with us tonight that fought hard and ran as best she could? It was 28 minutes of running and walking that she hadn't done before and I hope, when she wakes up tomorrow and feels sore and tired, that it motivates her to hit it again because it just gets better.

I was so happy after I led them through their drills after the run that I made them all give themselves a round of applause.

They likely think I'm mad and no one will show up next week.