We've been talking for awhile that we should all get together and go for a co-worker group run, but like many extracurricular things, it had never come to fruition. Last week I was facing (what felt like) the daunting task of running my longest run in my training since the SF Half. My usual running buddy wasn't going to be available to run and facing this long run alone was feeling overwhelming. Enter my supportive co-workers.
I mentioned my upcoming long run to Liv and she was immediately both supportive and ready to join! Liv is a much stronger and seasoned runner than I am. I was a little nervous I would slow her down or wouldn't be able to keep up for 10 long miles. But the company and building a larger community of runners, especially at in our little co-worker group of runners, outweighed my self-self-concious hesitations. Liv also assured me we would take it slow to ease my fears -- in retrospect I should have realized that our definitions of "slow" probably were not the same.
Another co-worker agreed to join us for a couple of miles as she is building up her mileage again. We were on our way to a solid group for a nice Saturday run!
Saturday morning came cloudy and early. It was a perfect, crisp fall Seattle morning. We met at Greenlake and started our run around the lake, then heading South to do a loop around Lake Union. The pace was much more brisk than I had planned for and I was questioning whether I would be able to keep up the pace the whole way.
We stopped by Gasworks to pick up Carmen around mile 4. I was feeling good but thankful for a small break as Carmen joined the party. Off we went down and around the lake, taking in the beautiful fall colors against the backdrop of Lake Union. Catching up with Carmen on what is going on in each of our lives was a great way to pass the time and not focus on if I could keep the pace up for another 6+ miles.
Carmen left us three short miles later as we started the uphill climb back toward Greenlake. I was still feeling good, but I knew I was getting tired. And the quick and rough math we did pointed towards an additional 2 miles to get back to our starting point, making our run a total of 12 miles. I was NOT planning on that. Silently questioning my ability to finish, I was giving myself outs -- I could legitimately stop at mile 10 because that was where I was at in my training. I could walk/jog the last 2 miles if I was too tired.
One foot in front of the other and with Liv's encouragement, we slogged up the long 2 mile hill that would deliver us to the final stretch. When we made it to the top of the hill, I knew we were in the home-stretch and I could make it. We finished at 12.1 miles and at a pace 1 minute faster per mile than my SFM time. In my wildest dreams I did not think I was in a place in my running that I would be able to keep up that pace for 12 miles. And if it wasn't for this group run, I don't think I would have ever known.
This run taught me 2 very important things that I tend to lose sight of in the comings and goings of life:
Number 1: While the run was tough (tougher than I even expected), I so appreciate the strength we find in numbers and in community. Left to my own devices, I may have lost the mental battle. But with a little help from some friends who can push you beyond your self-imposed limits, you can go further than you ever thought you could.
Number 2: It's moments like these that make me appreciate running for its ability to slow us down and appreciate the communities that we are apart of. So much of the time at work we forget to take the time to attend to the relational aspects of work and life. But without that, we are missing the point. I look forward to more group runs with these ladies so we make the time to catch up and support each other in our ups and downs.
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| Thrive Ladies out for a run! |
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