Sunday, January 02, 2011

I Am A Runner...

...or at least I am trying to be. I can run two miles now. I am training to run in the Ragnar with a team of ladies from my area who are almost all very good, very fast runners.

On New Years Day I met a group of them for a run. We were supposed to run a 5K. My friend, who is just a little more advanced than me was supposed to come, but at the last minute couldn't. So that left me...and 3 very fast runners.

I told them to go ahead of me.  I was going to try to run the whole thing, but wasn't sure I'd be able to.  I had brought my iPod and would be very happy to just listen to it as I pushed myself along.  They ignored me and stopped when I stopped.  Which was very often.  It was a little lot mortifying.  But they were very generous and sweet and patient...except I know they were dying to run!

I thought it would be helpful to run with a group, to help distract my mind, but I found that it was very difficult to run with a bunch of people...distracting in a way I wasn't anticipating.  Running is such a mental thing for me.  When I run I have to focus on a benchmark, be it the next stop sign, bush, shadow, or whatever and talk myself into getting there and then I pick another and keep on going. But with the group around me I lost that focus, and also found myself trying to keep up with them.  Not out of pride or anything, I would just suddenly realize that I was going faster than I was used to and so I tired out faster.  It scared me in some ways, wondering if I can really get to the point they are and be able to sustain myself long enough to finish the relay. 

But everyone started at the beginning at some point, right?

I have a ways to go. 

But I am a runner, and I will persevere.


5 comments:

Yvonne said...

Hooray for you.

You can do it. I understand exactly what you are saying about running in a group.

I can't wait to hear about your runs.

I was visiting with a friend the other day and he was talking about doing a ragnar--I had never heard the term. Good luck.

Nancy Face said...

I enjoy running, but I wouldn't like it in a group, especially if they are fast runners. I'm naturally a competitive person, and it would be so frustrating, trying to keep up and just getting exhausted!

I usually have to run alone. Occasionally my daughter runs with me, and I love it because we go about the same (slow) pace!

Boy Mom said...

Way to go! I haven't run much over the baby years. I am really hoping to get back into it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Super Happy Girl said...

Congrats, that's great.
I couldn't run to save my life. Seriously, two minutes and I was out of breath. I remember thinking that all I wanted to do was run one mile, that was all I asked for, one stinking mile and I could die happy.

I can now run 11 miles. If I can do it, anyone can :D

Obeautifulmummers said...

YAY Mindy, You have begun!!! I went for a little jog on the trail and my knees were killing me for 2 days....Slow starting is better! So have you heard of couch to 5k? hahahah maybe not since it is miles you run, not ks. Well google it and it is an awesome training program. I haven't tried it but a friend did and she loved it. Somewhere she found music you could listen to that would tell you when to run and when to walk and for how long, then it progresses you along.... Good luck!